| CREDO Sept. 09 |
| Role of Teacher To present material in a way that makes the information "come alive" for the students. This can be done by showing the beauty and intricacy of the natural world, and by showing how all aspects of reality are connected and interdependent. Teacher should make extensive use of images, videos, and models in order to allow students to see an accurate representation of how nature operates. This is most advantageous for processes that are too small to be seen without advanced equipment (e.g. protein synthesis) or that cannot be seen at all (e.g. the mechanics of an atom). In my classroom, the focus will be on the teacher�s presentation of material to the students, and on class discussions that help show the logic behind that material. The teacher must put a great deal of effort into making the subject matter �come alive� for the students. This means that the students will have the experiences that bring them close to the reality of what they are studying. For example, in a lesson on the function of an organelle, the teacher wouldn�t just talk about what it did but would also show it in some way. It seems to me that many teachers expect that their students will only learn something if it is set before them in very small bits. They think most students can only memorize bits but cannot appreciate the greater picture. I don�t agree with this; instead I think it�s very difficult to grasp a dynamic physical concept (e.g. a chemical reaction) using words and a couple of images. The teacher should attempt to show these things as they really are, rather than always filtering them through language and oversimplifying. Teachers often face problems with getting and holding the attention of students. I think this is often due to a lack of intellectual connection between the teacher and the students. The teacher must make it obvious for students that together they can learn a great deal. This can be done by showing a real interest in the subject matter that goes deeper than lists of facts. As well, the teacher must transmit to the students that they can come to understand concepts that seem very complex and abstract. It must be clear that students should have a positive outlook on what they can accomplish. The teacher should keep in mind what the most valuable things students can take out of science education: appreciation and understanding of life and natural processes, and curiosity about same. Teachers should have a very high respect and concern for their students. They should help nurture students in developing their own thoughts and abilities. They should also be aware that every student is different, and requires a particular kind of attention from the teacher. In addition, teachers should always encourage risk-taking on the part of the students. They should make the classroom a place where mistakes are fully accepted and understood as a key part of learning. Role of Student Students must take an active role in the ideas being developed in the classroom. The opportunities the teacher provides must be taken advantage of, as merely watching and listening will not allow the student to test out his/her own ideas or to fully understand the challenges involved in sorting out how something works or in predicting what will happen. Overall, students should act in the classroom to create a focused, thoughtful environment. Students must not leave what they learn in the classroom but must apply new ideas to familiar situations. Assessment/Evaluation For me, this is mostly unexamined at this point. I am aware, however, that the traditional method of �you are what you score� is faulty. This is because traditional tests tend to test knowledge rather than understanding. It is also because students express their understandings in different ways, ways that may conflict with the structure of a test. The result is that tests are very subjective and do not necessarily tell us anything about what a student has learned. Classroom Environment As mentioned, the classroom must be a place where students feel comfortable with taking risks and making mistakes. Students should come to appreciate that they are all struggling with difficult ideas and will all run into problems. The students and the teacher must work to create an embarrassment-free classroom. |