Barry Westling

Curt, Yes, and when students feel their instructor is giving helpful advice and suggestions, that also helps build trust and respect between students and instructor. Barry Westling

Melissa, Right.No one wants or likes (academic) surprises. I think there are many methods but the best methods are the ones that both inform, provide guidence and encourage. When these thre are coupled together, the student is better prepared to take on the remainder of their class assignments with knowledge and confidence about what they need to do. Barry Westling

Melissa, Exactly. It's a great planning tool for the instructor with almost immediate benefits for our students in terms of using our time and their time for maximum effectiveness. Barry Westling

Melissa, Yeah, we want them ready for a job or the beginning of a career. There are multiple layers to this being accomplished successfully, and one layer is the appropriate response to our instruction and the dililgence to apply that knowledge in a responsible manner. We can instruct but the student has to be able to apply what we give. That's what I mean by layers. At one level, they may have new information they get from usw, but applying it successfully in the worplace is another layer, and that is up to the student. Barry Westling

Melissa, Yes, generally true. At times I have been very ready for class but had students who were not interested in the topic or even paying attenion. Thieir disinterest was shown by talking, looking at other material, and not participating. That was a total lack of respect. So, I surmise that if we are prepared we might get respect, but without being prepared we definetely wouldn't have the respect of our students. Barry Westling

Lindsey, Sharing status is like a 20-point check-up of the car. We can share grades, but also recommendations for improvement that can include advice, suggestions, analysis of what's working and what's not, and also just offering our care and conveying we are concerned for the students successfulness - these can create inspired moments that trigger students to be motivated to do better. Barry Westling

Lindsey, Great. You've discovered pretests can be a time saver and helpful planning tool as well. Barry Westling

Lindsey, Of course, transferring the knowledge, skills, behavior, and attitude requisite for the job is needed at a minimum. I think if we can get students to be critical thinkers, that'd help them in more than just their job, but also in life. Also, sharing the attribute of being kind....there's less of that these days and students who emulate their successful instructors might make the work setting just a little better place to be. Barry Westling

Molly, I've used senior students, recent graduates, and long term graduates. What students and new graduates lack in experience they usually can make up for it with practical knowledge, enthusiasm, and speak more as one of their own. It has worked successfully. Also, daytime faculty you know who might want to come and share an interesting experience can liven things up too. Barry Westling

Lindsey, This sounds great. I've observed students get lost easily, not so much on the content necessarily, but more along, "where is this going", why are we talking about this now", and "where does this fit into the big picture - why do I need to know it". This is where frequent updating and re-explaining frequently can do a lot to inform students and keep them on the same wave length as us. Barry Westling