Barry Westling

Sharon, Field trips can also dispel vague ideas and misperceptions about what the work setting entails. Like "a look is worth a thousand words", a good field trip can provide an interesting experience and lasting memory that goes to support the students readiness to move from student to graduate (an employed one!). Barry Westling

Tracey, A few bonus points among hundreds is really an incentive for listening, and in my opinion is not really extra credit. I do this and allow the student (in essay form) to tell me about a certain topoic in their own words. The scant extra points they may earn do not make or break a student, but allows them to share their knowledge in their own words. Barry Westling

Tracey, Great plan! Pretesting helps the instructor decide where the priorities are for a given class. In the end, everyone benefits and less time is wasted on material that needs less attention. Barry Westling

Tracey, Yeah, the application part is probably the most challenging as this requires thinking and problem solving out in the workplace. Barry Westling

Tracey, I've found that instruction is a constantly evolving process, and despite all our efforts and good intentions, mistakes will probably always present. But the lesson to be learned is to benefit from mistakes in order to avoid repeating them, and a journal can help identfy, store, and provide reflection on past classes. Barry Westling

Lizette, Grading by components also allows students to have a balanced measure of their learning. Where they perform well in some categories and lesser in others, their final grade is really a cumulative measure of learning, which is probably more reflective of their overall performance and understanding of course material, as compared to lesser varieties that make a final grade. Barry Westling

Edward, Good points! I'm sure no instructor would deny answering a students question during a class session. In a similar way, pretesting provides a way for us to ask a question(s) beforehand so that we can effectively and more thoroughly answer the students questions in a meaningful and specific manner. It's a great tool for the instructor to be more effective too. Barry Westling

Lizette, My early experiences with pretesting came from medical training, where a brief assessment before the training would assist both myself and the instructor know which areas of information were more important to prioritize. When an instructor receives information about prior learning and abilities of their students, they will be better able to assist their students (collectively and individually) in learning and understanding new information. Barry Westling

Lizette, For me, I believe the power of the the field trip to mobilize enthusiasm and facilitate motivation is nothing less than amazing. And any activity that can motivate, inspire, and energize a group of students is definitely worth the effort to plan and coordinate it. Barry Westling

Brian, Credibility, trust, respect -- attributes such as these are virtues earned through the demonstration to students of their instructors willigness and ability to help them in their educational pursuits. Without preparation, it will be extemely difficult to convey with assurance and poise that an instructor has the wherewithall to assist them. It's amazing that many fail to realize our role is soley based on student needs and achievement, and less to do with deficits the instructor may possess. Barry Westling