by woesis "The students have to change from behaving as passive recipients of the knowledge offered by the teacher to becoming active learners who can take responsibility for and manage their own learning" (20)
Working Inside the Black Box, Black et. all (2004)
When we approach a crosswalk, we all have a goal: get to the other side of the street. However, if we stand and wait for someone else to push the button for us, it may take a very long time before we actually get to cross the street. The same is true in the classroom; if students have to wait for the teacher to give them the information, it may take a very long time before they are understanding the material. Rather than pushing the button for the students, we have to give them the tools to push the button for themselves - then they can decided when they are ready to cross the street and reach their goal.
How can we empower our students to become active learners? How do we let them know it's okay to get out of the desk, check other books, look for online resources, share and ask questions with their peers, and discuss their thoughts with the teacher in a non-threatening manner?
Sarah,I really like your reflection post. Students need to learn how to "push the button" for themselves. It is up to teachers to create the conditions for active learning. Students must feel valued, respected and cared for in order to promote a positive classroom learning environment. All students want to learn. Teachers should identify where students are at, and what needs to be done in order to bring them closer to the intended learning goal...or to push the button :-) Thank you for the opportunity to reflect.
ReplyDelete