Taking Learning to a Higher Level
Today, researchers and educational experts across the United States are working to come up with solutions for what many perceive as an educational crisis. Some of this research is focused on the way that students learn, while other studies are looking at the way teachers present their information. All of this is very exciting to the new and veteran teacher, as it provides new avenues for reaching and engaging all students. However, it can also be scary. The task of changing our teaching methods can seem daunting and we would need to adjust what we think about education. We, as educators, as well as our colleges of education must be willing to adapt as new information arises.
The brain is made up of many neurons that are able to transmit information to each other over long distances through their axons. While the number of neurons that a person has is pretty much set at birth, except for a couple of areas of the brain, the connections between axons continue to develop as a child grows.
Each year new achievements are made in our understanding of the human brain. This research can be used to great effect by parents and educators alike. For example, some of the latest research has shown that the brain can perceive parts and the whole at the same time. This indicates that it is important for educators to make sure they continually make connections between facts and the overall context of the information they are teaching. Other research shows that emotions and learning cannot be separated. Therefore, if students are upset, tense, or negative about their own abilities, they will not be able to learn as easily. Build a positive classroom experience for students to help them have a safe place where they can learn.
A Different Way to Approach StudentsIt is easy for teachers to fall into the mindset that students are required to attend school and must do whatever is asked to earn good grades. There is no real room for the student's desires in the equation. However, one group, the Schlechty Center, believes that this notion should be challenged. As they say on their website, schools should move away from being “organizations based on the assumption that the core business of schools has to do with producing compliance and attendance to organizations where the core business focuses on nurturing attention and commitment.” All teachers know that while they can in some ways “force” students to attend their classes, they cannot make students learn the material. The teachers' focus is in their control.
If your school district provides training and supports a new method for approaching students and teaching, then you will need to learn and use this method. However, if your district does not do this, then you are free to learn as much as you can about each and pick and choose the best to implement in your classroom.
The Schlechty Center is a group focused on bringing about true school reform. One of the foundations of their method is called the “Working on the Work” program. The purpose of this program is to help educators focus on what makes schoolwork truly engaging for students. According to founder Phil Schlechty, there are at least ten qualities that can make schoolwork more engaging for students, including items such as choice, novelty, and variety. By learning to incorporate these qualities, teachers can appeal to their students and make them more apt to learn and achieve.
