Hi Sarah,
Humans have very short memories in many ways and this is why it is good to remind them how far they have come when they start to wear down mid-course.
Thanks for your comments concerning this important step in course completion.
Gary
It was really helpful for me to read the suggestion of revisiting how much we've learned mid-cycle in order to refocus myself and my students. Reviewing how far we've come is a helpful tool to re-energize my teaching and encourages students to feel proud about how far they've come which fosters further commitment to the course content.
In my experiences I have found that it becomes necessary to "refocus" when I see students doing poorly. I just had a class where two of my students were not doing well which ended up discouraging me. Sometimes you just have to take a step back, adjust your attitude, and change your teaching habits. Class always goes better when there is a smile on the instructors face!
As with anything in life, teaching,with time can become a routine and teachers can fall victim to the monotony. Thus, it is critical as an instructor to be realistic and recharge ones teaching method throughout the course so that students stay motivated and focused on the overall objectives of the course.
Hi Audrey,
I agree. This form of reflection enables you to continue growing in your personal life as well as professional expertise. This in turn enables you to have an even greater impact on the lives of your students.
Gary
as instructors we are also humans with lives outside of work and we need to be able to refocus to stay on track ourselves
I believe you have to REFOCUS with everything in your life. When you sit back and evaluate it allows you to become a better person.
Hi Denise,
Sounds like you have a good instructional delivery plan for yourself. Since you are new to teaching what has been some of your greatest successes to date as an instructor?
Gary
Hi Dan,
You make a great point about the need for keep the energy level high. If the instructor doesn't nobody is. Enthusiasm really helps to keep the students engaged throughout the course.
Gary
We can get complacent. We become like a robot and teach the same way every new class. This takes less prep time and it is comfortable. This is why as an instructor we have to change it up.
As a new instructor teaching a non clinic class for the first time I want to keep my student focused. I use handouts, guest speakes, computer learning, and seek ideas from seasoned instructors.
The instructor over a period of weeks may "wear down" so that their enthusiasm begins to wane. They may also find out that there are dynamics with a particular group of students that require adjustment and changes in the classroom approach. The instructor may also find that they need to adjust the presentation of the material based on developments in the class. The instructor by refocusing is responding to their perception of the needs of the students in the class. The instructor must be able to self-evaluate in order to ensure that they are communicating effectively with their students. By adjusting and recharging, the instructor finds new enthusiasm to bring to the class.
Refocusing means that we are honestly evaluating where we have been and where we need to go with the class. It also considers ways that we can adjust our methods to the uniqueness of each class. No two classes are ever the same, regardless of the subject matter. The dynamics of a classroom changes, and by refocusing, we allow ourselves to adapt to those changes. Also, if I do not honestly self-evaluate, I might be tempted to blame students when my teaching methods require adjustment. Refocusing helps us to understand that teaching is a constantly evolving art and not simply a series of steps to be followed without consciously thinking about it.
Hi Barbara,
Good strategy for keeping the excitement level high for the entire course. We need to keep this in mind as we wear down and see our students start to fade. They will only be as enthusiastic as we are.
Gary
As teachers, sometime about midquarter, we find ourselves overwhelmed with prepping for class, grading massive amounts of papers, students hand in papers and assignments late and students look bored. They are not as active in participation in class and it becomes a robotic atmosphere of lecture, discussion, assignment and dismissal and is a routine that is not really encouraging or motivational. You feel out of sorts and wonder if you are doing the best job that you can do. You need to look back and recapture the enthusiasm exhibited at the beginning of the class and get excited again. Then you need to transfer your new regained enthusiasm and excitement to the students in your class. You need to revert to the methods that were present in the early sessions of your class and bring them into the slump zone, in order to get back on track. Bobbi Legg
When instructors start to lose their enthusiasm it is reflected to the students, and the learning environment is compromised. The instructor need to refocus in order to bring enthusiasm and excitement back to the class.
Instructors need to refocus because they get burnt out. Everyday they have students complaining and asking questions that the instructor sometimes honestly cannot answer. After the instructor has done this, day in and day out, it becomes exhausting!
Good afternoon Dr. Meers,
Instructors need to occasionally take time and "refocus" themselves in order to be more effective with their students because if they don't they can face the possibility of burning out over time. Nobody is perfect and we are all human. Teaching is not a very physical job, but it is mentally draining if you don't know how to balance yourself. As an instructor, I sometimes put so much effort into my demos and lessons that I am winded afterwards and need to take a timeout. The hardest part is teaching back to back classes and trying to deliver the same level of attention to each group. If not careful, I could wind up giving everything I've got to the first group and having nothing left in the tanks for the second one. Students are smarter than a lot of teachers give them credit for. If you are tired and not giving your best, they can pick up on that and it could cause problems for you in the long term. Delivering an energetic lesson 100% of the time is challenging but necessary if you want to retain your students.
Best regards,
Jason Kupper
recharging your batteries...reassessing your objectives sometimes has helped me think of a new way of presenting the material..making it more interactive. Having studnet input on how they might learn a difficult concept or technique, then applying it to the lecture.
Refocusing allows students to see the instructor's enthusiasm for the course content.
