Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Instructor Tip: Student Participation




Hello instructors. As usual, I have been reading/researching for interesting and valuable information to share with you. Today, I have stumbled upon Faculty Focus which poses questions you must consider in order to encourage student participation.

How often do you ask a question and when do you ask it? How often depends on the teacher, but there’s evidence from more than one study that a lot of us over estimate how often we ask questions. Do not wait to ask all your questions at the end of class, students are hoping nobody says anything so they can get out a couple of minutes early. Ask questions occasionally throughout the class to engage the students. 

How long do you wait? Most faculty wait between two and three seconds before asking the question again, calling on somebody, rephrasing the question, answering the question themselves, or decideing nobody has anything to say and moving on. Instead, try waiting ten to twelve seconds. Time passes slowly when you’ve asked a question and there’s no sign of a response. It’s an awkward, uncomfortable time for the teacher and the students, however, waiting longer has its rewards.

Do you encourage reflection before response? Student input improves if you give them the opportunity to pull their thoughts together, jot down some ideas, talk with the person sitting next to them, look something up in the text, or just think about the question and how they might respond.

Do you move around? Faculty should move around the room into the student's space, forcing students to be present in the lecture. Do not stand behind the podium for the entire class period. 

Are you inviting engagement? As you move, establish direct eye contact with students. Many students will not look at you, but some will and you can encourage them to speak with your facial expressions. If you’re smiling and look relaxed, that kind of contact is none threatening.

How intently do you listen?  It’s hard enough to get students to talk in class, so give them your full attention. Don’t try to listen and sneak a peek at the clock or look down at your notes. Attentive listening can be confirmed by what you say after the student has finished: “Thank you. Let me see if I understand your response.” Follow up by rephrasing what the student said, not what you hoped the student would say.

How are you showing that you value student contributions? Refer to the content of a good answer later in the class period, during a subsequent class, or in online exchanges. Point out why an answer is good and write them on the board. Mention something you learned from a student contribution.

How often do you solicit feedback from students about interaction in your classroom? Ask for feedback on your responses to their contributions. Determine if they have learned from what other students said.

I hope you found this as informative as I have! To see this article and more you can find it at http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/encouraging-student-participation-why-it-pays-to-sweat-the-small-stuff/.

Instructor of the Month! January 2014



Marcus Carr has been a member of the Continuing Education family since 2006 and an amazing asset to the program! He teaches several business classes such as Entrepreneurship and Business Plan Development, Social Media for Business and more.

We asked Marcus Carr a few quick questions to get to know him better:
What's your favorite part about teaching? I enjoy helping other people achieve their goals of starting or growing their small business. It’s very rewarding to see the smile on a person’s face when they receive answers to their questions and get a better understanding of what it takes for conducting a business venture.
What would you name the autobiography of your life? How to sail around the World – A Life of Adventure.
What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod? "Rockstar" – Nickelback
What is your favorite form of exercise? Taking the stairs.
What’s your current favorite TV show/Movie? Avatar by James Cameron, I have watched it so many times the DVD is worn out.
What is something you learned in the last week? Christmas can come more than once a year.
When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? I read mostly and I read my Facebook feed!
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Superman, so I could get more things done.
What advice do you have for new instructors of Continuing Education? Try to teach something that is outside your comfort zone every now and again. It can be fun; it helps with stagnation in your daily life and gives you a feeling of accomplishment.

To see Marcus Carr’s classes and more, visit http://www.ctcd.edu/ce/schedule.pdf to register or get additional information. Give us a call at 254-526-1586.

Would you like to nominate one of our Continuing Education instructors? Email us at continue.education@ctcd.edu.

January 2014 Classes!


Haven't had a chance to see what Personal Enrichment, Career Development, LifeLong Learning, and College for Kids classes start this month? No problem! All December classes are listed below and will be updated as changes are made.
Professional Development and Career Training 
  • Professional Truck Driving, 1/6-1/31, M-F, 7am-4pm, $4.295 
  • Launching Your Own Business, 1/11, SAT, 9am-1pm, $25 
  • Advanced PV System Design and Installation, 1/11-1/12, SAT/SUN, 8am-6:30pm, $725 
  • Entrepreneurship & Business Plan Development, 1/13-5/7, M/W, 3-4:20pm, $179 
  • Microsoft Office Basics, 1/14-2/6, T/TH, 6-8pm, $75 
  • Advanced PV Systems and the NEC, 1/18-1/19, SA/SU, 8am-6:30pm, $725 
  • Professional Truck Driving, 1/20-2/14, M-F, 7am-4pm, $4,295
  • InDesign, 1/21-2/13, T/TH, $85 
  • Listen to Your Business, 1/25, S, 9-1pm, $25 
  • Project Management Professional Certification Program, 1/25-3/1, SAT, 8am-5pm, $849 
  • Positive Self-Talk, 1/25, SAT, 10am-2pm, $25 
  • Resiliency Training, 1/25, SAT, 8am-noon, $75 
  • Child Development Associate (CDA) Training I, 1/25-4/26, SAT, 8-10am, $179 
  • Child Development Associate (CDA) Training II, 1/25-4/26, SAT, 10am-noon, $179 
  • Child Development Associate (CDA) Training III, 1/25-4-26, SAT, noon-2pm, $179 
  • Photovoltaic Systems Foundations, 1/25-1/26, SAT/SUN, 8am-6:30pm, $725 
  • Tactical Networking I, 1/28-1/30, T/TH, 6-8pm, $25


