Joseph Abiera

I have main issues with students that have some type of disability, but do not seek out help. What is the best way to approach a situation when you see a student that could have dyslexia, but may not have been diagnosed or known about it? Is it up to us to talk with them, or find someone else to approach them?

I tend to find it hard to critique work from students that have learning needs, or a disability. I don't want to pass them for just doing the work, but I also do not want to trash their work because they are not truly understanding the concepts. Anyone else find this to be troublesome?

I like to assign specific roles that are needed to be filled within the group, and then have the group nominate each other for these roles. I give a title and description of what is needed and then they are each filled as soon as the groups are made. It makes people work harder and stronger as a group.

I tend to use humor and current topics, to help steer some of my lectures. It helps stimulate their thought process and helps them tie in with what I am trying to tell them.

I always like to do a show and tell of not just past student work, so the students can see what to expect in the class, but I bring in work that I have done. I also open it up to critiques and comments on what they like and don't like about it. It gives them the power to express their opinions on real work, and it shows them that I have expertise in the field, and it gets them asking questions about their future careers.

How do you check to make sure that students are not copying other people's art work. How are you to know if it was by accident, or that the student actually stole their work?

I like to use the students that tend to be over zealous in class and use them to my advantage, by helping them lead smaller groups, and working with other students that may not be getting the material. By keeping watch over these students, gets the center stage students feeling like they are helping out, and also gets the students they are helping, much needed attention and gets the groups discussing more.