Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Juan, [Of course my "old guy" comment was said tongue in cheek]. BTW, that's a problem with OL posts, the choice of words, meaning, tone, inflection, application - all are absent. Any way, Q&A is great for assessing and it's unfortunate time usually doesn't allow for more formal use of this method of student assessment. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Selecting instructional media

Rebecca, That's great. Our DH program has gone to using eBooks for many of the courses (not all are available in an eBook format), and there are many "associated" resources the publisher provides. I really appreciate these, as I use eBooks in my program as well, and am really amazed how extra media can be accessed or referenced if the student so chooses. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Juan, If I have had the students in a recent class preceding the new one, I have a pretty good idea where students are, in general. If it's been a while, or they're new to me, a review of past information to build a foundation for upcoming topics in my class is helpful. I try to do this in a fun, non-threatening way. What I avoid is statements like "c'mon folks, this is basic information you had back in [insert class]", or "you should know this". Rather, as soon as I sense a majority of students are struggling with information,… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Reengaging off-task students

Samuel, Great! I think students get distracted for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, just a change of tone of voice, circulating around the room, or standing next to a student who seems distracted (or disinterested) is all it takes. Changing activities is good when it seems the majority of the class has become disengaged. As the course facilitator, I have to be sensitive to the degree students are paying attention. Frequent "checking for understanding" by asking questions of student randomly helps keep them alert, as no one knows for sure who next is going to be called on. Also, this… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Student learning outcomes

Juan, Great. You know, Socrates just asked his students questions (undoubtedly thinking questions) as his way of measuring if his students "got it". But you know, he was just some old guy! Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Juan, Great plan. Written out, it seems like a lot of work, but I've done just as you, and really not that much time is needed if I stay focused. Also, I don't pretest every class. Only when I need to know where the students are at for me to adequately present the material with the right amount of emphasis. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Reengaging off-task students

Juan, These techniques always work for me too. Disengaged students can get disinterested quickly. One general principle I try to follow is to make sure what I present relates to the workforce, and to make sure students understand "what's in it for me". In that setting, I keep their attention more often. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Mistakes made when selecting course content

Juan, Great! Also, making sure what absolutely needs to be covered first, then spending time on other less essential material will help assure students at least least get the critical material. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Student learning outcomes

Juan, Evaluating student learning need not follow any routine path. The key is to make sure we accurately measure learning, and not just follow a process that "should measure". Variety, flexibility, and adherance to established guidelines will all contribute to achieving student learning outcomes. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Role of instructor personality in delivery selection

Juan, I think students both respect and respond to teachers who are confident in their abilites and demonstrate a competence in their abilty to instruct and display their breadth of knowledge in the subject matter. Barry Westling