HOW TO FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE IN EDUCATION

One of the great things about being an educator is being surrounded by so many inspired individuals who are all looking to make a difference in students’ lives; on the flip side because of this it can sometimes feel overwhelming as one finds themselves sifting through a sea of amazing ideas presented during professional development or a conference and having to decide on what is best for one’s school or one’s classroom – which is no easy feat. So how does one go about selecting which ideas are a good fit? It comes down to being able to see the forest first and not the trees, because if you are uncertain of what your overall goals are or what the big picture is, it can be all too easy to lose your way or take on too much.

To help decide whether a proposed teaching method or ideology will work for you it always helps to begin by asking yourself a few questions about your school’s objectives:

• What is the school’s overall vision?
• What is the school’s philosophy?
• What are the school’s values?
• What curriculums are being used?
• What methods of teaching are encouraged?
• Other?
  

Once you have a clear idea of the big picture, the next step entails asking yourself how the newly presented teaching method or ideology will serve to support the school’s goals, which can be done in a table format, as shown in the sample below:

If in going through the process you come to realize that the newly presented idea, as fantastic as it may be, doesn’t serve to further the school’s goals in any way, you may decide not to implement it at all, and if you do choose to go ahead with it you will at least know your reasons and be able to communicate them to others.
 
As educators, we are always being presented with the latest and greatest ideas in education and it can be easy to get caught up in the hype of it all, but if you remember to stay focused on the forest and the big picture, you can ensure that what you do choose to implement supports the teaching and learning culture of your school, which in the end will benefit your students the most!

Other Useful Tips for Educators

How to Become a More Empathetic Teacher
Tips for Language and Learning Support Staff
Using Classroom Walls to Extend Student Learning
How to Run a Successful Brainstorming Session
Selecting Learning Resources