Marie Furtado

I like to use multiple choice and true and false, as they both test a wide range of objectives and easier for the students to understand and follow th edirections. Since I teach science classes I also use a lot of labelling of diagrams along with questions.

I think it is a very good idea to have a post test review. It is not always convenient to do this during the class time as that takes away my lecture time. I do suggest to the students to come to my office and look at their test so that they know what they missed and that it is one way to make sure that they do not repeat that mistake again.

I give the students a quiz every week. The quiz is mainly on the material covered the previous week. I feel that when they are preparing for the quiz that does not include enourmous amount of information, they will study it in more detail. At mid quarter I do give them a more comprehensive test which includes all the material that was covered up to that point. The students say they are better prepared for the comprehensive tests because of the prior quizzes.

I make sure the students know that no question is a stupid question. I like to encourage even the quite student, who is reluctant to say anything by asking a question and giving a partial answer and asking the student to give me the rest of the answer. It often breaks the ice and the student opens up more.

I often reward the student with extra credit points if the student gives me a correct answer on the topic that we are currently discussing or one that we have discussed previously. I will ask questions frequently during the lecture and I know that the students pay attention so that they can earn some credit points and they encourage me to keep asking questions.

I know that it is not possible to target 100% of the class's learning style all the time. I do try to use Power point with a lot of diagrams (visual), Lecture (auditory), reading (written) and an assignment that involves labelling and coloring .

I think it is very important to make the students feel that they can succeed and pass a course and to be successful they have to be in the class and together the instructor and the student can achieve what the students thought was impossible at the begining of the quarter. Making the students believe that they can do it is the half the battle.

I try to use different learning styles: written, auditory, visualization and tactile as I teach. It does help the students to have a power point prior to the class so that they don't have to keep taking down notes. This will let them focus more on the lecture.

After you introduce yourself, briefly talk to the students about why you are qualified to teach this class. Let the students know that you have the knowledge and know how to make this class a great success. You have to present yourself as the person in charge, but at the time let them know that you will be accessible to them during your office hours and that you follow an open door policy during those hours.