Volume XLVI, No. 10 | August 22, 2024
Danke Schoen: Bringing It Everyday
Danke Schoen! To those not familiar with Wayne Newton, which is probably a generation younger than those reading this piece, it is with reluctance that I say “Google” him. As a brief refresher, I offer this short synopsis of this legendary entertainer. Wayne is one of the longest, nightly singer/entertainers in the long and storied history of Las Vegas shows. His longevity as an entertainer alone is extraordinary. However, the true phenomenon is the way that he maintains his enthusiasm and showmanship. He has performed more than 30,000 shows in Las Vegas across a 40-year span. His longevity earned him the name “Mr. Las Vegas.”
The “Yankee Clipper,” aka Joe DiMaggio, is another shining example of a person who gave his all. During his 13-year major league baseball career, Joe only missed 240 games of the scheduled 1,976 games. When he was asked why he played so hard, he responded, “The reason I play so hard is that somewhere out there is some kid who has never seen me play before, and I don’t want to disappoint him.”
For those of us who are infinitely less talented than stars like Wayne and Joe, the question becomes how can I bring my best to the classroom every time I take the stage? After all, if Wayne and Joe inspired the masses with their hustle, hitting, and defense, then I should strive to “bring it” every time I am in front of the classes I teach.
Objectively speaking, I am guilty of having some excellent teaching days, some pretty good, and even some, that if I were self-judging, were rather poor. Thank goodness I have a strong self-concept. I’ve known a great number of professors during my 30+ years in higher education, and I assume that none of them would claim that they rise to the standards of excellence set by Wayne and Joe on a daily basis. Does this make them less than worthy? No, but it does make them human. So, let’s not judge ourselves by an unachievable standard of excellence. Instead, let’s look at this from the perspective of what average teachers can do to bring their best to the classroom every time they apply their craft.
There is probably not any scientific validity to what I am going to share with you about improving your teaching. I have conducted no research. I have not reviewed the literature. However, the value of what I am going to share is drawn from the experiences of a pretty much above average college professor. So, this is not magic. These are ideas that all of us regular folks can try.
- Be Personable. We care, so let’s act like we care. We want to be there, so be excited about each session.
- Be Approachable. None of the “I have office hours so make an appointment.” or “Didn’t you read the syllabus?” Students remember their teachers, good and bad. They don’t remember the names of the cashier at the grocery store, the delivery guy, or even the person delivering their mail, but they will remember you. Demonstrate that you care. Get to class early and talk with those who show up early. Find out their goals, and be prepared to help them reach them. Hang around for a few minutes after class. Students will notice this and often take advantage of a little private time.
- Find Out What They Already Know. Sure, you’re the expert but you don’t need to go out of your way to prove it. Good ol’ Lecture Number 5 has served you well, but learning is not always served best through pontificating. Socrates provided us with an excellent method, so frame your daily topic around some questions. You might be surprised (as I have frequently been) that students bring quite a bit of knowledge with them. This method will also inform you where students have blank spots and blind spots. During my doctoral studies, I had a professor and mentor tell me, “Joe, being a PhD is not about knowing all the answers. It is about knowing, and asking, the right questions.” (Thanks, Dr. Gist.)
- Make Your Classroom an Active Experience. The saying goes, “The mind can only absorb what the butt can endure.” I understand that some academic disciplines are more amenable to active learning than others, but some creative thinking could very well lead to an appropriate activity. I use group mind mapping when introducing a new topic, theory, theorist, or concept.
- Most of All, Have Fun. This is central! Remember how exciting and fun it was when you learned to read, count, add, and subtract during your early years of school? Learning was a joyful and fun experience. How did we lose this? Why have we made learning drudgery? Why accept the factory model of memorizing, regurgitating, and then, unfortunately, forgetting. This teaching and learning method only serves to doom our students to a “get the grade and move on” attitude. Laugh, joke, self-deprecate (when strategically appropriate) to make learning fun again.
Even though, if pressed, I might be able to offer a few more tried and true approaches that have worked for me, I am going to stop here. Actually, the only thing we need to do prior to taking the stage or crossing the white lines is to say to ourselves, “If Wayne and Joe can bring it every day, then why can’t I?” This thought, approach, and philosophy will set your attitude for the class. Sure, we’ll often fall short of this lofty goal, but we will have had an overall purpose for the day’s work.
As I descend on the downward slope of my teaching career, I have taken more time to reflect on what it means to be a teacher. I think of Wayne Newton giving his best show night after night and picture Joe DiMaggio chasing down fly balls and lashing line drives game after game. These giants in their respective fields knew that some spectator or fan might be seeing them apply their craft for the first and maybe the only time. So, somewhere, sometime in the near or distant future a student that has never seen me teach will enter my classroom. I pledge to remind myself daily that I do not want to disappoint them and will bring it just like Mr. Las Vegas and the Yankee Clipper.
To those who inspire us regular folks to bring our best every day, I say “Danke Schoen.”
S. Joseph Woodall, Professor (Retired), Davidson-Davie Community College, steven.woodall@catawba.com