Richard Ullery

Is there a generic couse beyond this one out there that would give good classroom early warning indicaters for faily new instructors. Often their biggest challange is to not only reconize the early signs but also not become the trigger point themselfs.

There is not only a marked difference between between younger students and adult learners but there is also usually a marked difference between morning and night students. Most adult learners don't need or want to be entertained but would prefer to be challenged. Younger students seem to want to be "fed" info and/or entertained. You often have to use a mixed interactive style of presentation to reach as many students as you can.

Make two seperate lists. One list is for things you have direct control of and the other list is for things you do not have direct control of. Breks each list down from a priority stand point of thing that need or have to be done vs things you want to get done. List the impact of getting each item done or not getting them done. This will help you see if others are putting things things into yout todo box just to relive their todo box. Don't be scared to be relistic and tell someone you do not have… >>>

You have to be able to look at and teach a student as a whole not just from a skill set stand point. Motivate student to make decisions based on both best for the moment and further down the road

Some institutes use power point but usually mix that with interactive demonstrations and informal discussion. and the power point is as much a back drop and guide rather than lesson material

I think student feedback should be used as a almost constant adjustment tool as you are presenting you material. If you do not slide in some "why or how "questions about the lesson statement in the material you will not be able to guage if the students actually understand the material

If you are teaching the same class on a regular basis. you can use your students as a type of barometer from an input stand point to fine tune your rybric. In general the students can guide you with what they feel are the more important parts of the course and you can blend that with the course requirements if you are allowed some flexibility with setting the students expectitions. Some time with a precreated course material you do not always get what is always best for the students from a what they really need to learn to be successful… >>>

You need to accept the fact that with each new class you will need to learn not only what type of learners they are but also how to expand and strengthen the areas they are week in. if they are to grow you will also need to grow some also to be able to guide and help them.