Barry Westling

Steven, Right. Without direction and feedback, students can only guess at how their performance is matching up to our expectations. And we wand (or students need) more attention, assistance, or advice, this is the time and place to provide that service. Barry Westling

Steven, When I get my hair cut, or go a restaurant I frequent on a regular basis, and the staff recognize me and tend to my needs without much direction from me, that's like individualizing (customizing), and it feels great! That's an example of how we could treat our students -- individual attention, cater to their needs, assisting them in any way possible to achieve ours and their goals in preparation for the work setting. Barry Westling

Steven, Yes, and although you're relating these goals to the realm of economics, I have to say that the intellectual prowess that students acquire with our instructional goals is applicable to many trades and professions. Ultimately it's what a student does with their learning that matters most (none the least, their employer). Barry Westling

Johanna, Journaling provides so many benefits and is really very easy to develop daily (or regular) habits of making quick jots, notes, comments, or observations. What's cool is the reflection after many months or years...how one viewed things, approached situations or dealt with problems (and their solutions). We can learn a lot about ourselves. Barry Westling

Bakhriya, I believe sharing grade and performance status is as important as the instruction we provide. Students need feedback, direction and guidence, and support and encouragement. There are few methods as successful and effective as taking time to discuss students performance. Barry Westling

Bakhriya, Yes, we should be providing the basic skills and knowledge that are linked to successful learning. If we can also add profressionalism, critical thinking, and traits like good attendance, punctuality, and good communication (written and spoken), we will have achieved a good thing. Barry Westling

Russ, I think the idea of merging different themes is a terrific idea, and the outcome probably very good. We want to stimulate interest and personalize learning whenever we can. If we capture the students attention then we have them "hooked", and will be more able to cement key points or ideas central to the class topics. Field trips are especially good for motivation, and oftentimes students determine to focus on their studies a bit more seriously. Barry Westling

Bakhriya, Yes, when we're student centered, we are focused on how we can best serve our students, meeting with them individually, and seeking ways to assure their success. Barry Westling

Judy, I don't always pretest but when I do, I learn about where my students prior knowledge and common strengths are. This helps me plan where and what to emphasize. Barry Westling

Judy, Boy, instructor attitude is soooo important and really can make the difference between students feeling comfortable to approach their instructor, ask questions, and get help if needed. If we do all we can, that should include an inviting class setting that encourages participation, openness, and good student/instructor rapport. Barry Westling