PLEASE READ COMMENTS! they are all anonymous post from my students. All super average high school kids showing above average critical thinking skills.
This was a lesson I did with my students at the end of the year and it was not until I saw this TED video that I realized this was my driving question throughout the entire year of blended learning. When do teachers support learning and when do they get in the way of Learning?
I applied one idea from Bill Ferriter, and probably countless other teachers that don't obsess about monitoring students like I sometimes do...The idea is to allow all inter student commenting anonymous. Students (well at least HS students at my school, and in my classrooms) tend to filter themselves...a lot. Some will say whatever and whenever and they tend to...all the time. Others will be less likely to ask questions, critizese, agree, disagree, based on the feel of the topic in the room. The reason I did this assignment on my teacher blog is to share their comments. They are friggin awesome how quickly they cut to heart of the issue.
Cheers,
S
Before Watching this Video
http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/G2QQDhTpgUEzidl
Watch this TED talk about students in remote Indian villages teaching themselves computers, biology, and more.
Things to consider
When do we need a teacher? when do teachers get in the way? What makes grandmothers effective teachers even if they don't know anything? How would the random natural learning have changed if the teacher made objectives, homework, test to measure their students learning of the computers?
How does the whole idea of school get in the way of learning?
How does the whole idea of school support learning?
Teachers help learning when were learning new subject matter that is confusing. Toacher get in the way when we learn things that we understand and that we already know
ReplyDeleteI agree!
Delete*Teacher
Deletei dont agree to much with what you are saying. how can teachers get in the way of something we dont know?
DeleteTeachers support learning when they support their students' ideas and encourage students to educate themselves; however, a teacher who only talks at the students is not teaching them in an effective manner.
ReplyDeletecompletely agree with this observation, when a teacher supports a students idea they allow the student to express themselves in a way they want to. teachers are supposed to ask for students feedback and teach in such manner where the students actually enjoys it.
DeleteTeachers do indeed support learning. According to this video, kids are able to learn a new concept all on their own, and while this is true, the aid of a teacher further helps them in gaining new knowledge. Mitra talks about a young Indian girl who taught herself to be a teacher, and this aided the other children even more in learning new things such as the concept of protons and neurons. It helps kids when a teacher figure is standing behind them, encouraging them or prompting them to show what they know and what they've learned. And even though kids have the ability to learn somethin completely new on their own, sometimes they may need the assistance or guidance of someone who is more learned in that area to help when things get confusing. Students need someone to turn to with questions and areas they they don't understand.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteWhile teachers do support students in their learning, many students also need a one on one learning experience. Everyone has a different way of learning new material so it really all depends on how you are being taught and if you are willing to actually have a desire to learn and succeed.
ReplyDeleteI think this is correct, every student has different learning needs and their own drive and will to learn is what will push them to actually do something about their education.
DeleteI agree!!
DeleteTeachers support learning when students don't get what they are trying to do, or when they are stuck on something and need help. Teachers get in the way of learning when the students already know what they are doing. Some teachers may add on more information than necessary making things complicated. I personally like when teachers support learning because you can ask them questions instead of just staring at the computer screen not knowing what to do.
ReplyDeleteWhen kids are fascinated with a subject they will do their own investigating into the further education in order to understand it better. That is where the fastest and greatest education comes from because there is no better motivation to learn than when you are actually fascinated with a subject. Teachers support learning when they are the students best way of learning a subject, but they get in the way of learning when there are more efficient ways of learning. For example, if there was a teacher instructing the kids on what to do to learn from their computers, the kids would not be free to learn and explore, they would have to reign in their fascination.
ReplyDeleteGood call in the value of interest in replacing traditional "teaching"...also...do you think that the students would have learned as much if the students had worksheets to complete about how computers work as they were "learning"?
DeleteI support it because well there are some that could help you in the long run so I never had the experience of a bad teacher or a lazy teacher so until then I will support the teachers.
ReplyDeletethat doesnt make any sense.
DeleteTeachers support learning when it is math or learning a foreign language and are there to answer our questions. Other than that teachers get in the way of learning if it is english or history and simple subjects like that.
ReplyDeleteIn the years i have been at school, you hear a lot about bad teachers, not so many good.I might be the only person who actually compliments my teacher, but i am also known to mostly complain about my teacher(s) like most of my friends.They do not know how yo reach the attention of many students and some have no idea how to explain a topic. Making learning extremely difficult.
ReplyDeleteTeachers support learning when there is a hard topic or subject where instructions are actually needed. For example, foreign languages, advanced math, and proper grammar. Teachers get in the way of learning when they are not interacting or just give you an assignment and they sit and do nothing.
ReplyDeletei agree, i don't think i would be able to do good in math and English if i didn't have a teacher everything else i think i could manage.
