standards are there to help students achieve a goal

lesson plans help the students understand the final outcome of the day

Using objectives helps a instructor stay focused

Although PPT have a place in the classroom, we must always remember that they are a tool, not the teacher! PPTs can be educational and engaging, but many instructors do not have training in how to create one or how to teach from one. I certainly made my share of mistakes in the beginning. It is amazing what you can do with type of presentation, but like the lecture said, you have to be comfortable and know what is beneficial and what is not. Curriculum should be designed by a team of teachers so that the best of the best is obtained and not something that is too wordy, no pictures and minimal engagement. Pictures or inserting video clips keep the slides interesting. I think putting in scenarios is also effective, it takes the attention away from the PPT and creates conversation.

What to do when college does not permit colored handouts or handouts in color?

My lesson plan in the form of a course book and a schedule, are provided by our school. I feel this adds consistency to a course in a situation where more than one instructor teaches the same course in a given time frame. The lesson plan allows students to switch to another class and instructor in cases of emergency. Because the lesson plan is a guideline to what is taught, the instructor still has flexibility as to life lessons and personal experiences. In addition the instructor can add worksheets and other material to the lesson plan.

As a trade school instructor, I find that most of my students are self motivated, and follow the general 'idea' of soft skills. (they are typically older and have life experience) I am curious on dealing with students who do not have a positive mental attitude. What tactics work for you? I sometimes feel these students have been the squeaky wheel that get's the oil, but how to make them self aware, that this behavior does not translate into successful employment.

To trouble shoot what you are going to be teaching if your curriclum is already in place is to go through each video, poser point and or assignment briefly to make sure all is working properly. Also proof reading the tests to make sure what you are teaching co insides with what is on the tests. A couse check list helps.

Power points can work very well in teaching how ever I think we really need to look over our power points in our curriculums and make notes for examples of what has been listed. Thise of us that have been in the field that we are teaching in will be the best examples. Susch as something that happened to us personally that made the issue better or not.

I have found to make a change of scenery really helps the student attitude in class. It shows them that what we are talking about in the work world is real. I have used police officers that are friends come in and talk about law and ethics or pharmacology with drugs. Also taken the students to tour an emergency room to see what it is like to work as a medical assistant in a controlled and uncontrolled atmosphere. They are amazed and really respect our opinions when we tell them something about what it is like in clinicals. I have found they tend to do better.

Students should have technological resources available to them to help research materials needed to complete their course successfully.

Students should be made aware of the reasoning for the objectives of their course outline.

Learning objectives should be both explained and written so students know what is expected of them.

From my experience, having a well thought out lesson plan incorporating time management for each day of instruction informs the students of what is expected of them and helps course content flow more smoothly from subject to subject.

I had a hard time at first when it came to putting my lesion plans together. Then I started to go over my old plans and make changes for the better. This has help to make my lessons very strong.

It was not until I started to us a lesion plan that, I could see a better outcome for my class. I always had a outline of what I was to teach, but a true lesion plan keeps me on track.

it is important to have in mind that you should be preparing another test for those students that were absent at the day of the test. taking off some points is another methods that could be used.

why it is so important to know the learning preferences of a student?

It is important to keep information clear and interesting for the students when using power points presentations, thats why it is important to keep it short.

what are the topics of the experience that the students can learn or gain from fields trips?