This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:

Instructional Planning for Student Success --> Preparing Yourself for the Classroom

Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.

It is very important to keep the bullet points to five.  Remember it is a guide to keep the instructor on track and guide the student in topics to read in their book.  It is important to have equal amounts of white space between your bullets.  Graphics should be carefully considered to reinforce the content and not be perceived as offensive. Please, do not read from power points.  If you have thought it out and prepared the slides you know your material and the content should come across as a discussion. 

Ora Robinson

Twenty plus years ago when I started teaching I had a flat affect. I was shy back then and scared to be in front of a crowd.  Being a psychiatric nurse I had a standard affect for the different type of behavioral challenges we encounter as well as an affect when standing on the bus stop in a bad part of the city.  Fast forward, I secured a full time position as a psychiatric instruct at a community college.  They put us through rigorous requirements over 5 years to dig deep into introspection, reflection and getting feedback from peers on your instructional approaches.  After securing my Phd I secured a position in a university setting, where another battery of educational opportunities on effective teaching, videotaping lectures for self-evaluations and peer evaluations.  

The challeng was I always had a flat affect since a baby.  I had to work hard on improving my facial affect which I did.  One day I saw myself in the mirrow and scared myself.  I said on my this is what people see.  Fast forward I am full of smiles now.  I share this to say it is important to self reflect, take the critical feedback and adapt.  I am now confident and secure and know how to use my affect to effect positive change. 

Ora Robinson

I think as learning is a contieous process, so literacy skills should be. Creating more chances to gain & perfect litracy skills should be a priority in every practical context as well as every class. This may cause the instuctors to go an extra mile to make it to happen. I will start with myself!

HOW CAN I CONVINCE THE ADMINSTRATION TO APPLY THIS IMPROVED LEARNING TECHNIQUE IN MY COLLEGE?

Is there a more popular ALS than the other or are these just tailor made by each individual instructor?

I am a cosmetology instructor, planning is fun but how do i get them to retain all that i have planned?

As students enter the career colleges for professional training such as nursing, they enter with various knowledge base, study habits and motivations.  The individualized adaptive learning tool will assist students achieve the objectives with less frustration and reduce the drop out rate.   

when taking a prior class test, how to consider the involvement time that the assessment of the test takes?

Should be used to support objective of lesson plan

What does RAM stand for?

Lecture is the most vital part of you class from this point on information will be transferred.

I need to assess what works and what did not for the next time I teach this course.  

Does anyone have experience with giving a "paper free" power point lecture ? I knwo the students need to make notes in the sidelines. Is there a way to give them access to the slides by download then they canadd notesin the side ? Has anyone tried this and how did it work for you ?

what do others use to connect with students?

For those of us who are not as tech inclined as many of our students, how did you get past the intimidation to advance in your teaching methods?

If you do not have a facility that the student can go to take make-up exams.  How do I work that so I am not sitting in a classroom (extra time for me) watching a student take a make-up exam?

I find models very effective in small group learning

I have moved from rarely using Power Point in my lectures to having it in almost all my lectures.  I try very hard to make sure they are useful in the education of the students.  The problem is that some students think that all they need to study are the Power Points from the lecture and they will do well in the class.  This is not true and I DO tell them during different parts of the semester that they should not be focusing only on the Power Points when they are studying for the exams.

Roger

I read that the instructors were the main stakeholders for ADL, but that students also have a stake in their educational content. Which is correct?