Hello Everyone, The one sure way to tell if it is time to switch to another teaching style for the night is what I call the glassy eye syndrome technique. This syndrome has been around for years, and when you are paying attention to your class, you can easily spot this infliction by simply looking into the students' eyes. If all you see is a blank stare and someone staring at the clock about every 20 seconds, that is the best time to change things up a bit. One method that works really well is having group activities, as it helps students to gather their attention back to the subject and not our monotone voices.

Hello Everyone, The one thing I learned as a student, was to pay special attention to the syllabus. The syllabus was not only the guide for the entire class, but when used properly, it was also a great way for the instructors to get to know their class. One way I like to break the ice, is to treat the reading of the syllabus as a question and answer session. I.e. "yes if you have a medical emergency, and you communicate with me, I will be more than happy to work with you" OR I.e. "no, turning in the homework the day after the grades are posted will not help. Neither will the sad face you put in your email asking for an extension".

Hello Everyone, I remember "way back", when I was taking my first undergraduate classes and how I thought how easy professors had it. All they had to do is sit back, "act" like they were grading papers, and just enjoying the good life. Needless to say, I have learned how utterly wrong my thinking was. I view each class as a new practice, a new chapter in life. The more I go over the material, the more effort I put into that days class plan, the better my presentation will be. I am not teaching to sit back and enjoy easy street, it is my duty as an educator to ensure the students will take away the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in life.

Hello Everyone, The one thing I truly enjoy about being an educator, is the ability to gain and share knowledge. Most people think as educators, we are always sharing our knowledge with our students. But a true professional is also learning that every day, we are also gaining knowledge to become a better educator, professional, and person. No two classes are the same, no two students are the same, life is continually changing, and we must learn to gain the knowledge to provide the best learning experiences for our students.

In some of our courses,we would lecture on the subject sometimes for hours then go to the lab and actively perform the activities we had lectured on. This works to an extent. One course I teach in particular, has made a big move toward the active learning style and I, personally, have been able to see a much improved outcome from it. Much of the lecture material has been converted to operating and testing instructions that the students use as they are physically able to experience the outcome of their actions in real time. This method seems to dramatically strengthen their understanding and gives them a much better initial grasp of the material and concepts.

Some methods I have used involve game-style tactics to either prepare a class for a test, or to introduce a new topic and see how muck knowledge is already out there. Can anyone share some methods that have worked for you?

I am new to teaching so my experience using active learning is limited. As a student however I was always the type of person who learns better through involved methods as opposed to pure lecture. It’s been said many times throughout this forum of the need for a blend and again from a student’s perspective I believe this is spot on.

I've often been in classes myself with instructors who would not use any active learning techniques. They were some of my worst classes. I believe some individuals may believe so strongly in "old school" methods that they refuse to adopt these practices. I find active learning greatly improves knowledge retention and allows the students to practice applying the knowledge they have gained. My students stay alert in class and really seem to enjoy the constant participation in their education and gain confidence that they truly can understand the material.

I am always concerned about making sure that all the content gets covered. A great method I learned from a seminar by L. Dee Fink author of "Creating Signficant Learning Experiences", is to require that the students do the reading and memorize the needed facts first and come to class prepared to discuss their application. To be sure that they are prepared there is a quiz at the begining of class for each student to take individually. Then small groups take the test together and have to come up with a consensus for the right answer. The resulting discussion during the group test is full of active learning techniques.

I think asking questions in class shows the instructor that the student is in learning mode. It prompts them to have open ideas about the subject. When students are not asking questions, I typically quiz them. Once they are quizzed, the questions start flow again. Again, I think it is a matter of knowing your audience(students).

I have been teaching for a little over 5 years now. I must say, it is critical to know each students learning style. As a instructor, you want to be able to reach each student in order for them to walk away with something if it is visual, auditory or kinesthetic. It also prompts the instructor to grow in other areas to become more successful and master their skill set.

These students need more time to learn but they really want to learn, so I believe that the Instructor has to be patience in teaching them and have to utilize all simple means to teach them and achieve the required goal.

Language is a big barrier. I think the students with language barriers should be provided with some help from the institute they are studying in.

Diversity in teaching helps many students and focus many things rather than staying focus at something which might not bring interest in students learning.

I believe that body language of an instructor plays big role in delivering lecture. A positive body language conveys the student that the instructor is well prepared and is concerned with students learning.

Tactile learning for my students is the best way to intake mass amounts of information and skill sets. Unfortunately we don't have time to introduce all materials that way, so I try to meet them in the middle with multimedia examples.

Being an expertise of subject instructor who works with students being predominantly young males I get the alpha personas that question authority. That's fine unless it's to take control of my class. At the beginning of a course establishing who you are and what you expect sets the foreground of what's appropriate classroom discussions.

At my college I teach in two hour segments, with an interval ten minute break. Which has taught me to deversify teaching techniques. Taking this particular MaxKnowlege course has re-enforced that. Adults 10-15 attention span was a surprise. I did not know research had reflected such a short period.

I've learned that arriving early to class and greeting my students with the occasional small talk reduces stress in the environment. Also there are fewer random distractions during class than when I arrive just before class.

On the first day of class, I have found when students find out a little something about a fellow classmate(s), it seems to change the social climate of the class atmosphere from one of, say, cold, to one of social connections and relaxations. I am always looking for new ice breakers (i.e. a site where I can learn new ones). Would anyone share some of your first day of class ice breakers. Thanks!