Hi Ken,
Thanks for this great information. I have often wondered how actors do it when they are in a road production for months on end doing the same play almost every night. It is a small thing but highly effective.
I am going use this technique in my own duplicate classes to make sure I am focused on every aspect of the class and the students.
Gary
I feel sometimes my students get "lax" during the rigor of the class and forget that what they are learning can be exciting and new. I try to refocus and try coming at them from a different direction to bring back in the focus and empower them to enjoy what they are learning.
Gary,
One of the most effective tricks is to vary line readings--actors A and B are doing a scene, and they've grown too accustomed to anticipating the other's sentence endings, to the point where they're no longer listening to the words, but rather waiting for the rhythm to come to them. If actor A alters his own rhythm, that forces actor B to actually LISTEN anew to the CONTENT, and the best acting is all about listening.
(The original word for actor, in ancient Greek, is Hypokrite, meaning [then] "answerer", "responder".)
In the classroom, I can keep fresh by asking questions and then basing what I say on reactions to the student answers--I know where I'm going and what I need to cover, but I'll get there by different routes suggested by a new group of students.
Ken
Hi Kenneth,
I teach two sections of the same course back to back. Each course is three hours in length. I work hard at keeping fresh and trying to remember what I told each section.
What are some of the techniques that you learned to stay fresh when you were acting.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Gary
Right now I'm teaching 3 sections of the same course on the same day, and I need to remind myself that each time I start they are hearing what I say for the first time. Years ago, working as an actor, we learned techniques to stay fresh after giving the same performance many times. It's tough sometimes . . . but we need to be aware.
The instructor needs to refocus and keep sharp in order to retain the students and keep them engaged
Just like our students, we tend to get worn down by mid-term. Maybe learning assessment scores are lower than we expected, student attendance has dimished, or we have simply lost our eagerness and our levels of enthusiasm have diminshed. Whatever the cause, we need to take time out to regroup, refocus on the course objectives, and re-energize ourselves so we can relight our flame of exitement and enthusiasm which will then rub off on the students and, hopefully, re-energize them, as well.
Hi Amy,
So true. This is when we need to get creative with our instruction so the material is new to us as well even if we have taught the course many times over.
Gary
Hi Jacenta,
Well said. We have to remember that for that class of students that is the first time they have heard the content even though it may be our third or fourth time that week. Another hard thing to do is to remember exactly where you started and stopped with each class. Even though I teach the same classes each has its' own personality so I never deliver the exact same amount of content with each class. I get it all covered for the week but I make adjustments along the way so I take notes on each class so I can start exactly where we finished the previous time.
Gary
Movement is great! It keeps the blood pumping and the brain working.
Yes, I have also Jeopardy and Millionaire games. These are fun and provide good review of material and concepts.
For many instructors who teach the same course over and over the content can become dull. Hence, taking the time to find new information to relate to students will help the instructor remain fresh both in the field and in the classroom.
So true! When you are an instructor teaching the same class 2-3 times a week you could be boring and easily loose the fire you once had in the 1st class of the week even. It is important to treat each class different because each class will have different dynamics, and utilize those dynamics to make each class you teach different in their own ways.
We are just like all other people--- sometimes the day to day grind may wear us down and we have done this for so long or had the same classes that we are just "going through the motions". In this case, the excitement and reasons to take the class may be lost which could easily be assimilated to the student. They can easily pick it up if the instructor is not really "there".
Hi Matt,
Good point and well said. We have to keep ourselves fresh and excited about what we are doing or both the students and ourselves are going to have a very long course sequence.
Gary
Students have probably become board with the routine. The teacher probably has too. Shake things up and keep everyone wondering what is next. The students and the teacher will be happier and more productive.
In the grind of educating there is an ebb and flow of enthusiasm and fatigue. Learning can be a difficult task. With the acronym focus they have come up with a way to remind instructors to stay on point with their educational process. I see the "REFOCUS" as a way to check myself against the curriculum, the schools standards, the expectations of our students, the expectations of my leaders, and finally my own expectations. I can't recall the word for each letter, but I do know that just like half-time in the championship game, we need to assess where we are, adjust the plan, and invigorate ourselves. Our ability to effectively do this helps us develop better students, better professionals, better retention, and eventually more admissions.
Hi Elizabeth,
This is very common for all instructors. We all get tired as we progress through the course so by offering variety we re-energize ourselves and our students. This makes the rest of the course go by much quicker and higher levels of learning occurring.
Gary
Hi Dragush,
This is a great way to keep the students engaged. Competition generally gets the students excited and involved because they want to do their best and be recognized for it.
Gary
About half-way through a course, I find that I grow tired and lose energy and focus along with my students. It is a good time to be creative and use a new teaching method or activity to wake everyone up. Student appreciate it. I find it seems to lighten things up and rejuvenate class discussion.
