Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi William, It is always a challenge to understand just how much the students are getting from the lecture/demonstration that you are sharing with them. We as instructors have to look for different ways of getting and processing the feedback we are receiving. A method that you might want to try is to hand out 3x5 cards after you have delivered a lecture. Ask the students to give you feedback on the delivery and content. They do this anonymously so it is low risk for the students. You will find that you receive valuable feedback on how you did. Ask… >>>

Hi Kiran, What a great attitude about instructional improvement. Yes, we can be both teachers and students, in fact we have to be. Each day as we enter the classroom, the students offer us ways we can improve our delivery and/or content. The key is for us to be open and receptive to what the students are sharing with us, because most times what they are telling us is not said with language but with actions. We have to be very observant as instructors. By using the buffet approach to teaching you are allowing your students to be able to… >>>

Hi Linda, Thank you for the response to my question. You are using a very good technique in getting students to acquire new information and then utilize it. The key to learning is moving information/knowledge/content from short-term memory to long-term memory to active working memory. Moving through these three stages allows material to be dropped so check points have to be introduced to make sure the essentials of what is being taught are not lost. The reteach method helps greatly with this. Application of learning involves storage and retrieval of information and anything you can do to help the students… >>>

Hi Kiran, A comfortable secure learning environment is a necessity for students. The learning environment has two components and you hit on both of them. The physical setting has to be safe and supportive for learning, the equipment current, and classroom layout conducive to student flow. The other component of the learning environment is the instructor. The students have to have a feeling that they are studying with a person of knowledge and they will respect the instructor for that knowledge. In addition the students have to feel that the instructor cares about them and their success. Both components have… >>>

ED101 -> Forums -> Forum 3 Setting Expectations by Kiran Malhotra - Thursday, 31 March 2005, 10:06 PM (EST) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hi Gary, Instructors should schedule orientation for the new beginging students with clear presentation of the syllabus as well as policy and procedures for the classroom so that there can be no misconceptions of what is expected of the course and How it is going to be presented in what different formats. Students can also be given a chance for feedback. Having students sign the Class Rules and explaining the grading process is a good way to get the students… >>>

Hi Pam, From your comments it sounds like you are doing a great job of keeping your students informed of expectations, deadlines, and requirements. As human beings we seem to always need reminders of what we need to be doing and how we can hit deadlines. One suggestion I would make is you develop a number of creative reminders that can be shared with the students. I have used floating Power Point reminders that are on the screen before class and they “float” or scroll for 5 minutes before class starts. Another successful technique is to use cartoons that remind… >>>