Barry Westling

Tamara, True. And I find most students really enjoy a break from the routine by having a guest speaker come to elaborate on one or more areas of the work setting the student is being prepared for. They often feel inclined to ask questions, and usually feel more enthusiastic about their efforts, and therefore, may decide to buckle down with their studies as a result. Barry Westling

Jackie, Yes, more senses enhance learning. Of course there are other senses that can be amplified as well, such as balance, pressure, temperature, pain, and movement. Depending on the topic, an activity involving one or more special or general sense will tend to promote lasting retention of information. A great example I share with students is how smelling a certain fragrance or odor can instantly back a memory of some experience. So it can be for students in their learning adventures. Barry Westling

Sheri, Organized materials and resources lead to an organized lesson and delivery - they seem to go hand in hand. It's really a self management thing, one of the points you refrenced in your post. Barry Westling

Reza , Electronic is great in that up to date info can be shared quickly. Yet sharing information where a personal connection with students, offering suggestions, advice, along with support and encouragement can be conveyed demonstrates that the instructor cares about their students. Barry Westling

Tracie, I think being in class on time and prepared should be an assumed responsibilty, no one should have to tell an instructor this is expected. Students do expect their instructors to be there, ready, and fully prepared. Barry Westling

Gregg, This is certainly a reasoned viewpoint, and not even disagreeable. What my practices are based on are the abuse many students take, and the complaints of the very students you describe, the ones who in spite of life's obstacles do good work in the midst of lifes struggles. Perhaps in some professions, "padded grades" don't matter much. For me, in he medical classes I teach and supervise, there is little room for students not demonstrating minimal knowledge and proficiency in skills that involve procedures involveing the health, safety, and wellness of the hospitalized patient. Barry Westling

Charles, If students want to do more work than expected, I think that's admirable and should be encouraged. However, to expect EC folr that work (perhaps as the sole motivation for doing so) has not been a favorable choice for me, based on many years of past experiences trying diffirent motivational strategies. For me, I simply don't award EC, especially if it's in substitution for required assignments. Barry Westling

Larry, I think this is a wonderful idea. The trouble with most EC assignments is they award credit for non-assigned work in substitution for assigned work, which really diminishes the focus of the course, is difficult to garde fairly, and if not open to or required by all students, some may claim "unfair" (usually the stronger stidents who don't need the EC points). In general, I believe all assignments should be approved by the instructor and with few exceptions, be required of all students. Barry Westling

Charles, Yes, if we want to take students froim where they arfe to somewhere we want them to be in their learning, pretesting is a great way to determoine what prior learning students come to class with. From there, planning can occur that helps meet the student needs. Barry Westling

Larry, Great. This is eactly what pretesting is designed to do. Barry Westling