Ellen Nuss

Ellen Nuss

About me

Activity

Teaching via lecture only gets boring day after day. Teaching using various active learning strategies is more enjoyable by both teacher and students. The risk I most often encounter when using these methods is ability to control time. This has become easier with experience. I try to break up lectures with small discussions, then must control the class and get back on topic. Occasionally the discussion may go off subject but is important to the course in general, so it's okay to go on. This can take longer than planned so time must be made up elsewhere.

I like the definition of stress presented in this course: conflict between goals and capabilities.  Sure makes sense to me.  Some weeks I am very organized and on top of my game.  Other times I am not where I want to be, but these moments or days are quick and don't come around often.  Though, there are those more stressful days and the headaches that acompany them. After many years of teaching I don't expect everything to go smoothly. Taking the time to keep up on paperwork helps.  I finally realized that letting things go when stressed is okay if… >>>

Most adult students just need to be led in the right direction and they almost teach themselves.  Others need more one-on-one tutoring in order to learn basic concepts.  Usually once basic knowledge is retained by slower learners they can continue progressing through the course.  Just sitting with a student and discussing various ways to study material helps motivate.  It not only show you care but many people have lost study skills or never learned them in earlier educational settings and explaining how to study puts a student on the right path.  These are the people we  are really "teaching."  They are… >>>

Discussion Comment
It is interesting to stand back and watch students work after groups are chosen and assignments given. Often the group dynamics between them is entertaining as they have fun while they learn.

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