Course content is critical for: 1) meeting course outcomes 2) meeting program outcomes 3) meeting student's expectations

I beleive that motivation is the key to successful: 1) teaching 2) learning 3) overall student satisfaction

A varied approach is one that tries different methods in order to get to what is best for the students. Lecture, demonstration, discussion and so forth are all good. But, be flexible.

Making a good first impression is important. But, it is also important to continue this good start in subsequent classes. Students will benefit from such an approach.

Even if the learning environment is not ideal, instructors need to be positive and persevere.

Some students have special problems in learning. Instructors need to be sensitive about such situations.

I like to do what usually works well for everyone. Carefully explain each part, why it is required and how it works. I usually have retention rates in the high 80's and up. So, It seems the method works.

One of my favorite things to do to get a class going is Oragmi. I have students take an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. I tell them we are goint to do an art project. Everyone looks nervous. Then I have them do two folds (like a business letter). I then tell them they are done with the art project! It's a name tent! I pass out markers and have them decorate the "tent". Students love it.

This an eye opener. I learnt a lot from this module. What do you think the the actual definition of learning syles is?

In an online environment, it is important to establish an student centered online enviroment where student are the major participants in their learning, peers serve as their learning partners, and the instructor serves as the coach, mentor, and facilitator in the learning environment.

Getting stdent to visualize what they are doing and to ask does this look right helps they do the task better. I show how to take things apart and then reverse the process to assemble it correctly.

I am an Instructor at Technical school and we have used Poster board that the students have drawn on of the impression or actual training they have preformed during class, after we have discussed their work it is placed around the room for new students use and it has worked out quit well for us as teaching tools and examples.

Use-ability is a word I created to define content information that is set in a context that the students find useable. Information if you will that creates utility for them in some fashion. For example, telling students that they need a flash drive for a class is not as useable as showing them how to set their flash drive file system to create a useable archive of everything they need, created and delivered in all their classes.

I really try to make the first class meeting, live or archived a jovial one. That is not to say that there is not a sense of conviction to the subject matter and my dedication to their learning. However, I think first classes are a delicate time when first impressions can mean the difference between persistence and lethargy.

I often have students tell me that they cannot find the term “Team intervention strategies” (just an example) in the book. They tell me that they have searched the glossary and the TOC. My response it that often the term is verbatim but the description is there if you read and comprehend the books content. I believe that many of our students have had primary educators spoon feed questions and matching answers and therefore it is our job to assure students achieve interpretative skills in there readings.

Deciding on the most effective test method is just as important to the instructor as it is for the student.

Helping students understand how to research properly to support (or diminish) their positions is an essential aspect of content learning. Often research may lead students to avenues that only support but not challenge their hypothesis, this is a bad practice.

Accommodating students with learning disabilities is one thing but in the field of online learning, it becomes a more difficult task. The issue that many online instructors often face is the online universities enrollment policies. Enrollment and acceptance policies into private online universities require no minimum basic skills. The majority of online universities used what they call “open enrollment” and in many cases the students have limited knowledge of a high education learning environments, how to use the computer accompanied with multiple learning disabilities. The identified issues tend to make it extremely hard to accommodate this group of students. However, it forces you to find ways to be creative and innovative in the classroom. I often see my job as an opportunity to help students learn by comprehending the course content as well as teaching them the basics of computing and writing skills.

How are other faculty using popular website such as youtube for their courses?

In Interior Design we are required to maintain CEUs for professional licensure. I find combining these requirenemnts with online training to be beneficial. Any othre interior designers as part of this training?