Tremayne Simpson

joseph, What subjects do you primarily teach at your institution? Tremayne Simpson

Erin, I agree...teaching multiple sections of the same course can become quite cumbersome. Although it is tempting to create one set of lesson plans for all, it is better to take the time and treat each section like it is an entirely different course. Tremayne Simpson

Erin, This is a great method for time management. As I mentioned earlier in the post, it is important that instructors conduct their lectures in shorter increments to ensure that students are paying attention and are able to retain information. Tremayne Simpson

joseph, "Icebreaker" activities are an effective way to get the class started. I also use icebreakers for the first day of the course, however I try to find new ways to deliver them. For instance, I may ask the students to interview classmates or conduct an impromptu, collaborative assignment before they get to know the other students. Either way, they typically establish a level of comfort with their peers and are able to have productive discussions thereafter. Tremayne Simpson

David, You can also assess prior student knowledge by using an appropriate activity. The activity can be collaborative or individual, however it may provide you with a "candid" assessment of your students. Questionnaires can achieve this, as long as the students do not have anxiety and perceive it to be a formal exam or quiz on the first day of class. Tremayne Simpson

Pearl, I agree that it would be best to begin the course with an assessment to gage your students' skill sets in regards to math. Is there a mathematical prerequisite for this course? If so, it would be a good idea to review the learning objectives of the prerequisite course, to see which math concepts are covered in the class. Tremayne Simpson

Crystal, I agree that smart boards are excellent learning tools. As I mentioned earlier in the post, I find that they are very helpful because the information can be saved and posted to the student portal or sent out to the class for notes on the lecture. Tremayne Simpson

Dixie, Do you also teach online courses? If so, how do you assess their retention of course information? Tremayne Simpson

Rodger, This is an excellent observation. In many cases, the resources that are provided/suggested by the student can be helpful for the instructor as well. I have set-up several discussion boards for my course and periodically, I notice that students post links to various academic sites that were helpful in providing additional information on a discussed course topic. Tremayne Simpson

Jeanne, In addition, the learning objective verbiage has to be clear and measurable for the student and instructor. Tremayne Simpson