As instructors, we need to make adjustments based on response getting from your students learning abilities. It's always a good thing to take some times to assess/re-assess your teaching methods, making sure that you are connected with your students. Refocusing will definitely bring us the brain of fresh air that will gain us respect, appreciation, trust, and admiration from our students. A change of lesson plans, teaching methods, lecture format, and ways of connecting with the students will re-shuffle things in a positive way. We're humans, not perfect; we need to keep working on ourselves consistently, so we can accomodate to our students needs.
It's important to evaluate your presentation to the class in light of increasing student stress and the fatigue factor of both students and teacher. Motivation sometimes needs a boost that creativity and self evaluation can produce.
I notice it’s time to refocus when I start getting ready for a lecture and I can’t get motivated. I guess you could say it’s kind of burnout. I know the student’s notice it when it happens because you see it in their body language. At this point I change what I’m doing and try to bring up the level of energy.
I have found that in my classes, that in the mid way point, the students seem to think they have gained the knowledge to finish the course. In the remaining course length, I stress that the former knowledge is just the base for what we are going to build on in the remainder of the course. So we review all the prior content, and combine with the current learning to see haow it relates to the new material.
Refocusing is nessary to keep ones mind and heart in the right place. Remember why we are here and the importance of the knowlege. We need to keep the information flowing in a positive and forward direction.
With my Online students there may be no set times to study. By the middle of the course they may be behind in their work or not taking enough time to do their best job. As the instructor I can help them to refocus their efforts. It is especially helpful to motivate them to accept short term sacrifices (more study time) with long term rewards (desired grade and achieving career goals). I also think bringing in some variety that will energize them is a win - win for the instructor and the students.
Debi
the student that we teach are young 17to23 avg they are very demanding of you This can drain you emotionaly very quickly you have to step back recharge your batteries Take a deep breath to get refocused
Hi Douglas,
I follow the same schedule. I then feel great as you do.
Gary
Exactly... and I find that working out in the morning is critical to a strong vibrant teaching day.
Hi Douglas,
Good advice. I believe strongly in being in good physical condition and watching out for my health. When you feel good and have stamina you have the needed energy to get through the teaching day and/or evening.
Gary
Actually... I use the same technique day in and day out... I spend at least one hour in the gym each and every day. That tends to recharge my batteries and help me to refocus in the classroom.
Refocus of the instructor can be done when the instructor challenges themself to new ways of delivering the information. By reading current new issues and relating them into the subject matter not only brings new information but also makes the subject matter current and realtive to the student.
Hi Douglas,
Good points about the need to remain focused and excited about what we are doing over a period of time.
What are some ways that you refocus yourself when you feel a bit worn down or overwhelmed?
Thanks.
Gary
Instructors need to occasionally take time and "REFOCUS" themselves in order to be more effective with their student becuase if not the students will sense a lack of caring through suttle nuances of the instructer.
Refocus is not just an inclass adjustment. Refocus can be done outside the class. An instructor should stay active in professional development. This brings current and new information to the teaching process. Instructor who activle stay involved in their fields of study are fresh with new information, can relate to todays industry and trends and keep the cource current in a world that changes so fast.
John... I like the idea of changing the classroom setting. If you were teaching an online course how would you go about changing the classroom setting?
Being a faculty member... teaching courses day in day out, semester after semester, is a long journey. None of us are able to run at ideal levels of enthusiasm 100% of the time. All of us need to find ways to refocus and recharge our batteries from time to time. The key is knowing the types of things that we can do as individuals that bring us back around to focusing on the passion and excitement that we had when we first starting teaching...
Hi Gary,
Right you are in terms of students needing to see themselves as having the opportunity to be successful. This is something the instructor needs to provide as the course gets started if the students are going to become engaged in the learning process.
Gary
Because they are human! Not everyone is a "Mary Poppins" type, particularly those who have a number of years in the industry and have been successful in a stressful career environment. It is entirely possible that students do not "live up to "expectations" because instructors set borderline unattainable or unrealistic goals and are therefor "dissappointed" class after class. I have often heard many instructors lament about the quality of today's students. REFOCUSing is quite probably a necessity more often than not.
Hi Mark,
Good point about creating a sequence to what you have time to teach within the time frame. This seems to be an ongoing challenge for us all. This is why we need to be very deliberate in our choices so our student receive the content that is essential for their career growth within the time we have.
Gary
