Shawna Ridley

Discussion Comment

At what age do you want to stop learning

Well since we are talking about age, I am 46 and have been teaching adults for 20 years in proprietary schools. I think until we retire, we must be open to learning and ways to engage our students. I really appreciate the comments you've posted and they really hit HOME. Thanks for sharing.

Shawna Ridley

Discussion Comment

At what age do you want to stop learning

This course was an eye opener. Candidly speaking, it revealed that as a seasoned instructor, there is more I can be doing in the classroom for adult learning effectiveness. You are never too old to learn.

Shawna Ridley

Blog

Allied Health Teaching Tips

This, by far, is one of the BEST courses ever. I think it should be part of every new instructor onboarding process. And, for those like me, who have been teaching 20+ years, this course she be required a refresher. I really enjoyed learning the additional learning styles, and ways to be a more effective professor.

I am going to customize a PowerPoint and volunteer to do a staff inservice for my peers.

Shawna Ridley

Blog Comment

Motivation

@Ridley2011 : Priscilla, my institution holds the instructors accountable for retention and motivation. I am perfectly fine with that, but feel their should be instructor/student accountability. I see the red flags you mentioned, daily, but so many of them I cant do anything about. So much of what affects the classroom occurs outside the classroom.

Shawna Ridley

Blog Comment

Motivation

Rick, this is so true. I just shared the 2014 salary study with my medical billing and coding students and it was an eye opening motivator. Over 65% of the students are single parents who have returned to school for a trade, in hopes of getting off the welfare system. The "carrot" for them is INCOME and that is what keeps them returning to the classroom.

Shawna Ridley

Blog Comment

Retention

I am really struggling with retention. I work at a proprieatary vocational school, and the students have such tumultuous family lives. Their home lives really interfere with school attendance. Although I try various methods of engagement, it is becoming increasingly difficult to retai them. Jeanette, James and Julne.....................your postings were very helpful.

Shawna Ridley

Discussion Comment

The Persistent GenYer

I will no longer consider the persisent GenYer as an over anxious achiever. After taking this course, I realize that GenYers want and yearn for immediate feedback. I often thought, please give me one full class period to return a test or an assignment. Now, I am going to make an extra effort to return grades the same day, when possible. I now view this persistence in a different and more positive manner.

Shawna Ridley

Discussion Comment

LinkedIn and Vocational Schools

I joined LinkedIn about 4 years ago and then LinkedOut. after reading this article, I am going to reactivate my LinkedIn account AND encourage my students to post on this networking site. Everyone pushes Monster and CareerBuilder... It's time to "tout" LinkedIn.

Shawna Ridley

Discussion Comment

Pitfalls of Technology in the classroom

Until taking this course, I thought it was a sign of weakness for the instructor not to know "it all". The material in this session made a very compelling point by stating instructors can leverage the intellect of the savvy techy GenYers in the class room. I believe the author indicated it is better to NOT fake it because these GenYers can sniff a phony out in a minute.

Shawna Ridley

Blog Comment

ED117

Ed and David, this was truly an elightening course for me. I THOUGHT i knew how to relate to the Gen Yers and this 4 hour course proved that I was missing the mark as an educator and employer. Some the concepts learned I can apply to life as a part time educator in the classroom and as a full time director at a large research academic medical center. And for those whoh have children..........they, too, can learn a thing or two.