Melissa Hauck

Guest Speakers and Field Trips are great ways to show students that you are not the only one who "says ....." Adult students often want to know how what they are learning in the classroom will relate to the real world. Guest speakers are usually seen by the students as someone who has been there in the real world. Field trips also give the students a glimpse of the real world. Both of these things encourage student learning and give the instructor credibility.

I find that one of the main new instructor mistake is that they start "too easy" and then try to pull in the reigns of the class later one. The instructor is never really able to do so. It would be better start very "strict" and stick to your stated expectations. Later once you have control of the class and the respect of the students you can relax a little and still have good classroom management.