Barry Westling

Leslie, I suppose anytime we ask students a question we are assessing what they know. With select topics (such as APA or MLA), one might save time if the whole class was familiar with the process but I imagine there would still be a need to review the essential points, perhaps give a handout explaining the nuts and bolts so to speak. I would not want to have my first paper assiggnment due and half the class not follow APA rules. Barry Westling

Annette, In the students mind, grades, points and performance status is magnified (sometimes more than it should be). Being sensitive to the students perception and in an attempt to keep anxiety low, making time to keep class grades and status up to date and respond quickly to questions can make a difference in respect for the instructor and reinforce the students self-esteem. Barry Westling

Rhoda, Glad you're finding some helpful instructional tips. As for pretesting, it doesn't have to be comprehensive or exhaustive. For me, it's usually about 15-20 questions that relate to one or more of the key concepts in the course and gives me an idea how thorough or brief I need to be based on prior knowledge. Barry Westling

Dorothea, Great! Student-centered is really just focusing on student needs and taking a sincere interest in their successfulness. It seems to me that most instructors could potentially run their classes this way. Barry Westling

Annette, Yes, I believe serious-minded students are apt to reflect on the information they're being pre-tested on and perhaps begin to prepare or ready themselves for some of the more important topics they realize will be coming up soon in their course work. Barry Westling

Linda, In my classes if a student has missed assignments, tests, or other graded work, it will affect their grade. But it's the learning these graded assignments represent that pose the problem. I'll downgrade late tests and drop the lowest term quiz grade, but to be fair to all students, artifically raising a grade skews the accuacy of student performance. I choose not to give extra credit, but I understand that each instructor and institution has to decide what works for them. Barry Westling

Linda, Good for you. Pretesting can be a very helpful tool, both in determining students prior knowledge, and in planning curriculum and lessons that are more specific to a given class. Barry Westling

Dorothy, Two of my primary textbooks provide publisher versions of pretests that I can use (or modify) if I choose. Since I rely on these textbooks, the questions are slightly more relevant. Barry Westling

Angela, Sometimes students are disengaged because their mind is preoccupied elsewhere. They may be ill, have sick kids, worried over finances, have difficulties at home, are tired, bored...etc. Overcoming these preoccupations requires a tactic that immerses them in the mission and purpose of their program, sort of a safe place from the outside world while they are attending class. In short, we have to capture their attention, then, there are many engagement and instructional strategies that are effective. Barry Westling

Dorothy, I address the PPT situation by using only short bulleted sentences that guide me in my discussion, and do not provide the complete material. My PPT's would be nearly empty and unhelpful if a student missed the accompanying lecture, discussion or learning activity. And I try to only use PPT when it really needed, not just because it's there and I can. Barry Westling