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j
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teaching and learning are *not* the same thing!
September 4, 2003 - 10:34 AM
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I read every thread on this education branch and cannot find any dialogue on *learning* and the mentoring of the same.
Teaching is a profession
Education is the social construct we have created to define the process of transfer of information from practitioner to recipient's 'test' outcome.
Schooling is the institution (arguably outdated due to its industrial era habits and heritage)
But learning...... that is the outcome the real process the source of passion and excitement, the development of thinking, honing of skills and development of application patterns that will inform everything we do .... and surely this should be at the core of the 'education' discussion.
Yet there are forum threads on issues of salary and equipment and damage done by individuals and of system failure and social inappropriateness etc etc..... sure..... and yet nothing about the future - how to transform the learning..... come on folks there are stories out there of fantastic learning experiences whether they be in the context of classic 'Hogwarts' type education systems or in the new style 'informal classroom' with technology laid on, .........these are examples that are replicable, scalable and need to be told!
How sad that the dialogue so often turns to the negative - And it's not only from the outside - be it from politicians saying it to advance some party agenda to disgruntled school leavers/sufferers, and sometimes even from within the profession itself... the negativity can act like a viral infection - bringing down anyone having contact with it... Yet if we all truly believed that 'education' has done *such damage* to so many worldwide and indeed is in *such* disarray - then why haven't countries en masse disbanded the whole thing, undone the systems, sacked teachers, closed schools and dismissed these budgetary issues altogether? A silly and rhetorical question I know..... so..... to find the way forward is the key.
There *are* plenty of models out there..... And I am sure just about everyone on TiG can think of one.... certainly some of the lurkers on this site are the *best* and most innovative educators on the globe (though it is not for me to 'out' them!)
Perhaps folks feel the need to discuss 'teaching', but surely as a discussion of a profession this should be about what it means to have chosen to help people to learn, to be an expert in the field of learning strategies and problem solving, to enjoy the amazing privalege as a professional charged with acting as leader for so many wonderful young minds, to know what it is like to truly inspire others, and to regularly model for young people the *joy* of what it feels like to learn, to be fascinated and to know!
From Yay for Diffendoofer Day (by Dr Suess)
My teacher Miss Bonkers,
Is as bouncy as a flea.
I'm not certain what she teaches,
But I'm glad she teaches me.
"Look!Look!" she chirps. " I'll show you how
To tell a cactus from a cow,
And then I shall instruct you why
A hippo cannot hope to fly."
She even teaches frogs to dance,.
And pigs to put on underpants.
One day she taught a duck to sing -
Miss Bonkers teaches EVERTHING!
Of all the teachers in our school,
I like Miss Bonkers best.
Our teachers are all different,
But she's different-er than the rest.
..........
Miss Bonker's rose. "Don't fret!" she said.
"You've learned the things you need
To pass the test and many more-
I'm certain you'll succeed.
We've taught you that the earth is round,
That red and white make pink,
And something else that matters more-
We’ve taught you how to think."
........................
A professional educator has an obligation to be an excellent life long learner.... perhaps the question we should be asking is.....
Do the administrators at district state and federal levels of educative systems, really understand what it means to learn and to be a leader of learners in the context of the world today?......
.....and if they don't know what thay means..... then.... do they understand the implications of failing to improve the system as a whole? What will happen if they fail to 'catch up' the system with the digital-ness of general society; the possibly disastrous consequences of failing to listen to the people who can and do make positive change with or without government backing; the very real risks of seriously underfunding the most importants service any country locally provides for the global adults of tomorrow; and of taking the 'dumbed down' options when it comes to providing learning experiences for our future leaders.....
Do they need to see a positive picture of what might be?!.... If not can TiG people give an insight?
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Adam Fletcher
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Learning with Passion
September 5, 2003 - 03:55 AM
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Josie, you are absolutely right. There is a lot of powerful learning going on that is very innovative and very effective. And there is a lot of "trash-talking" among students (and educators) about how the "system" is messed up, and about how things need to change.
Its difficult to stop being apathetic and to start taking up the tools of change, and I think that that is where a lot of people get stuck. It is hard to imagine the light when you sit in a room with no windows and the bulbs are all burnt out.
I've been working with a bunch of folks to create a website that challenges students to dream of ways for schools to change - and then to take action. Please go check it out and let me know what you think. www.SoundOut.org Because we've gotta have new dreams - the old ones just aren't working any more.
