What The Best Teachers Do
I'm so teacher-like that if you squeeze me, I shoot out pencils, books, and apple-shaped knick-knacks. Just bring up any education-related topic and I can monologue dialogue for hours.
That explains why I went to the trouble of requesting What the Best College Teachers Do through the library's intergalactic network of libraries. No regular inter-library loan for me! I mean, if I even remove the super-special routing sticker off the front of the book I get a $50 fine! Woot! Why buy the book when I have the thrill and the risk of that?!?
Moving on.
This book has reminded me, even in my own small world, that educating the next generation--and educating them well--is a worthy and valuable use of my time. That's easy to forget most days this time of the school year.
There are all kinds of goodies contained in the book, but I'm going to pull out just one of them to share:
If you ask many academics how they define teaching, they will often talk about "transmitting" knowledge, as if teaching is telling. That's a comforting way of thinking about it because it leaves us completely in control; if we tell them, we've taught them. To benefit from what the best teachers do, however, we must embrace a different model, one in which teaching occurs only when learning takes place.
What does this mean to you in your world?
In the interest of full disclosure, no one asked me to promote this book. But if you do click the link and buy something on the amazon site, I get a minuscule percentage of the purchase. The earnings I receive by being an affiliate help feed my family addiction of throwing pennies in a fountain twice a year.
6 comments:
Well, you asked for it.
I am the hated of all College Instructors...My class has wrecked more GPAs and put more scholarships in jeopardy than any other class. My class cannot be avoided, is rarely clept, and usually reduces grown adults to tears or fits of rage.
My class is Freshman Composition.
Even thought the uality of students entering college today is vastly different (substantially lower) than 10 years ago, my standards and methodology have not drastically changed...which is to say that students often hate me until they realize what it is I am trying to do: Teach myself out of a job. I often tell students, I cannot make you learn. We have a symbiotic relationship: I teach. You learn. The problem lies in the fact that they have never been asked to LEARN. They have been asked to MEMORIZE. No one has taught them how to acquire information on their own...and that's why Freshman Comp is so demanding.
I don't teach grammar. I fail you for not using a skill you should already know entering my class.
I teach LANGUAGE. Using it effectively and creatively.
I teach critical thinking skills. The kind that actually forces you to examine and dissect information, not just copy and paste it from Wiki (which gets you kicked out of my class).
I teach research. The ability to take a thought and run with it...learn about it, deconstruct it, and then build it into and argument that examines both sides of the issue without resorting to fallacy.
If you can do that after 16 weeks, without e-mailing me for advice every day, you will pass.
One former student scored a PERFECT score on the High School Graduation Exam in English. Her first paper was a demoralizing 72. After 8 weeks in my class, or hard work, she scored a 94 on a paper. Her exact words to me when I was showing her how to USE language, not just COPY language skills: "Wow! I sound smart!"
See Tina? We're cut from the same bolt of cloth. :D
You'd love the book. It reminds me so much of my favorite prof from college, who was so unlike the usual "memorize this for the test" kind (which to this day, burns my biscuits).
For us, mostly elementary level, it boils down to a lot or,
"How does that work?"
"Does that make sense?"
"Show me how you did that - or, got that answer."
"Can I try it?"
"Do it again!"
"I don't know - let's find out, (or let's look it up.)"
That last one, especially, would be ME.
Julie
Julie:
In the public classroom, your last statement usually translates this way:
"You're in a research class...go look it up."
This allows me to remain infallible in their precious eyes.
Lisa: I have already added it to my list to read.
By college that ought to be it! But with my littles, there's a lot of training to do yet.
I think I might contact our local librarian about doing a little tour of the library this summer. I mean, we spend a lot of time there, but I have no idea where to find some of the reference materials, or even what all is available.
We'll pack a picnic lunch and call it a Field Trip!
I want to take Tina Marie's class (then again, she's got me a little scared).
:)
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