DeleteTeachers support learning when they know that it is an interesting topic and majority of the class will pay attention and actually do their work. Teachers try to stay interactive with classes, but depending upon age of the students they won't care what the teacher has to say.
ReplyDeleteI think that teachers do support learning when it comes to learning a language or when they need extra help because they cant figure it out there selves. some teachers do get in the way when they teach you stuff you alresdy know my overall opinion is that teachers do support learning.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same, i feel like i need a teacher to help me go through the process of whatever is being taught and i cant really focus if a teacher isnt teaching. If i were to be alone on something i dont understand i would get distracted and wouldnt fully understand.
DeleteSome subjects in the school can be very difficult to understand when you are just learning it like a foreign language or maybe something else, so teachers can be useful in this situation. But most of the time, especially for math with me, if I get a textbook and some time to teach myself, I do very well in the subject, so sometimes teachers could get in the way of my learning.
ReplyDeleteTeachers support learning by taking the time before or after class to help a student who doesn't understand. Teachers get in the way of learning by talking about other things that don't relate to the topic or just make speeches about everything. Some make the learning lesson extremely long that students stop paying attention and don't do good on the test.
ReplyDeleteyou are extremely educated and will go far in life.
DeleteWell there is alot of truth to this. I believe that at times, when a student is truly interested in a subject, they will pursue it and learn on their own. Especially when faced with a course or subject neglected by much of the modern curriculum such as Japanese, or certain regions. However when a student is uninterested in a subject, often they might require some form of aid. In such a case, a teacher can help that student learn. A personal peeve however is homework. Homework particularly gets on my nerves since I'd rather just get everything done in one go, rather than have to take it home. I especially irritates me when it's a subject that I am forced to take, merely because I need it to graduate. Overall, I think there is plenty of opportunities for the common interest, but not for the odd man/woman. In any case I think self-study is most effective.
ReplyDeleteI believe that almost all teachers have good intentions to teach their students. Some teachers methods are ineffective for some students just because of the diversity of how students learn. Some kids learn instantly either through one example or by just having something explained. Some kids need time and attention to learn. Teachers need to know have a good balance of both teaching methods. I believe that an ineffective teacher is one that is not prepared enough to be able to address each individual students different learning needs.
ReplyDeleteIt really depends on the teacher's teaching style and the student's learning preference.
DeleteI think that teachers support learning when their students are available to listen. I think that so often we like to blame our inability to retain information on our teacher's teaching abilities, when we can't even find it in us to listen for longer than a half hour.
ReplyDeleteI think that teachers get in the way of learning when they are consistent in thinking that the only way their students can learn is by their way of teaching. Surprisingly, there are other methods to learning information that do not necessarily revolve around a teacher.
I believe teachers support learning but i think it is only really applied in certain subjects.
ReplyDeleteTeachers get in the way of learning when they barely know the subject they are trying to teach. It might be hard for someone to teach a topic that they don't even know themselves. Some teachers may know the topic but just don't want to teach the class because maybe the class doesn't want to listen or they just don't feel like it. However, teachers will always have students that don't want to listen, so they should still continue to teach even if they don't want to.
ReplyDeleteMost teachers try to help and help you succeed in school and pass the course but, in my opinion not every teacher accomplishes this task. In most cases i would say that teachers are very helpful and are needed to pass and learn the curriculum. also in some cases the teachers seems to do more harm than anything else. i feel like the attitudes and styles of teachers in some teachers can either turn off of the subject or just not even want to focus. some teaching styles just make me want to sleep instead of learn. i'd rather have teachers that teach you personally then teachers who just talk at you and then give you an assignment, or just tell you to read.
ReplyDeleteI think that some teachers are there for your benefit and can teach you valuable information, however some teachers just give you busy work which is hardly educational. I think that if teachers spent more time teaching as they do handing out worksheets the children could learn more. Also some times children will get a bad teacher who cant relate to the course or to the kids and thus making it harder for the children to learn.
ReplyDeletei agree with your comment
Deleteteachers have been in our world for pretty long now and its been working just fine. i feel if we began to be taught by computers our whole world would lose social skills and everyone would become fat, lazy,cand probably stay indivizulized from the world.
ReplyDeleteNo.
Deleteyes.
DeleteBeing fat and lazy is normal in this century :D McDonald's all the way ;)
DeleteTeachers get in the way of learning because, the teachers are mainly the sole cause of distraction. They will start a conversation in the middle of our "silent reading" thus shifting the class from a quiet learning enviornment to a tangent that corrupted the students' focus. The teachers will then either proceed with this tangent or lecture the students on how we are being disruptive and thus causing chaos. Either of these situations take away from the learning environment that is so crucial to the rest of our lives. Many teachers will also complain to us about how we lack the capability to be successful in life, leaving many students to believe this accusation and making the student to develop the "why try" attitude. In conclusion, many teachers hinder the educational environments rather than helping the students achieve their utmost potential
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, sometimes teachers tend to give the vibe that we aren't good enough and it kind of leads to failure or the other way around. I feel like teachers should just be there for us and encourage us when we aren't doing so well instead of being sarcastic and a little rude. I am sure it all depends on the type of learner we are too.
