In many ways, humility is the only thing you need to observe well. Once Ego is out of the picture, you have that space now and you will very naturally use that space and energy to listen more attentively to your students’ needs. Observation is the only skillset available to us at birth. So, from day 1 of our existence, our brain gathers data on body language and spoken language alike to form a system of communication that grows more complex over the years.
In teaching then, 90% of the battle is removing the inhibitors: things like fear, distraction, Ego, that impede your brain’s earliest and most natural function: observation. Once the inhibitors are gone, your observation skills will be very intuitive. Trust your instincts and listen closely to your students. That being said, here a few tips to help foster a pro-active learning environment.
- Introduce ‘Student-Driven Learning’