Some of my "book smart" or written learning style students have difficulty applying what they have learned in the classroom to the clinic setting. The clinic is more "hands on" or Kinesthetic learning. Do you have any advice to help the written learners to be more successful in the clinic setting?

I love the idea of a test the first day, but I think I will do it like an interview. I usually have my students ask random questions to another student and then introduce them to the rest of us. But maybe I will form it like a group test. What do you think?

I enjoy having students teach topics that relate to chapter information. The delivery from another source other than the instructor can be just what is needed for a dynamic lecture.

It can be challenging to add the variety of learning styles into the classroom on a weekly basis. I would love some ideas for those that need notes, written words or other visual clues.

I played musical chairs with adult students on the first day. I was pleased at how the nervous energy turned into laughter within minutes of playing. All the "losers" of musical chairs had to introduce themselves and read out a rule/code of conduct for the class. It was fun, I learned names and it broke the first day jitters.

I do not hand out lecture notes to students but I do give them study guides and handouts. What is appropriate for students to receive in adult learning classrooms?

One of the management tools I noticed we always did at big meetings was the introduction of the members. I took that step into my class room. First I go over all the information in the syllabus, then I do the ice breaker. Where the students are paired off with their neighbor, they then ask each other questions pertaining to what field they want to go into, along with some fun question like favorite color. This always warms everyone one up and I follow that activity with showing them their tool kits. I have their complete attention after that activity.

As someone in the creative field, my dress codes would look different form the business professional. Not only am I an art professional, but a Fashion Design professor. What types of modifications to dress code would be appropriate for that field.

what is the percent of blackboard time that is recommended to alternate with the Power Point.

I teach at an accelerated program so we have long class times. Our classes run 3-4 hours. It was interesting to learn that the average attention span for an adult was 15-18 minutes. I will pay attention to that when we have long class times and take some of your advice on the mini lectures. Thanks!

It is always hard to come into a new institution to teach no matter how much experience you have. I try to be prepared for clinics and learn the protocol for the new school but it still takes time to build up trust in your students and faculty. It is also hard not to compare the different institutions I have taught at.

I have found that after an introduction of myself performing an ice breaker allows the students to let his or her guard down. Starting a new class can be very nerve racking. I do my best to be transparent when it comes to my experiences in the field it show the students that I am human too.

I teach in a clinic setting and students are more worried about what grade they will receive than what they have learned in the process. Is there any way to get them to focus on learning and not on their grades?

The first day always makes me so nervous. I have found that the more I prepare the better I feel about the material. The more I teach the came class, the easier it is. Walking through the classroom to gain the perspective of the students is a great idea. I always try to see things from their perspective. I think that is one of the things that makes a wonderful teacher.

This topic helped me to realize that I have been on the right track with my teaching strategies. I also realized a few extra bits of info I can work harder on. Thank you!

I find more often than not the student does not want to be identified with their learning disability. On the first day of class I will sit down with the student and discuss how they can be successful in the course and ask for any suggestions as far as teaching styles that work best for their specific disability.

Personally, I have two very different types of students within my course load. One group is very analytical and the other is more creative. I try to feed both learning styles within one in class assignment. In pairs they can work together, both the left and right brain mentality, by having say a group come up with a window display concept. One thinks of how to present the concept to a manager by crunching the numbers and reviewing the display calendar while the other partner executes the visual by hand.

For the first day of class with my freshman entry level class, I am going to open the class by having peer on peer interviews with one another. They will then introduce their peer to not only myself but to the rest of the class so that they start the school community with a friend or someone they are at least familiar with on the first day of college.

I find it critical that the first day of class to engage students with not only myself but with each other to make it an open environment. The more comfortable that they feel with the environment the more comfortable they will feel when answering questions asked during the course.

In small classes, especially when you've taught the student cohort before, it sometimes seems a little odd to be calling roll. Yet I think this is an important little ritual to follow at the beginning of a class. First, it tends to bring students to their seats and to attention. Second, few people do not enjoy hearing their name--and the roll call gives you an opportunity to say their name and greet them again. Third, it pulls together non-class time into class time, organizing and making orderly. Fourth, it emphasizes that the instructor believes being present, on time and accounted for is important. For these reasons I think one should call roll even when it is clear all students are present. Thoughts?