I must admit I have a bit of a problem with the title of this week's assignments - "Creating Student-centered Classes...". I think that we put too much emphasis on child-center, pupil-center, student-center. I am speaking (writing) only about the semantics. In the last few decades we shifted all our focus on children and sometime we forget that it can harm them in the long run. Our language changed according to that change.
Well, this is obviously not what I wanted to talk about, so I'll try not to be side tracked.
Robert - Thank you very much for "forcing" me to learn and create technology based lesson plans. Although it is not easy, it is so interesting and fun. I created, for the first time, a PPP (I suddenly feel so old ) and I think it will be of great help for me as well as for my pupils. I will try it on Thursday, when I have the computer class "booked". In addition, I will add it to my Nicenet class. I still have to see how I can save files in the school's computer.
I found the articles about teaching large classes with technology. Not every technology that suits small classes can be used in large ones, but I think that the other way around - is easier. I liked and will adopt some of the techniques. It is, obviously, something/s I have to try and see what fits and what don't - but it's part of the fun.
The only thing I regret about this week is that I didn't have the time to finish the WQ I have started and that I didn't master the online assessment yet.
"See you",
Nourit
Hey Nourit,
ReplyDeleteI don't think it really matters whether you really master them now or not. What matters is that you keep them in mind and keep working on them after the course is done so that you can really use them in a class.
Regards,
Charbel
Hello Nourit,
ReplyDeleteStudent-centered instruction, as I understand it, is when we consider that learning is enhanced when students are engaged in the processing of information. You, sure, you will resent the situation when students work individually on assignments, and cooperation is mostly discouraged. I don’t understand the long-run consequences of depending on student-centered procedures, but I know that our challenge as teachers, aside from interpreting such semantics, is to find creative ways to design dynamic learning environments that involve students in doing and thinking about classroom procedures, whether with PPT or through many other techniques and strategies.
Student-centered approaches and PPT are about our willingness to CHANGE some of the unexciting classroom procedures. Don’t you see so?
Regards,
Hassan
Thanks Charbel!!! I will, of course,keep trying.
ReplyDeleteHassan - I totally agree with you. I'm sorry I wasn't clear enough. What I meant in the opening of my post was not about the gist of the subject but only its semantic. We tend to put the child in the center of everything and - at least in Israel - children often think they are at the same "floor" as the adults. I mean that they think we, as adults/teachers, owe them respect and must do what they wish, and not the other way around (not that they don't deserve respect as any other person).
Unfortunatly, some of the parents back their children's behavioral problems in the name of "children centered/focus" everything.
I do realize that the term Robert used was not meant as above and this is why I emphasized the semantic side of it.
Again, I am sorry if I wasn't clear enough and thank you for your wise comment.I do agree that our challenge is to involve our pupils and encourage them to take active part in their learning, so as to make the learning process more interesting and probably more fruitful.
Regards,
Nourit