Theresa Schmitt, M.Ed.

Tonia, You bring up a fantastic point- maintaining motivation in the classroom. What better way to motivate than to have others praise your work and share it with others, as is done on SlideShare. Is this a resource you see yourself incorporating into your curriculum moving forward? Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Leigh, Very well stated. Many of us do fall victim to become creatures of habit and following the same lesson plans month after month, year over year. By reviewing the work of peers we are exposed to not only valuable insight into our field of expertise, but new and innovative ways in which to share information with our students. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Heinz, Yes, this would be a fantastic way to experience a courtroom environment that would educate as well as ease the fears of those intimidated by entering into the field. Have you found a virtual courtroom on SecondLife, and if so, do you feel it successfully emulated the courtroom environment? Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Jason, Yes, Jason, you make a fantastic point. the more varied our approaches are, the more success we will be in engaging our learners. Please share some blended learning techniques you have incorporated into your learning environment. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Wendy, Reading and internet research are great ways to stay abreast of emerging technologies. I would suggest participating in various Cengage Learning webinars as well as those offered free of charge through similar publishers. Webinars are a valuable resource for educators. You will find you are exposed to a ton of relevant material you can put to immediate use in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Susan, I am happy to ear you are incorporating social media into your curriculum. Which forms of social media do you utilize and how do you monitor participation? Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Heinz, Sounds like they lack confidence, which comes in time. Requiring students to present work in most if not all classes is to their benefit down the line when they go on job interviews, give presentations at work, or deal with clients/patients. As an educator, it is uncomfortable at first but a necessary evil like teaching a child to ride a bike- they will fall down, but with practice they will master the skill in no time. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

James, Very true! I am sure most of us feel like performers on a stage each time we step in front of a classroom. As a rule of thumb, I take short breaks each hour and break up lectures with hands-on activities and group projects in order to keep the students focused and engaged. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

James, RSS feeds, which have been around for some time now, is also a fantastic way to aggregate information that can be used for professional development as well as a means of providing current, relevant information that can be shared with students. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Brooke, I am sorry to hear the experience took a negative turn. You may want to consider blocking a disruptive student if coaching is unsuccessful and this should happen again. Below is a video link with student testimonials; it also addresses some of the privacy concerns. Setting students up as acquaintances with specific privacy parameters does help draw a line in the sand between your personal and professional life on Facebook. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJUOa7VCkk4 Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt