Edward, knowledge of the subject matter can be a great way to empower students to feel comfortable with themselves and their ability to perform in the classroom. We as instructors also need to be aware of the different personality types and other behavior issues that can prevent students from having self-confidense. Some students may be very comfortable with the knowledgebase of the materials but still lack any confidense to demonstrate this in the classroom. Others may have the ability to learn the materials but the resources and delivery method used may not be focused on their predominate learning style. Just remember to keep an open mind, build good professional relationships with your students and look for root causes of their lack of confidense or lack of subject matter knowledge. James Jackson