So, in desperation I've prepared a few ideas for her next visit. Of course, teachers are still necessary. We're there to disrupt the status quo, to inform, to empty, to present problems, to tell our stories, and to motivate. Students have to grapple with the material on their own, like Jacob, who wrestled all night with the mysterious stranger. Teachers are catalysts, enzymes.
Students digest and rebuild.
Of course, unpredictability can be risky. When I first asked my German class to interview a rock in a warm-up exercise, I was a little worried. Obviously, teaching also requires trust. The next class is always one of your best. Get to know your students.