One thing I push in my teaching is the huge importance of actually learning and retaining key lessons. I tell students that the credits they will earn completing my class, as well as all their other credits and the degree they will earn, are of absolutely little or no value—it is what one has learned that is important. And, probably even more important, is whether they understand the necessity of continuing to learn. Even decent grades as a result of cramming for tests will be of limited value if real learning is absent.
Now I do admit that their degree might check off at least one box on their first job application, and for some, that might be enough to get them hired. But I make it clear that, from then on, they’d better be able to do the job and continue learning in order to keep the job and advance in their chosen profession. The reality is, the world keeps getting smaller and more competitive each passing year. That means they had better be learners.
In my teaching, I work hard to do my small part to help get that point across with the hope that they actually take away usable lessons from class. To increase that possibility, I push oral participation, written understanding in weekly writing assignments, insertion of previous lessons in later assignments when it fits, and application of those lessons in answers to essay questions on tests. I know this doesn't guarantee the learning I’m hoping for, but I believe it has a much better chance than solely lecturing and using multiple choice tests.
Now I do admit that their degree might check off at least one box on their first job application, and for some, that might be enough to get them hired. But I make it clear that, from then on, they’d better be able to do the job and continue learning in order to keep the job and advance in their chosen profession. The reality is, the world keeps getting smaller and more competitive each passing year. That means they had better be learners.
In my teaching, I work hard to do my small part to help get that point across with the hope that they actually take away usable lessons from class. To increase that possibility, I push oral participation, written understanding in weekly writing assignments, insertion of previous lessons in later assignments when it fits, and application of those lessons in answers to essay questions on tests. I know this doesn't guarantee the learning I’m hoping for, but I believe it has a much better chance than solely lecturing and using multiple choice tests.
RSS Feed
