Barry Westling

Hi Jean: Lay a good foundation and students will build with practice, practice, and more practice. Regards, Barry

Hi Alan: Good traits for good instructors. We gain knowledge of these (or lack of) through experience, education, training, peer review, student critiques, evaluations, and most important: a willingness to want to improve! Without that, significant cahnge is unlikely. Regards, Barry

Hi Roy: Once a weakness is identified, some action to correct the deficiency seems in order. Great example of what can result without proper planning. I would say it is extremely rare someone can expect great outcomes just walking into class without prepartion. Maybe some can do it, but ultimately the measure of that lack of effort is not going to show in the instructor, but in the students performance. Regards, Barry

Hi Roy: I have found that students like deomonstrations but they do take time to set up or get ready. A poor demonstration due to poor planning or preparation just doesn't go over well with students. Regards, Barry

Hi Roy: Your preparation will always pay off. We all have the same amount of time. It's how we use it tha really matters. Regards, Barry

Hi Roy: Having a resource or simple activity handy is always a helpful strategy for when things do not go as planned. Regards, Barry

Hi Louis: Your frequent field trips and guest speakers undoubtely add much to the quality of the instruction and retention of procedures and techniques the students would never get reading a textbook or even in the kitchen. Great! Regards, Barry

Hi Mazzy: Great! I like the motivational comment. We have a duty to share grades, but while we're at it, we can aslo encourage, make suggestions, in general, just be a caring and helpful person, even regarding personal matters if the student is open to talking about it. Regards, Barry

Hi Mazzy: Coming up with those "mixes" is the key. Keeping students interested is the goal. Motivational talk, stories suggesting success in the work force, and relating how the course material can help them personally are usually good ways to keep attention. Regards, Barry

Hi Mazzy: Hopefully students have goals. As teachers, our goal is to asuure the appropriate transfer of information occurs according to the student learning outcomes as facilitated by the the daily unit objectives. Regards, Barry