Kathleen Annino

Blog Comment

I agree also. I found that the focus on giving the students clear guidelines helps them succeed but also provides an instructor support system for those that do complain about grading, etc. By having clearly defined goals and expectations it limits the issues with students and the focus on education takes priority.

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Kinesthetic learners

In my department most of our students seem to be Kinesthetic learners. Even auditory and visual learners enjoy the hands on activities that correlate with the reading material and powerpoints. Most of our lessons are based on a 50/50 ratio of didactic and lab. The students work hard but do have fun with this approach.

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Hands on activities

Teaching in the dental technical field the best activity that I have used was to make a model of the human teeth and have students paint various restoration on the model's teeth. The painting assisted them in understanding what the various materials should look like in the mouth. The second step to this activity was to then swap models with a fellow classmate and chart the findings of that model. This taught the student how to read a dental chart for the patient that was present in their dental chair without even looking in their mouth. It reinforced the visual… >>>

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Student introduction

I feel that student introduction helps us get to know our students not only informationally but also if they are outgoing or shy, whether they enjoy contributing towards class or are more reserved and prefer to remain quiet. This helps me as an instructor prepare on how to involve and include the entire class in discussions and activities from day one.

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Teaching environment

I'd like to address how important I feel the teaching environment is. I know myself if a room is cluttered or unkempt I do not concentrate as well. Other things that should be monitored are the lighting and the temperature of the room. These things are as important for staying focused as are a good nights rest. I like to reevaluate my room for clutter and cleanliness at least once per day. If I notice a student adjusting looking like they are getting tired the first thing I think of is whether the heat in the classroom is too high.… >>>

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Professionalism

Professionalism is key the key to success in the field. I have hired staff in my field and always place as high or a higher value on the professionalism of the candidate. Knowledge is important but if an employee cannot represent the office in a manner condusive to success then their knowledge is of no help to them or their business.

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Technology

The benefits of technology are evident in that students can have immediate access to information. What can be limiting about this is when we want students to use critical thinking skills. As an assessment tool I feel that students need to be able to resolve issues presented in a scenario rather than just answer direct questions. At times I feel these skills are being overlooked because of the accessibility of an instant answer.

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Online course advantages

I feel that online courses in some subjects are beneficial because it allows the student greater access to reviewing key information. The development of these courses seems to be more difficult however because we need to access if the class is following along and understanding the material. Sometimes this is easier when standing in front of a class and observing the classes response to the material. Course discussion forums do help with this evaluation but at times can be a limited evaluation. Thoughts?

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Heavy workload

Of the problems listed with maintaining students I think that a heavy workload is the most challenging to deal with. From personal experience the workload should be inline with the material that will be learned, relativity of the material and the credits earned. The courses that I have taken have all been reasonable with the exception of one. It was a World Literature course and the per- reading assignments and course reading assignments alone were discouraging. Prior to the start of the course I re-enrolled into a different global course that was more manageable. Because this course was a general… >>>

Kathleen Annino

Discussion Comment

Dependent students

I have found that dependent students are the most difficult to engage. These students, I feel, tend to lack confidence so they tend to look for one-on-one help. During online discussions they seem to stay away from the "meat" of the subject to avoid making an error. Their replies can be vague. As an online instructor it is imperative to follow up with an engaging and direct question that initiates engagement.