Time to Start Over?
A couple weeks ago we asked 1,000+ video teachers to tell us their biggest challenge. Here’s what we learned:
Student enthusiasm is at an all time low. They are not motivated, especially since remote learning. This was by far the most common survey response.
Students would rather get TikTok views than a passing grade in broadcast journalism.
Students have no idea how to come up with a story, find quality information, or how to write for broadcast.
A LOT of video teachers feel isolated, burned out, and have seriously considered quitting.
I don’t teach in a classroom every day so I don’t fully understand the challenges of the last couple years. But I do talk to a lot of broadcast and film teachers and these are the themes that keep emerging. If any (or all) of this sounds familiar, I hope you can find some solidarity in the collective misery. For what it’s worth, you are not alone.
It seems like everyone I encounter at their job is burned out to some degree. Is it just me or are baristas a little meaner now?
Everyone, everywhere had to figure out how to do the impossible in regards to work when COVID hit in March 2020. Parents, teachers, employees, students (even baristas) had to figure out how to change the way they do everything. And for the most part, the people on the ground figured it out.
We did the impossible. We faced and overcame an incredibly disruptive obstacle. We faced the biggest challenge of a century. And now you want me to go back and make those same decaf lattes with the foam espresso artwork?
The people that survived this unprecedented situation realized they’re capable of tackling massive challenges. And now a lot of us just want a different challenge. We want new problems to solve. I know I do.
For the past decade I’ve been producing videos for brands and businesses. Last year I burned out. I closed my video production company, shut down our office, and sold all our stuff. This is by far the largest reset of my life. My new challenge is diving full time into helping video teachers teach video.
What about you? What are you changing? Now is the time to drop the stuff you didn’t like and take on some different challenges.
If you need a boost, want some fresh ideas, or just need to commiserate with fellow video teachers, consider attending one of our summer workshops. We plan on discussing these challenges and the more perspectives we have, the better.
If you can’t make it this summer, please hop in our free facebook group to connect with other video teachers and share ideas there.