Barry Westling

Michele, Right! I've found students want and desire information and support from their instructor (even if the grades need improvement). It's all part of the process, and regular updates lubricate that process by providing information. Barry Westling

Aldorey, I'm with you. EC for credit has little real benefit to student learning. I will allow EC, but I don't give academic credit, rather "class recognition" which is psychologically more important than grades to most students. So, if they want to do something for the educational benefit, I encourage that. But it won't be reflected in their grade (apart from the probale higher grade these students generally earn anyway). Barry Westling

Greg, Perfect! It really makes sense, whenever we can, to get a read on where our students are in advance of beginning a class in order to avoid spending time on unneeded topics, while allowing more time on potentially more difficult or unfamilar topics. Barry Westling

Samuel, Great. You are helping your students by preparing them to learn. I find this activity takes little time but has great merit in relation to the benefit students receive as a result. Barry Westling

Michele, These are perfect examples of ways to vary the pace and keep the energy and interest of the class near the fully engaged level at all times. Barry Westling

Clay, Great techniques. Often, it doesn't take a lot to get students reengaged, just a little change up or something that is diffrent to recapture their focus. Barry Westling

Clay, Boy, I agree. I really don't like most of the "Prepackaged" PPT lessons the publishers give (they seem more to be just a plain outline of a chapter). I can do much better putting my slides togther with both information I want, and formatted in the way I want. Barry Westling

Greg, I think you're doing fine (with what you have). Although todays students are accustomed to more technology than we probably did, that doesn't mean good instruction requires a high tech approach. It's what the students learn that is most important, and as long those student learning outcomes are met, we can consider ourselves successful. Barry Westling

Clay, Sounds like a nice blend and variety. Barry Westling

Clay, Very important. I would put it like this: Students can see us as real helpers in their journey for learning, or they can see us as the guy who gives us work and assignments to do. In both cases, the same assignments may be a part of the class, but it's how the delivery of that material is presented that can make a difference. Barry Westling