Monday night in Nashville, the waiter takes my dinner order and then asked if I would like to order a salad with my entree. Thinking that an affirmative response would be the healthful response, I ordered the salad in addition to the steak and vegetables. Everything that was brought out and put before me was of high quality and well-prepared. The only problem was that there was too much to digest. I would have benefited more had I been more selective. Instead, I left feeling a bit bloated by too much of a good thing.

How many times have my students felt stuffed by my content rich (at least in my mind) delivery of morsel after morsel of “good” information?

I want them to know all that I know about the subject. They may need to know it someday, I tell myself. Who am I to decide what is most important and edit out something that may be useful someday? I am the instructor! That’s who!

It is my responsibility to portion wisely and give priority to the balanced diet that the student needs in order to thrive. So, my pledge is not to give huge, heaping, helpings of lecture followed by more lecture. Imagine all of that with my PowerPoint poured like thick gravy on everything. I’m thinking yum, yum. They are thinking, “kill me now”. You can’t die yet, I have more information!

It is my job to plan the meal that will prosper the mind, and even the spirit, of those I serve. I must focus my efforts on the most important objective which is the learning.

If I want them to walk out of there with a skill, I may tell them and show them to get things started. That must be followed by getting the student involved. Sometimes a game is called for, other times they review the case study in a small group and teach the others the key points. Whatever the approach, I must offer variety and on occasion, allow those supping to simply cleanse the palate. Then and only then is it appropriate to serve yet another course.