Page 243 - Making Instruction Work

chap 19 3/11/97 5:15 PM Page 229

getting ready 229

already-covered material explained to them) have no incentive
to learn to be prompt. And if you value promptness you will
have lost an opportunity to make it blossom.
So how can you arrange things so that students will be most
likely to leave with the characteristics you deem valuable? By
learning how to identify desired student performances, so that
you can smile on them when they appear and take corrective
action when they don’t. Take a few minutes to make a list of
the things you consider to be productive (desired) student per-
formances. Answer the question, “What things do I want my
students to do while learning, and as a result of learning?”
Here is a start on your list of desired student behaviors:

• Arrive prepared to work.

• Ask questions when something is not clear.

• Ask for additional practice material.

• Be willing to practice until the objective has been mas-
tered.

• Offer to help other students.

• Keep trying until they can perform as desired.

• Be willing to spend time maintaining tools and equip-
ment.

• Be anxious to demonstrate their competence and apply
their new skills.

• Make favorable comments about the subject they are
learning.

(Add your items here)