Barry Westling

Hi Kenji: Each time you can talk to your students, you personalize your relationship which makes teaching them a more staisfying experience. Regards, Barry

Hi Betsy: Well, it certaintly appears you gained quite a bit from this lesson! That's terrific. That's the thing that teaching is there is so much variety and alternative apoproaches to almost everything we do. As long as it all leads to student learning then I think whatever works is okay. However, there some methods that work better than others. Regards, Barry

Hi Betsy: Good self analysis and awareness of yourself. It is a challenge to deal with less than eager students but it comes with the territory. Thank goodness we have the satisfaction gained from the talented, interested students as a reward to balance out more difficult job of giving out without the return gesture from the disinterested or "knuckleheads" we all have to deal with from time to time. Regards, Barry

Hi Gloria: Good - it does take time, trial, and error to find the balance. We want to be assured we are truly measuring student learning vs. arriving at a numerical grade. Regards, Barry

Hi Gloria: Good. Whenever we can get students to ask questions we are really applying critical thinking and analysis skills to assist students retain information. Regards, Barry

Hi Paul: Variety rules! Your sensitivity to the mood and the sense of the class for a given day demonstrates wisdom and true caring about the environment the students learn in. Regards, Barry

Hi Betsy: Great! As we are introduced to new ideas and put them into practive we become a little better educators. Thanks for sharing! Regards, Barry

Hi Darryl: Yes, these are times with tech-savy students. But not all students have this mind set. In fact, older students may actually be frightened by computers. But your point is valid, in that short, to the point, and interesting slides can add some flavor to an otherwise avaerage class session. Regards, Barry

Hi Charles: Good idea. I like your personal stories technique. Bassically, people like stories especially if they're interesting and pertain to the subject matter. Giving students an opportunity to reflect or respond also subtley promotes critical thinking and application to their profession. Regards, Barry

Hi Ron: Sometimes it can be hard. Trial and error. Adapting to differing class dynamics. Yes, it can difficult. Many times students will use grading rubrics to set up their assessment system because of the basic fairness, consistency, and objectivity a rubric provides. Regards, Barry