Barry Westling

Jodie, Real world experiences is what we're preparing our students for, true. We want them to have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that make them successful and promote sustained employment. It's always so heartening to hear of one of my graduate's successes, and to feel like I played a small part f their success. Barry Westling

James, Terrific! Taking an interest in our students and relating to them as adults goes along ways to building trust and respect. Being open to different ideas and opinions and never putting someone down are basic traits that any teacher can do, and their students will always appreciate what that teacher had to give them. Barry Westling

Susan, Being confident conveys so much to students, least among them is trust and respect. When the teacher is unsure, it creates doubt about other things, sort of subtle things that can diminish the effectiveness of the instructor. Barry Westling

Esperanza, It's true, we are role models to our students. And it's best when we're sincere about it, rather than "now I'm in my teacher mode". Barry Westling

Esperanza, Many automated machines run meticulously throughout the day, seemlessly moving from segment to segment in the manufacturing process. I think classes can move smoothly, from one segment of the topic to another, especially when all of the resources (handouts, copies, exercises, lecture, readings, etc) are present and the instructor can just glide through the lesson, even addressing questions or clarifying information as the need arises. This can't occur without thought, planning and preparation. Plus, this is our job, we're paid to do it, and only poorly monitored instructors get away wi8th doing anything less. Barry Westling

Jodie, That's a great quote! It rings true in school, but especially among career school students. Usually adults, they need to feel their instructor is pulling for them, and when they do, they are much more willing to cooperate with the teachers expectations. And getting students to adhere to expecatations is a great accomplishment in itself! Barry Westling

Craig, Being our best is what most of us aspire for. We must recognize we all have stronger traits, and weakers areas that we may even avoid. But avoiding a problem area won't help get it resolved. So, understanding (analysis and assessment) of why we need improvement in a certain area is the beginning to seeing it corrected. With time, perhaps this "weaker" area could become a teachers strong point. Barry Westling

Mary, I thing either small group discussion (culminating in whole claasss discussion) is one the better engaging tasks an instructor can do to refocus a class and get them back on task. One nugget, iff applicable, is to keep some reference to the real world of work the students are planning to work in, their career choice. People like to talk about their hopes and aspirations for better futures. Barry Westling

Patricia, In the end, however it's done and by whom, we should be measuring the degree of learning that has (or has not) occured. So as long as that happens, there are many varieties of ways to get accurate results of learning successfulness. Barry Westling

Patricia, Many schools provide these procedural components. I think all teachers can still be messengers of hope and encouragement to their students by conveying they care and are concerned for the successfulness of their students. Barry Westling