I have often wondered why students are enthralled by some classes, but seem disgusted by others. Is it the teacher? Is it the group? Is it a synergy of both? Should we blame the subject? I have encountered incredibly social and charismatic individuals who fail while teaching High School students. I have also met highly educated researchers and scholars who flunk at teaching this type of pupils. Is there a secret formula that guarantees a course that everyone wants to attend? For this particular article, I want to focus on my sole experience.
As I have said before, think about your favorite movie; most endearing emotional relationship; the trip that changed your life; or a product that you truly love. What lies under their greatness? Details. Details shape the classroom too.
I have always designed my classes based on a single principle—what is the type of lesson I would like to attend to? Personally, I loved classes that not only talked about the content of the class, but how it was related to the world around me. If science and humanities come from daily life situations, why do we have to de-humanize them within four walls and one boring speaker? So, my classes take some detours that freshen up the learning environment. Some detours are planned. Some are unexpected.
This leads me to a second ingredient for a great class—the teacher’s expertise. Taking a detour implies boldness, courage, wisdom, and rich general culture. I encourage teachers to read, watch, taste, and marvel at everything that happens around them. Take it back to the classroom. Your students will appreciate it. Talk about pop culture, emotional relationships, fashion, technology, demography, sociology, sports, and trends. Even if you regard a topic as “non-sense” get involved with it. It will not only benefit your courses, but will nourish you as a human being as well. We as teachers enjoy something that actors have always used—fame, mysticism, and social attraction. What the teacher has personally experienced will always get the attention of the student. USE IT!
Moreover, John Lasseter, creative director at Pixar Animation Studios once said that “research is the funniest part of doing an animated film”. Teachers, research!
Some other important elements for teaching an outstanding lesson are confidence in one’s strengths, confidence in the students, doses of humor, and a sense of exploration. Let your students work for some minutes. Mesmerize them with a question. Questions are far more interesting than their answers for they remain open to human interpretation.
The sensorial stimulus is also important. Develop a characteristic dress code. Wear what suits you the most, while adding an almost imperceptible edge. Bright ties, bright shirts, long shoes, sunglasses while walking down the hallways... They all work.
The most decisive sensorial stimulus? Music. Play music to your students while they work in an activity, and they will impress you. Cell phones will suddenly become quiet, students will ask you about the name of the song, and by using both cerebral hemispheres the learning product may impress you.
I know that producing a great class takes time and a personal touch. Listen to your teacher sense and DO IT NEXT CLASS.
