Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

The campus president oversees the completion rates of all the instructors at UTI via the Education managers. Any discrepancies will be addressed if necessary.

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

Departmental coordination

In order to have a properly functional educational facility, the task of coordinating all departments is and always should be the campus president. My organization has an excellent coordinator that monitors all functions with the emphasis on completion rates, tutoring, etc. To that end, all students benefit as a result.

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

A caveat in the classroom

A major mistake that instructors may implement during a dissertation is to select a student that the instructor believes is not attentive due to a side conversation, dozing,etc. This endeavor could alienate the selected student's future learning abilities via unnecessary animosity and possibly cause trepidation among other students, thus destroying the prime objective of the dissertation: the assimilation of a key point.

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

Why we do what we do

I remember the first day, first class I taught in 2000. All class prep was done, I kept rehashing my chronological order, the anticipation was a nightmare, and I was living it. I wasn't going to wake up, it was here and NOW. I kept looking at the clock as if I were on death row, and at 2PM I was going to get "the chair". I was perspiring like a pig at a Hawaiian Lu-Au!! The students started filing in, the back-row guys smirked and stared...The inevitable occurred, the bell rang, and I began taking attendance. Get a GRIP!-… >>>

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

The BEST students.

My observations after 12 years as an instructor is: My best students are Vets, older students (usually married with the saddle of family responsbility AND a 40 hour job) and students who were raised on the farm. Why? I attribute the atention and performance I receive from them originates from having to be held responsible for their behavior. For the Vets, cut and dried, take a commansd, carry it out to the best of their ability, because they were TRAINED to do just that. As for the older married students- they know how hard they had to work, strive, and… >>>

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

Student responsibility vs instructor's responsibility

In this age of technological breakthroughs that occur very often, we as instructors have to be techno-savy. The student is barraged with information by the second. An instructor must be as rapid fire with information, reiterate the info for those who may not have absorbed it the first time, then question the qroup as a whole to observe if your information was grasped, digested, and the precept absorbed. Question any abberrations from the precept, and if necessary, reiterate with an analogy. Keep them involved, engrossed, empowered with the knowledge you are presenting.

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

Repeat, ask questions, repeat again

A new instructor really can't develop a confidence/comfort level when delivering a certain course for approx. 3 months. How can a quarterback be expected to present a game plan if he doesn't have all the plays memorized? Students are very perceptive in this. If you look, sound, or your body language present an aura of the lack of confidence, they could chew you up, and spit you out. Always remember that you always know more than they do... anticipate questions, and incorporate them into your delivery before they are even asked. This knack only can be acquired with time, experience… >>>

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

"The whole world's a stage"

Course content, always written on the white board prior to the student arrival should put an instructor into a certain mindset re:delivery. I can identify with one of the other comments that the total coverage of the subject matter is essential, and add that yes, the manner in which an instructor does this is just as important. Conveyance via a lifeless monotone, listless nature won't capture the student's attention.BE VIBRANT! Additionally, the longer an instructor has taught the subject, the better the delivery. He/she can make adjustments to course reference the style; what works? what didn't work? "Before a student… >>>

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

Be fair, but firm

"First day, new class, expectations, trepidation, a lot of ground to cover". This may be your thought process as an instructor. Be fair, explain your goals, most of the students already have "scoped you out" by asking your previous students what the class will be about. Be firm, explain with examples if necessary what is accepted behavior, and what is not PLUS the effects of the latter. The less time you spend correcting a student (or students-usually in the back row), the more time will be spent on course content and the learning experience for the devoted students who are… >>>

Rick Costello

Discussion Comment

Reduction of trepidation

You, as the instructor/professor must establish your goals on the first day. Stating unequivocally your expectations of the students will establish a basis for class control. Goals and grades cannot be achieved if the instructor/professor has no leadership abilities, and is most assuredly not conducive to a learning experience or environment. By being fair, but firm induces an allegiance and less learning time will be wasted trying to regain control of the class.