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Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

Ingrid Alexander
Ingrid Alexander

Student engagement

I wish I did this training the first year of teaching. I learned the hard way that you have to spell everything out and leave nothing to incorrect interpretation.
Stephanie Murrell
Stephanie Murrell

Finding common ground for students' expectations.

Do you find that group projects are an effective way to increase the performance of students who merely want to get by with passing the course?
Brian Autenrieth
Brian Autenrieth

"Engaged-Disengaged" Students

I have this problem regularly with younger students at the trade school level: I am discussing a subject, focusing for the moment on a particular part of the classroom, when there is a discussion between two students in another area. When I indicate that they are talking while I am talking, they say "but we are talking about the subject too!" (Not always likely of course.) How might I address this? When I say they should just bring it up as a topic of discussion, they just look disgusted and annoyed with me. I have yet to come up with a successful solution to this.
William Knarr
William Knarr

A "Cluttered Desk" means a "Cluttered Mind"

Patricia, I was surprised at the section on a "Cluttered Desk" means a "Cluttered Mind." I'm not sure that I agree with the analogy. I've seem many a teacher and researcher that had a cluttered work place but was very "crisp" in presentation and thought. Comments please? Thank you, Bill
William Knarr
William Knarr

The "Slippery Slope" of negotiating with a Cheating Student

Patricia, If we, as teachers, catch a student cheating, one of the alternatives is to write down, agree and have the student sign up to those conditions under which he/she (the cheating student) may remain in class. It seems to me that is a slippery slope. That is, we have just provided the student with authority that conflicts with the ethics of the situation. How do we reconcile that in such a way that it doesn't appear to be wishy-washy and reinforce the students actions? Thank you, Bill
William Knarr
William Knarr

The "Group" hider

Patricia, I've found that using the "small group" technique to pressure the inattentive student into working sometimes backfires. That is, all we've done is frustrate the other small group members by forcing them to deal with the inattentive student and pick up his or her workload. What technique do you recommend we use to to ensure we are fair to other group members as well and not imposing an additional workload on them? Thank you, Bill
William Knarr
William Knarr

The naysayers

There's always a place for those that challenge the status quo, but periodically you have a student that always sees the cup as half empty and after awhile the class doesn't want to listen to them. How do you bring that student back into the fold as far postive contributions?
ROY GREATHOUSE
ROY GREATHOUSE

stress how to handle it

the best way I have foundto handle stress is when i fell it coming I stop what I am doing and take a short walk around the the halls what ever is availble then return to the problem 99% of time when I return everything has clamed down.
Steven Marshall
Steven Marshall

Breathing

Taking deep breaths throughout the day helps you focus and reduces stress.
Katrina Bourke
Katrina Bourke

Application of real world experience

Application of real world experience
Philip Schauer
Philip Schauer

Utilizing the instructors real life experience and application

Utilizing the instructors real life experience and application
Dionne Jackson
Dionne Jackson CHEP

Stress

Stress is not an option in life because we will all experience it at one point. But, how we deal with it is our choice. Finding ways to deal with our stress in a positive way will assist us with having a positive outlook on the things we need to do during our daily lives.
Kristen Hardy
Kristen Hardy

The Bermuda Triangle of in-class work

I found this term interesting as it is so true when it comes to in-class assignments or group work. In planning, an activity may take 30 minutes on paper but can be sufficiently covered in just 10 or 15.
Dionne Jackson
Dionne Jackson CHEP

Stress

I believe that one of the main ways to decrease stress is the have control of your environment and situation. No, life is not perfect but, try and find ways to destress during your most stressful moments. Listen to your favorite music while in rush hour, bring a snack to eat between jobs, pick special times to spend with your kids and family when you are off and most important find time for yourself. I think that alot of times as care-takers we forget that we need to first take care of ourselves.
Dionne Jackson
Dionne Jackson CHEP

Being Organized

Being organized is very important as an instructor. It would be very inappropriate for the class to respond in an organized manner if the instructor does not approach the class in an organized manner.
Lisa Bolton
Lisa Bolton

Knowledge, preparation and organization are the keys to success!

I find these three areas to beof greatest signifigance when preparing for and teaching a class. The more experience the better too!
Caleb Fink
Caleb Fink

Class full of silent students

One of my classes I teach has only silent students in it. I find it very difficult to get any interaction going with them and it is hard to know how much of the information they are retaining. Even when called upon most of them will mumble an answer to me, or stall by looking through their notes. The class only consists of 6 students so it is all ready a fairly small group. any suggestions?
Lisa Bolton
Lisa Bolton

The student who needs attention good or bad

I have had students that just do things and disrupt to get your attention. Once they have your personal attention they are fine. However, they cannot always have your undevided attention. On the other end, the student who constantly needs your approval and reinforcement that they are doing everything correct can be just as much trouble.
Monique Johnson
Monique Johnson

Managing Clerical Duties

In the online environment, clerical duties have increased and can be very time consuming depending on class loads. Taking a specific time each day to address these can minimize the demand and stress. Also making students aware of this schedule can also minimize stress on the students as well in regards to waiting for a response. Great information here to learn from.
Monique Johnson
Monique Johnson

Making time for self

One of the biggest mistakes I see in most instructors’ time management is lack of time for self. Our ability to deliver quality can be as good or as bad as the quality we deliver to ourselves. Being a great instructor starts with being great to self and being able to set the example for students to imitate and learn from. I need to make more time for myself so I am not overwhelmed when others have demands of me. When I do not enforce that personal time I become overwhelmed and most times ineffective at tasks. This is a great refresher for me.