As we go through the course, our students have learned a lot and enhanced their skills. We need to see if we have met our objectives up to this point, and if we are continuing on the best path to meet the course objectives and the needs of the students.
Gary,
Its quite simple - we can loose focus of the prize - getting our students educated and remembering we are what they are going to assimulate - in terms of actions, mannerisms, and skills!
Charles
Hi Thomas,
I appreciate your comments about the term REFOCUS. By the definition of the terms you included you have refocused the direction of the course, content and students. The term is meant to capture the attention of instructors so they remain on guard as to how the course is going so they can make changes as needed to keep the students engaged and forward focused on the desired learning outcomes.
I wish you the best with your teaching success.
Gary
I am not sure if I would use the terminology "REFOCUS". Wouldn't it be more prudent to consider it a process of evaluation, assessment, and possible change of direction?
Hi Elizabeth,
Good to hear about your perspective on the REFOCUS model. All of us instructors need to reflect on this at different times so we stay fresh and prepared professionally.
Thanks for sharing your experience with remaining a dedicated focused professional working hard to help your students achieve their career goals.
Gary
I have experienced a need to REFOCUS. I realized I was just going through the motions and not offering any motivation. I needed to stop a minute and discuss with my students why learning this is important and how it relates to students goals. I think knowing why a subject is important and how it relates to their career choice is important to instructor and student.
There are several reason to refocus, the main reason that came to mind for me was instructors need to REFOCUS before the start of each class to keep the excitement within themselves and that will set the tone for the class and help keep the students energy up as well. I always tried to stay energetic for my classes and make them want to be there and afraid they would miss something if they were not there.
One part that I believe in refocusing on is the fact the students are our customers. They need to get their monies worth and you are the only person that can provide that value. Customer satisfaction is a very key area in retention, enrollment and student sucess. To me that is a powerful motivation. We as human beings all want to feel that we got our monies worth anytime we purchase something. The students are no different.
Hi Kenneth,
Good question that is difficult to answer completely since much of the response depends on so many different factors. Set priorities is a commonly used theme when dealing with stress and being overworked. Getting organized is another. Is it possible to be more efficient in the way to conduct your classes, how about the same for your full time work?
I have found that by creating a easy to access set of files both online and hard copy I am able to spend much less time getting my handouts and tests ready. This way I can concentrate on more on developing new activities and assignments for my courses.
Also, try and set some time aside for yourself where you can take a deep breath and just relax if only for a few minutes. If you keep going full bore you start to lose your effectiveness and your ability to stay focused.
Reward yourself for completing a project at work or a phase of your course(s) by taking an evening off. You will be amazed at how good this can make you feel about jumping back into the work.
Don't know if any of the above suggestions match our needs but I hope they help. I will be glad to share additional ideas if you have more specifics that you want to share.
Gary
Good approach! Application is a key concept. I've found that students take more interest in the material when it can be applied to their current work or career. It also helps to encourage students to share personal experiences that relate to the material.
Gloria,
Great point! School administrators need to realize that process changes for teachers and students creates issues and detracts from the real purpose of teaching.
Ken,
I like your answer. My wife accuses me of being a "professional student" since I continue to learn through college courses and other means. I like to think I have a good perspective of what the student is going through. As you state, I believe this is very important. As instructors we need to understand the view and challenges of our students.
Dr. Meers,
This is a real issue for me. I am an adjunct professor, teaching 1-2 online classes at a time while holding down a fulltime job. Depending on the ebb and flow of my fulltime work, I sometimes feel that I cannot give either teaching or the work the attention it needs. This creates stress for me since I want to do the very best in both situations. Planning ahead and pacing my work has helped, but there are always situations that circumvent planning.
Any tips or suggestions here would be appreciated.
Thanks.
I think it is both for the students and for themselves. Especially during the second half of a course we need to look for new ways of doing things and ways to create excitement in the classroom. We need to get out of the "rut". REFOCUS does exactly that, it refocuses the student and the instructor on the goals of the program and the material being presented.
-Chris
Hi Jennifer,
Well said. The key is to keep our balance within the learning structure and then we can help the students to maintain theirs.
Gary
If we as instructors do not take the time and intiative to refocus how can we expect our students to stay focused. We need to show our students that teaching to us is a way of life not a job and that we are motivated to keep them motivated. If we refocus we then re-energize every one around us.
Hi Elbert,
Well said.
Gary
In a career college setting, often there is one or two instructors per program. This fact cannot be underestimated since students in a program will likely encounter the same couple instructors throughout their tenure as students. As a result, student success in a class, or, more generally, a program depends on those two instructors. If one of the instructors displays little or no enthusiasm via low energy and resists finding sensible and appropriate ways to recharge or relight the pilot, then that instructor potentially jeopardizes the course or (more seriously) a student's career path. Further, instructors need "recharing time" to approach pedagogy and subjuct matter in new and refreshing ways. I recently challenged faculty with this question: "After each class ask yourself--Did I say or do something today that makes my students yearn for class tomorrow? Did I say or do something today that makes me (the instructor) yearn for class tomorrow? The foundation of these questions is simple: instructors must participate in forms of refreshing frequently to sustain the zest of the course.
Hi Beth,
Thank you for the kind words about the course and the REFOCUS program to keep us all fresh as we teach our courses over and over.
I know your students are going to benefit from your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Dr. Meers:
I have not taken time to do this and have been teaching at the same place for a year and a half, as a result, I am stale.
Thankfully, I now have new tools to improve my teaching abilities - REFOCUS. I love acronyms as they are easy for me and my students to remember.
We are also changing curriculum so I am in the process of learning just like the students. That makes me much more empathetic to them and to trying to make it more interesting.
Beth in Texas
