I believe that sometimes instructors just get "tried". We teach the same course(s) consistly. If the school has a small population, we see the same students every other term. Some of them twice for the same class, if they fail the first time. That is when we need to refresh refocus and reinvent. I have been able to go back to yoga classes. This is helping to recharge my energy, so needed to help me refocus and reinvent my teaching methods.
Hi John,
This sounds like a very good model to follow to keep instructors fresh in the material and excited about their classes. The changing around of the courses puts the instructors in the preparation stage once again so they get excited about being able to deliver "new" content to students.
Gary
Good idea David; re-read student materials to see it through fresh eyes.
Thanks.
Instructors can become "stale" teaching the same material term after term. Our school reassigns instructors to teach different courses every few terms to keep them fresh. Also, I consult with other instructors teaching the same courses as I do, to see what methods, exercises and ideas they use that I can adopt. We even post our exercises and ideas on a Share site for everyone to use.
When I feel I need to refocus, I go back and re-read the materials that is assigned to students. I then can reflect on what the course is about, I find this necessary when I've taught the same course a few terms in a row.
After teaching the same subject to several different groups of students, the instructor may have a tendency to take the material for granted and forget the importance of the information being taught. This will lead to disinterest and lack of entheusiasm on the part of the instructor. Without the instructor's best efforts the students learning will suffer.
Instructors need to refocus in order to stir themselves up. Sometimes when an instructor has taught a class numerous times it may become routine. The instructor needs to que from the students and also to invite peers in to evaluate the class. This can bring in a fresh pair of eyes and ears.
Many factors can contribute to an instructor becoming bored or tired with the same material. Teaching the same class for many years can become boring if the instructor does not change up teaching methods and delivery.
When students lack interest or do not pay attention in class then the teacher needs to refocus and identify what can be done to make the class interesting and valuabe
Hi James,
Instructors do have a lot of demands on their time but they can read the dynamics of the class and make adjustments as needed or know they are meeting the needs of students through ongoing feedback.
Give students 3x5 cards and have them write their opinions of the most recently completed project or activity. They will give accurate and informative input which helps the instructor while feeling more a part of the class because their input is solicited and valued.
Gary
Many times instructors become unsure of their success as teachers based on performance of their students. This requires some attentiveness regarding the teaching methods involved and the character (i.e. aptitude and emotional perspective) of the students in the class. Without the opportunity to revisit these elements the instructor can become entwined in a vicious cycle.
Where can a busy instructor find time to accomplish this?
I teach the last term of a three term course and I feel that the students get senioritus and the students attention is lessened, it is frustrating but if you let that frustration get to you the students see that and they will not want to learn. I try to show my enthusiasm for the industry on a day to day basis, it's not that hard to do since it is motorcycles but in third term the course is electrical, which many of the students struggle with because you can't see it. I like to let them know that many technicians in the field also struggle with electrical and if they can understand a fraction of what I am teaching or even master it than they may be ahead of the game. Also that it is something that comes with practice as with any thing else.
Yes, i really think that when we have breaks after a semester we have time to think of things that we can do better and make it even more of a fun class. Refocus on the new energy which you have had to re energize and make it better for the next class and be able to adjust every time to the different learning abilities.
I believe the refocusing needs to occur more than occasionally. it should be a part of each week that the instructor is in class. If the students begin to see that the instructor is waining on enthusiasm, theirs will soon follow. For some students, their excitement level may dwindle faster than the instructors', and should the instructor not refocus themselves soon enough, there is a good possability of loosing the student.
Hi Tommy,
I use it in my classes as well. My students really like it when we use it in a review format. They get real competitive while we are playing and great learning occurs.
Gary
Sometimes I use the "jeopardy style game" with laboratory content. The students get really excited and it motivates them to want to play more and it reinforces that the information is retained.
With in myself, I have found that at a time I might start too lose focus of why I had chose the profession that I have. Sometimes when I do step back and take an inventory of what I have accomplished does boost me up, but more importantly, when one of my students comes up, shakes my head and says "thank you, I've really learned alot." that is on of the best refocusing tools.
Instructors need to take time to occasinally "refocus" themselves in order to become more objective in the subject matter they are teaching and to reconect with new ideas or techniques that may have evolved since their course was originally structured.Also, in order to be able to reconnect with their audience, and understand where their audience point of view.
Sometimes students can get to you, especially the rare ones that are really motivated for whatever personal reason to derail everything... Refocusing, especially with a fresh class, renews the sense of purpose in this field.
Hi Nicholas,
Great points about how students can maintain their A game each time the enter the classroom. We are professionals and we need to do everything in our power to be current with our content and prepared with our delivery.
Gary
