Barry Westling

Hi Kurt: Perfect!. This works for teacher colleagues too if they're involved in peer or classroom observations.Also, retesting to show how far students have come can be very motivational. Regards, Barry

Hi Kurt: Good. Knowledge, coupled with skills, critical thinking, and practical applications should prepare students for the work setting they're preparing for. The big goal in vocational settings is getting students job ready. Stories, examples, case studies, and discussion about the "real world" can be both instructive and interesting. Regards, Barry

Hi Kurt: Great sentiments! For me, like you, I think using the time to share information to offer encouragement and support while giving grade information and advice. When students feel supported, that conveys a sense the teacher cares. Regards, Barry

Hi Robert: Great! I think one great benefit for me is when I'm unfamiliar with where or what the students know (such as at the beginning of a new section, topic, or term), I'll do a pretest to give me information, and also give the students an idea of what might be ahead for them. Regards, Barry

Hi Robert: Good rationale. I choose to not offer EC jus because over the years, questions of fairness, favoritism, grade inflation, and good students feeling their successful work undermined by "free points" awarded by the instructor undeservedly. But each teacher needs to decide how they want to run their class. Regards, Barry

Hi Paul: Group activity works well to asset the overall group understanding, enhances participation, and engages students making the class a bit more interesting. Regards, Barry

Hi Robert: I have found setting the standards is different from following them consistently. It may seem unfair, but a teacher could prepare a wonderful lesson plan with lots of creative activities and preparation, but have just one class they missed doing that, and the students comment "usually comes prepared to class". In some professions, letting up on standards even one time could lead to harmful, or disastrous results. Regards, Barry

Hi Robert: Smell can definetity be used in many if not nost learning settings for the very reason you state - we can associate something we already know (recall, memory) with something we need to know, hopefully leading to long term memory. Creative teachers can always find a way to enhace learning through sensory stimulation. Regards, Barry

Hi Robert: You're right about the power of engagement through hands on. The hands, especially have nearly all of the senses that can add to tactile enhancement of learning through doing! Regards, Barry

Hi Latasha: Good preparation takes time and effort. When we try to teach not fully prepared, students will notice, may lose interest, or even feel the teacher doesn't care about their learning. Regards, Barry