As time goes by, you become complacent. Refocus has you RElook at the reason you became an instructor.
I think sometimes you need to do that because you can get sidetracked and you need to stay on topic to keep the learning process headed in the right direction so the students get what they need to improve their skills.
It is easy to just repeat a lesson that you have performed many times before in your certain way, The issue is whether your current class can relate to the lesson in the same ways as past students. Step back refocus reenergize and dive back in.
Hi Michael,
That is why we must remained focused on why we are there in the first place. Our mission is to educate to the maximum extent possible. Thanks for the reminder.
Gary
Everyones mind gets clutered with the things going on all around us and that keeps us from concentrating on the task at hand, which is the education of our students.
Instructors need to refocus in order to reassess the need of the student in certain areas of the course to better facilitate the need of the student.
Hi George,
Right you are about needing to remain upbeat throughout the course. With any let down students can fall into the trap of not being as engaged or focused on completing the course.
Gary
It is easy to fall into a slump, but it is very important for instructors to remain upbeat throughout the course in order to keep the students excited about the material.
It's a way for the instructor to develop himself better and better able to be great facilitator of knowledge and keep their students focus.
Hi Barry,
Right you are. Immediate use of newly acquired knowledge and/or skills will help the learner to retain the needed information. Plus they see relevancy to what you are teaching them.
Gary
Learning is an interactive process and if it is done through memorization only it becomes stale. REFOCUSing allows the lectures and information to remain fresh.
Hi Mark,
You are correct in your statement about what a student deserves. He or she deserves our very best and we can't let boredom sneak into our delivery. We have to REFOCUS and refresh ourselves to make sure we are bringing our best effort to the classroom.
Gary
It doesn’t help the student if the instructor is bored with the material being presented or the method of delivery. Students will know and assume that the information is unimportant.
As instructors, we have to periodically REFOCUS ourselves so we can find in the material a slant, a new way to be excited about the same material; the student taking the class the 30th time you’ve taught the subject deserves the same fresh and enthusiastic perspective that the class got the 3rd time you taught the subject.
Owing to the significant distractions we face on a daily basis, such as increased workloads, time management issues, and personal life, REFOCUSING provides us with the ability to center ourselves and deal with the important issues at hands and provide our students with the attention they deserve.
Hi Andy,
I like the saying you shared. This should be take to heart by us instructors so we will work hard at sharing cognitive as well as tactile development with our students.
Gary
Hi Eric,
Well said. We must bring our A game to the classroom/lab everyday. If we don't the students will start to develop the same attitude as we have and that is not professional. I wish you the best with your students.
Gary
It is important because we direct the learning that takes place in the classroom. In other words, “where the head goes the body will follow.”
I find that students need to be encouraged, guided, praised, re-directed, focused, ect. There are many other words to use here. We are here to instuct and guide them professionally and personally. Our commitment should be to the students as well as ourselves. Nothing but our very best at all times should be given to the students. Keeping this focus requires determination and constant self evaluation for all involved.
In the every day process of trying to get our students to complete their lab or class assignments, They can, and we can loose focus on what we wre trying to acomplish. It help to review daily where we are at and the real reasons we are performing the tasks. Its a great time to keep up the excitement,and touch base with student progress and needs.
Thanks,
Fred Gulliksen
Hi Kevin,
It is extremely important to keep the course content alive and exciting. If you as the instructor work to bring change and variety to the course the students will stay engaged in the learning process. Keep up the good work.
Gary
