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Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

Help students help themselves

Helping students use school resources more effectively as well as not seeing themselves as victims in there own life helps them be more committed to completing their education commitment.

Grading

I try to make sure students are very clear about grading practices and expectations so that they can focus more on content than a particular grade. I think this encourages them so be successful and not "beat down" by a arbitrary grading system.

New

I have found this very reassuring. All of the topics were things that I have thought and or felt. It was nice to see I am definitely not the only one.

A challenge

I have had a student that every time I gave instructions they would do it differently. When I approached the student about it they would say they were do the lab the way it was instructed. I tried to bring the class back together and demonstrate the instructions again. This did nothing the student still refused to do it the way it was instructed. How do you deal with this type of student?

How to choose an icebreaker

The incoming students are anywhere from 17-70, how do you choose an icebreaker for all?

Stress

I have started to listen to music while preforming clerical tasks or reading class related material.

Stressing

When I find myself stressed about something I take a moment to examine what is stressing me and evaluate justhow important it is. I also make sure that my family, friends, and students understand that I have many different groups demanding my time and efforts and that all of them have to respect the importance of each group.

Essay Tests

I had never thought of having the students underline the important parts of the essay or short answer test before what a great idea. I also like the idea of performing all of my clerical duties at the sametime everyday.

Organization

I try to complete tasks like copying term lists, medication list, and coding lists before the term begins so I can concintrate on the thinks that come up daily.

Tardy students

I have found, teaching adult students, there are incidents students have no control over, such as the baby sitter is sick, the car broke down or they were involved in an accident, etc. Talking to the student after class and being concerned has a tendency to alleviate these incidents from occurring again. What have other instructors done to address these situations?

Stress and exercise

I am very stressed person that once needed medication to help manage it. I implemented jogging into a daily routine and my anxiety has dramitically decreased. The anxiety also keep me throught the night, but now I self talk and say save it for thinking on the next days jog. When I'm done with my day's jog I feel like I have left the anxiety on the pavement behind me.

Building Trust and Student Comfort Levels

One approach I have had success with is to begin the class by introducing myself and talking a little bit about my own experience in relation to the course offered. This builds trust with the students that they are, in fact, learning from a professional in their field of study. Next, I ask them what their experiences have been so I learn where to set the class learning objectives, and we assess their initial comfort levels with the course on a scale of 1-10. Then we examine the syllabus together and I ask them to re-evaluate their comfort levels, which opens up discussion to address any concerns they may still have before we get started.

Teaching a "canned" curriculum with tests included

I have to use prepared materials and tests whether I like them or not, and many of them are good at assessing what my students have learned in some aspects. Because I have to do things in ways I do not always think are good, it has become a challenge for me to overcome. I do that by adding to what I have to do with what I like to do. Even though it means more work, it helps my stress because I know that students are learning what they need, rather then what the main office thinks they need.

Keeping Students Moving

It is important to keep students focussed and not hung up on something that has nothing to do with the subject matter.

When a Student Isn't Attending

It is important for an instructor to get involved and stay communicating with a student who isn't attending class.

Guest Speakers

Guest Speakers should come from actual departments that students will be applying to when they graduate is important so they can see that there are actual people doing the jobs they are stdying for.

Class Work Should Meet Hands On Projects

It is important to get students involved in class but hands-on should reflect what they are being taught.

classroom discipline

I have to say this one of the most useful class I've ever had. I was able to identify my "style" of classroom management. One thing for sure is that I will work on the proactive techniques in order to minimize discipline problems and to start using the "I" language. very helpful class.

First day

When i have a new group of students, who are just getting to their electives, i like to refresh their knowledge of the class rule and procedures. i find this helps with some confusion that some students have

New instructor worries

As an experience instructor my greatest worries are not that I can instuct my class, but that at the end of the course, Iask myself did I teach my students enough to move on to the next challenge.