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I always try to correct the wrong answers before they set in the minds of the students, by reviewing the correct answers after the test.

I have found that reading your class and reteaching immediately is very effective

I found that I maybe asking too much in one question.When this happens break the question up into smaller components.

helped me with generating new ideas for presentation to give the students more of a variety.

Doing Our Job

As an instructor, it should be expected to teach a diversity of learners. I feel that we want our students to succeed. We know the goals and objectives of the course we are teaching and so we can manipulate the learning track and set all students up for success without them even knowing it. Therefore, it is so important to consider this when designing curriculum, projects, content...etc. I feel that if the course is carefully set up to address this from the start, then the issues that stem from a diverse group of learners can be diffused before they escalate to frustration or boredom - depending upon which side a student falls.

Outdated text material

How do you handle outdated text material if that is the text assigned by your corporate organization?

Personal experience

My best man has a son, Scott, who is in 9th grade, and has a learning disability. The High School he is in has gone away from textbooks and everything is done via a lap top. But because Scott has a LD such an approach is not working for him, for a multitude of reasons. He really needs to have a good old fashion textbook, and an individual plan to meet his individual needs.

Focus/learning groups

I use focus/learning groups a lot in my classes, because it helps in the overall learning experience. Additionally, I found that keeping them in the same group for the entire term is the best approach. They have the opportunity to learn from other by learning about one another. But I also found that some students just hate this approach, and these seem to be the engineering students. The thing is this - what job does one really work all alone with no contact with anyone else.

Communication problems - accepting responsibility

I good friend of mine told me that when something is miscommunicated, the problem mainly resides with the sender and not the communicator. If we accept this presence then the first step in becoming a better instructor is to accept the responsibility that we may not be doing a good job of getting something accross. Once we acknowledge that important fact/tenet then we can work on other skill sets. One involves empathy, patiences and understanding. Another is we need to become better listeners.

motivating students who are not easily motivated

hi... i teach culinary arts and it seems as of late i have many new students who are simply in school to pass time. i often take it personal when i cant motivate them...any suggestions?

stump questions

how do you respond to questions intened to stump teh instructor?

Grading students on a subjective basis - Clinic skills

I have to grade students on how I think they are doing clinically. Sometimes my students think this is unfair because the grade is very subjective and up to me. I've been teaching for 10 years and have been in my field for 22 years so I think I am qualified to grade them accordingly. Is this the answer I should give my students when they guestion the grading scale for clinical skills?

Questions are great learning tools

I love it when my class and have a good question and answer session. They can learn things other than what's in the book or a lecture. Real life experiences, other students experiences, and sometimes this will get my shy student to speak up if something we are discussing relates to them.

Learning Styles

What is a good assessment test to determine what your students learning styles are when you have a large class?

Music

Music is very benificial to the students during lab time. I choose the type(Rock/Roll) and I aloso choose the volume. It really does calm them down. Scott Humphrey

To Use a SmartBoard or Not?

It has been recommended that I think seriously about using a Smart Board in my required liberal arts mathematics course. I'm old style and love my overhead projector. I have been to other math classes that use the SB, but still don't like having to turn my back to the class or stand in the projector's light or wait for the computer to catch up to me while writing on the screen. I admit that the SB has some distinct advantages, but prepared overhead sheets, facing the class, quickly moving from problem to problem seem to outway any SB advantages. My math colleagues love the boards and I can't get them to see the weight of my arguments. Should I put the old projector in the closet and get with the new age?

lost in technology

I'm completing this course for my school and can't help but think that all this busy work just guarantees tech careers and cuts down on the time that we interact with students.

Making Lectures Interesting for everyone

I find that some students are completely involved in my lectures - like microbiology - and some are bored out of their minds. I love microbiology and totally get into the lecture. Is it just that those students are not interested in microbiology or could I be delivering my lecture wrong?

Making Class A Fun Learning Experience

Sometimes at the school I work at - we get in a little trouble if our class is laughing. I truly believe that fun and learning are an important teaching tool and it keeps the students interested and focused on the subject

Textbook with incorrect information

Sometimes I run across information in the textbook that is incorrect - I have to explain to my student that someone made a "typo" but it does not make the school look good. I give them the correct information and move on - is this the best way to handle this situation?