Years ago when I started teaching at my current college, the learning environment was poor. The school was behind technology times and lacked the support students needed to succeed. Over the past three years the school has spent the funds in adapting the facilities and upgrading the systems. I know that our students are more successful because the learning environment has allowed them greater opportunities. The environment plays an important role in the success of our students. From the atmosphere, classroom layout, technology, color, and look of our buildings we create a learning environment. What we have to offer our students leads to their success.

I teach a computer course with 22 students. Any suggestions on how to successfully keep students with different competencies on task and off facebook, etc.?

It is very important to be professional in all aspects of your persona as an instructor. Be the person you want your students to look up to, take directions from and mirror.

Technology has improved both in functionality and cost that demonstrations and hands on manipulation are both interactive, technically simple and and excellent learning platform. New plug and play sensors allow student to seen real time physical effects that can be viewed on the laptop or sent to a multi-media projector. A very basic lab set up can be as inexpensive a 500 dollars to get started.

I find that real life career experiences help to motivate my students. They are eager to understand the career field to which they are committing themselves with their professional course of study. Linking my "in the field" career experiences to course content delivery has helped to motivate my students, and help them understand the reason for the focus on certain content. This is done through sharing anecdotes and case studies.

It's important to incorporate as much real world information into the classroom as possible to show how the information that is being conveyed is applicable.

I strongly encourage students to be engaged with each other because the information they can share with each other is also very valuable.

Why is it not a good idea to have some humorous questions on a test? I do it all the time, plus on short answer questions I tell the students "if you don't know the answer, see if you can't make me laugh, because that might be better than leaving the answer blank."

Using a variety of delivey methods not only helps the students with the course you're teaching but it also keeps them engaged and excited about learning. Being able to accomodate the forms of learning in my opinion, gains appreciation from the students!

This is very true in this situation. Setting a level of mutual respect in the classroom is to me, the most important factor in teaching. The students must want to respect you and you are the only person who can establish this from the start. The students have a tendancy to push the limit and given the opportunity, they will try to push in one way or another.

Setting the learing environment is crucial to the general direction of the class. Establishing the atmosphere will grant you the over all control of the class, not only on the first day but for the rest of the class term. This includes rules, the student/teacher relationship, and the overall effectiveness of the learning environment.

How do you help students whose writing skills have been diminished because of using texting symbols in their papers and written responses to exams?

How should student's performance be graded in a in a group project?

Does anyone have any good ice breakers for first class room meetings?

I have a student in class that I really do enjoy talking to, but I have trouble keeping him on task. As soon as he gets to challenging question in our lab work, he starts making jokes and talks about how there's no way he will ever be able to do the work. I've tried playing along, ignoring the behavior and I had a one-on-one frank discussion with him about his actions. His joking interferes with his ability to receive redirection and new information. He agreed that he uses humor as a defense mechanism and he admitted the he didn't think it was helpful. After our conversation he went right back to his old behavior! He really is talented and capable...any suggestions about how I can help him stop hiding behind his humor?

I always ask the class on the first day if anyone has any special needs.

Hi everyone, The importance of being a good instructor is to present yourself as a person first,never try to proof you are smarter than them is not the way to go this days remember there are students that like to challenge instructors all the time therefore it is better to convence the students that you care for them and the subject you are teaching. LISA SAMANIEGO

to decrease any jitters I like to sing on my way to work or mimic what the news radio is saying. This is a great way to exercise the mouth. Remember what Socrates did with putting stones in his mouth.

I really like the idea to video my lecture, as I feel I can learn a lot from this. But does someone know if there are legal issues I need to be concerned with?

We have a pre test that i use to determine the students work groups.