Patricia Scales

About me

I've been a career educator for over 20 years. I currently serve as the Academic Coordinator for Brookstone College of Business and continue to be active in the classroom as a Business Instructor. My motto is "A student doesn't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." I was honored to receive the Career College Association National Teacher of the Year award in 2001. I just love teaching!

Activity

Patricia Scales

Discussion Comment

Reducing student complaints and challenges

Hi Kevin, I like it! You really put a lot of time into these practices initially, but they save you a lot of time and headaches in the end. I use rubrics for projects/papers, and I always go over the test answers out loud with students once they are returned. I take discrepencies at break or the end of class. I like your method. Patricia

Patricia Scales

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Common Instructor Mistakes

Hi Cheryl, We all have made our share of mistakes. Continue to strive to do your very best. Please remember, you get from your students what you expect. If you set high expectations, your students will rise to the bar...trust me, I've been teaching for 21 years. Work on setting high expectations, you will be amazed the quality of work your students will produce. Patricia

Patricia Scales

Discussion Comment

Getting buy in from students

Hi Hector, You have it, students must understand how the knowledge will help them in the workplace. Once students gain this understanding, any course is an automatic buy in. Patricia

Patricia Scales

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Managing angry students

Hi Pamela, I've learned that angry students must be handled very carefully. I have had great success with angry students simply by listening fully. Most of the time just by listening, the angry student regains control and calm down tremendously. Once the angry students becomes calm, the two of us converse intelligently. Patricia

Patricia Scales

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Reducing student cheating

Hi Leslie, I use some of the same tactics, however I generally stand whenever I am monitoring a test. I seem to have more control by standing. Patricia

Patricia Scales

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Maintaining a professional image

Hi Dorothy, Absolutely! Students quickly form opinions about favoritism. A student should never have to question/wonder if an instructor is showing favoritism because an instructor should treat all students the same. Patricia

Patricia Scales

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Interacting with students

Hi Michelle, Great response! I make it a point to interact with every student daily. I teach computer classes and during lab time, I make sure to visit every student at their workstation, and we have small talk. Students appreciate the interaction. Patricia

Patricia Scales

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Making course requirements clear for students

Hi Janell, I like your outlook! You are getting your students ready for the real world. We must make it fully known that slackness, tardiness, laziness, etc. is totally unacceptable in the real world. Thanks for preparing your students for what really lies ahead. Patricia

Patricia Scales

Discussion Comment

Using guest speakers as resources

Hi Daniel, It is definitely a flip side to everything. Generally, guest speakers are more motivating than demotivating. Students normally are inspired by guest speakers. It is good for a student to determine if a curriculum is not for them beforehand, and guest speakers can certainly shed light in this area. Patricia

Patricia Scales

Discussion Comment

Capturing student attention

Hi Bruce, It is also a good practice to make mention of great ways you have excelled in your career. I have found that students are captured by the success stories as well. Patricia

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