Barry Westling

Hi Amina, I believe senses can be used in just about any class in many ways, and when we put on our creative hats, we can achieve interesting and interactive methods to convey ideas that involve senses. These don't have to be necessarily great and mighty methods, just bringing more of an awareness to the learning processs through the students many "inputs" that translate to new information and knowledge through the instructional process. Barry Westling

Hi Jennifer, Yeah, PPT is a cool tool. I try to keep in mind that PPT, along with just about any other media is a tool, and tools are needed to facilitate a class. But the facilitator needs to be the "orchestra leader", directing the tools to get the job done. With PPT, the tendancy is to overpower the focus. This is something we should avoid if possible. We want to focus on the information, not the tool that is providing the information. Barry Westling

Hi Amina, Good point. There is something about creating a perception yet, there has to be that reality of prepared for class actions that give support to the perception. In the end, when students see the teacher is prepared, they'll recognize the class is important, the teacher tis taking the class seriously, and to do well, they'll in turn come prepared and ready to learn. Barry Westling

Hi Craig, Another thing I can do is work to my strengths. When I am really excelling in a class, that can overcome minor shortcomings that might also have to be presented. For instance, my white board printing used to be immaculate, and still is if I stop and do nothing else but write. But if I'm on a roll, and try to write on the board to keep up with myself, I tend to get a bit sloppy. So my shortcoming is overshadowed by the greater oral discussion that is occuring at the same time. Barry Westling

Hi Betty, Good points there, Betty. So much of what we do as educators is based on relationships, just about anything we can do to strengthen the perception by students we have all of our act together is going to foster students taking their classes more seriously as they'll be more attentive and focused. The time and effort given to getting ready for classes does pay off in student learning, and that is a very satisfying feeling. Barry Westling

Hi Glenn, Yes, our preparation can set an example, as does competent instruction, delivered in an interesting way, using lots of variety, and ensuring all students are engaged in the lesson. That probably won't happen without adequate preparation. Barry Westling

Hi Dona, Good point. And I agree that we need to take time to plan, think about, and visualize what media resources are available that add variety as well as inform and instruct. My best classes and the ones I enjoyed the most were enjoyable and interesting largely due to the planning my teachers did to provide a lively, upbeat and fun learning environment. Barry Westling

Hi Michael, Great. Some days are really horrible, yet others can end feeling immenseley fulfilled. I work in a medical profession and the feeling is sort of the same when I feel I contributed in some small way to a patient's well being. Same for students. Especially when they're appreciative. But even if not, when a class has been successful and feel things went well, that's what keeps a teacher going back to work every day! Barry Westling

Hi Glenn, Nice little reminder about prepardeness. Newer teachers probably don't recognize how much time class preparation takes. But coming unprepared is almost worse that most anything. It's hard to fake it, or teach a class extemporaneously effectively. It's like taking a trip without a plan, a destination, or the means to make any of it happen. Barry Westling

Dr. Richard, Great! There really is not a substitute for preparedness. Students grow to expect their teacher to be the expert, to have the materials, resources, and instructional tools needed for a class. When students appear and the teacher has everything laid out, copies made, objectives written on the board, that makes a statement "I'm ready" and "I'm serious" about this class. Preparedness makes it more likely a class will be lively, upbeat, enjoyable, and interesting. Barry Westling