Barry Westling

Barry Westling

About me

Activity

Michael, Students appreciate the smooth flow of a seamless, well prepared class. I think they learn better and and have more confidence in their instructor when class is conducted this way. Barry Westling
Angel, When traveling, we use maps, navigation, landmarks, and signs to keep us on track. In school, it's kind of the same thing. Students need feedback in order to know how close, how far, or how apart they are in completing their courses satisfactorily or very successfully. This activity is one that helps them know if and/or to what degree they are on track. Barry Westling
Angel, It's really a simple idea that doesn't have to take a lot of time but can potentially provide much information about prior learning. When we know something about our students prior learning we are better able to use our time, resources, and put emphasis where it can used for maximal effectiveness. Everyone benefits! Barry Westling

Paul, It's amazing how much information one can gather through the use of sublte sensory input via touch, and other other senses that complement say, a physical examination. But senses can also be used in the instructional process if we put our mind to it. It's probably slighlty easier for some trades or professions (culinary, medical, etc.), but I think a creative teacher can make a lasting point in almost any course by including some sensory component to the lecture, demonstration, discussion, or activity if they just think about it, want to do it, and recgnize the importance of incorporating… >>>

Eric, Part of being prepared is laying out the directions and expectatations for the day. Students will respond to instructions and guidence (in fact they need it) about how and what to do. When we are prepared, we can lay out the expectations for the day and then the course is laid for being carried out, methodically, transitioning between topic point after topic point. This can't happen automatically, it requires time, efoort, and planning to make it happen. Barry Westling
Paul, A good point. Having a student centered mindset means that we have to be willing to give up something, perhaps time, or a way we had planned to do something, or alter what we think is important for the benfefit of the student(s). It's like what is their need vs what is our need to do things a certain, predetermined way. Reaching out to our students to understand where we can help them and then following through with that help labels us student centered. Barry Westling
Patti, Good back up plans are really just alternate versions of what you're already doing. For me, I try to think of plans that are easy to implement on short notice, low tech, related to the current or general course topic, and are interesting and essential. By essential, I mean students don't feel like these are time fillers but meaningful to the extent possible. Barry Westling
Patti, More senses results in better retention of information, that's for sure. The key is to be creative and plan for ways to introduce more senses into the activities and lessons. Barry Westling
Alisha, Very true. It's often the soft skills that get workers fired rather than the technical skills they were trained for. Having some system in place to reinforce the knowledge of and importance of soft skills is as impotant as the technical skills and knowledge that are required for effective work preparedness. Barry Westling
Alisha, I like my classes to be like how I expect things at work. Each workday there are expectations, workers know what to do, and there is little slack or down time. There are many similarities between work and school. I think expectations are a big part of that. Barry Westling

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