“History repeats itself” is deeply on my mind. Why can’t some individuals acknowledge and learn from past mistakes? As I reflect on the state of our world and catch myself in a spiraling thought, I quickly return to work, focus my energy and make something out of these thoughts.  

Perhaps we need to slow things down to learn our mistakes. When I think about my recent work, I notice that I started to slow more and want to share my observations for today’s post. For example, in my second-year skills course, students receive feedback on their essays individually in writing, followed up by a required group recording video, which ends with three specific objectives that the students need to improve and accomplish in their next written piece. Instead of providing individual feedback and expecting the students to review while I move on to the next writing exercise, I’m slowing down and repeating the information through a few different formats and providing my students with a center point before moving forward. The additional recordings and stated objectives provide my students two to three targeted improvements to digest and focus on for the next exercise.

Another exercise that I’m using to slow down my practicum course is a repeat simulation structure. In prior semesters, students were asked to verbally or in writing to reflect on, “if they were to do the simulation again, what would they do the same and what would they do differently?” Instead of packing in seven simulations this semester, I’ve downsized to four simulations with intermittent opportunities to repeat the simulations. This slowed process pushes students to identify and actively practice implementing the adjustment.

Today’s post is a light one… there is too much heavy plaguing our society. So, slow it down, have your students try one exercise again, again (and maybe again). You will be happy that you did.

(Amy Vaughan-Thomas)