It's extremely important to make eye contact with students. Especially, while relaying important information. However, with growing number of immigrants, culture diversity may hinder a response without eye contact from the recipient. The lack of eye contact should not be taken out of content or as a means of disrespect or dishonesty but, as a common culture practice. NAdams

What are some opinions on how to ask questions so that i could gauge how much the student has learned along with keeping other students engaged and continuing the topic of discussion?

I have found that in order to get the class involved I must put myself in thier shoes. Let them know that I was in thier exact position before. It lets them know I am human and not just some guy that likes to here himself speak..

I have told my students for years that most tests are simple true/false. We take ASE style tests and it doesn't matter if it is a multiple choice, Tech A, Tech B or a true false question. All of these can be answered like they are a True/False question. One question at a time, one answer at a time, one choice at a time ...Its all TREU or FALSE!!!

Being in a technical school I use the question the question technique on a daily basis. I feel that it is important to have the student come up with the right answer by guiding them with leading questions. Kind of a follow the leader excersise. When the student askes a question in the lab I answer by asking a simple question that has direct relavance to what was asked; and lead them to the right answer. One tip is that if they get stuck help them out to keep it moving along. A student feels pride when they realize they knew the answer, they just needed help bringing it to the surface.

One of the hardest things to get a handle on when we learn that there is more than one way to learn, is to know how to incorporate all the different learning styles into a lesson plan. For several years we have given the students a booklet so they can see that not everyone learns the same way. When it comes to making sure that the students will have their style incorporated into the lesson plan it can create an almost chaotic environment. Chaotic not in a bad way though. Having the information available in all forms & styles is a great way to have students succeed.

Patience is the key to a student with a disibility. You as instructor should not give up on a student. Otherwise the student gives up on themselves. Postivie renforcecement makes people want to succeed.

Using a life experiences help students connect better with the topic...They can relate. They know that the instructor is just not impersonal. They have human views.

It a very good idea to balance groups, because other students need to learn how to be more involve, participate.. many are to shy or lazy...alway need a strong leader..

It is very important to maintain eye contact with students, because you can see if the the information you are presenting to them make sence.

Many dont know that ESL (English as a Second Language) can be supported greatly through visual aids! Students may not always understand that verbal content and the visuals can be a way to provide connection to an otherwise foreign concept.

I teach Composition/Writing in a culinary school. My challenge is to illustrate how effective writing skills will help students advance in their culinary careers. I have found that the best way to do this is to use examples and create assignments that speak directly to the food service industry. I was curious to know if anyone had any other insights on motivating students in general education courses at career schools. -Abigail

Do you think your teaching style differ in online classes and ground classes? Do you think your teaching style would differ if you were teaching a class with no one in class? This is a common element in online classes.

Does anyone use SharePoint in school? We do at my school, and it's terrific. All assignments, handouts, tests/quizzes, links, pictures, notes, test review documents, etc., are placed on our instructor web sites. Each instructor has one, and we can control student access to items in a very detailed way. Here is a link to my website if you would like to see what SharePoint can do. It's a free download from Microsoft for Windows Server 2003. Your IT dept/person should be able to easily set it up for you. www.kirbykomputing.com/sites/mccannschool/sunbury/hkirby/default.aspx (There are a lot of extra things on my site b/c I use it for testing and guinea-pig type things, but it gives you an idea of how powerful this free tool is.)

Outstanding course information. Regards, John Garot

A most interesting and valuable learning experience. Regards, John Garot

It is of paramount importance to be sure my students understand the requirements and penalties associated with assignments, grading, policies and procedures. John Garot

Wonderful training tool for helping the instructors think outside the box and reach higher plateaus of learning experience for sharing.

Good motivation does a lot for the students. What are the best ways to motivate students?

I have had many students with LD's of some sort or another, and I recognize that they have challenges to learning material at the same rate as an average non-LD student. That said- at what point should individuals be responsible for their own differences? The "real world" or "professional world" is not likely to give you time-and-a-half to complete your project, or to give you a scribe for your office meetings. I think we need to start training students to be self sufficient and to integrate as normally as possible. (PS I have several close family members with various different LD's and am very sympathetic)