What I learned about my students

The most important thing I have learned about my students this past term is they are incredibly persistent. What I mean by that is that when students get in their minds what they want to do, they expel an extraordinary amount of energy to do it. For some, unfortunately, that energy is focused on negative tasks. But, there are others who actually use this energy in their academics. This term is the first time I have taught Information Technology in a year and I have forgotten how students really enjoy tinkering. When I give them their lab to do for class, I see in their eyes a focused look. They worked on those labs with the kind of intensity of a class clown who is trying to disrupt class. I wish that I can gain that same interest with the students in my Computer Applications class! It is really quite the opposite in this class as it poses a challenge for me because I just don’t see the students enjoying themselves. They do the work, but I can tell that they are just going through the motions of doing the work, but not really enjoying it.