Maximizing students' potential through facilitation is exciting and rewarding. Many students are nontraditional students who come from various backgrounds. Engaging students in a comfortable environment where they feel they are able to focus on reaching their educational goals is essential. I have had many experiences with international students, diverse students, and students with various backgrounds and ages. Providing them an opportunity to learn in an online environment where they are provided the tools and encouragement to succeed can be accomplished in a variety of ways. I believe the most important thing that faculty can do to facilitate student learning in online courses is attempt to make a personal "connection" with the student and to create a "safe" environment. The greatest way to ensure a successful relationship with an individual is to make sure that you create an environment that is safe to ask questions, to be confident to take a risk, and to be our real self.

Planning is vital. Some of the issues that I have encountered and have succeeded are students who are time pressed so they are not able to get in the three separate days in order to get the maximum assessment points here. That said, I would set a call with them to help them se a feasible dedicated time for them to go in, even if it is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as I am certain they can provide 20 minutes of their time in one of those days. They need to realize that this is normal and that they cannot make excuses not to log in. They are here for change, for the positive, so pushing them a bit will help them with this process as well. A second issue would be that they do not computer access or Internet Access. I always email and call them to tell them that they can go to a library or to a Wi-Fi area, if they have a laptop, as this is what I would do as an instructor should I encounter this issue. Mitigating circumstances are another story (such as weather, health, etc.)They are empowered to make the final decision and I think that our words of advice do help out! In order to help them realize this and get them out of their old routine, ensuring to at least connecting with them and showing that you care and that everything is feasible can certainly help them improve!

This effort would have to be supported by several assignments requiring students to find and share different types of information to develop a team product (jigsaw, project team). This would provide the instructor with an opportunity to review the team's work and provide appropriate comments regarding the collaborative aspects of task and encouraging appropriate collaborative activities. Firstly, Knowles 1984 research indicates our focus, to be most effective for the adult learner (whether online or in the traditional classroom), should be on instruction that is explicated, task oriented, applicable to the learners’ experience, and directed to permit personal discovery as the means of acquiring knowledge whenever possible -- presumably adding to the learner’s personal experiences. Secondly, Gagné, Briggs & Wager, 1992, note nine needs that must be met for adult learning (online or otherwise) to occur: (1) reception -- gain student attention; (2) expectancy -- define objective(s); (3) retrieval -- recall of prior learning; (4) selective perception -- stimulus to learn; (5) semantic encoding -- guide to learn; (6) responding -- elicit performance; (7) reinforcement -- provide feedback; (8) retrieval -- assess performance; (9) generalization -- enhance transfer and retention. One way we can help students learn to give and accept feedback without conflict arising is through the use of a team charter that includes an agreement on the way feedback will be given and received. Dealing with this issue early in the class is imperative I think to avoid the harmful effects of poorly given and taken feedback. The charter also lets the group know that feedback is coming and it is OK to get "negative" feedback. The important focal point of any "negative" feedback needs to be a positive response to it focused upon how it can make us better. Talking about this before it happens lays the foundation for success when it comes.

IO do not like standarized tests, bcajuse students are at different places. A true accurate measure is what you taught in class and went over. I don't believe I got to play the I Gotta Game

Having this unique group of students do extra reading assignments empowers them. I make them push themselves and the outcome has worked for me. Has anyone tried this?

I find folks with disabilities gain ground in education when I have them read in front of the class. Not only do they do well but they gain confidence. Has anyone experienced this?

I like to put the new students in groups with former students as they feel more relaxed working with them on the first few days rather than working alone. It gives them an immediate support system. Has anyone tried this?

Walking through the class is a very effective in teaching adults as you can get the students in the back whom usually do not participate to do so. Has this ever confused anyone's students? I've had students ask me why am I walking around.

Subjective evaluation is probably the best but also the most difficult to "fairness". Attitude as well as time of day affect this type of grading.

As an instructor I found the table of characteristics and types of questions very informative. I viewed the question level, expected student behavior, instructional process, and key words helpful in better understanding the structure. I thought the information was helpful in expanding my understanding leading to a better classroom environment.

Years ago when I started teaching at my current college, the learning environment was poor. The school was behind technology times and lacked the support students needed to succeed. Over the past three years the school has spent the funds in adapting the facilities and upgrading the systems. I know that our students are more successful because the learning environment has allowed them greater opportunities. The environment plays an important role in the success of our students. From the atmosphere, classroom layout, technology, color, and look of our buildings we create a learning environment. What we have to offer our students leads to their success.

I teach a computer course with 22 students. Any suggestions on how to successfully keep students with different competencies on task and off facebook, etc.?

It is very important to be professional in all aspects of your persona as an instructor. Be the person you want your students to look up to, take directions from and mirror.

Technology has improved both in functionality and cost that demonstrations and hands on manipulation are both interactive, technically simple and and excellent learning platform. New plug and play sensors allow student to seen real time physical effects that can be viewed on the laptop or sent to a multi-media projector. A very basic lab set up can be as inexpensive a 500 dollars to get started.

I find that real life career experiences help to motivate my students. They are eager to understand the career field to which they are committing themselves with their professional course of study. Linking my "in the field" career experiences to course content delivery has helped to motivate my students, and help them understand the reason for the focus on certain content. This is done through sharing anecdotes and case studies.

It's important to incorporate as much real world information into the classroom as possible to show how the information that is being conveyed is applicable.

I strongly encourage students to be engaged with each other because the information they can share with each other is also very valuable.

Why is it not a good idea to have some humorous questions on a test? I do it all the time, plus on short answer questions I tell the students "if you don't know the answer, see if you can't make me laugh, because that might be better than leaving the answer blank."

Using a variety of delivey methods not only helps the students with the course you're teaching but it also keeps them engaged and excited about learning. Being able to accomodate the forms of learning in my opinion, gains appreciation from the students!

This is very true in this situation. Setting a level of mutual respect in the classroom is to me, the most important factor in teaching. The students must want to respect you and you are the only person who can establish this from the start. The students have a tendancy to push the limit and given the opportunity, they will try to push in one way or another.