It goes both ways in the classroom - if you are learning, the students are learning; if you respect them, they will respect you. When you are honest with them, you will get honesty in return.

The Pygmalion Effect can be very useful in that you must expect good things from your students and consistently state this through out the course. It is true that words do have meanings.

Learning Activities can be a useful tool in the education process. They provide an opportunity for real world simulation and allows the student an opportunity to buy in to the purpose of the course.

I would like to hear thoughts on the challenge of teaching thesesspecial individuals

I would be very interested in learning more about the strategies of dealing with this challenge

Aproblem for me as well. Do I just get tougher, or is there a gentler more effective approach?

Should we take classses? Toastmasters? How do you make yoursself interesting to your younger students?

I feel that supplemental materials provide opportunities to engage more students in the classroom. Especially if not everyone is as comfortable with the textbook authors style of delivery. I am looking at utilizing articles from Time Magazine in class but I want to be sure that I, in no way, will be in violation of copywright laws. If i am sure to provide all appropriate citations and credits, can I make copies of articles for classroom use?

This is perhaps the most difficult part for me as an instructor, as I have expectations that students want to and need to be in the class or in school. I've worked for schools where the classroom door was expected to be locked after the start of the class, and everyone told not to answer the door if a student knocks to get in after class starts or if tardy from coming back from break. The rationale is that students coming in late are disruptive, when I find it just as bad to stop class and tell a student to sit down and not answer the door. I find it defeating. I'm not actually sure if locking a classroom door is even legal!

You can incorporate them in every unit if you are teaching in an online course. Quick quizzes or essay questions would be easy to create in order to show that the knowledge gained that Unit has been obtained. Then students would also be able to see what areas they may need to review prior to their mid-term or final exam.

Today, many of the instructors at career colleges are relatively young and the students are older(a lot whom are going to school for the first time since their children are grown, or attempting new careers). Have you ever found yourself having a more difficult time disciplining these types of students as opposed to those freshly out of High school?

How do you deal with a student that wants to be center stage at all times.

How do you deal with students that are having family problems at home?

Would you change the syllabus on your own if you thought you could make it better and more effective for your students?

How would you regulate students lunch & break times in a clinical setting?

How do you manage difficult students that refuse to do as you instruct them to do?

What do you do when a student doesn't stick to the established goals?

I am always curious about improving my presentations. I teach online and on grounds. I have not seen much that actually addresses online instruction. Moving around and eye contact are wonderful tools for the classroom. How can I translate what is learned to the online environment? Walter

I prefer play a soft smooth instrumental at a low volume during lab. It tends to maintain a stress free environment.

One of the best methods of invoking two way communication is to ask a question and try and invoke an answer from students. Many times this will provoke more questions and interaction.