Hi Gary: Experience is certainly a good teacher. If we are willing and open, our experiences can contribute to better instructional methods and approaches to our classes, our students, and teaching abilities. Doing something repeatedly that fails to reach students is not helpful. Some methods that can improve our effectiveness may include feedback, peer review, classroom observations, instructional guideleines, college policy and procedure, and most importantly, communication. When these and other techniques are applied in a well written course that has solid student learning outcomes and course objectives, the communication and feedback elements begin to illuminate where an instructor is strong and where weaker areas may exist. I think a big key is a teacher being willing to open up and be honest with themselves as stated in the first paragraph. The more honest, the more improvement can occur. Then, more honesty, and more improvement, and so on. It's not an exact science. Knowing our strengths and weaknesses is an invaluable asset. Reagrds, Barry