In the Faculty of Education, a number of different teaching techniques and perspectives are taught by a number of experienced educators. Prospective teachers with little practical experience will often deem what is being taught as useless or a waste of time. Other times, prospective teachers will be taught something they agree with by someone they respect and take it as gospel. The fact of the matter is that every teaching technique has its merits. It is the duty of every teacher to use a wide breadth of teaching methods and to continue to seek better ways to teach their students. Sometimes this will require new technologies, constructivist teaching techniques and even rote learning. Taught by many professors in the faculty that rote learning is ineffective, it is nice to know that not every professor thinks so. Rote learning is a great method to ensure the assimilation of essential information and techniques in some circumstances. Mental math for instance (which is a skill), is effectively developed by providing the student with a number of questions which are often repeated. This repetition will allow for quick recall. We all need to remember that there is a difference between being opinionated and stubborn. In the article entitled “What Does it Mean to Be an Educated Person?” by Naomi Hodgson, it is determined that a “willingness to be changed” is essential for someone to be ‘educated’.
Technology is a great tool that needs to be harnessed in order to ensure the future success of the students. It should however not become a crutch. As previously mentioned, it is the duty of every teacher to use a wide breadth of teaching methods and to continue to seek better ways to teach their students. In Dr, Hlynka`s class, technological literacy is being developed and shown to be essential for future educators but it is likely that many students will already be technologically proficient. Teachers need to stay up to date with technological advances and use technology to become better educators. It is also essential that teachers don’t always rely on technology in the classroom. Vartan Gregorian is quoted as saying ``the book is here to stay. What we’re doing is symbolic of the peaceful coexistence of the book and the computer``.
Hello Andrew!! I agree with you that technology should not become a crutch and that it is the duty of teachers to continue to seek better ways to teach their students.
ReplyDeleteI guess that makes you and Andrew Friends Lesley?
ReplyDeleteI agree that we as Prospective teachers need to really take a look at what we are being taught and use what we like and understand what it is that we don't like. If we are sitting their being stubborn instead of learning we are missing the point to this faculty.
Love the post, Andrew, as well as what Elliot has added. Most of us in this cohort seem to be fairly opinionated, and that seems to extend to teaching methods. However - even if we may not agree with something at the time, it certainly doesn't hurt to learn it, and, who knows - it may even be useful to us at some point in the future. Different. Learning. Styles. Must keep repeating that, since not all of my students will learn in the ways that I did.
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