Get Your Students Hired
Elaine,
Good idea! Like how you shared a teachable moment that required movement. Little things like this is what keep students engaged and focused for the duration of class sessions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
AT TIMES ITS EASY TO LOSE FOCUS IN THE REPETITON OF TEACHING REFOCUS: OTHERWISE KNOWN AS EMPOWERMENT, THIS SKILL HELPS THE STUDENT/INSTUCTOR REGAIN UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE MATERIAL AND HELPS RETAIN THEM TO LEARNING/TEACHING.
Oh, and today I realized that it is also helpful, every now and again, to have all of the students huddle around one laptop (10 students or less is best for this). Sometimes a student has their music on their own laptop and instead of fiddling with the projector, it is a great excuse to get everyone out of their seat and standing all next to each other for a few minutes.
Raymond,
This is critical to do at times. This fall I am teaching five sections of the same course and I have to refocus myself frequently or I get into a rut. I try to do something different in each course even though it is the same content so I can be fresh and excited about teaching that section that day.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Elaine,
All of these strategies are great ways to get the students to pause and "reset" their brains. So get them up and move them around and let them enjoy the opportunity to chat a minute and get ready for the next content session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I really like the idea of going for walks. I hadn't thought of that. Sometimes I have them all stand up and stretch their arms up before a lecture. They feel silly, but it really wakes them up. It also forces them to take off their headphones (this is a music class). I think a walk would be even better.
Sometimes when I am playing a piece of music I will have them lie on the floor. A professor at Berklee College of Music used to do that and I thought it was relaxing and helped me to reset.
Due to course load, time constraints and burn out an instructor needs to take a step back, self evaluate and refocus in order to re-energize
Steven,
Like your ideas for keeping students engaged for the duration of the course. It is critical that they stay on point with their efforts. It is easy for them to get distracted and worn down during the middle of the course so with a field trip or a guest speaker you can ramp them back up and get them excited for the duration of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I consider the mid course evaluation as a "Check-point" to see how the class is going. The REFOCUS plan is a great method to fine tune your direction as an instructor and also recharge the class. A field trip to a venue relative to the course could add more content in class for opening discussions and set examples. As an instructor, it is great to see the students revitalized where it improves everyones morale all around.
Jessica,
You make such a good point about where need to place our focus. It is easy to let the one or two students discourage you when you are impacting in a positive way the other 25 students. By pausing and reflecting on this we can renew our vigor about why we teach and step into the classroom or lab all fired up about the class that day.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Bettye,
They really like it when instructors make such connections between content and application opportunities. These connections increase the value of the content to the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Lindsay,
Something that we need to keep in mind as we start a new course. I teach 5 sections of the same course which is a gen ed course that students don't really want to take but have to have to get their state certificates. My preparation is a challenge as well as making sure I step into each section with passion for the content and enthusiasm for teaching about it. To do less is to cheat my students. This is why I REFOCUS a lot.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Instructors are humans too and when they feel that their efforts both in planning and in the classroom are unappreciated or ignored by their students or even just a few, there is a tendency to become discouraged in teaching. It is important to realize and refocus on the fact that even if you are only managing to make a difference for and teach a small percentage of your students, you are still making a difference in their lives. It isn't right for one student or just a few to spoil and adversely affect the instructors ability to reach out to the ones that are actively trying and succedding in furthering their education.
Students enjoy relevant material in essence to refocus allows the instructor to reshape the material to this end.
So many times we have taught the same courses over and over again, so we go through the motions without thinking about if what we are doing is effective.
I love this concept of REFOCUS. We all hit that rut, but I really like this idea. I will definitely be using this in my class and program.
As a result of reading other's comments and the benefits of taking breaks and walks. I agree totally with this, not only is this healthy but it gives folks time to re-energize.
Ana,
Thanks for sharing this great idea with us. Something as simple as this has such a powerful impact on both the minds and bodies of the students. You are helping them to reset their brains and be able to settled into the upcoming class session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sometimes the mix of the class make up can add to the energy of the class. When this happens I integrate a short film, TV show that applies to the topic but adds a modern fun flare to the instructional material.
I really enjoyed the discussion on refocusing. Its hard to keep the energey level up especially after midcourse. One thing I do that has been very efective is I take the students for a walk before lecture. Either indoors or outdoors around the building. Just a quick 2 minute walk to get their blood circulating and get their energy up. It really works. Lately, we've even had other classes join us. Its great!
Cynthia,
Appreciate your attitude and approach to instructional planning. This is how you keep your class alive and engaged. If you have passion for your content and are excited about teaching it then there will be enthusiasm in the class and a positive learning environment for everyone.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.