Susan Polick

Hi Myrna- Thanks for your post to the forum. As you mention, linking the concepts we are teaching to current events make them more relevant to our students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Michael- Thank you for a very well written post to the forum. You are obviously carefully planning and implementing an effective assessment strategy! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi William- Thanks for your post to the forum. Students do tend to relax more in small groups. By varying the composition of those groups throughout the class, the students gradually feel comfortable with the majority of the class. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Gretchen- Thanks for your post to the forum. Ice breakers like the one you describe can indeed be very effective. The purpose of course is just to get folks more comfortable talking with each other. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Charles-Thanks for your post to the forum. I really like your idea of inserting your students into your hypotheticals. They already have a connection with each other and so view that person as a "real person" which will enable them to think through that situation in the same way that they would need to when faced with a "real customer". Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Paul - Thanks for your post to the forum. You bring up a common problem. So many of our students are excited about the technical side of their education but don't get the reason why they need to have the "soft skills". I think it's really valuable to have one of the employers who will be hiring our grads, or a successful alumni come in to speak to our students early in their program to emphasize the impact those skills will have on their careers. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Melissa- Thanks for your post to the forum. Thanks an effective way to decide where to concentrate your efforts in your classes. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Nancy - Thanks for your post to the forum. I know that keeping track of your test statistics may at first seem somewhat overwhelming, but I promise it's pretty simple and will pay off big time! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Meg- Thanks for your post to the forum. At the college where I work, we actually have a faculty development class called "Burn the Podium"! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

Hi Allina- Giving your students frequent feedback through quizzes is really important. It gives them regular gauges of how they are doing and gives you guidance of where you need to review. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan