I have found that setting up a friendly yet competitive environment amongst students in my classes has worked to create a great atmosphere where students come self motivated and ready to do better than the next. The easiest way I have achieved this is by telling students to take a look around and that the people sitting next to them will be their greatest competition!

I definitely found that being open to students suggestions has helped make me a better instructor. It has allowed me to understand the subject matter from the point of view of the student.

I find that having built relationships with students from my classes. Even when they are not doing well in another instuctors class they tend to come to me for advice and I have been able to talk them out of quitting or dropping the class.

I have found that when I teach business, after just about 20 minutes, certain students can easily lose focus. Therefore, every 20 minutes or so I start a short 5 minute question and answer session that I have found to work pretty well...

Definitely a very important part of setting up for the entire semester. As a young faculty member, and a female, often times students try and size me up but this if I lay a first impression that is authoratative and respectful, half the battle is won!

I have honestly never thought about actually changing or helping the environment or setting of the class... something that I will pay attention to from now on

In my classroom there is a very different level of student's all seeking to achieve the same degree. Some classes are a lot faster paced than others. Morning classes require more exitement than noon classes in my experience even when the subject matter is exactly the same!