- Ruturaj Gole
- Pune - Maharashtra
- India
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Doesn't the understanding of things depend upon the simplicity of its explanation and not the capacity of the learner to grasp it?
From much time we are into this belief that during the educational years and even after that actually,the student's hardwork and capacity to understand what is taught decides how much he learns. But I find that controversial. For years,I've been studying the ability of human beings to learn something. I've come across many things which relate with this ability,For example:The Mozart effect. I've reached to the conclusion that every person can learn a thing with the same rate as others do if it is taught as understood to its simplest of forms. It is not hard work,capacity to memorize and grasp which comes in action while learning,but intelligence in how it is being learned. The atmosphere,music and simplicity are factors which lead to formation of interest for that student to learn
Scott Armstrong 50+
one-to-one, you can probably achieve anything (once kids have passed certain developmental stages) but schools cannot operate that way.
i don't think we can all learn something at the same rate, and I think this is a flawed way to look at learning.
check out howard gardener's multiple intelligences theory. i think this is as close as we've gotten to pinning down the dynamics of learning.
Ruturaj Gole
"Everything around us is made up of something. If we try to consider the smallest of the particles that makes things around us,then that particle is called an atom. But an atom can be subdivided into protons,neutrons and electrons. Electrons revolve around a nucleus in between which is made up of protons and neutrons. Electrons have a charge. It is a negative charge. When electrons flow through an element it is called electricity."
Now I'll have to explain everything which I have not. Why do electrons revolve around the nucleus? Why do they have a negative charge? Why do they flow through the conductor?Everything. Might seem complex but answers well
Fritzie Reisner 100+
How we understand depends in part on what we already know, which tends to be different- and often very different- within a classroom or a diverse community. People forget this all the time and present their ideas or explanations, often, as if every person is a reflection of themselves.
Maybe a decade ago I got a phone call from the parent of a secondary school student. Her voice expressed great urgency of effort and I expect would have been simple and clear to understand to some people, but I could not understand her because I don't speak Chinese.
There are many conversations in which people keep saying the same thing the same way and get frustrated when people cannot understand that one way. The speaker thinks the listener is not trying to understand.
But it works the other way as well. Sometimes the speaker is trying many different ways to communicate, but the listener is not meeting him half way by trying to make sense of what the person has said.
Ruturaj Gole
pat gilbert 50+
The trick is to say it louder and slower.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Scott Armstrong 50+
multiple explanations work the best. revisiting concepts repeatedly over time.
it's easy to forget that young kids have huge gaps in their knowledge exactly like the electricity explanation you gave. best thing to do is expose them again and again to the concepts and terminology, with as many different explorations as you can give them - hands on, text, video, diagrams and so on.
the real trick is enabling kids to the point where they have the confidence to ask again when they don't understand something.
James Zhang 30+
The teacher's job is to pull the students in. One way to do this is to inspire curiosity and fascination. The students can then push themselves, no need to be pushed by someone else.
Colleen Steen 500+
It is far easier and more effective to draw someone in (pull) than try to push someone toward something. Reminds me of a core concept of martial arts....come from the core with strength and yield.
I agree that curiosity and fascination often draws people in and motivates students to come from their own core of strength. The teacher then "yields" to the student. This requires teachers to recognize that we are all students and teachers:>)
Reminds me.....
My son, did not do well in the classroom setting. He got by with grades, and he also became the class clown. In the 4th grade, he was tested, and found to be far advanced...capable of doing high school/college courses. He was labeled "gifted".
He had a WONDERFUL teacher at the time, who realized that she needed more instruction on how to teach "gifted" children because they often do not "fit" well with conventional styles of teaching/learning. She took extra classes, and in fact spent her whole summer in courses to address her challenge. I have a great deal of respect, appreciation and love for that teacher, who was totally dedicated to the children she taught.
Unfortunately, she was shot in the head and died, in the front of her classroom, as she was teaching more children. The person who shot her, and several other teachers and children, didn't even know her. He was simply angry at teachers and the school system.
James Zhang 30+
I feel that teachers need to be more involved and go extra lengths to teach kids, just like the teacher your son had. I'm glad to hear that your son had the opportunity to be taught by that teacher, and it's incredibly sad to hear that she died in such an stupid and unfortunate way. I mean, just imagine how many kids she could have taught and inspired if she had even just 3 more years? Not sure how many students are in the grade level for the school, but it had to be at least like 20 kids per class. So that's at least 60 lives she could have influenced and made an impact in a meaningful way, but it only took one careless mishap to pull the plug.
Colleen Steen 500+
Her death was indeed very sad....frustrating....useless loss of life. She was in her early 50s when she died, so she had taught hundreds of kids for 25 years or so. That was the good thing...she touched many many lives in a very positive way.
