Theresa Schmitt, M.Ed.

Quebec, I find grading so much easier now that I o not have to carry home stacks of papers- everything is accessible from my computer and I can mark up papers and write comments in the margin in Microsoft Word and return graded papers via email. Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

Stephanie, With so many titles available on every topic under the sun, Netflix and Amazon are a fantastic resource. Each term, I create my lesson plan, including all videos I plan to show, and submit it to the school librarian to ensure we have permission as an institution to playback the video. Very rarely is there an issue, but if it is not listed in the Swank directory (http://www.swank.com/), we do need to look for other alternatives. Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

Megan, Great! I also rely on graphics when teaching difficult concept and find it a successful tool, especially when paired with examples on video, when possible. Teaching and learning with technology does enhance the teaching and learning experience, and whenever we have the opportunity to infuse hands-on learning, we are challenging our students to apply concepts taught in class to ensure they fully grasp the material. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Ahmed, Very interesting you bring up learning through music, which is a very successful tool when teaching young children new concepts. I read this article some time back- you may find it interesting: http://neurosciencenews.com/neuroscience-music-enchances-learning-neuroplasticity/ Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

Quebec, Edmodo is a fantastic resource for sharing and collaborating. I find the app easy to navigate, and a great tool for grade tracking. Thanke for sharing! Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

RAJINI, I am sorry, I cannot answer this question; I do not specialize in clinical. I would ask your campus Dean or Librarian, they may be able to provide guidance. Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

rebecca, I would ask your campus Dean about that. Marking students present when they are not physically in class may pose numerous problems for your school, so you would need to be sure the attendance was logged as distance learning or independent study/off-campus status. Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

Sherry, I agree with your summation- I do not miss carrying stacks of papers around one bit! There are some institutions that block document management websites, but I have found most portals used by these colleges support the housing and uploading of papers, including PDFs, Word and Excel files. Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

Deborah, As an instructor, I have "Open Skype Time" in which students can call during scheduled hours twice a week when I am sure to be at my computer at home. I can answer questions, review grades, or just provide general guidance on an as-needed basis. Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

Arthur, Good point. Asking students to engage with the online content and interact with each other outside of class time may at first appear daunting to the students. By introducing the platform in a non-threatening way, you are presenting blended learning in a non-threatening way. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt