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I teach many clinical classes and I have found that the skills I am presenting can monopolize my time with individual students. When this occurs, I have found it most helpful to have on hand additional activities for my students that have mastered the skill and are ready to move on. This way, my students continue to learn and reenforce the skill with additional avenues of learning while not disrupting the rest of the classroom with behaviour born from boredom.

How to keep them motivated when the end is in sight!

I am currently teaching students who have 20 days and counting until the end of their college career. I have found that the students are excited and frightened to be so close to this deadline. Do any of you have tips to keep them motivated and boost confidence while acknowledging their fears?

Overplanning rather than Underplanning

As a new instructor, only having a year of teaching experience, I have learned that planning and preparation is not only for the students, but it's for the instructor as well. It helps you to be more organized with your delivery, makes you seem more professional and competent, and it keeps the students busy and occupied for the full length of the class time. It is always best to overplan than underplan because students may finish an assignment or activity much sooner than expected. If this happens, instead of having to think on your toes about what to do/say next, you'll already have another assignment or activity ready for them, or you'll already be prepared to go to the next topic on your course outline.

student learning assesment

Keeping up with your student progress,let you know just where your student stands

questioning as a teaching technique

you can always use your work history. that would be a good basic step to start.

your new discussion topic

make sure your students have a good understanding of whatis to be expected, in your class

Perscribed Syllabi

I am a new instructor and the courses I am teaching have pre-existing syllabi already in place. There are a few areas where my personal teaching style and the sylabus disagree, and I'm curious as to what I should do to make them sync up. Should I propose to change the syllabi to accord better with how I would like to teach the courses, or should I change my attitude toward the perscribed syllabi and simply follow them?

Competency based education

Even though I enjoy the classroom the skiils that I teach are based on actualy being able to perform to certain standards. I enjoy the hands on as do most of the students. It is up to them to figure out the best way for them to learn and apply the process. That is what makes it such a challenge. You have to identify what works for each student.

Doing a survey at the beginning of class

I have done the last 3 mods (5 week courses) a survey at the first day of class, asking what it the best way they learn, is there anything I need to know about them and their learning style or taking test? i.e. learning disability, needing to be put somewhere else where they can read the tests out loud or have someone read it too them

Students diversity

When i am putting together students groups, i find that by keeping a good balance mixed of students realy helps. Byassingning numbers to students this helps to eliminate them grouping with their friends. This now allows the students to learn to interact with someone they might not know or be familiar with , allowing them to share thier experiancess from different backgrounds or cultures.

Developing good comunication skills

In my experience i find that good body gestures realy help me in communicating with my students. If my students see me come in to class exicted and in a good mood it trully reflects on them causing them to also feed off my possitive energy. I believe that we speak louder with our bodie language than what we actually say.

mini lectures

I am impressed with the idea of mini lectures. I'm with my students for 6 hours a day Mon. through Fri. Mini lectures would prove most useful in this situation. This is a new concept to me and I will have to carefully plan them out on a schedule but I believe it will improve my classroom learning environment. One of the biggest problems I run into is keeping the students attention, especially since they are in class for 6 hours a day.

planning and preparation

planning is something I have very little time to do. I am going to put forth considerable effort to plan ahead and provide my students with more information about my courses and what I expect from them. I think I would run into less problems if I can provide clearer expectations.

Students Who Refuse to Participate

I have a new student who at time will refuse to participate. This student will even go so far as to say "I don't think this is helpful," or "I'm not going to do this." I am a new instructor to this student and have sensed this student is "testing" me. They way I have responded has been to take a deep breath and restate with understanding what student states, i.e., "I understand you don't feel this exercise is helpful but..." and I'll give the reason why it is helpful. When the student has flat out refused to participate I've said, "I understand you don't want to participate because, X, Y, Z, and I can't force you to participate but this is the reason why I believe you should participate" and then give my reasoning. #1 Is this typical of some students? #2 Is there a different way to handle this situation?

Repetition

Repetition of the subject matter also contributes to memory retention.

Responsability

While it is the responsability of the student to read the bok and complete the assignment it is also important for the instructor to complete tsks with the students and if there is any confusion to walk tem through the questions

Create a happy working enviorment

The students are proud of their work, espeacially what they may have put hard work into. While you are not able to display grades maby it is ok to display work.

Different methods of testing.

It is important for the instructor to test in methods that do not overwhelm the instrutor with regards to testing. However is important for the instructor to understand that students excel at different test so sometimes you may have to look at the best interest of the instructors.

Positive energy

Positive energy is always important or a student. If the Instructor is feeling excited about the new content than so will the students.

What to do for a four hour lecture block?

I am teaching at a college that has four hour lecture blocks, and I am struggling to keep attention for all four hours and make the content last. I have introduced games and handouts, but I am afraid that I am wasting too much of the student's valuable time this way, any ideas on this?