DeleteTeachers support learning when they show students how learning relates to there future as well as the real world.
ReplyDeletei agree with your post.
DeleteI believe teachers support learning when they are good teachers and inspire their students. Some teachers can do this and teach quicker, in a way that computers can't. As well, computers offer distractions such as youtube and computer games. However, as the man stated in the video, "Any teacher that can be replaced by a machine, should be."
ReplyDeleteTeachers get in the way of learning by talking to much and getting you off task. Ruining techniques that work for you and replacing them with their own. Teachers help learning when introducing new topics and helping kids with subjects they know nothing about.
ReplyDeletei do` belive that teachers support learing and it is good that we have them. however sometimes it seems much more productive if we just had a textbook and paper.
ReplyDeleteI think that teachers aren't really a distraction. They're pretty much the same as a computer. They feed you the information you need to memorize. It's just the student's attitude and/or motivation that holds them back or helps them learn.
ReplyDeleteTeachers can be both distracting and can help you out. They encourage you to strive and do your best in school while at the same time they distract you while you are trying to do your work
ReplyDeleteTeachers don't support learning. They teach you what you need to know. They are not their for you, if you need support.
ReplyDeleteTeachers help learning by guiding us on new topics and if they didnt we would take a much londer time learning it on our own. Yet they can get in the way by talking to much, being repetitive, being off topic, or have a hard time explaining something which makes the students confused.
ReplyDeleteteachers get in the way by making situations difficult. And their is no direct view of the "modern teacher" so it's hard to differentiate what they do well and what shows no progress in their motive. I believe the right teachers help aid their students and the wrong put too much or too little effort.
ReplyDeleteTeachers get in the way of learning because many of them allow their own methods and opinions to get in the way of real education. Also, teachers have to teach mass groups of students that don't all learn the same way, which is ineffective.
ReplyDeletesometimes teachers want to teach by their point of view and don't offer any chance for students to give their own opinions
ReplyDeleteI believe that teachers can actually be helpful in terms of learning brand new material, but when they continuously come up and ask if you need help, that can make it a bit difficult to focus on what you learned when you have to focus on what your teacher just said. Like Coach V, what a nerd!
ReplyDeleteTeachers assist and guide students. It is easier to communicate with a enthusiastic, responsive and understanding teacher, although if they do not possess any of these qualities, they will most likely deter learning or get in the way of it.
ReplyDeleteThere are occasions when a teacher is really helpful, but there other occasions when a teacher can really get in the way of learing,.
ReplyDeleteTeachers are needed. They support teaching and they are always there for the students. A teacher can explain stuff any time. By supporting and cheering students, the students get higher grades. We can also say that teachers are being obstacles, by not explaining a lesson good or by not answering questions.
ReplyDeleteWe need a teacher when we do not understand the content and need them to explain it to us. Teachers get in the way when they either don't know the content themselves and confuse their students more or when the just give the answer but don't explain the process. Grandmothers are effective teachers because they motivate the one learning through showing interest in the process,thus forcing the student to think beyond the answer and instead, more towards the explanation of the concept. School gets in the way of learning because there can arise a negative association with school such as the idea that school is not a desired place to be ergo lowering the desire to actually learn or be enthusiastic.
ReplyDeleteTeachers support learning by teaching students new material that they need to learn and they would be way better at their jobs if they made learning fun and interesting by using games or something entertaining like that so that they keep the students attention longer. If they make learning fun students would be excited to go to school and learn more than they do on a daily basis. They get in the way if the students already know the material the teacher is trying to review them on. Teachers also make situations more difficult than they have to be sometimes by expecting students to do good on something they have been reviewing for some time but just sitting at a desk listening to a teacher talk for an hour isn't how every student learns.
ReplyDeleteTeacher can be helpful sometimes.Teacher are only helpful when you learn a new subject. Teacher get in the way by making things harder than there are. the result would have differed because the children would have lost interest.
ReplyDeleteDid i really write that this morning,I really did not pay attention at all. well let me start all over. Teachers are what we are used to seeing every morning but i understand that there are teachers that can't teach at all they only hand you a packet and expect you to understand the lesson. Some teachers see this as a paycheck and yes it is a paycheck at the very end but if you can't physically and mentally help your students understand the lesson then why did you really become a teacher. Why make it harder on us to do the job you are "supposed" to do. I rather have a teacher who is slow but can teach me than having a faster teacher but can't understand the lesson himself. You may know these teachers and maybe you have them but you can't really do anything to stop them... can you?
ReplyDelete