"REFOCUS"ing allows the instructor to keep a fresh perspective and keep materials and presentations up to date. By recognizing problem areas, instructors keep their class content current and presentation methods interesting for both the students and the instructor herself. I try to change something each time I teach my course, even if it is just a small interactive discussion or the whole format of a particular topic. This keeps me excited by the material and keeps the class from becoming monotonous and therefore draining me of my enthusiasm.
David,
Good point and something that we educators need to remember as we get involved with running a course. It is easy to lose focus and then not "recage" our brains for the remainder of the course sessions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Everyone needs to sit, and take a deep breath at some point. As a pilot, we called it recaging our brains. When you mind gets overloaded with stimuli, it tends to bog down, and the student/person loses focus on what is important. Sitting back, and taking a deep breath, or doing a REFOCUS helps clear the air, and return the situation to clear fidelity.
Kelly,
I am sure you are going to like the results you get from using this activity. This helps to get students into a reflective mood and this is important as they move through their coursework. They need to keep fresh in their mind why they are there and what their career goals are.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My company shuts down inbetween semesters for a week. This is our vacation time. I use this time to regroup, rest and become excited about teaching again. I find this lesson to be correct. Mid-semester downers. I think it's a great idea to have the students write down a personal significant learning experience to have them reflect back. Sometimes getting bogged down and losing the excitement comes from constantly trying to motivate the students. This idea takes the burden off me and empowers the student without me having to do it. I'm definitely going to try this.
Sometimes you have to redo or refocus how your present your information. Trying new teaching techniques instead of simply lecturing material will help all parties become more engaged.
have a skill or question of the day
I will do some new refocus tech.
DANIEL,
I hear you loud and clear. I am currently teaching five sections of the same course with large student enrollments. I try to make it each a little different than the others so I stay fresh in my presentation and excited about what I am teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Its not difficult for the instructor to get burned out with the day after day dealings with the same students, changes or more work added on by the institution. I sometimes just sit back take a deep breath and re-evaluate what I want to do and that is to teach. I just tell myself that no one is going to be better than I am and if I want to be the best then I better just get pumped up and get my ass in gear, go out and hit it head on.
I have found that both I and the students begin to "grind it out" halfway through the course. I will save several instructional techniques for the halfway point. These techniques may include use of videos or bringing in a guest lecturer.
Repeating your main points on teaching will help students to retain and enjoy what is being taught.
You want to make sure your not the broken record to your students, and make sure you are up to date in your lectures.
I tend to take a breath, talk about another topic and gather my thoughts to continue my lecture. I like to break the monotony and change topics within the same chapter.
Paul,
Yes we do and it is easy to fall into this unless we have a personal plan for keeping out of the valley and on top of our game.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Because they can become bored, run-down, and hit a motivational valley.
Instructors need to REFOCUS because at times we find ourselves in a slump and the students will fall into this slump as well. If the instructor does not refocus there is greater potential that students will withdrawal from their class or even worse, withdrawal completely from school. Instructors must stay active and engaging in the classroom for the students to get the most out of their learning experience.
Some times instructors can loose focus on a lecture
Sometimes life gets in the way of students being successful. A classroom full of students who are struggling with life events can suck the life out of an instructor. Taking the time to REFOCUS is a helpful way of maintaining objectivity.
Sometimes I go back to something I've already taught and try to create a new way to teach it which serves as both a review and a refocus.
