I realize that I should take the time to pause more often, to keep track of what everyone is doing in the classroom. It would definately keep me on track, as well as the students. I could spend more time with those that seem a bit lost.

I have found that the more instructional tools you give, the more the students will absorb. They are usually very excited with all of the different ways they can learn new topics.

I totally agree with this theory. It is important to get to your class early be organized, small talk with the students when they come in. This creates a calm atmoshpere.

I think it is very important to share some study skills that will help in each indiviual course.

It is very important to have a good course outline. It is easy to get side tracked with disscusion and having a strong course outline will help getting back on track.

I totally agree with looking professtional. It is very important to the way your class will run. I also agree with being on time and making sure assignments are turned in exactly when they are suppose to be.

When we (instructors) take a moment to learn and implement the various learning styles it shows our students that we are engaged in their learning

what makes you any effective instuctor?

Are there any rules of thumb regarding this? Oftentimes I'll lecture on a difficult concept and I'll ask if there are there any questions. I don't seem to get many or any at all. Thanks.

Should you always write a list of questions that you may think the students would like to ask?

This is great information, once you learn the students learning styles it becomes easier for them to retain the needed information.

I find that some students start to sweat when I announce that everyone must share something personal. I know the feeling and there is no way around it for some students. What I'll do to ease tension for them is model a brief description of my favorite food, place, animal, color, etc. I may be more relevant to college and tell my major in college and what I did with my degree. Then I ask the students to turn to the person sitting next to them and introduce their name, and favorite??? Then I ask each student to introduce the person they just met. The exercise puts the timid student more at ease and personalizes the class.

Has anyone else besides me used personal stories to get their point across in the classroom? I do all the time, I find that students like an instructor that they can relate to in some type of way.

A useful way to determine students' intuitions on a given topic is to present them with a paradox or a puzzle involving the concept at issue, and to have them figure out a solution. By forcing the students to work it out without some authority's solution, you increase the likelihood that they will be able to critically assess theories when they are presented later. In scientific fields you can present experimental data which seems to contradict parts of the theory just presented or use examples which seem to have features which support two opposing theories.

I think that sometimes instructors teach to their own learning style. Remember, you were once a student and preferred a specific way of learning. Just because you like learning a certain way, this does not mean that you should teach to your own learning style. Get to know the learning styles of your students. There on websites where you can direct your students to take a learning style assessment, print it, and give it to you. How accurate are these online assessments? As an instructor, I use these just to help me get a hint of what their learning styles may be. The students seem to like knowing how they best learn as well.

On the first day of class, I always ask my students to share with me their favorite something. It can be a movie, book, hobby, or something that will help me to get to know a little more about each one as a person. I also write on the board the following: “If Ms Woolbright could wave a magic wand and make your dream come true, what is that dream?” This helps me to connect with my students. By doing this, I find out other things about my students. Some of them may be good singers, painters, etc. There are times when some of these students have been classmates throughout their learning process and did not know these things about each other. People like to talk about themselves and this helps to put them at ease and let them know that I care enough to want to know more about who they are.

I find that positive reinforcment even for a partial correct answer and having the other students add to the answer in a open discusion format takes the stress off of the students and makes them more willing to participate and boost their self confidence.

Do not tell your students that it is your first time "ever" to teach or to teach a particular class!!! If you have a well-prepared lesson plan, there is no need to reveal this to your students. By revealing this, it could perhaps create a negative impression of you. We want the students to always feel that they are going to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform in the real-world.

I find that students learn better with discussions open, different styles and questions.

I always at the end of my lecture have what we call "question and answer time (open dis ussion) this allows me to see who was listening