- Adam
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Mr. Jeff Cooper
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Sustained Support Available
September 7, 2003 - 10:47 AM
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Dear Josie,
I'm also behind you 100%. I have been a professional educator for 12 years now, and currently am the Education Technology Specialist for the College of Education at Pacific University. One of my responsibilities is helping student teachers and professors learn how to improve their curriculum through technology. The College believes in student-centered constructivist approach to learning and teaching. I believe in helping support students and educators as much as possible, and believe strongly in the power of collaboration.
If you are interested, please take a look at my computer lab page http://education.ed.pacificu.edu/lab/index.html. It has my contact information, along with links to my K-12 bookmarks (over 1500) and a number of other useful resources.
Regards,
Jeff Cooper
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Kristi
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Re: teaching and learning are *not* the same thing!
September 25, 2003 - 01:18 AM
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I think a lot of the time getting good grades can get in the way of our actually learning.
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Luke Lieberman
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Re: teaching and learning are *not* the same thing!
September 25, 2003 - 01:40 AM
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You are right in the sense that teaching in public schools is not always very good - but teaching and learning are truly one and the same thing
- in order to teach something you must have learned it.
Teaching is the passing on of information.
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Mr. Jeff Cooper
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Re: teaching and learning are *not* the same thing!
September 25, 2003 - 10:08 AM
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I'm glad to see students discussing what they think teaching is all about... it's refreshing dialogue. I taught for a number of years, and in my position now support student teachers, professors, K-12 students and others.
For what it's worth, I empathize with those of you who say that "school sucks." Indeed, that was the major driving force for why I entered the profession. I do not think that teaching is simply a "passing on of information," nor do I think that teachers lacking complete command of their subject matter is the major problem in today's schools.
Rather, in America at least, the political right has made education and student *assessment* the major issue in schools. Constant testing of students, measuring them against a set standard where they are supposed to know certain information goes against teaching philosophies such as constructivism, where the bottom line is getting students to become involved in their own learning, and take a much more active role.
Hopefully the pendulum will swing in that direction, but I don't hold much hope given the current political climate. I do think that online education and learning holds a great deal of potential for educators and students alike. I can help facilitate learning for hundreds of students, who in turn can mentor others through the medium of the Internet. We can all share our various expertise, collaborate, and grow together. After all... by becoming members of takingitglobal.org, didn't we commit ourselves to improving the quality of life for others around the world? Isn't that what teaching and learning is all about?
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Adam Fletcher
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Learning through Teaching
September 25, 2003 - 12:07 PM
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Originally posted by luke
in order to teach something you must have learned it.
I'm going to have to disagree with you Luke. In the States there are 1000s of teachers every year who get stuck teaching subjects they don't know, especially in over-crowded, underfunded schools with large communities of low-income students and students of color.
There are two adages I want to share here:
Those who don't know, teach.
and
To teach is to learn twice.
As dangerous as the first saying implies, classes are often staffed by teachers who are as unsure of their topic matter as their students. The difference between the teacher and the student is that the teacher has A) the authority to teach, as bestowed upon them by their college, and confered by their state, and; B) the ability to teach, gained through both their own education and their experience.
I don't say this to undermine the ability or interest of teachers, only to stop the romanticization of teaching that often happens among students who've never imagined a different way.
Here's another way to look at it: Can students teach? I say "yes," and I would point anyone to http://soundout.org/teaching.htm for examples of students as teachers right now.
I guess what I'm saying is that schools can be different, that they can facilitate more than education, that they can be places of learning. If only we make them that way.
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Luke Lieberman
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Re: teaching and learning are *not* the same thing!
September 25, 2003 - 12:55 PM
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look at what I said again and you will see a distinction - I agree with you that teaching in the public schools is problematic - that teachers are unqualified. The is not true teaching - and the kids are not really learning. You are confusing the profession 'teaching' with the actual act of teaching.
At a very basic level teaching and learning are two sides of the same coin - because the only way to really teach something is if you understand it - and the only way to understand something is to have leanred it.
I see this every day in martial arts - White belts can't teach eachother - they need a blue or brown belt - someone who has already learned.
My greatest writing teacher was Stan Lee - he could teach me because he is an expert - he has 80 years of learning behind him that he is passing on to me.
Just because your teachers are not very good - and the schoolsare a mess - does not change the principal that teaching and learning are truly part of the same process.
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