As I was reading this article, I kept thinking about how much it reminded me of constructivism. In our EDUC 6100 class, we learned about the different philospsohies of teaching. The connections to constructivism are undeniable. One passage that really stuck home with this topic:
Rethinking the principles of democratic pedagogy dating back to Socrates, wise teachers realize they do not have to be a “sage on the stage.” Instead their role is to be a “guide on the side:” encouraging…guiding…mentoring…supporting the learning process. Creative classrooms today are ones where everyone is learning, from each other as well as the teacher! (pg. 9)
This is the method I will certainly take when I enter the teaching world. I know that when I was given opportunities to explore ideas and concepts on my own, the information stayed with me. As teachers, we need to be guides for our students. Show them the way without giving them all the answers.
I think it’s important that students also learn about their current environment. One of the state standards says that students should be able to read a variety of texts. With our growing technological world, websites and commercials are all intended to be read by the public. Students can analyze meaning, intent, structure, conception, etc.
It’s hard to shed the teacher-lecturer-class master role, and it’s still prevalent. Keep in mind that most kids will start tuning out lecture-type teacher-talk within seconds. Leveraging your efforts to create assignments/projects that get students taking control is a good idea.
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