I feel that as mentioned in the course materials, true/false and multiple type questions are easier to grade and also more objective. Essay questions and papers are more time consuming to grade. However I think these assessment methods are also important as they help build students' writing skills. I think a combination of multiple choice and essay questions/ projects is the best option. What do you think about this ? Seema Vaid

I sometimes feel like online instructors tend to multi-task too much which results in difficulty in focusing on the task at hand. There are instant messages, e-mails, social networking sites ( too many distractions) I am finding this to be a challenge and also the reason why I procrastinate on some of the tasks. There are just too many distractions. Do any of you feel the same way sometimes ? Seema Vaid

I think this time of season is particularly stressful due to the additional obligations many of us have. It is much harder to find any quiet time at work or at home.

Focus on your students. As instructors we must be able to cater to a verity of different personality and learning styles and make sure that we are getting to all the students the curriculum that is set for one specific course.

At my program, the student body is primarily made up of females. The ages vary from just out of high school to older women changing careers. Management issues seem to stem from maturity differences. How do manage or prevent the "girl drama?"

The strategy for grading homework that was in the lesson was not very helpful to me. I teach a hand drafting class. Each week the students turn in a drawn assignment. There are three areas that I access: Lettering, linework and layout. Each gets 33 points, with the extra point being for exceptional work. I red line each drawing, pointing out what was done incorrectly and where improvement can be made as well as pointing out what was done correctly and where improvement has been made. This takes a tremendous amount of time. Is there a better way to do this?

When I grade DB tasks I read the DB comments as they appear each day and make notations about them in a grade book. When it comes time to assign a final grade on the assignment I don't always have to go back and re-read everything the student wrote.

I make informal to do lists and make a habit of checking off each item that is completed as soon as I complete the tasks. This makes it seems like I am actually accomplishing things.

I understand the value of a seating chart in the elementary and secondary school setting. How effective is this approach with the adult learner?

Often times we are so busy that we forget that we actually are in control of our time. The key to taking control is finding that balance between work and life.

Most of my seminars are very general in scope. They cover very broad areas of national security and serve as much as a way to develop collaborative networks as they do as an educational tool. Attendees are senior national security professionals who have very specific duties and responsibilities. This means little of what they learn will have immediate, pratical application. Rather, enhanced understanding of goals and challenges helps guide decisions. How do I motivate attendees at this level?

When I used to have 32 students in a class, I prided myself in remembering student names by the second day and by the third day, I even remember their last names too. It always surprised them when I can call out their names; it sure helps in student-teacher rapport. Spending time to prepare for a class certainly takes a lot of pressure when we start to teach and also makes us look more professional, especially when we are asked questions that have relevance but may not always be covered in the day-to-day topics.

Getting the students to write down any grievances is a very good way of 'diluting' the situation. It works in personal situations, so this can be applied at colleges too.

I like this method and will certainly try it out with my next batch of students when we start in Jan. I have a student right now who fits this profile and this will certainly help and also make the class fun, as well as giving other students a chance to voice their views.

Students will always have an excuse regarding late assignments. I use the 'Point deduction' system as well and it is included in the syllabus so that everyone is clear about the rules. And when students are late, I remind them of the rule but also encourage them to still submit them and not give up.

I have been highly organized all of my life. I started with "to do" lists when I was a teenager. I even used to make lists of my lists. I create monthly, weekly, and daily lists. I cross off items as I go. I also create a new weekly list each Monday. I am one of those sick folks that actually looks forward to Monday mornings. I look at it as the beginning of a bright, shiny new week. But, with all this organization, there is a dark side. I feel that the more organized I have gotten, the more I have taken on. Also, others view me as so organized that they expect me to organize things for them! I have realized there are only 24 hours in a day. I want my life back. The happiest I have been in the last few years was when I was on vacation in Jamaica laying on the beach and staying in a room that did not have a phone or TV. I feel like a hamster on a wheel. Does anyone else feel like this? Also, does anyone have suggestions on ways I can step back from this rat race mentality?

I am online many hours of the day. Since I work from home, I have my laptop running for close to 10-12 hours. Although I do not need to be logged in for that amount of time, it helps when keeping emails down. If I am tackling a tight deadline and am working feverishly to complete grades, commenting to DB forums, etc, I become frazzled if I forget to show my status as "offline". Then, I get several students who will instant messaging me. Usually at that time, I am slow to respond and request they email me. I have also set my status as "away" or "busy" but more often than not, it does not stop students from chiming in and asking questions or letting me know of something going on that prevents them from submitting an assignment on time. Although it sounds so simple, it can cause me a little more stress than I want. Anyone else have the same issue as I do? Thanks, Anna

Since I teach several of the same courses over and over, I always reuse my presentations. Usually I will modify or add more to it depending on what needs to be changed. Something else I do is allowing students to download the presentation for them to keep. Although they are able to attend live sessions and view the presentation, they are unable to download it while in live chat. There is a location I submit each and every presentation from the lectures I have given. The location is very familiar to the students; I also remind them by email and announcement boards to check the Instructor Files often. Does anyone else do this as well? Thanks, Anna

When I lecture I have found that if I lecture a subject and review what we have just tought before moving on more students retain the course.

For the most part, just simply reading a book on personnal development is all I use to become less stressed. I don't watch television news shows because I don't want to be subjected to all the negativity we have in our society. If I keep focused on how I can improve myself, stress seems to go away.