Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Organized and prepared to teach

Rita, Good plan, and likely to result in good outcomes. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Organized and prepared to teach

Eric , Yeah, it's rare that any instructor could expect to just waltz in to class with little or no preparation and expect any significant outcomes. Successful classes are preceded by thought, planning, and gathering resources. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Making field trips and guest speakers a part of instruction

Terry, Great! Field trips can be so motivational as well as interesting. Sometimes students have only a vague idea about some aspect of their profession, and that's where the field trip can open their eyes, in an inspirational sense. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Gayle, For me, regular feedback is nearly as important as providing the material. I can also compliment, offer suggestions and advice, give support and encouragement, and also get a sense of my instructional strength. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

John, Sure, and the absence of that feedback can be a factor in how well the students understanding of course material progresses. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Informing students of status in course

Wendy, This is a very fun activity -- I've done quite a few times myself. Students are nearly universally amazed at their progress. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Gayle, Yeah, although it may take a bit of time to prepare, the results are often quite revealing. Also, there's no format or specific length that's required, so the amount of prep time can as varied as the instructor desires. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

Sandra, I think some students back away from "tests". A pretest is one way to begin to diminish anguish over the testing process, as my pretests are not graded and don't affect the grade in any way. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Using pretests as planning tools

John, Right. It's a planning tool for the instructor. Barry Westling

Barry Westling

Discussion Comment

Goal of educating students

Gayle, Creating a desire for lifelong learning can be one of the best gifts an instructor can give to their students. Barry Westling