is it best to have a new class introduce themselves in a group to feel more at ease

How can we as instructors motivate the lazy student?

I have a class with half the students at various levels of competency. They lack the basic skills needed for my class. How do I deal with this knowledge gap?

I tend to be as informal as I can in the classroom. I find that it helps me relax and also puts the students at ease, but it isn't always easy to know where to draw the line. What experiences have others had regarding this issue?

Hello, I teach a course in Biology for non-science majors and we often look at all types of life, from bacteria all the way up to humans. Students learn a great deal during lecture and will be exposed to various organisms with the help of a microscope and prepared slides. Towards the end of the semester, we conduct a frog dissection and students seem to love it. In order to reinforce proper lab techniques and safe handling of dissection tools, I require that each student complete a virtual lab dissection at home. This serves as a practice session before they enter the classroom to conduct the actual dissection of a frog. By combining a virtual lab dissection with a hands-on one, students will get the most bang for the buck.

How long is a good time to show a video? Without boring the students or them taking naps.

I would like some more ideas on breaking the ice on the first day of class.

I have started to adopt a 'scavenger hunt' process for my students. I have found that many feel a lot of pressure during exam taking and as a result, I believe they aren't performing as well as they could. Instead, I break them into groups and allow them to explore the why's of the information. One thing is for sure, the attitude of the students has improved a great deal about test taking. It is cool, the more of these classes I take the more I understand that some teaching methods can really be enhanced by following instincts. Before this class, I was unaware there was a name for what I was doing.

I have using multiply choice test since my students will be sitting for a national board exam that is all multiply choice. My thought is I want to get them used to how they are set up. My question is are my student missing out on learning without using other testing methods?

I believe each Professor/teacher/instructor is different in that they have their preferred way to test but at the same time may not have their option. Their institute may have a standard. Here where I work, I've seen all types of ways to test to include a system where the test is put up on a screen and each student answers the question from their seat like playing the game jeopardy. I believe a combination of true/false and multiple choice are significant but as you climb the ranks in education/college they should turn inturn essay type questions.

I don't always feel that a test does any good. Some folks like myself hear the word test or final or quiz and I go into a panic. I don't want a student that is in class for 10 days going through pure panic for 9 days just thinking about the last 10. You will loose them right up front. Other ways to test are oral or put the questions on the board and pick and choose students to answer them. After all, we are not here to fail students, we are here to educate them.

I work at the Joint Special Operations University, when we see the class list we break the students out into groups. We seperate them from branch of service and origin of country. When put into working groups, they tend to break their shell so to speak and start participating more as they all have different areas to draw from with their back ground and experience. Then on day 3 when then are all set, we'd change their seating assisgments after they left for the day and make them sit somewhere else in the class on day 4. They never know what is coming next. Keep them guessing and they will respond/participate.

I would like to get more information on realistic goals for cosmetology program

How can I teach a class that don't show up on time then be disruptive when they do get their?

Hi, Should assessments be given daily? Thanks, Andy

Hi, Is it better to have a daily quiz at the beginning or end of the class? Thanks, Andy

Hi, I learned that you should ask specific students specific questions that are open ended. Is this a good strategy? Thanks, Andy

Hi, I teach math and have noticed that there seems to be more visual learners nowadays. Is this a correct assumption, that current media has swayed the populous into a certain preferred mold of learning? For instance, a tv generation may be more visual while a computer generation is more kinesthetic. Thanks, Andy

Learning is a complex process.It is also depends on the individual who is learning. Everybody has a preferred ways of learning. Somebody learn by listening, some from reading and some by doing or applying. Which methods give a permanent or long lasting learning is also different based on individuals. But still you need multiple ways of teaching. One only method will not complete the whole learning process. We need to lecture then demonstrate the process and then let the students do by themselves.Ultimately active learning is needed because student will have to do the same thing in the jobs what they learn in the class.

Base your texting format on the reaction of the class during lecture.