Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Hi Mitessa, I agree. We want learning, not just beeter grades. I also like to give additional assignments, but that is for the students benefit - there is no extra grade for that. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi Laura, I've found that that methods that range from nudging all the way to required remediation is sometimes needed. I can't always leave it up to the students to initiate ditrected study on their own. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Selecting evaluation methods

Hi Zeina, These are good and traditional methods. There are other ways as well. I guess the question a teacher has to ask is "do the methods I use measure student learning?". If yes, then we're all set. If the only provide grades, learning may not be occuring, and an assessment of the grading system may be needed. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Setting up a grading system

Hi Jeanie, Electronic grading systems are great! The instantaneous nature of always having current information is a real boost to students wanting to know their status. We use electroonic grading too, and I've found I still need to remind students to look at their status (in the egradebook)to keep current. So it helps, but individula instructor attention is still required. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi Joseph, Yeah, the worst thing is when student are either ill-informed or not informed of how they're doing in class, and the teacher assumes they do know. This is an accident waiting to happen. Part of the teachers responsibility is to inform, give advice, and encourage. All parts of the team have to be on the same page. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi James, It seems to me that in a lab class, not too much progress can advance if a student is lagging in an essential application or procedure. Frequent sharing of progress will diminish poor performance in students who need to "master" procedural and/or practical application of class material. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi Jennifer, This is great. Current, frequent, and timely progress information assists student make needed corrections while their is still time to impact their grade and learn the needed material. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Awarding extra credit

Hi Joseph, Yes, students should earn grades. This sort of relates to the grading system used and how points are awarded for each componet (quiz, homework, project, mid-term, final exam, discussion, etc). I believe these should all be established at the beginning of a course. Good students will strive to earn all the legitimate points they can. I've had students argue I was was unfair giving points beyond what was established in the beginning. For me, I just avoid the EC thing all together, and let the students earn their points and let they grades fall where they may. Barry… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Hi James, Great! It sounds like you're getting a realistic sense about where your students level of prior knowledge is each time you begin a class. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Role of instructor personality in delivery selection

Hi Jennifer, I agree having fun makes classes more enjoyable. Too much laughing (every day in every class) can potentially suggest to students that the teacher is not serious. But just keeping an upbeat, enthusiastic atmosphere makes for a lively learning setting that does make a class more interesting. The important point is if a teacher's natural personality is a jovial nature, that's fine. What would less than effective would be someone trying to be funny when that's not their natural style. Barry Westling