I hate to sound like the zen master but any teacher worth their salt should know thy self before trying to teach.

Glazed looks from students will cue the instructor to a great deal of information about whether or not the instructional strategy being employed is working or not. If that happens, switching plans is the way to go.

How to deal with some students who are very knowledgeable, and who can demonstrate good understanding of the material covered in class, but are unable to score high on a test for some reason?

The best way to set goals for career college students.

Extra credit points should be awarded to reward students for going over and above the requirements of the class not to simply boost grades. J. E. wright

I get this from student from time to time. Several students, after receiving a bad grade fail to see that it was their performance that earned them the grade and not the instructors fault. They fail to see collectively that sucking up to the instructor doesn't change the fact that they handed in homework late or did poorly on exams. Having strict and structered syllabi helps the student understand why they earned the grade they did when this happens.

The combination of powerpoint slides with just a few bullet points on them and the employment of chalk and board seem to be very effective

showing enthusiasm, excitement and good preparation motivates students.Motivated students tend to reciprocate the favor by being respectful and attentive.

I've used extra credit to motivate students to study at home. I give them study questions to help them find specific information that I will emphasize at the next class period. One quarter I decided to give students extra credit for completing the study questions. I quickly discovered that the students who would complete the homework without being coaxed were those that got the extra credit points and those I wanted to motivate did not comeplete the homework regardless of the extra points.I never offered extra credit for homework again.

Research that I've read on testing shows that students do better with more tests. I offer students a pretest for every class session. The pretest/study guide is similar to the graded test and it helps students identify important information from the text before they attend class, know what kind of information the instructor uses for testing, and helps relieve pressure form students with test anxiety.

A pretest would be a way to evaluate the preparation level of the students. If you do give pretests and have each student sign their name be sure you inform the students of the confidentiality of the in formation. J. E. wright

Today an instructor has so many more teaching tools than ever before. We can literally involve our students in a real time discussion with students in other parts of the world. We are way beyond power point. We can use skyp, video, interactive games. For a creative instructor the possibilities are limitless.

Working with students at a theory level is insufficient for a complete learning experience. Many times theory or what is taught in the class room does not translate well in the real world. I've had students that "get it" when they see in action what I've attempted to teach them. In addition, I see that some of the information I'm currently teaching needs to be updated.

If you have students who are interested in research and you believe this is a tool that they need, you may be able to generate some interest by allowing them to select their own topics. Also put them in touch with your Learning resource person on campus. J. E. Wright

I think it is important to keep students informed on a weekly basis about their academic progress. I grade exams and usually return in the next class period. I offer suggestions and constructive criticism on written assignments. I make a deliberate effort to speak with students who are doing poorly early in the course and offer assistance and academic advice. Are there other things I can be doing to make sure students understand their academic progress.

Today, students seem to have a shorter attention span. You have to try to reach them in different ways. Sometimes, a film or speaker are very useful in stimulating class conversations. I am open to learning other ways to engage students.

Sometimes,you have a class where many students struggle with the course material. How, do you adjust the curriculum without compromising the quality of instruction? Is pre-testing the best approach in tacking this problem?

In my experience, there are students who always want to speak in class and others who never want to share their ideas. Are these students bored or perhaps they have not read the assigned materials. Classroom participation is important in students' comprehension of the material. It also allows students to share their thoughts and expertise. What are some ways to reach silent students?

What are some ways of adding resources to your instructional content?

To be sure your instructional methods are student centered ask for feedback from your students through some type of survey using electronic means to expedite the survey. J. E. Wright