Barry Westling

Barry Westling

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Hi Cynthia: Good thoughts. Giving what you have learned and conveying it to the students is one broad way to define educational purpose: Transfer of knowledge. Regards, Barry
Hi Eli: The good thing here is the quick response and definming how grading will occur from the outset. Regards, Barry

Hi Eli: One way to quickly add commentary without spending a lot of time is to compile a list of adjectives that can be added to the grade on the first page, such as "Super!", or Way to go!", or "Improvement noted". Those couple of words can have as much meaniong as a whole paragraph. Another thing you can try is underling or circling sections in the paper and add emphasis (exclamation point, question mark, etc.). Also sharing overall class performance and mention a few examples of particulary good work by selected students can be effective, especially if the student's… >>>

Hi Eli: Giving students all the information about grades, followed or accompanied with a show of assistance and concern for their success will a lot towards motivating a student to do better. Regards, Barry
Hi Sharon: Good ideas!. Current events is a good way to stimulate discussion in a topic that most students are familiar with. If you can dovetail that "story" to something related to your class, all the better. I, too, have found the quiet student who becomes "alive" unexpectantly. Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen: You're right about students being aware of and wanting to improve their grades. Sharing grade information does provide an opportunity to not only give advice about the course but also personalize the teacher-student relationship. Some teachers will provide grade summaries for students to monitor their progress. Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen: Pretests come in all shapes and sizes. In the online classroom, there numerous ways a teacher could apply the concept of a pretest such as lists of terms that will be discussed, key concepts that contribute to the lessons, or even previews of information that's likely to be tested later on. Really, not so different from the on-ground environment. Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen: You've touched on some key points. In a more universal sense, we can think of educating students as the transfer of knowledge from teacher to student. How, when, where, and who describe the process that achieves this goal. Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen: Good points. I agree that being unprepared can waste the students time, and because of that, reflect on the students perception of the teachers competence and abilities. Preparedness does set the tone for the teacher's expectations. Regards, Barry
Hi Eli: Good practices! Yeah, no surprises. When instructors take the time to regularly share grades, not only does the student become informed about their status, but it also provide an opportunity for the instructor to give advice and show that they care about the students performance. Regards, Barry

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