Barry Westling

Kesa, I agree a blend of assessment provides a more comprehensive approach to evaluation. In the end, it comes down to "have we accurately and failry measured the degree of learning that has (or has not) occurred. Barry Westling

Jonathan, I think all students use all of their senses to varying degrees. Some have more genetic disposition to one type of learning or reliance on one sense more than others. That's creates individuality, creativity, and independent thoght. As instructors I think we need to be cognizant of the the different learning styles, and try to incporporate as many senses into the lessons as we can. In this way, we will reach the most students most of the time. Barry Westling

Michele, Great use of technology to archive and provide for easy reference for later reflection and self introspection. Barry Westling

Jonathan, It's great this field trip works out for your schedule. I would add that there are many positive merits to good field trips, whether they fit the schedule or not. In fact, in most instances, a field trip will by necessity break up the regular schedue of classes. Not least among benefits is the rejuventation and motivation many students receive after being inspired by what the see, hear, and plan in their mind for themselves in better future ahead. Barry Westling

Aldorey, Great. Important for students to know what and how they will be graded. Barry Westling

Aldorey, For me the most important consideration in setting my grading criteria is that I fairly and accurately measure student learning. I really don't care so much about the different categories or weight as long as I feel, in the end, the student will have achieved an accurate grade, refective of the learning that occurred. Barry Westling

Samuel, Yep, I don't think any grading aspect of a course should occur prior to discussing it thoroughly with the students, and also including a written version of the same information in the course syllabus. Barry Westling

Clay, I like rubrics too, and find that most students like knowing what and how their work will be graded. Rubrics offer the potential to remove a lot of the subjectivity that is often present in grading practices. Barry Westling

Clay, Yeah, we need to keep in minb we are preparing students for a career, or at least a job in a career area. So our evaluation system has to be set in a way that truely and accuretly measures the degree of learning (or lack of) in order to be fair to all, none the least being the eventual employer. Barry Westling

Aldorey, I think most students want to do their best. In some classes, even trying their best falls short. No biggie. By informing and then offering to assist getting to an acceptable level is call "the learning process" and the way we do it is called "instruction". That's our job, that's what we do. Barry Westling