REFOCUS
Why do instructors need to occasionally take time and "REFOCUS" themselves in order to be more effective with their students?
Instructors need to take time to REFOCUS in order to make sure they are still teaching for the right reasons. by refocusing, they are able to make sure the information they are sharing is relevant and up to date. Students want information they can use right away. By refocusing, instructors are able to supply current information that can be used in their students every day life.
So true. By refocusing our energy, yes we can bring in more excitement, but I think a by-product of that would be a growth in their trust. They will recognize that that we are keeping the material and classes from becoming mundane and repetitive. They would see that they can put their trust in us to keep them and their interest levels in the materials high. Not a bad by-product.
Students can feel our energy. If we are excited about our material they get excited. If we are bored and just delivering the material, they can also feel that.
Hi Philip,
Good point. If we don't stay fresh we can't expect our students to stay interested. This is why it is fun to add new material to the course or try a different instructional method. This variety helps us to keep our excitement up and our dedication where it needs to be, our students.
Gary
It's important to step back on occasion and assess how we are doing and how we might do it more effectively. This may be especially true for something we teach quarter after quarter. It's also important that instructors stay current--know what is happening in the world around them. I believe in doing a lot of scanning and reading; this can help me keep current and refocus as well.
very true - intent is everything.
Hi Kristen,
Great response. Sometimes we get so involved in surviving our daily lives that we drift away from why we are teaching in the first place. You said it well when you said we need to make sure we are teaching for the "right reasons". If we aren't then teaching is going to be a challenge for us as well as our students.
Gary
