Theresa Schmitt, M.Ed.

Craig, I bet getting out of cleaning is a big a deal after a messy day in the kitchen! Excellent incentive. Theresa Schmitt

Glenn , In your hands-on environment, I agree project-based learning(cooking based, in your case), drives home the lesson far better than any PowerPoint, once you are actually reviewing the steps in a process/technique. I would have to assume a majority of your students are tactile/kinesthetic learners. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Glenn , Yum- I would like to visit your campus! I know of many schools who have a no YouTube policy due to copyright concerns, and participants on this forum tend to be split 50/50 when it comes to campus policy regarding the use of social media as a learning tool. I think what you are doing is the ideal way to handle these restrictions, by having students pull up the content on their own device. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Best, Theresa Schmitt

David, It sounds as if in your situation, utilizing phones for in class work should be limited to online searches. I do appreciate the approach your institution has taken, focusing on technology while students are in school in order to become acclimated with how your industry functions. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Suzie, As a Department Chair, I often conduct faculty observations and find I am stealing best practices all the time and in turn sharing those tips with other faculty. For those who are not in a position to conduct formal evaluations, observing your peers in action is still a fantastic exercise in faculty development. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Best, Theresa Schmitt

Ali, I find well produced YouTube videos to be invaluable when lecturing on a new or difficult concepts. as you mentioned, hearing it explained from another authority does often help if learners are having issues with absorbing the content. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Khalid, You bring up an excellent point, LinkedIn is a fantastic way to stay abreast of industry trends without the added expense of fees. I find that I have an opportunity to network via LinkedIn with presenters before I attend a seminar, establishing a personal connection before the day of the event. Best, Theresa Schmitt

Khalid, That is a fantastic way to ensure everyone is on the same page with course outcomes. Working as a team also allows you to split up developing new test questions each term so it isn't a burden. Yours in learning, Theresa Schmitt

Bruce, You bring up a fantastic point, Bruce. I agree students should get involved with professional organizations as early as possible, though I understand fees and dues are an issue for many college students. Reaching out to local chapters and negotiating a student friendly night is something I have done in the past and I found members were very open to the idea. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt

Roger, I see great value in creating a department Facebook page- it keeps the students engaged outside of class and they can see of of the exciting projects their peers and instructors are working on. Monitoring the comments/discussions is key if you are moderating this page- keeping the discussion professional is very important when using Facebook for educational purposes. Wishing you continued success in the classroom. Theresa Schmitt