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Ask a question from your peers to help you in your professional work. Seek different points of view on a topic that interests you. Start a thought-provoking conversation about a hot, current topic. Encourage your peers to join you in the discussion, and feel free to facilitate the discussion. As a community of educators, all members of the Career Ed Lounge are empowered to act as a discussion facilitator to help us all learn from each other.

Effective testing

Hello, We use testing to evaluate skill apllication and content uderstanding.

Feedback

Hello, Evaluating the student at the begining and end, help to establish base knowledge and progress.The student gets a better picture of where they are and what is to be learned

Checking for understanding

Hello, Checking for understanding is one way to evaluate teaching methods against the students understanding and retention.

Learning styles

Hello, I have used this knowledge to help reach students that have difficulty understanding material that was delivered in one style.

Retention

I know the importance of this topic, but I have always stuggled with it. We teach adults, yet have to have them sign-in each hour to prove they were in class. We have to follow the course discription and requirements of the college, but we as instructors are pentalized for students not completing our courses. I don't mind being pentalized for things I can control, but when a student gets put in jail or just quits coming to class; I can only do so much to get that student back in the classroom. Prep classes are the worse or if students are placed in courses that they are not ready for. How do you improve retention when you are faced with so many variables?

Moving around

Walking around while lecturing is a form comfort.

First time

First impression is everything.

Planning is the key.

The best for ssuccess is preparation.

Meeting the Students for the First Time

I enjoy my new course; I sit on top of my desk and tell my new guy and gals a little bit about my background in education. I then move into my expectations of the students, which includes the course outline and the course objectives. I make my students feel comfortable by letting them know that whatever their learning style is, I will aid them with the method they need.

Screening and Confirmation of Learning Disabilities

Instructors should be given support and training by administration to be able screen for possible learning disabilities. Physical barriers to learning may need to be assessed, such as vision and hearing. Also if a student self advocates, the instructor should a have a means of confirming the student’s claim of a learning disability.

Cross cultural communication skills

Cross Cultural Communication skill apply not only to ELL learners but to English speakers also. In teaching adults from different cultures, the instructor must be able to adapt to deal with those differences. Pre-testing can help alleviate language barrier and some knowledge based issues, but it would be well worth the time to invest in cross cultural communications training for the instructor. It also applies to teaching adults from different professional background... i.e. each profession has its own culture and specific language. (police, nurses, military, engineers, teachers....)

Teaching Style

As an educator, I believe that teaching style is very important to overall student progress, material retention, and success. I teach for a career college which has students from several different types of socio-economic backgrounds; therefore, I have developed many different styles of teaching. I, actually, have to incorporate many of these styles into each class, and that certainly was a major challenge for me. In addition to lecturing, I have incorporated PowerPoint presentations in some classes, various handouts, charts, etc. Using multiple styles in my classrooms has paid off in regards to my students' learning process.

Preparation for Moving in the Classroom

Before any lecture I give in a classroom I am unfamiliar with, I try to walk throughout the entire classroom and pace (count steps) where I plan to float or roam. I also check for positions I want to stop at to make points and to check if I am obstructing the view to the board or other media I may be using

writing instructional objectives

I like the ABCD mnemonic. I tend to make the same mistake over and over again for not addressing what condition the skill is to be tested under. I could use it to make sure that my objectives contain all 4 components (ABCD-audience, behavior, condition, degree of proficiency).

students with ELL

When we have in the same class students with ELL and english spoken students why not make them sit beside each other that way we are not just focosing on one side and not the other.

Student Participation

I am always seeking new avenues in getting and keeping students interested in participation. When you give an assignmement, you expect some discussion/feedback the next return. Many are hesistant in fear of saying something that others may not agree or want to hear. Any more suggestions?

Instructing Learners with Disabilities

I believe that the “greatest tools” an instructor needs to have while dealing with people and their disabilities are patience, kindness and humility.

Organizing Student Learning Groups

I like the idea of arranging the seating and/or work areas in different format. Not only because one can easily move around the room but also I feel it rejuvenates the room itself and brings a “new life”.

Developing Your Communication Skills

In my opinion, nonverbal cues are “silent killers” and they can affect how the instructor is perceived by his or her students. Therefore, one should try to be aware of their own mannerism so they can be controlled in positive way

Music in the classroom

I find that music can be quite a mood setter and motivator. It can often be quite a distraction, if not managed properly. Playing music during clean up, for instance, is a fantastic way of keeping students on point.