Barry Westling

Hi Kelley:
One of the nice things about the transition time is that it can help your students focus in on YOU the instructor, or, help them start to change whatever is in their minds to be on what you will be saying.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Kathleen:
Many instructors use some kind of technique as a transition time in the classroom.

For example, playing music for a moment, or announcing what the daily agenda is can servie this function.

Regards, Barry

Kelley Aliffi

I love the idea of taking the first few minutes to transition. Thanks for the reminder. I teach my massage therapy students to picture a coat hook outside the door where they can leave all their concerns during the massage. I also remind them to honor those concerns by picking them up as they leave the office.

Barry Westling

Hi Steve:

Great point - by doing ANY activity that helps bring the student from wherever they're at in their minds to the topic at hand will facilitate better learning outcomes.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Nicola:
That's a fun use of an activity to get the student's mind onto a new task. Perhaps similar activities would be put into effective use to assist a student leaving their other thoughts "at the door".

Regards, Barry

Kathleen Graves

Daily transition into the learning mentality is a great idea. Our school is in a major metropolitan area where students are taking public transportation to get to class. Their arrival times are very scattered.

There is another transition period that is of concern to me. Sometimes when an instructors leaves and another takes the class there can be unpredictable class disruptions. I am wondering how to assess a class to predict resistance and plan the transition

Steve Ferguson

I think a few minutes to unwind is very important. It gives the students time to let go of earlier frustrations- such as the person that cut them off on the freeway. Which helps them focus on the class material..