All teachers have an incredible opportunity to touch so many people! It saddens me when I see teachers simply going through the motions, without being fully engaged with the students. It is SO important for all of us to be aware in each moment:>)
James Zhang 30+
Indeed, but imo challenges should also be a fun/rewarding thing just like learning. If you look forward to the challenges and you want to tackle such challenges with that kind of passion, being the teacher was the right profession for you because not many others would enjoy teaching as much. A passionate amateur teacher is always going to be a better teacher than a dispassionate professionally trained teacher.
I hope that, even in death, she could still inspire people and become that iconic figure to inspire more people. Her death may have been tragic, but it is certainly not useless. The fact that you have told me about it and posted her story on Ted is proof that it isn't useless.
Teachers shouldn't be teachers if they aren't passionate in their teachings.
Colleen Steen 500+
"you've reached the weekly maximun number of ratings for this user".
So, we cannot "like" each other for a week:>) LOL
IMO also, challenges can be fun, rewarding, passionate, etc. I never taught for a "profession"....always as a volunteer. The classroom always felt stifling to me as a student.
You are right James.......AGAIN! OK....I'll go along with that...the posting of her story is "proof" that her life is not useless. We might be in trouble now James because our science minded friends might challenge the "proof"!!! LOL
I appreciate you my young friend, and even though I don't have any more thumbs up for you this week, I always have an abundance of smiles and loving energy to send your way.....:>)
James Zhang 30+
Colleen Steen 500+
James Zhang 30+
Colleen Steen 500+
Debra Smith 200+
I always envisioned it as though I held a massive faceted diamond in my hands and my job was to reflect the light of learning into their eyes and thus their mind by simply adjusting it to the right angle. Good work. Keep it up. It works!
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
There are numerous complex things in life that can be understood when explained by a good teacher who focusses on communicating with learners instead of trying too hard to sound smart.
A lot depends on the intention of the teacher; and the goal of the learner.
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
There are numerous complex things in life that can be understood when explained by a good teacher who focusses on communicating with learners instead of trying too hard to sound smart.
A lot depends on the intention of the teacher; and the goal of the learner.
Robert Winner 50+
So I repeat ... communications requires both the sender and the reciever to fully participate in the exchange. As others have mentioned some get locked into insider talk. There are plenty of reasons for failure to communicate. If we become receptive to the signal almost all of the obsticles can be overcome. However if the teacher or sender refuses to adjust then learning cannot and will occur.
All the best. Bob.
Colleen Steen 500+
Understanding depends on several factors including how it is explained, the student's ability to grasp information, and the teachers ability to adjust teaching methods to accomodate the student's ability. I'm sure you know there are different ways in which people learn? If a teacher is not in tune with how a particular student learns, the information may simply be passing by the student. I believe we are all students and teachers in this earth school, and when we are sensitive to each other, the learning/teaching process is much more effective and enjoyable:>)
pat gilbert 50+
View this conversation to illustrate your point. The posters are responding to an 8th grader. What is their intention?
http://www.ted.com/conversations/13284/is_there_an_exact_definite_cr.html
Peter Law 30+
Someone once said "If you can't explain your theory to your granny, then it's not much of a theory."
Sounds right to me.
:-)
Fritzie Reisner 100+
pat gilbert 50+
Mark Kurtz 20+
I believe Fritzie is right that both roles are important. What is good is for people to put forth their very best to comprehend!! Be happy with your lot in life!
I believe your conclusion is faulty---we do not learn at the same rate because of varying intelligence endowment. You could explain a teaching nine times to some folks and they still would not get it. While others are quick on the uptick!
The atmosphere should be right for learning---yes, but sincerity of both student and teacher are paramount for attempting the best of the student-teacher possibilities.
Food for thought.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
The student is not a drawer with the teacher's explanation a pair of socks.Learning is not, in fact, nearly that simple.Too much conversation in education is about blame.
pat gilbert 50+
Ruturaj Gole
pat gilbert 50+
Slower students usually need more examples of the thing being studied like a car if studying cars (can you imagine trying to teach someone how a crank shaft works without showing them an engine).
The difference in large part is their ability to copy what is being said, which is why you hear in military jargon "copy that" the ramifications of not copying that are big in the military. Which illustrates the value of this part of communication.
Additionally and most importantly is the students vocabulary. meaning understanding of the meaning of the word. I gave this example the other day:
An example: "An undulating vapor of molten metal seemed pouring down on the roofs of the town; and in the descending crepuscule yellow and violet rays flashed through a trembling and iridescent glow"
I want you to urgently handle the source of this dreaded descending crepuscule and find out what we should do.
First find out what crepuscule means. If you don't know the meaning of the word you cannot do anything about it (rationally). This sort of thing effect everyone to greater or lesser extent. Mainly because the person "thinks" he know what it means but he don't, for example economics.
When a person cannot function it will be found that there is a word that he misunderstands as with the case of the word crepuscule. This has huge ramifications in peoples abilities and their lives
Ed Schulte 50+