When I was growing up, we always joked about how teachers were bad dressers. I have always remembered that and considered it important to look professional. For me, this always include wearing a tie. From male and female perspectives, what do others think?

Anytime I catch someone cheating the first time I ask why? We then have a chat about the information that I am teaching is very important for them to be successful. I then bring in person they cheated off of and make them aware they will be in just as much trouble the if there is a "next time". This is not expected. This has worked for me over the years.

Wow this can get out of control if you let it. Over the last 2 years cell phones in the class have become a force to deal with. I use the nothing on your desk method to give me a clear view of whats going on. From day one I use A zero-tolerance policy. We all need to use a Zero tolerance form day one. What do you do ?

The first day of class is always my favorite. It sets the tone for the rest of the 13 months I will be with my students. I always start with getting to know the students, and try to get the students to interact with each other through some fun activities. For ex. students are put in very small groups to get to know each other. Groups are rotated to meet everyone. This lasts about 45 min. They then pick anyone from the class to tell the rest of us about that person. What do you do on the first day?

When a person has low self-esteem, they might want to raise themselves by lowering others. They become overly critical of other students. What do you do?

Has anyone ever had a student or students who were "experts" and felt the need add to the lecture all the time? what did you do?

The courses I teach are part of a quick-paced program and are fairly intense. I just have enough time each day to get all the material presented. I continually ask questions as we move thru the material and, of course, there are always a few students with all the correct answers. I'd like to get more students involved in answering but I don't always have the time to dwell on one question. What advice do you have to get more students to participate during the presentation and question-and-answer periods? I do use a method of repetition where I will ask a similiar question later in the presentation, perhaps phrased differently, to see if the other students have understood the concept. Any other ideas in this fast-paced environment?

I teach only one night a week, and find discipline in my class very difficult to enforce. There are usually no administrators in the building after 5pm, so finding an official to help me deal with a disruptive student is not always possible. Any ideas on how to enforce professional discipline "on my own" in my classroom?

Even if it's two minutes, I find a quiet corner to take a few deep breaths or stretch. Usually when I'm alone in the elevator, or in a quiet corridor. It helps tremendously.

I allow stress to have a life span only as long as the stressful moment and breathe it away when it's over. Most importantly, I only stress the things which are under my control. Traffic jams, late busses, rude people... I smile and breathe recognizing it's out of my control and beyond my energy level... Therefore not worth my time stressing over the situation.

In my field, multiple choice, true-false, matching, fill in the blank and short answer tests are the best way to assess my students. I give them an answer key for them to write thierry answers on, that way I can easily match their answers, line by line and quickly grade. That way I can reduce student anxiety and ensure their tests are returned and grades posted in a timely manner.

I use my smart phone to manage my "to-do" list. It has features that allow me to prioritize, move items, check off the stuff that's done and set reminders, deadlines and alarms for immediate priority tasks. I uses this because with all the distractions at school, I tend to forget the tasks that aren't "in my face" all the time.

I sometimes have a difficult time remembering all of my students names in large classes. Aside from calling roll and making name tents, what other strategies do you find effective in recalling students' names?

From the video, "Participant-Centered Learning and the Case Method", Thomas J. DeLong (Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School) mentioned the inclusionary dimension. What strategies do you suggest we implement to make our students feel like they are "in the club" during class discussions?

I amke sure I address this when I go over syllabus. I tell students if they cheat they are cheating not only themselves but their future patients as well. Being able to say they passed an exam with an A but comprehend nothing is worthless. They should fast forward to their first job after graduation; You are expected to perform....but uh oh you cheated on that test, meant to go back and read the material but never got around to it, the employer expects you to do the task, but truth is you have no idea what it even is....who wins now?

The end of class everyone has to contribute to the fast talk topic. One person starts the next person can add to the topic or change the topic to what they have learned. This way everyone has to clue into something during class, they cannot simple say someone said what I was going to say, They have to put their perspective on it. They may be able to present the subject in a manor someone else may understand more clearly. Every person gets 45 seconds, but no more than a minute to give their fast talk.

Why do you think some instructors have challenges with certain students while other instructors have absolutely no problem at all with the same individuals?

How do you deal with a textbook or resource information that is required for the class, but is not the greatest resource for the level of student you are serving?

It is always a real challenge when circumstances lead to one student in the classroom. I implement a lot of projects and extra lab. Other suggestions are welcome of course.

to try and keep demanding students from monopolizing my time, we have sign up sheets for all the students in our clinical setting. does anyone else have another suggestion?