Author Archives: coleeducationaldesigns

The whole process of assessment can feel a bit daunting at times for both instructors and students. Nonetheless, it is a pivotal part of the educational experience. Lessons should always begin with a pre-assessment stage to gauge what students already know about a topic, then move to concept checking type assessment thought the lesson, andContinue reading “Pre and Post Assessment”

Are you wondering How to Motivate your Students? This infographic the first step you can take on the long journey of motivation. To Sum it up: Encourage communication Establish relationship and high expectations Set objectives Make it applicable to real life Use cooperative learning Utilize peer instruction Change your teaching style for different learning style DitchContinue reading “How to Motivate your Students”

There is no magical formula for creating motivation in the classroom. There are, however,  Motivational Techniques instructors can use that can have a positive impact from the article linked to here on Motivational Techniques for the Language Classroom. There are 3 main strategies followed by a practical example of how it can be used listed below. Promote Learners’Continue reading “Motivational Techniques”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? The Pedagogy of Questions developed by Freire involves posing questions to learners and listening to learners’ questions. Which seems simple enough, right? Wrong. We tend to forget the fundamental structure of questions that stimulate answers – the verb. Our questions (through eliciting, concept checking, etc.) should force and challenge learners to think critically. By focusingContinue reading “Questioning Techniques”

In reading Student Engagement Techniques, Elizabeth Barkley (2010) commented on a strategy she uses to promote self-directed learning with a music class. The strategy is to “offer a flexible menu of learning activities” (56). This is a strategy I would like to use with the university preparation course I design materials and curriculum for atContinue reading “Menu of Learning Activities”

Inspired by a quote today: “Learners need to know how well they are doing and how they can do better. Effective teaching is not simply providing information – a text book, video, or podcast can do that as well and often better. Rather, a teacher’s value comes in the careful observation, analysis, and feedback toContinue reading “Effective Teaching”

https://marekbennett.com/2011/02/28/multiple-intelligences-comics-education/

Objective In her TED Talk The Power Introverts, Susan Cain states “solitude is a crucial ingredient of creativity.” Reflective This quote hits on two points I believe to be important. First, introversion, and second, creativity, both of which are essential in the classroom and in life. To my disappointment, both of these elements receive veryContinue reading “Solitude: Ingredient for Creativity”

In a forum I have been participating in this week, a point came up that peaked my interest. The topic is building positive learning environments, and one of my discussion mates stated that to build a positive learning environment, classrooms should be inclusive. I thought about this and have taken it a step further.  InContinue reading “Cultural Competence and Inclusive Classrooms”

As a TESOL instructor, I feel that Instruction Checking Questions (ICQs) and Concept Checking Questions (CCQs) are crucial when teaching new language teachers. They can make or break a lesson.  Most of the questions I ask usually fall into these 2 categories.  I am not very clear when setting instructions for a task, so whenContinue reading “Instruction and Concept Checking”