Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Hi Adam: Great point. Comfortable students will be more apt to be at ease asking questions and receiving information from their instructor. We can be good role models of professionalsim by being ready, and presenting our lessons systematically. This shows thought and planning has gone into the class preparation. Organization is conveyed in the seamless way the class topics are presented. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Goal of educating students

Hi Adam: Good thoghts. My goal is to transfer what I know based on the sum of experience, education, background, and teaching abilities. Students benefit when committed individuals put energy and planning into their work. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Hi Adam: I think you've found a great way to implement this valuable resource. Knowing where to put or remove emphasis is a great time saver. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Making field trips and guest speakers a part of instruction

Hi Kelly: Being creative will sprout dozens of ideas. Guest speakers: Recent grads who did well and have secured a good job probably would be delighted to come back and speak to your class. While lacking in experience, there would be an abundance of enthusiasm and resultant motivation. Field trip: Your city or town must have commercial and hospital pharmacies, clinical labs, diagnostic departments in hospitals. Contacting individuals in charge of these kinds of departments may not be perfect fits, but they could posssibly offer suugestions who to contact, or share their small part of a related area that does… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Role of instructor personality in delivery selection

Hi Karen: I believe we should teach to our strengths (and work on improving areas that could be improved). I aslo try to look at a lesson from the student's viewpoint, and think about how it could be improved. A key is being comfortable with myself in my role. That conveys more interesting, natural, and enjoyable classes for the students. I want to be a genuine version of me (not an artificial copy of another). Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Selecting instructional media

Hi Karen: Better instructors create their own PPT's. I find what the publishers give arew virtually useless (although I do use their image library). I use my PPT as a guide for my discussion (to keep me on track), and this assist's me facilitating discussion. Really, with some exceptions, if the student is not actively participating, they are not receivoing all that I and the class have to offer. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Reengaging off-task students

Hi Karen: I like your ideas. Sometimes reengaging is as simple as a break in tone, media, or presentation mode. Other times, more action is needed such as a break, transitioning to another topic, or media variation. Physical activity is always well received, so lab activities (if applicable) are a good change up. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Understanding yourself as an instructor

Hi Woody: Our self perception is one thig, our presentation to students is another. The goal is to facilitate instruction. Therfore, if we understand how we want to be as well as what we believe to be the perception, we can better effectively reach the majority of students consistently. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Organized and prepared to teach

Hi Sean: We are examples to our stufdents and there's no better way to demonstrate that than to be ealry for class, prepared with a solid lesson, resources gathered, materials ready, and an attituide of enthusiasm, interest and anticipation for an enjoyable, meaningful learning environment. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Understanding yourself as an instructor

Hi Kevin: Certainly we all tend to rely on our strengths, just as a drummer tries not to be a cellist, we all have special teaching attributes that make our lessons dynamic, while others would fall flat if we deviated from where our strengths lie. Every teacher can offer enthusiasm, energy and excitement, honesty, care and interest in seeing the student acheive their best. It may in a thousand dfferent forms, but we should strive to be genuine, natural versions of ourselves (vs. artificial versions of another). Regards, Barry