Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Kyle, Small "bonus points" are a good idea. I also drop the lowest quiz score (I give a quiz every day). Also, an optional essay question on a final exam can add a couple of points. I view this differently from extra credit, which I believe has little to do with demonstrated learning, and more to do with points and grades. Also, good students sometimes resent their hard work being marginalized by "slackers" who get their grade adjusted for doing little when the good students have worked so hard at actually earning their grade. For me, I just choose not… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Austin, Right. And it helps planning for differences in where we think the emphasis should be versus where the actual emphasis needs to be. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Kyle, I don't always pretest, but reserve it for times when I have no knowledge at all about the students prior learning. These pretests don't have to be comprehensive or lengthy. I just choose some questions based on the course objectives. Students don't mind this activity when the know they won't be graded on it. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Selecting sufficient course content

Kyle, I think variety in media selection is key. Having numerous methods available to reinforce material being taught helps keep interest, illustrates points from different perspectives, and makes the classes more interesting. When both teacher and student remark, "wow, where did the time go", that's an indication a full, productive and enjoyable class experience just occurred. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Reengaging off-task students

Kyle, Students get off task for a lot of different reasons. Something I do is when I sense some are fading away, I'll interject a story or situation from the past that's related to the field of study. Students nearly always perk up, listen, and then I'm ready to resume where I left off. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Mistakes made when selecting course content

Kyle, One strategy is to decide what is most important for the students to learn in a given class session, and as best as possible, cover that material first, then go on to less important material as time permits. I know that most all of what most of us teach is important, but given the choice between lots of emphasis on the most important to rushing through everything and some students missing essential material, I would choose the former. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Developing instructional backup plans

Kyle, I think good back up plans could be easily substituted for the regularly planned activity and the students would not even know the difference. If this were the case, it would create a seamless transition when the instructor sensed students are starting to become disinterested, bored, or distracted. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Selecting instructional media

Deanna, Yes, there is a lot of "satisfactory media", but we want to choose the best that will meet the needs of the student. This really takes a bit of time, review, and planning to choose the better over the "just OK". Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Role of instructor personality in delivery selection

Robert, I agree. For PPT slides, I use a wireless remote slide advancer that has a laser pointer and a "screen to black" button. This allows me to interrupt the PPT slides in order to write, discuss, question, explain, or demonstrate. Then, a quick push of the button brings me right back where I left off. Not earthshaking, but a handy technique. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Understanding yourself as an instructor

Daniel, I think every instructor is unique, with their personality, style, background, and abilities. But all have the capacity to show patience, tolerance, embrace diversity, be approachable, have a good sense of humor, and care about their students success. With these traits demonstrated, our uniquness will shine! Barry Westling