It helps a lot to evaluate the effectiveness of the method used in teaching a certain information. The mere look of the students which an effective teacher would easily recognize as lack of full understanding through their facial expression, in example: frowned brows, blank stare, silence, lack of enthusiasm, downcast eyes, and many more that as teacher, I can feel it in the air. And I would say, "I need to go over this again, I can feel that we need to elaborate on this some more." That would be the time that they will open up to say, "Yes, I don't understand it very well" or some faces smiling as if I had read their minds.
There are instances that a teacher need to look back on why the scores of students become out of track and that is a signal that learnativity was not achieved by the delivery method so it would extremely help to refocus on the delivery method and relevancy of the content to the student's real-life situation.
As instructors we know the material and forget the students are new to the information. Refocusing is a way for instructors to make sure they maintain enthusiasm for the topic and keep the course exciting.
Chad,
You make a good point about the value of your own attitude in relation to the content. By working to make sure you are excited about the content you will gain acceptance as an instructor. Just as you said if the reverse is true then it may be time to stop being an instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Patricia,
We need to keep on this search for the duration of our careers. This means we will be introducing new delivery formats as well as content all of our teaching careers and this will keep us interested and our students engaged.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am currently in this position bit as an instructor and a student. As an instructor I have gain bored with the subject matter and find it very difficult to become excited about teaching. It is extremely important that I either refocus or leave teaching; for the good of the students. The students, especially adult learners, immediately notice if the instructor is not excited about the topic and the course suffers.
The constant life change,the human factor and new developments direct the refocus. As a person, the instructor must take time to relfect on practices that worked and didn't work. In this reflection the instructor can become fueled to find new and better ways to present the skills/content he/she teaches. What I have found in my relection is that I begin go on hunt/search for something more relevant/not boring to share with my students.
I know that I need to refocus when I begin to get tired of teaching the same thing the same way after a while. I need to refocus because my student will pick up on the fact that I am bored of this subject and they will not master what I am trying to impart to them.
I believe the need for refocus comes in handy actually. Instructors need to refocus to empower themselves and give it a fair try to ALL students experiencing the lecture that he is becoming "stale" about. I also believe that instructors should attempt to do practice refocus before it's needed. An analogy would be to eat every two hours before your body achieves hunger. We as instructors should be REfocusing every so often so to never let the "ball" drop on the teaching flow and increase student retention and attention.
Nelson,
Good point. We instructors need to bring passion for our field and enthusiasm for teaching about it. These two elements need to be present in each class we teach.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
in order to get the student to commit to learning I think it is extremely important for the instructor to be exited about the signature he teaches. from time to time and due to the fact that the classes can become repetitive, the instructor needs to recharge his/hers batteries in order to get the moemntum needed in order to engage the students.
Kathleen,
This is something we instructors need to do on a regular basis. I teach the same course seven times a year and each time I teach it I add something new to the content or learning process to keep it fresh for me and interesting for my students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have taught the same class for many times, and I often find myself trying to revamp it just to keep it fresh, and me excited about it, I see a lot of my students take cues off of my attitude out the course
Diana,
This is common for all of us as well as our students. When we wear down we need to as you suggest step back and do something a little different in the class to get the energy level back up and we all head to the end of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Andrea,
If you try this new approach I know you are going to really like the results you get. Your students are going to appreciate that they get to make application of the new content quicker as well as in smaller segments so they will retain the content at a higher level.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Elmer,
Good strategy to follow. Have fun and be creative with the identification of some new activities you can introduce into the class to enhance the learning opportunities of your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find myself getting burnt out a little toward the middle of the term because of student attitudes and their attendance. I have to step back and look at it from another perspective in order to regroup and refocus the class.
I have been teaching some of the same material for over ten years, and I find that I battle from time to time with needing to re-excite myself in my classes. I have found that incorporating a variety of media in my classrooms helps to reinforce my content, but also break up a lecture-only (boring) environment.
One thing I am taking away from this module is to create more application into each class time. I tend to have one long lecture/presentation, then end with application. If the class was broken down more to include several applications versus one larger project, it would probably benefit the students more.
One course that I have taught several times already is getting a bit stale. This technique could help me breathe some new life into it.
Gladys,
Great advice for veteran instructors to consider. When we do such a re-boot it is like getting to teach a new course because of the new content and strategies you are introducing.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
