Think for yourself!
I’m reading on teaching right now, going through links provided by Peter Beattie here. Quite instructive.
Anyway, that is not what this post is about. I just saw this one quote from the piece I’m reading right now and wanted to share it.
In fact, students, too, may resist authentic teaching — at least at first. For one thing, they may prefer to avoid unnecessary intellectual challenges such as those entailed by a more active, probing form of learning. The introduction of a nontraditional science program led one 10th grader to exclaim, “We see what all this is about now. You are trying to get us to think and learn for ourselves.” Exactly right, replied the teacher, relieved and grateful that the message was getting through. “Well,” the student continued, “we don’t want to do that.”
Indeed.
I hope that is the problem I am having lately. Otherwise I’m just a crappy teacher – something I cannot rule out – which would be pretty bad for my chosen career.
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July 8th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I’m reading on teaching right now, going through links provided by Peter Beattie here. Quite instructive.
You’re very welcome. :)
I hope that is the problem I am having lately.
There’s always another problem: No teacher is perfect. You need to constantly monitor your own performance, looking for things that might hamper your students’ progress. And be open with them about what’s going on in your classroom, invite at least some discussion about how their learning experience in your class will be structured. At least that’s what I find to be rather helpful. YMMV. ;>