Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Hi Thomas, Good point. We should think of back up plans for whatever is planned is not available, which could include students needing a different approach at a time when their focus is diminished. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using senses in learning

Hi Thomas, A sense provides input for an individual to synthesize. Balance, pressure, temperature, pain, stretch can be incorporated into a lesson, just as the more common senses of taste, smell, vision, hearing, and touch. The more senses we can use especially in combinations simply reinforces the body's internal memory of the material being covered. Creative instructors can put thoght into their lessons to make these "sensory resourses" more useful. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Selecting instructional media

Hi David, How awful! That sounds like punishment (except the "criminal" was the professor!). PPT can effective as a guide or outline to the lecture or discussion. I think it is most beneficial for specific art, graphs, charts, drawings, schematics, photos, or illustrations of equipment, instrumentation, or procedures. For text, 3-4 bullet points that are general allow the teacher to amplify or expand upon the information. Anything more and it starts to become more like Professor Criminal! Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Role of instructor personality in delivery selection

Hi Billy, If our goal is to facilitate learning, being closer to student-centered will be an effective approach to attaining that goal. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Organized and prepared to teach

Hi David, At many schools, if this happened more than once a year (even with good reason), the instructor would probably lose their job. In career schools, students usually sign a contract, binding them to pay X amount of dollars for X amount of instruction. If a student complained to the administration, the potential threat of the school losing federal financial aid would be too great to have it jeopardized by one slacker instructor. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Selecting evaluation methods

Hi Marlena, I think rubrics are great because they offer an objectivity and both teacher and student understand the grading criteria from the outset of the course. What is available from the textbook publisher is good if it works in a given class - sometimes they don't. Teacher made rubrics are sometimes better because they are specific to the class being taught by the teacher who will be doing the grading. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi John, Yes, responding to the course facililitator advice and suggestions is so beneficial, it's really key to succesful completion of the course. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi Timothy, Great. I also would add that more frequently sharing occurs is better. And as early on is important so that there is time for correction to occur based on our advice and encouragement we give. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Awarding extra credit

Hi Timothy, I think academic courses are different from career courses. The main difference is skills, tasks, and applications related to a certain profession have to be demonstrated satisfactorily for the student to pass. EC really has no place in these settings. You've referenced nursing a few times. Of course there are academic and theory courses that occur in these programs. But there are also the skills portions. In some programs, that represents the bulk of whole program. Altering a grade to compensate for missed questions, incorrect understanding, or below par performance shouldn't be an acceptable practice. artificially raising a… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Awarding extra credit

Hi Ty, I agree, as would many institutions and teachers. These days, career schools in particular are under greater scrutiney to provide objective everything, including content and evaluation measures. The potential threat of loosing access to financial aid is a strong motivator for schools to to say "no way - stick to the syllabus and course objectives!". Barry Westling