A new look at the same material.
Most of my material I know thoroughly and on occasions have accidentally quoted the book verbatim. It's only happenstance and when you catch yourself doing it takes the wind from your sails. Before I give the same lecture I try to tweak something about the subject to keep the material seem new and exciting. In my opinion the energy of the class comes from the educator.
Ernest,
Thank you for these good comments about how to stay fresh in delivering content and examples. If we aren't engaged we know our students won't be either.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also found myself retelling the same stories, and after a few times I would be bored with the story and would lose enthusiasm telling them and maybe even leave out important parts. In turn the students would not be interested or get excited by the story even though there was a good lesson to be learned. I had to keep the stories fresh more for myself than the students. Because the students hadn't heard either story before, but they will respond based on your enthusiasm for the material.
I think that it is important to keep lecture material fresh every quarter. A strategy I typically use when lecturing is story-telling. I believe that story-telling can influence meaning of the information as it may evoke emotions from the students. In placing personal stories in my lectures, I have tended to stick to the same ones each quarter. Recently, I started thinking of new stories to present in my lectures that replaced the old ones. I have noticed that my enthusiasm has changed as I'm not presenting the same stories. In turn, I think this excitement gets the students excited.
Tina,
As I teach between 5 to 7 sections of the same course each year I can relate to your comments. I strive to make each sections interesting to me with new activities so I am just as excited about the first section as I am the last section. I keep in mind that it is the first and only time this group of students will go through this information even if I have already taught it before. You have such a great attitude about this I know your students appreciate your efforts to keep the course alive for them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree! The students feed off of our energy as instructors. I also try to update powerpoints/tests every time I teach a class I've taught before. Keeps me on my toes and keeps the information up to date as well!
I agree. The students perception of a concept or technique can make me look at it through "different eyes."
Daniel,
I fall into the same category with you. This is one of the reasons I love being a teacher. Also, I agree that it is one of the benefits of being a teacher and I get to grow and expand my knowledge from each and every class I teach and I get paid for doing it. What a great job!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have to confess that almost every time I deliver a lecture or present a concept, I learn something new...regardless of how much I think I already know about the subject. It's usually just a different way of thinking about something, often sparked by a student's question or comment about the subject as seen through their eyes. I guess this is just one of those added benefits of being an instructor.
Sybil,
You have a tough situation as a result of those that have been through the course before or do not care about taking the course. Is it possible to do some role playing where the students play different roles in terms of math values, use and application. Another approach might be the use of case studies where they see both the application of math concepts but also the value of using them in different situations.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sometimes the energy from the instructor is waned by lack of energy from the students. I teach math to students who have either taken this course a number of times and are bored because they know the material or they have a very poor background, hate math, and would just like to pass the course. Each block goes on for 6 weeks with 2 hour classes. I try to make sure the struggling stuents are understanding what I say and I provide breaks in which they can either approach me or another student for help. Another ideas about how to improve student engagement.
Ryan,
You last sentence is right on. When the instructor brings passion and enthusiasm to the classroom or lab it spreads. We need to remember this each time we teach. You have got that idea down based upon the preparation that you do to get ready for your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
