Roberta Vedders

I appreciate learning the ways the different reporting requirements compare and contrast with each other. Sexual violence is so under reported anyways, I appreciate the annual reports required of colleges.

Students are not motivated by the same thing. One may be motivated to get an A in the class, while the grade is not as important to another student.

Course requirements should not be so hard that each week is perceived by students as a potential to fail the course.

I really enjoy the acronym link/pair/share.

The mid-class fatigue is real. I appreciate learning about ways to bring back the vigor. I am a fan of mid-course evaluations. When I taught full-time it was in a 15-16 week semester. My mind cannot yet wrap around how this can work in 5 week segments. I am thankful for the acronym for REFOCUS:

RECOGNIZE/EMPOWER/FOCUS/OBJECTIVIZE/COMMIT/UNBURDEN/SURPRISE.

Comment on Christine Crist's post: 

I love seeing the light bulbs come on in clinical as students see what they have learned in theory played out in real situations.

I love hearing about the importance of student participation and recognition. I also appreciate the thumbs up for humor. Next year will be 50 years I have been a nurse, 20 years I have taught nursing. There have been many humorous things along the way. Each student has a file of humorous or more serious memories that are important to share some of.

By communicating with students about their individual needs and referring them to supportive resources, they can be helped to focus back on their professional goals. Maslow's hierarch is displayed again in that you cannot meet higher needs at the apex of the triangle until basic needs are met.

I appreciate the reminder to not get involved in meeting the needs that experts are in place to meet. As an instructor, the class must go on.

Group projects are so important. Include students evaluating their peers and a self-evaluation of participation. The knowledge students gain during the project will stick. Students have individual strengths they can contribute. Presentation to class helps prepare them for professional roles.

It did my heart good when I read that the adult learner's attention span was, I believe 14-18 minutes. This far exceeds the attention span of new college-age students. :-)

I also appreciate the mini lecture concept with time for active learning and the different ways to handle student questions in class.

Beginning day of a class I usually have quite a "to do" list. I appreciated the advice to not rush at the end to finish the list, but to carry on with the list the next time class meets.

I appreciate the emphasis on how the getting to know each other will enhance the class. 

Comment on Lynne Gigliotti's post: 

Lynne, I am a checklist person by nature. My class checklist is often my outline to be sure I cover everything. Then if I teach the same course the next semester, I have the outline to revise so I don't have to "reinvent the wheel". :-)