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Is this how students should learn / how we should teach?
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Give an example on how this would work in say an English class learning how to write a proper paragraph....or a math class with kids learning how to solve algebraic equations....or a history class learning the history of WWII?
This is not the way we should teach. It IS however the way we should approach how we teach. As a former engineer turned teacher I'm convinced it we applied to engineering method to curriculum mapping we'd improve our system. One thing I'd LOVE to see done is testing that matters. Instead of state tests that students have no vested interest in, write a final exam for every year and subject that actually tests what should have been taught. In engineering you test the specifications you design to and you test all of them. There should be comprehensive exit exams for every grade and subject and they should be same for all schools. This would allow us to compare one school district to another. Our current testing is too hit or miss. For example only 6 of the 143 CCE's that are in my curriculum are actually on the test and those 6 are randomly chosen every year. Yet this test is used in part to determine the quality of my teaching. I might hit all six one year and miss them all another. I'd much rather they test everything I'm supposed to teach. Then they'd see that I teach most of those CCE's and that I teach them well. I'd also put the tests at the end of the year. My students take the test at the beginning of the second semester so I've only taught a little more than half of what I'm going to teach. Seems stupid to me to pick 6 of my CCE's and then tie my pay to whether my students knew them when you didn't even let me finish the year.
I have to say I am sick of schools trying to force the kids to work in groups and to "discuss" everything.
Put a group of five kids together to solve a problem and we end up with 1 or 2 kids doing the whole thing and 2 or 3 learning nothing, contributing nothing and fooling the teacher into thinking everyone understood it.
I have to say I am sick of schools trying to force the kids to work in groups and to "discuss" everything.
Put a group of five kids together to solve a problem and we end up with 1 or 2 kids doing the whole thing and 2 or 3 learning nothing, contributing nothing and fooling the teacher into thinking everyone understood it.
That's what teachers are for, to make sure every student is participating. Won't a teacher eventually find out if the student didn't understand the material.
Teachers SHOULD be aware of whether or not students are grasping the material. "Eventually" shouldn't be part of the equation. No matter what your instructional and practice methods are, you need to check for comprehension.
I have to say I am sick of schools trying to force the kids to work in groups and to "discuss" everything.
Put a group of five kids together to solve a problem and we end up with 1 or 2 kids doing the whole thing and 2 or 3 learning nothing, contributing nothing and fooling the teacher into thinking everyone understood it.
Seriously. I do a lot of group work in class, but it's only to keep people awake and give them some time to socialize. I know they aren't learning anything that way.
I have to say I am sick of schools trying to force the kids to work in groups and to "discuss" everything.
Put a group of five kids together to solve a problem and we end up with 1 or 2 kids doing the whole thing and 2 or 3 learning nothing, contributing nothing and fooling the teacher into thinking everyone understood it.
Got today that I agree - except they aren't fooling the teacher. The teacher knows that in any grouping, but especially mixed ability groupings, this us the way it works. Whether they will admit that or not is another story altogether.
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