Jan Bennett

We all make mistakes. I let my students know that we are all in this learning thing together. Sometimes I say something backwards, and laugh, and quickly correct myself. My students know that I'm like them, human. 

Fortunately, I have not had a student that tried to "cheat" in my classes. However, I also establish strategies to make it difficult if someone did want to cheat. I require everything off the desk except a pencil with an eraser, and phones must be turned upside down in front of the student so I know they don't have it sitting in their lap peeking at it. 

When I have a challenging student, I will often talk to my peers (other instructors) and also the Student Coach to see what strategies work for them and also to alert the Student Coach to maybe spend some time with this student to see how we can help them be successful and to minimize disruption. 

It's important that the students understand the "course" of this class. I hand out a calendar showing what chapters we will lecture on and when; when tests and homework are due. In the first class, I go over when assignments are late, and the deduction for late assignments. After 7 days late, the student will receive no credit for that assignment. I go over this in class and give it to them in writing to review later. It's hard for them to remember everything said the first class.

I enjoy varying my teaching style. My lectures are long, the class is 3.5 to 4 hours and my lectures are usually 2+ hours. I try to break it up with student discussion, asking each student to look up something pertinent for the chapter we are studying, and then present it to the class, teaching their fellow students; when each student has completed their topic, I generally praise the student and thank them, and also add something to the subject presented. This gives the students an opportunity to do some research, and hone their presentation and teaching skills to each other. 

The first day can be overwhelming, for the students and the instructor. I make a 3 x 5 card for myself with an outline of what I would like to cover. Because the students don't often remember everything I presented, I give them a written handout of what I cover that day, so they can go over it later at home. I do let them know they will have a test the next class, and what it will be about, however, I wait until the 2nd class to discuss strategy of test taking, and other details related to testing, to… >>>

To me, this section is about being organized and ready to meet your students where they are, to explain what the class is about, and how it will go along each week of the session, allowing the students to have a glimpse of what is expected, and how it will move along. This helps to put students at ease with what is coming at them in the course. 

I really liked how one of the videos pointed out how important is to show the students how much you enjoy the subject that you are teaching, and to be knowledgeable about the subject, but willing to learn along with them when new information presents itself. I believe that when it comes to learning, we are all in this together. I have yet to not learn something new with every session I teach.