Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Hi Mike: Great. I think it comes down to "Teaching" vs "Learning". W could be teaching perfectly but if students aren't learning, what have we accomplished - have we even really taught? So, by understanding how we can best provide and information that each student can relate to, "customized" if you will, we are practicing student centered. In fact, we don't necessarily have to too much differently. If we regularly are engaging students in creative activities, and they're participating and responsding, that's student centered. I think a main idea is to get away from a frame of mind that's "curriculum-instution"… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Goal of educating students

Hi Emma: I think you've presented a good concept that align with my thoughts about it too. We need to be able to give a good foundation of knowledge, assure the stuednts have received it, and the purpose is to be applied in some career related application. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Making field trips and guest speakers a part of instruction

Hi Emma: Yeah, isn't that great when some external source comes along and essentailly validates what you've trying to pound into your students heads for week or months? Enthusiatic students are going to be better motivated to try harder and their results should improve from this boost in the perspective about the career setting they';re being trained for. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Hi Eric: Right! And it's a great planning tool to decide where adjustments may be needed. They also give a bit of insight into what's in store for the students. Getting a preview is often an advantage for rightly motivated students. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Goal of educating students

Hi Eric. True statement. But there are a lot of ways to help. Specific to this discussion post, what is goal of educating students? To me, it's the transfer of expert knowledge from teacher to student that results in an application related to a specific career field. That's really the bottom line. Many ways to go about it, some more creative than others. But if my definition did not occur, how could we say we educated the students? In my mind, it comes down to "teaching" vs "learning". Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Making field trips and guest speakers a part of instruction

Hi Eric: Field trips are quite motivational. We can assist by informing the tour guide or speaker specific points to make sure they cover, or we can just let the experience happen. I thing some sort of follow up assessment or reflection on the experience is helpful, too. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Hi Bethanne: I think what you're doing in terrfic. Frequent monitoring and sharing of performance status can only help students do better. We have to be willing to show or tell them how to do better too, not just where they are currently functioning. And I think we can do so in a manner that students will appreciate - with encouagement, support, patience, and words of comfort that offer assistance and advice that the student feels is helpful - not just our thinking about what we think is helpful. Students should perform better when they feel their teacher genuinely cares… >>>

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Awarding extra credit

Hi Eric: My background is medical. I see hardworking students all the time. Some are very successful and others have to work even harder just to get by. Some don't make the cut at all. In some instances and professions, there just can't be room for too much variance due to the potential consequences of harm to patient, like, and limb. Basically, I feel, the required curriculum is there to be sure the student meets minimumn expectations. If the extra credit is important, it shouldn't be extra credit, and should be part of the required curriculum. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using a teaching journal

Hi Frank: Great. There are many uses. You've described a functional use which could be very helpful for the reasons you describe. Some teachers like to be more reflective, so their notes contain more thoughts, feelings, impressions, perhaps even emotions. Yet another version is more ideas, personal comments, notes, "what-if's", - essentially planning possibilities. Another group may track notes about student performance, attitudes, readiness, successess, etc. Some don't use a journal at all. I think there's value in journalizing and it may one of the more underused tools teachers have at their disposal. Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Organized and prepared to teach

Hi Frank: Yes, it's important to lay out the expectations froim the start. And whn students realize their teacher has got it togeter, they will be more likely to demonstrate respect, courtesy, and perhaps, be more motivated to try harder because they see their teacher has done something similar. Good ones or bad ones, we are role models. Regards, Barry