We’ve all probably experienced this, we finish a class and say to yourselves – “That was a great class.” We’ve also probably experienced the opposite – “That class wasn’t as good as usual today.” Well, teachers feel the same way sometimes. I think there is a “flow” of knowledge transfer in great classes. As a teacher who always strives to present a great class, I frequently contemplate this concept of the flow of teaching and learning. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject.
One component of flow is teacher and student being on the “same page”. The students are in tune with what the teacher is teaching, and the teacher is teaching what the students need at that moment. From a teacher’s perspective, this is quite a balancing act taking into account every student’s needs no matter their proficiency, ability, or skill level. Great teachers can move through a room of students giving each what they need to have a successful class. Sometimes they need is continue with current material. Sometimes it’s moving ahead with some new material.
The learning process is helped greatly by consistency of training. When a teacher sees his/her students in classes one or more times per week the teacher more easily remembers what that student is working on, how well they’re integrating the physical skills, and whether they’re ready for new work.
The concept of flow isn’t just in Minna Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and T’ai Chi Ch’uan class thing at Twinsburg Academy of Self-Defense, it happens anytime a teacher and student are together no matter the subject. There is an energy when student and teacher are in-tune with each other. This energy is felt as connection and flow between the teacher and students and great classes are the result.
From a student’s learning perspective daily practice at the dojo or at home is imperative to the flow of learning. Students who do not practice daily find it hard to get into the flow of their learning. They find movements or concepts hard to grasp. Without consistent daily practice students can get bored or discouraged when the teacher isn’t showing them new material. Good teachers are patient; they wait for their students to be ready to receive new material. The teacher can help to keep weeks of working on the same material fresh and new by bringing out different facets of that material, or by teaching the same material in a different way.
The teachers at Twinsburg Academy of Self-Defense are experts at keeping their classes fresh and interesting. Every student is given the attention and knowledge they need to be as successful as possible in each class. But our teachers can’t do it for the student. Students must diligently practice and attend their classes regularly. In this way, though we can’t guaranty every class will flow, we have created an environment where our students more often than not say “That was a great class!”
Why not join us! Call Master Tim at the Twinsburg Academy of Self-Defense at (330) 237-9594, or Master "C" at the Akron Academy of Self-Defense at (330) 814-5058 and enroll in our 2-Week Starter Membership.
