The Next Term - What You Can Do NOW

It is that time of year when we are releasing the schedule for the next term, in this case, Winter term. The classes don't start till January, but we need to get the word out now.
Since it is Christmas time and even we are planning for the holidays, raising awareness of our upcoming classes can be a challenge. We need your help to make this happen most effectively.
We are asking you to talk up your classes and encourage those you know to sign up. We can send you an email flier, if you request one, which you can send out to any on your email list. You are the front line that our clients see and we want your classes to go.
Do you have any other things you do to get the word out about your class? Share them with us here.

Important Feedback

As instructors, we want to know how we are coming across to our students and how effective we are being. It is always gratifying to hear how good we are doing or uncomfortable to hear we have missed the mark. Often this feedback doesn’t come until the end of class when we can’t do anything about it.
Carol Smith, from the Helium.com website, writes, “Don't be afraid to ask your students how they feel the course is going. If you are relaxed and friendly they will feel they can give you an honest answer. If they aren't happy, ask them what they would like you to change - and change it! You will be a better teacher for it and you will have happier students.”
How do you handle this situation? Do you regularly check in with your students or pull one aside during a break? What has worked for you? Comment below and share with us.

Dealing with Late Arriving Students

We all want to start our class on time; it is respectful to those who are present and we don’t like to repeat ourselves. Carol Smith brings up an interesting point that we need to also be aware of as we teach adults. She writes for Helium and says the following:
“Remember that your students have lives. If they are late arriving there is probably a reason. It isn't helpful to turn into your old form teacher and be rude to them. I remember attending a course myself a few years ago. One night I was late leaving work, and then was caught in traffic. I arrived home, wolfed a speedy sandwich and went straight out to my class. All the tutor said when I arrived was 'Do please try to be on time'. I hadn't been late before. Needless to say I didn't return to the classes.”
Sharing the expectation of being on time at the start of the first class and then understanding that life happens, can keep you and the class on track for a good experience.
You can read her complete post at: http://www.helium.com/items/980193-tips-for-teaching-adult-learners-instead-of-younger-learners

2010 List of the Top Tools for Learning

The Centre of Learning & Perfomance Technologies has compiled a list from over 545 learning professionals worldwide of the top 100 Tools for Learning. They do this every year and one can see the changes over the last three years of what technologies have been seen to contribute most to learning.

This list included many things I use on a regular basis and quite a few I have never heard of before.

I invite you to read the list and share with us which technologies you have found most useful. Also please share how you have used them inside and outside your class. You may find something new you can use.

Here is the link to the list: http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/top100-2010.html