Healthcare Career Training 
  • Phlebotomy, 1/13-5/9, M/W from 9-10:20, TH from noon-3pm, $499 
  • Certified Nursing Aid, 1/13-3/3, M-TH, 5-9pm, $995 
  • CPR for Healthcare Providers, 1/11, SAT, 9am-1pm, $25 
  • CPR for Healthcare Providers, 1/23, THU, 5-9pm, $25 
  • Dog and Cat First Aid, 1/27-1/28, M/T, 6-8pm, $75 
  • Orthopedic Technician, 1/27-8/27, M/W, 6-9:30pm, $2,770 
  • Blood Borne Pathogens and Citizen’s CPR, 1/29, WED, 9-10:30am, $25


Personal Enrichment 
  • Jazzercise, 1/1-1/29, M/W, 8:10-9:10am, $29* 
  • Jazzercise, 1/1-1/29, M/W, 5:35-6:35pm, $29* 
  • Jazzercise, 1/2-1/30, T/TH, 9:15-10:15am, $29* 
  • Jazzercise, 1/2-1/30, T/TH, 5:35-6:35pm, $29* 
  • New Year, a New You!,  1/11, SAT, 9:30am-12:30pm, $39 
  • Basic Food Preparation I, 1/11, SAT, 11-4pm, $45 
  • Hatha Yoga, 1/13-2/10, M/W, noon-1pm, $29 
  • Aqua Zumba, 1/13-2/10, M/W, noon-1pm, $29 
  • Water Fitness Training, 1/13-2/10, M/W, 6-7pm, $29 
  • Belly/Oriental Dance, 1/13-2/10, M/W, 6-7pm, $35 
  • Exploring Tribal Belly Dance, 1/13-2/10, M/W, 7-8pm, $35 
  • Group Piano (age 5 – adult), 1/13-3/3, MON, 6:30-7:30pm, $89 
  • Zumba, 1/14-2/6, T/TH, 6-7pm, $29 
  • Hula for Health, 1/14-2/6, T/TH, 6-7pm, $35 
  • Introduction to Taw Kwon Do, 1/14-2/6, T/TH, 11am-1pm, $39 
  • Self Defense for Professionals, 1/11, SAT, 2-5pm, $19 
  • Water Aerobics, 1/14-2/20, T/TH, 9-10am, $25 
  • Acrylic Painting, 1/14-2/6, T/TH, 6-8pm, $55 
  • Introduction to Taw Kwon Do, 1/14-2/6, T/TH, 11am-1pm, $39 
  • Group Guitar (age 7-12), 1/15-2/19, WED, 6-7pm, $89 
  • Group Guitar (age 13-adult), 1/15-2/19, WED, 7-8pm, $89 
  • Core Strength & Conditioning, 1/17-3/7, FRI, 11:45am-12:45pm, $29 
  • Water Aerobics, 1/17-2/21, FRI, 9-10am, $25 
  • Essay Writing, 1/18-1/25, SAT, 10am-noon, $25 
  • American Sign Language, 1/21-2/6, T/TH, 6-8pm, $39 
  • Water Spin, 1/24-2/21, FRI, 5:30-6:30pm, $15 
  • Aqua Zumba, 1/24-3/28, FRI, noon-1pm, $29 
  • Egyptian Bellydance BEG, 1/24-2/21, FRI, 6-7:30pm, $39 
  • Egyptian Bellydance INT, 1/24-2/21, FRI, 7:30-9pm, $39 
  • Gardening for Beginners, 1/25-2/1, SAT, 10am-2pm, $25 
  • Water Fitness Training, 1/25-1/22, SAT, 10-11am, $15   
  • Zumba Toning, 1/25-3/1, SAT, 10-11am, $19
  • Game Day Eats, 1/25, SAT, 11am-4pm, $45
  • Adult Swim Lessons, 1/27-1/30, M-TH, 1-2pm, $49 
  • Basic Math Review, 1/27-2/24, M/W, 6-8pm, $45
  • Writing in Arabic, 1/27-2/5, M/W, 6-9pm, $39
  • French Part I, 1/27-1/30, M-TH, 6-7:15pm, $19  
  • Coupon & Budgeting, 1/28-2/6, T/TH, 10am-noon, $29
  • Introduction to German, 1/28-2/13, T/TH, 6-8pm, $39

*This introductory rate is only for first-time students registering through Continuing Education.

Kid classes 
  • Essay Writing (ages 9-12), 1/18-1/25, SAT, 10am-noon, $25 
  • Parent and Child Swim (age 6 months – 3 years), 1/24-2-21, FRI, 4:45pm-5:15pm, $15 
  • Swim Lesson (ages 3-4), 1/24-2/21, FRI, 4-4:30pm, $29 
  • Swim Lesson (ages 3-4), 1/25-2/22, SAT, 12:15-12:45pm, $29 
  • Swim Lesson Level 1-2 (ages 5+), 1/25-2/22, SAT, 9-9:45am, $35 
  • Swim Lesson Level 3-4 (ages 5+), 1/25-2/22, SAT, 11:15-noon, $35 
  • Camp Geek: Weather Phenomena (age 5-12), 1/11, SAT, 1-4pm, $35    

 See something you like? You can always check out our current catalog at www.ctcd.edu/ce/schedule.pdf. To register for classes, call us at 254-526-1586 or visit our office on the Central Texas College campus in building 136 (located on the corner of Clear Creek Rd and Central Texas College Drive) in room 139.