Instructors may need to refocus their course material to stay current with changes in technology and industry standards. Staying current and ahead of the students in this regard is an important reason to refocus.
Marisela,
So true so we need to bring our A game to the classroom each time we enter. To do less is unfair to our students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The students are impacted by the instructor's excitement level. If they instructor appears bored, then the students begin to lose focus.
Instructors get worn down too. It can get frustrating when you try so hard and students aren't responding. So, we have to refocus and really remember the positive things that have happened and get ourselves excited again.
Instructors need to make sure students want to be in the course or program they are enrolled in at this time. Sometimes this means an instructor will have to take the extra mile with students and help them do better in a class. An instructor might need to have a one on one conversation with a student to access a problem and be able to have the student move past the issue for the future
We all "hit the wall" at some point as instructors whether due to internal or external issues in the class. These are the times when we must step back and refocus our efforts and presentations so as not to short change the students who look to us for guidance and enthusiasm. If we present with passion they learn.
because if you dont asses your class you may be boring them rather than teaching them.
Lawrence,
Field trips are valuable teaching tools. I use them a lot in my classes for the reasons you state. They serve to validate the content I am teaching my students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Taking the cues from yourself and the class is a very good indicator of whether the delivery has become stagnant. One method I can employ is taking a field trip to a new facility or just take the whole class to Lowes or Home Depot to purchase supplies. It breaks up the monotony and engages the students in future project preparation or to showcase the accomplishments of graduates from the program.
Jamie,
This is so important if we are to remain fresh in our delivery and excited about sharing our content.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
At times what we teach become repetitive and stale. It is important to refocus and recharge our batteries to keep the material interesting not only to our students, but to ourselves as well.
so that we dont get burned out we have to refocus inorde to be more effective
I believe that in teaching as in any other profession, and I have had several, burnout, the cares of life, and the mindset of getting things done, sometimes lessens the focus on teaching and students and more on the process itself. I think this idea of REFOCUS is something that would help employees in any profession reassess where they are and what they could do to be better at what they do.
Sometimes instructors need to refocus on classes to to gain student interest. every class is different and every method may not work for every class. Sometimes by refocusing you can impliment new ideas to regain class interest.
Instructors need to refocus to prevent burn out and boredom. When an instructor becomes set in their ways and delivery, they tend to become boring and this directly impacts the way the student perceive the instructor and the subject matter.
The instructor also needs to refocus to renew their energy and commitment to being a facilitator and leader as well as providing and enthusiastic and motivational teacher
Lev,
Thank you for these comments. They show just important it is for us instructors to be fresh and current in our teaching as well as content, no matter how many times we have taught the course before.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Daniel,
Good advice for us all to heed as we get ready to teach a course we have taught before.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Shawn,
So true. This is why it is so important for us to retain our focus and bring excitement to our classes.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Jessica,
Good reminder for us to focus on as we approach our teaching especially if we have taught the course numerous times before.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
On the one hand, students are excellent judges about the quality of instruction, but, on the other hand, the students want to find easy solutions and minimize their efforts. Refocusing is a teaching method that, on the one hand, ensures that instruction corresponds to the students' needs (whether the students realize it or not), and, on the other hand, it is a way to make the process of learning more attractive and to reduce a certain amount of stress associated with learning a new and difficult material.
