Saturday, December 18, 2010

Real teaching first, real learning second

I was asked what is real teaching?

Here is my response:

Real teaching is allowing students to discover and create their own ideas in a classroom. It is no longer being told, provided or informed of information, but actually having students takes risks and venture down new "educational" roads towards a product they can call their own. Teachers should no longer be heralds of facts, but actually facilitators of learning. 

2 comments:

  1. That's what my principal says, we aren't up at the front to spout off facts, we should actually be down in the trenches with the students travelling along the paths to learning. It's what I beleive as well, but it's also about finding that balance that will work with all learning styles.

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  2. Bravo! Here is what our school division came up with in 2008 after our year-long consultation with the community, Inspiring Hearts & Minds http://bit.ly/eC1jBL. Teachers are the key.

    How do we educate the WHOLE CHILD?
    By focusing on 4 integrated elements:

    WHOLE LEARNING APPROACH:
    *Create learning environments that foster academic excellence and develop 21st century skills – critical thinking and problem solving; communication and collaboration; creativity and innovation; digital-age literacy and emotional intelligence.
    *Personalize learning to respond to each child’s gifts, needs, interests, and aspirations.

    WHOLE TEACHER APPROACH:
    *Support and develop teachers in their role as facilitators of learning.
    *Knowing that teachers make a significant difference in a child’s life, create conditions that strengthen student-teacher relationships.

    WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH:
    *Engage with parents as partners in whole child education.
    *Engage the resources and expertise of our local communities to enrich student learning and deepen community connections.
    *Expand partnerships with agencies and services and connect people of all ages in order to make our schools the hub of learning in the community.

    WHOLE WORLD PERSPECTIVE:
    *Use technology and human connections to bring the world to the classroom and the classroom to the world.

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