What does it mean to manage/regulate yourself (self-regulate) and others? How does it bring you towards goals? How important is communication in this process and what helps/impedes it?
I first must answer this question like a science teacher. Of all the traits that humans have, the ability to plan and organize is probably the thing that distinguishes us the most amongst the animal kingdom. We aren’t the fastest or the strongest animals. But our ability to plan and to work in groups is far ahead, even of our closest evolutionary relatives. As such, managing and regulating ourselves and others and communicating with each other is a fundamental part of what makes us human.
Self-regulation and the regulation of others remains a crucial part of the 21st-century human. With the advent of mass media, the personal computer, smartphone and the internet, the ability to set goals and to prioritize is paramount. To write this blog entry, I had to set aside time in my day to work on graduate school. It took me a lot of effort to resist checking my email and Facebook account just one more time. I was required to organize my thoughts about what I know about this topic. Without this ability, I would be incapable of reaching my goal of getting a masters degree in Learning Technologies.
As for the management and regulation of others, the ability to set goals and prioritize increased many folds. As a teacher, my job is to teach students management and self-regulation skills. I am not only required to cover the curriculum, but I must instruct students in behavior management too. A good teacher not only knows their material but has predictable and straightforward routines in place for students to follow. Moreover, as with most jobs, the ability to “read people” and to adjust your behavior accordingly is important. I am constantly trying to figure out if a student actually needs to go to the “nurse” or the “restroom.” I find it difficult to determine how much to push my kids, and when to let loose.
Communication remains the most essential part of the management of others. It has been said “you have two ears and one mouth. Use them in that proportion”. Listening is the most important part of communication. I often find it frustrating when I say something to my class like, “do not write on the test,” only to have a student’s one second later ask “can we write on the test?” I certainly cannot complain, because I too have done the same thing.
When trying to communicate instructions, it is essential to be clear and concise. Being too complicated leads to confusion. However, when trying to teach something, sometimes the opposite is true. Telling stories and elaborating on a topic helps people remember stuff. Obviously, learning when to be simple and when to be complicated is a skill. Ultimately, effective communication along with management and regulation requires practice. And the sum of these experiences ultimately makes us who we are.
I first must answer this question like a science teacher. Of all the traits that humans have, the ability to plan and organize is probably the thing that distinguishes us the most amongst the animal kingdom. We aren’t the fastest or the strongest animals. But our ability to plan and to work in groups is far ahead, even of our closest evolutionary relatives. As such, managing and regulating ourselves and others and communicating with each other is a fundamental part of what makes us human.
Self-regulation and the regulation of others remains a crucial part of the 21st-century human. With the advent of mass media, the personal computer, smartphone and the internet, the ability to set goals and to prioritize is paramount. To write this blog entry, I had to set aside time in my day to work on graduate school. It took me a lot of effort to resist checking my email and Facebook account just one more time. I was required to organize my thoughts about what I know about this topic. Without this ability, I would be incapable of reaching my goal of getting a masters degree in Learning Technologies.
As for the management and regulation of others, the ability to set goals and prioritize increased many folds. As a teacher, my job is to teach students management and self-regulation skills. I am not only required to cover the curriculum, but I must instruct students in behavior management too. A good teacher not only knows their material but has predictable and straightforward routines in place for students to follow. Moreover, as with most jobs, the ability to “read people” and to adjust your behavior accordingly is important. I am constantly trying to figure out if a student actually needs to go to the “nurse” or the “restroom.” I find it difficult to determine how much to push my kids, and when to let loose.
Communication remains the most essential part of the management of others. It has been said “you have two ears and one mouth. Use them in that proportion”. Listening is the most important part of communication. I often find it frustrating when I say something to my class like, “do not write on the test,” only to have a student’s one second later ask “can we write on the test?” I certainly cannot complain, because I too have done the same thing.
When trying to communicate instructions, it is essential to be clear and concise. Being too complicated leads to confusion. However, when trying to teach something, sometimes the opposite is true. Telling stories and elaborating on a topic helps people remember stuff. Obviously, learning when to be simple and when to be complicated is a skill. Ultimately, effective communication along with management and regulation requires practice. And the sum of these experiences ultimately makes us who we are.
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