Burned out
This mandatory education is nice, but I'm feeling a lack of motivation myself. A heavy teaching load and scant time make it difficult to be the instructor mentioned in the video. Teaching four classes in a row with small breaks (10 minutes) between mean that if I want to get to the next class early I must ignore the needs/questions of my previous class. In addition, I am asigned two hours prep for each four hour class I teach. Of the five classes I am teaching this quarter, three are new to me. I feel overwhelmed. None of this is my students fault and I want to give them the best college experience I can. How do I get excited about what I'm teaching when I'm not?
Hi Katrina,
Thank you for your remarks about the value of education. I have worked in develop countries establishing schools throughout the world. My heart goes out to the kids I meet and the value they attach to any kind of education they receive. Then reality sets in when I am back in the US and my students feel put upon when they can't use their cell phones during my class.
Gary
You should realize that the drain on your excitement about a practice you previously loved and enjoyed is sourced in the corporatizing of learning. I'll leave you to dedcue what I mean from your own environment because reprecussions for having a dissenter's opinion can be harsh.
The absense of a cultural appreciation for learning is also draining any rewards that you would otherwise be getting from the student side of the situation. I wish every 1st world teenager could be stranded in a "third world" country for a year to watch parents struggle and hope that one day they might be able to send their 8 year old to their first day of school and break into tears as they reflect on the loss they experience as an adult never afforded that opportunity and the crushing anxiety and despair at thinking that, despite all their effort, they may not be able to save their children from iliteracy, either. Perhaps then they would realize what a privilege they have and stop complaining and slacking in regards to the gift of knowledge.
Hi John,
Not sure I can answer your question because you do have a heavy time load as well as teaching responsibility. My suggestion would be to focus on the parts of your course load that you really enjoy and have fun with teaching those parts. Then add some of the more challenging areas as time goes on and make them fun to teach through activities, games, case studies, etc.. If you don't I am afraid you are going to burn out and not be of value to you and your students and that would be a great loss to the field of education.
Gary
