Barry Westling

Hi Sarah: Great! So not all grading points come from just one assessment tool or leaning strategy. Thats good. I would like to be graded in this way, if I was in your class. Regards, Barry

Hi Sarah: Great comments regarding assessing your students. Consistent, fair, and accuracy are the foundation for any assessment. Regards, Barry

Hi Sarah: Great. Your personal touch and sensitivity to your students needs go beyond just academic successfulness. I know when students relate who their favorite teachers are (or have been) they almost always cite individuals that have given them time and taken an interest in them. Regards, Barry

Hi Sarah: We assume that all students are as interested and willing to put in 100% alol of the time. In truth that probably is raarely the case. Understanding that, we should be able to do change-ups and/or switch gears quickly with something different but that relates to the course material. Good instructtors seem to be able to do this seamlessly and in stride. We can all achieve that with practice. Regards, Barry

Hi Sarah: Assessing students needs prior to a learning module will provide the information an instructor may need if they need to make adjustments, such as you describe in your post. Regards, Barry

Hi Sarah: Good reflection on the experience o0f one of your peers. Regards, Barry

Hi Sarah: I'm glad these work for you. Every activity we do should reinforce or track back to one or more of the approved student learning outcomes (SLO's). When that happens, every new experience just makes teaching the class a little more fun! Regards, Barry

Hi Sarah: Good points. I agree there is a lot of information displayed in non-verbal cues and clues from students. There are many ways to engage individual class members but emphasis is on getting them involved and (hopefully) interested. Regards, Barry

Hi Cindy: Thanks for the feedback. I guess the old saying "none of us is smarter than all of us" may have some truth to it, eh? Regards, Barry

Hi Pierre: Good deal - I think you've covered many good points about evaluation and assessment. A more simplistic way to answer this is "Does the assessment measure student learning". We missed the boat if we have an excellent assessment and grading system but the students have not learned the essential course material. Another way to say that is what point is there to points and grades if the students can't perform? Your summary does suggest student learning would be measured. Regards, Barry