Amanda, I couldn’t agree with you more that we as teachers need to put ourselves in our student’s shoes. I think it is important to remember what it once felt like as a middle school/high school student ourselves in order to be more effective. Let’s face it; students have so much more going on in their lives then attending our family and consumer science class. But it is our job to use class time as effectively as possible.
Kim, I enjoyed reading both your articles. I’ll make sure I’m not one of those teachers who don’t know how to use PowerPoint! Technology is ever changing and it is our job as teachers to stay current, by doing so, our students will not only take us more seriously they will use us as a resource. I also found our second article helpful in that students want more freedom in the classroom to expand their learning. This also gives students the opportunity to tap into their own creativity.
Beki, I also enjoy when professors give me a choice. I have a paper due next week and we were given two options. I don’t know why but I feel so much better when there are two choices to pick from. I think as a society feel we have the right to choose and we don’t feel restricted. From a student’s perspective, they will have more excitement towards learning if they aren’t always being TOLD what to do.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Giving Students Ownership
1. Educational Leadership. Today's students have an exciting outlet for creativity and collaboration at their fingertips. As a result, students have shorter attention spans and it makes the job of the teacher that much more difficult to keep students engaged. So what do we do about this? The author of Educational Leadership suggests ways to instill ownership of learning. Some possible ways include, providing relevant curriculum material, using technology appropriately, offering choice learning projects, making learning active, and allowing students to move at their own pace. Teachers are also urged to instill student accountability. Some possible ways include teaching study skills for independent learning and learning new professional skills.
2. What students want from teachers. Students were asked for a time they felt in charge of their learning at school, when they were working not just for a grade but because they were excited and interested to learn. Some of their responses included: feeling they are taken seriously, being challenged to think, respected, given responsibility, and feeling they are important.
So many students feel high school is just a stepping stone to something bigger. Every student is in charge of his or her learning. How hard we work in school and take charge of our own learning experience depends on our goals in life. It is important for students to set goals for themselves and to work to achieve those goals but it is more important for a teacher to make students feel the most comfortable and feel they have the ability to succeed at whatever they may encounter.
2. What students want from teachers. Students were asked for a time they felt in charge of their learning at school, when they were working not just for a grade but because they were excited and interested to learn. Some of their responses included: feeling they are taken seriously, being challenged to think, respected, given responsibility, and feeling they are important.
So many students feel high school is just a stepping stone to something bigger. Every student is in charge of his or her learning. How hard we work in school and take charge of our own learning experience depends on our goals in life. It is important for students to set goals for themselves and to work to achieve those goals but it is more important for a teacher to make students feel the most comfortable and feel they have the ability to succeed at whatever they may encounter.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Giving Students Ownership
1: Consider School from a Students' Perspective
As teachers we need to put ourselves on the opposite side of the teachers desk to make sure that we are being effective. It is important that me make sure we grasp our students attention, and that we are able to maintain it throughout our lesson. If we believe most students will better comprehend the information by doing hands on activities or group work, then it is our job to facilitate learning in such a way.
2: Choose activities that prepare students to learn
It is important that you use yourself as a tool and resource in the classroom. Showing confidence, leadership, and assurance in the material is key to successful teaching. Pair share, group work, and classroom activities will facilitate deep processing of information. If these things are done, the learners will obtain the best results and be the most successful in your classroom.
As teachers we need to put ourselves on the opposite side of the teachers desk to make sure that we are being effective. It is important that me make sure we grasp our students attention, and that we are able to maintain it throughout our lesson. If we believe most students will better comprehend the information by doing hands on activities or group work, then it is our job to facilitate learning in such a way.
2: Choose activities that prepare students to learn
It is important that you use yourself as a tool and resource in the classroom. Showing confidence, leadership, and assurance in the material is key to successful teaching. Pair share, group work, and classroom activities will facilitate deep processing of information. If these things are done, the learners will obtain the best results and be the most successful in your classroom.
Giving Students Ownership
There were 2 short articles that I found interesting.
1. Modern Students-According to the article, students aren't learning because they're not prepared to learn and because teaching methods are not up-to-date. Students are not always held accountable for their learning; teachers should give students more choices, hold them more accountable, and update their teaching methods to use technology appropriately. Another way to give students more responsibility and accountability is to put them into smaller learning communities.
2. What Students want from Teachers-Students want more freedom in the classroom to expand their learning. These freedoms can include more open discussion and debates on a variety of topics and more room for creative expression on projects. A good way to do this is by giving students choices, with some limits, so that they can feel more in control of their learning.
1. Modern Students-According to the article, students aren't learning because they're not prepared to learn and because teaching methods are not up-to-date. Students are not always held accountable for their learning; teachers should give students more choices, hold them more accountable, and update their teaching methods to use technology appropriately. Another way to give students more responsibility and accountability is to put them into smaller learning communities.
2. What Students want from Teachers-Students want more freedom in the classroom to expand their learning. These freedoms can include more open discussion and debates on a variety of topics and more room for creative expression on projects. A good way to do this is by giving students choices, with some limits, so that they can feel more in control of their learning.
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