Barry Westling

Barry Westling

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Hi Joannie: I agree - students like to hear from real folks who come from the field they're training for. Since you have an evening class, you may have a slight advantage in that the regular day is completed for your selected guest. Also, busy supervisors, managers, and department heads are often working late hours trying to catch up with their daily work. But an occasional field trip might be a nice break for 30, 45 or 6o minutes. They also have the ability to assign a tour to one of the shift workers, if that's applicable. Good luck! Regards, Barry
Hi Darron: Great sensitivity to the students who may have a hard time with viewing raw carcasses. Other sensory assistance you may already use might iinclude wearing masks to diminish the smell, gloves in handling tools and tissue, and ear plugs around electric or pneumatic saws. These would be examples of providing a barrier to auxillary sensory stimuli that could be harmful to your instructional process. Regards, Barry
Hi Darron: Great!. Being current and up to date provides you the opportunity to really prepare your students for the workforce. When they see that you are on top of your profession, I think that instills their confidence in you as an instructor as well. Regards, Barry
Hi Cindy: Right! I like your perspective about students being motivated to work harder when they are informed they are falling behind. Regards, Barry
Hi Cindy: Sounds like you manage your extra credit in a manner that works for you. My general caution is that EC not account for too much weight of the final grade. One concern about awarding EC is students who earn good grades without the EC may feel it's unfair for other students to receive EC. Regards, Barry
Hi Joseph: Your focus on goals and student successfulness are right on. Thanks for sharing. Regards, Barry

Hi Sheri: Many teachers like awarding extra credit, and many more will not allow it - it seems to be a fairly controverserial grading choice. I'll stay out of that discussion. I will add that our focus is on the learning that occured, more so than grades and points, although I recognize that it's the most common way we measure whether learning has occured. As teachers, part of our responsibility is to determine to what degree student learning has occured. Some weight for extra work that demonstrates learning probably can't hurt. Too much weight on EC may artificailly suggest the… >>>

Hi Sheri: Yeah, I agree field trips can be a real shot in the arm to the class rather the same routine every day. If possible I always try to get the "tour guide" to mention a couple of specific items that tie directly to the lesson or course I'm teaching - when that happens it makes for a more complete experience. Regrads, Barry
Hi Cindy: In many courses and institutions the instructor is required to "take all comers", meaning the make-up of the class might be quite diverse with varying levels of knowledge and motivation. The selection of content includes delivery and presentation planning, media choices, appropriate student assessment decisions, and adding a motivational tone that inspires future classes. Analysis of what has worked and what needs tweaking can be very helpful at the outset of a new class. Regards, Barry
Hi Cindy: Sure, we want to spend the most time where the most students can benefit. Regards, Barry

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