I always prepare for my class because of the unknown questions that always seem to arise. The educational and real life experience of the class is very demanding and teaching effectively to each student is in fact a daily challenge. I also use outside sources to keep the students attention and for additional information not explained in detail in the text.

knowing who you are and what you can or can't do is so important. Don't paint yourself in a corner.

Too many words, too many pics, too many whiz-bang entry styles. Keep it simple, use the right image for the right lesson. Don't use ppt for EVERYTHING! It's over used and overrated.

If you know the flow of your class that you have taught numerous times. What would happen if you start a new subject for the first time? I find it would be helpfull to plan learning activities that will be useful in making my students interested in the topic, fun, and engaging. These may or may not be used depending on timing of the class schedule.

Some of my classes meet at night once a week. Classes run from 6:00-10:00. It's tough to keep a group of students who have either worked all day or been in class for most of it engaged for the entire time. I try to mix up activities, but sometimes find that my students are just worn out by the final hour of class. Ideas? Are there certain activities that are better left for the end of the class?

I teach English and I was trying to think of a kind of field trip that might be applicable to my students. My classes are considered general education courses, so I teach a variety of disciplines. A colleague takes her students to a local art museum and then it becomes a writing project. Any other suggestions?

Being in front of a class is not easy, we can make it look as if it is though. Proper preparation is critical to optimal engagement of a class. We all know the best plan should always have a backup just incase things go curplooey. I have found making sure I have devoted time to organizing not over analyzing the lessons I plan to present things go much smoother. I usually try to follow a 15 minute review what you know, show me what you remember, and then lets add some new material, and end it with what do you know now that you didn't when you walked in the door? It helps me move the lesson around the students and keeps them engaged. Anyone else have a way the make it look smooth they want to share?

I believe that the grading is a critical piece of the learning process. You need to give feedback on wrong answers when correcting homework assignments, as this will assist them in studying for their test. Either make the wrong answers a lecture the next class period or make sure they are seeing their assignments in a timely manner, is an important tasks that some times is not taken as serious as it needs to be.

Using some assessments such as a pretext, can assist you with where your students are in the learning process. Even if your assessment is some questions that just require each student to verbalize their answer so that it doesn't become a stress of taking a test time of situation. It helps with where you want to maybe adjust in your learning options.

I feel that when you both discuss in class and show important information in a PowerPoint presentation, it helps all students. Not all students are good note takers, so if you provide the PowerPoints that you have created or that the publisher of the textbook created, it helps them. They are able to study better and have something to focus on while you are asking them questions.

I believe that you should read all the material that you are presenting in class each day prior to teaching it. If it's a hands-on class, than you should have already went through all of the exercises that the students will go through so that you are aware of any issues that may arise and how to help them through it.

in my experience white boards are not only helpful to the students but help me keep my thoughts organized when teaching.

Have any of you felt the embarrassment of not having a powerpoint presentation on a flash drive when you thought it was there? I've learned the hard way when I couldn't locate a lecture 5 minutes before class started. Now I make sure each lecture is on my work computer, on a flash drive and as a final insurance, I email each lecture to myself. Uploading to shared documents on your campus system is one more way to save your hard work.

I prefer to go over the test as soon as it has been graded rather than the next day because any questions they may have are still fresh,they may forget that question a day later.

Being in the automotive industry, I find that planning field trips to dealerships or assembly plants very beneficial to students. It also gives the employers a chance to see our quality of future employee.

Sharing grades is done privately to allow for questions.

Using a variety of delivery methods has been very helpful for me.

Pecha Kucha is a presentation format that came out of Japan. A Pecha Kuchca presentation is made up of 20 slides that may be displayed at 20 seconds each for a total of 6 minutes. I recently began reworking a PowerPoint presentation that I gave in an hour as part of a webinar. My goal is to "boil" it down to a Pecha Kucha style presentation. If I gave this in a class the 6 minute presentation would serve as setting the objectives for the day. I would then follow up with other activities such as discussions, group activities, and/or have students build their own Pecha Kucha presentation based on ONE of my slides. I bring this to the discussion group as I am concerned that typical PowerPoint presentations are no longer discernible from the standard lecture.

Field trips into the career field have always been very helpful to the students.

I found the Organizing Field Trips page very helpful. It reminded me of the website for the Smithsonian Institution and how it helped me when we were Home Schooling my sons. The website has worksheets to guide students through exhibits. It made the field trip to the museum enjoyable and provided a focus for my sons and I. I will be giving this info to my instructors.