If you're a student in any undergraduate or graduate academic program instructor feedback is instrumental for academic growth and ongoing learning throughout the program. This is often a key component of that motivation that comes from being in that program and that overall scholastic vigor, which is very necessary for understanding what our students require in their enrolled programs in order to improve upon writing skills and research skills.

Being able to provide our students that…

Learning encompasses a variety of strategic mechanisms that allow for course facilitators to truly take the opportunity to make each online course a unique experience for students.  If you think about it, instructors have the capacity to   offer invaluable ways to not just teach, but deliver and communicate new energy and information to those eager to learn and apply the information.    This is not just for those that attend face to face on ground courses, but for those living in the 'virtual'…

My approach to teaching is through application.  What I mean by this is that I want students to apply concepts as a part of their in-class learning and homework assignments.  Having spent over 15 years in industry, I recognize the importance of translating concepts into action.  Indeed when I was a project manager in industry, the most successful college graduates on my projects were the ones that had the skills to translate their knowledge into meaningful work products.

How can students apply…

There are many aspects of teaching that are not covered in textbooks, journals, lectures, etc.  I like to share aspects of the job that they may not be aware exist.  For example, in one of my courses, we talked extensively about the importance of teamwork in providing services for children with special needs.  I was a part of a very cohesive team when I taught developmental preschool.  I shared with my students various techniques that I used to help build my team and to keep the members working…

I tell people that I am successful as an instructor because I am present for my students, but thinking about that, I realize it is more than just being present, whatever that might mean. It all starts with my philosophy of adult learning. I realize that adults come with a knowledge base on which they are building and expanding and I acknowledge that through comments that I make when students first introduce themselves. I look for something in the introduction to either have them expand on, or…

Rapport is important in all business communication and also in the classroom. The introduction or bio a student gives should not stop at the discussion café but go through the entire course for each discussion each week. Building rapport during each discussion is important for two aspects. First, each student not only needs to answer the discussion questions, usually two for an undergraduate class, but needs to incorporate experience and characteristics of their character and knowledge.…

I provide regular, constructive and timely feedback for class discussions, written assignments and their progress which encourages students to be active learners. In classes such as economics presenting the real world examples and applications gives meaning to the theories and makes these theories more intuitive and enhances all learning styles. Class discussion questions are geared to encourage critical thinking by allowing students learning independently by research and learning form their…

One of the best ways that I find that works is to include my personal experiences in my responses to the discussion questions.  I find that the students gain a better understanding of the material when they can relate the concepts from the text to a real world example. For example, in one of the auditing classes that I facilitate, I will provide actual audit programs that I have used during the course of an audit. This allows the students to make the connection between how an auditor creates an…

I find this to be true, particularly in the 100 level courses and I often see posts that might say something like, "it sure is easier to do the math than explain it or discuss it." I have to admit, I can completely sympathize with those who feel this way because discussing mathematics is not something with which most students have much experience. The Classroom Policies document gives students some good guidelines and suggests that they incorporate personal experience and practical application…