This method works quite well in one of my courses where there is a frequent need for outside of class testing.

I really like the idea of pre-testing the students' knowledge bases. This had not occurred to me before and in hindsight it would've been quite helpful when my students did become lost.

I completed a Microsoft Office course offered by our school last quarter. I gained a great deal of powerpoint skill from it. Of course I'll be a work in progress, but I would recommend add'l powerpoint-specific training to anyone as you can get alot out of it.

At our school all employees are encouraged to complete a short training that involves an intensive assessment of personality. The training is fun and people learn quite a bit about who they are how they relate to others.

I always emphasize to the students that they, too, are responsible for creating an effective, relaxed, productive learning atmosphere. When I do feel anxiety, it seems to stem from taken entire responsibility for the classroom atmosphere.

I try to remind students that by cheating they are really doing themselves a great disservice. It is virtually impossible for them to cheat on their national certification exam. Therefore, they really should be sure they are effectively retaining what they need to now.

When students show passive aggression it is difficult to avoid reacting to their challenging behaviors. In these situations I try to remember that their behaviors are often not about me, rather they are about something going on with the student.

I find that when I outline the topics covered and emphasize real-world applicability it sets up the students for ongoing interest. I always remind them that they can and should ask how any topic relates to the real-world.