Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Hi Pamela, Your suggestions of keeping open the channels of communication between your students is a good one. This way you should be able to keep on top of any boiling or emerging problem within the classroom. A suggestion of something you might want to try is the use of feedback cards. I use 5 x 7 cards for student feedback or the raising of issues on a frequent basis. Example, when I have the student complete and hand in an assignment, I have them fill out a card on how the viewed and valued to assignment. The students do… >>>

Joseph, The learning environment is critical as you say to the educational progress of students. Many times students have a very unrealistic idea of what their chosen field of study and work is really like. Through career exploration program they hopefully will come to your class having a clear picture of the discipline and rigors of their field. The other factor that must be addressed is that with the work/learning environment a challenging one, you need to do everything you can to make the educational environment (handouts, assignments, lectures, demonstrations, etc.) as educationally sound as you can make them, so… >>>

Hi Pamela, Great question that has challenged educators since the beginning of time. How do we keep everyone moving forward? The method I use is to develop case studies or challenge problems that the students can move work on while I am helping the other students. I make it very clear that these are individual challenge activities and not extra assigned work—meaning if I complete my work early I know I will just more work kind of assignments. I also break the students into teams, or use peer tutoring when this situation arises. The think, pair, share model of learning… >>>

Hi Pamela, You are right on target. I bet your class is one that your students look forward to. By keeping an ongoing assessment, either formal or informal, going in your class you can adapt or modify what you are doing to help keep every student moving forward. By having a variety of instructional tools available to yourself you can quickly change what you are doing to meet that student need. Just make sure you keep some kind of record of what you did and how successful it was to that when you teach that course again you can draw… >>>

Hi Joseph, You have a very positive approach to your instructional setting. By developing instructional delivery in a variety of ways, that is through different delivery modes you will be appealing to the learning styles of your students. The four main categories of learning styles are viewing, listening, reading and tactile. As long as you are helping your students to work within these four areas you will be succeeding as a teacher. The point of giving them the maximum you can give as an instructor is important because they are your customers and you want to be a part of… >>>

Hi Gloria, Sometimes we forget that important it is to see someone that is successful in our field. Bringing in the graduates is an excellent way of demonstrating that “in the near future that can be you as well” for your students. Another motivational technique that you may find helpful is to give the students opportunities for application of their newly acquired knowledge or skill. Sometimes they cannot see application outside the classroom or that they are moving along a learning continuum. By letting them see how they can use their new skills you can greatly enhance their excitement about… >>>

Gloria, Sounds like your school is working hard to keep instruction at the highest level and I commend you and your school for this. A suggestion to help in this effort would be to develop a individual evaluation format for your specific use. I have developed a model for my classes called “Strands of Strength”. This model enables me to get at specific questions I have for my teaching that will help me to improve each phase. Our general evaluation form is not specific enough to get at some of the components of the courses I teach. I also, use… >>>

Hello Again, By using a combination of delivery systems, you will be meeting the learning styles of your students. As you mentioned students learn in four primary modes, listening, reading, viewing, and tactile. I think by offering instruction in a variety of these modes the content remains exciting and challenging for both me and the students. By using variety, you can also see what works and doesn't work in your delivery. If you keep a notebook of these presentations and their successes you will develop a comprehensive picture of delivery options and how you can make them work best for… >>>