Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Hi Barb: I agree letting students know where they're weak in class is a good idea. I also think this gives the teacher an opportunity to connect with the student, to relate in a couteous, caring, and helpful manner. Sometimes students will share other information that indirectly reflects on their class performance. I think that's a great time to offer suggestions or advice and students usually appreciate teachers who demonstrate their helpfulness in contributing to the students success. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Being a student-centered instructor

Hi Sue: The challenge for teachers is that the existing lesson plans may be preplanned or organized a certain way, and that prevents altering the course to meet the needs of the student. Ultimately, true student centered learning puts the students learning needs above that of canned curriculum in lieu of individualized study plan. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Organized and prepared to teach

Hi Gerald: Yes, I agree, Students know and can sense when their teachers are prepared and ultimately, an unprepared (or underprepared) teacher could have an adverse impact on the students learning. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Reasons for evaluating students

Hi William: I maintain that points on assignments and grades on tests and quizzes are merely a means to an end. We have to do it in order to provide some level of objectivity and fairness in evaluating students. Regardless, if a course states taht tests and quizzes will contribute to the grading process, then it is the responsibility of the student to do their best on these, as all assignemnts. Of course, most of us are employed in an educational institution that require or have existing standards for grading students. Then, we owe our employer their due as their… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi William: Yes. I think you've stated the core reasons for keeping students informed! Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Mistakes made when selecting course content

Hi William: I think you bring up a good point about our role as teachers. I find I learn from my students frequently. When we put on blinders to only what we think, we are limiting the full and robust bouquet of learning possibilities that could be experiebced if we included student particiapation in the instructional plan. In fact, when student are allowed to "teach" selected components of a class, there will be great benefit to the student, their classmates, and perhaps our own respository of stored information for use in the classroom or our own workplace information. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Developing instructional backup plans

Hi William: I agree. I think case stuydy methods are one of the most effective learning techniques we can train our students with because it involves interaction, discussion, critical thinking, past experience, and can place the student "in the moment" in some of the cases, which can be a very powerful motivation and conhtribution to transfering learned lessons into long-term memory where it can be accessed months and even years later. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Hi William: Personally, I'm hesitant to let students grade each others paper for reasons of confidentiality and our litigious society and mentality that exists these days. Given an innocent environment, I think this is a practical application of learning through observation (of others work). Important is the planning tool pretesting provides the teacher. Adjustments to curriculum fcan be implemmenteed when it is known where general weaker areas of student performance reside in a class cohort. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Goal of educating students

Hi William: True and applicable sentiments. I like your military axiom - I had heard that used before, but it is a good one. I believe that as educator, our basic goal is to transfer knowledge we have to our students. We have life experience, formal and informal training, work experience, character and integrety. Many of students are lacking in many of these attributes. If we care, we want to pass on all that we can with nthe hope that these individuals will take waht we give themj and improve upon or take the information further than we will ever… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Student learning outcomes

Hi William: I think about Student Learning Outcomes (SLO's) in a couple of ways. One is very broad and more aligned with your comment alluding to life-long learning. A more specific example involves the mechanics as applied in the classroom. SLO's are the "what" the student should know when successfully complete the unit. Course or unit objectives are the "how" of achieving the SLO's. Media, orgainzied lessons and related resources are the "tools" that are used to perform the tasks. And "assessment" is the measurement against the standards that will determine to what degree the student mastered the subject matter.… >>>