Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Cynthia, Sure. Good instructors will use all of their resources to provide better clarity, understanding, and interest to their class lessons. Students appreciate the variety and as a result, tend to retain information better. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Making field trips and guest speakers a part of instruction

Cynthia, It's said a "picture is worth a thousand words", particularly true with field trips. Students get motivated and usually a little more enthusiastic about their studies following an interesting field trip. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Erica, Great! Even strong students need and want feed back about their performance. Unfortunately we have to sometimes spend more time with weaker students, but all students benefit from current grade and performance staus. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Reasons for evaluating students

Eleana, Yes, we need to know where we may need to intervene, and students need to know where where emphasis in their study may be needed. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Joshua, Right. Serious adult learners want and need cuurent informatiion in order to decide how best to use their study time, along with any areas they may need additional study. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Beverly, Giving students current grade and performance data can only help them reach their educational journey on time and in good shape. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Awarding extra credit

Tavia, I am not opposed to extra assignments that assist students learn. I can always assign more. It's the giving of points for that work that my personal belief is to not award EC points. I only speak for myself and my classes in this regard. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Awarding extra credit

Carlos, I have said in the past, "the student is the one who earned the grade, I just record it". You have articulated a similar sentiment. Part of the foundation of most things is fairness. To the students that truely earn their grades, we have to be fair to them just as much as those who have earned them. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Joshua, That's how it helps me. I don't grade my pretests, so students seem willing to try when they know there is no consequence for trying to answer to their best ability. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Carmella, Sure. When we have a basline we are better able to meet the needs of these particular students at this time, in this class, this go around. The needs may very well be different for a different cohort of students later on. Barry Westling