How does learning work? How does education work?
How does one stimulate learning? How does education work? How can I best lead my students to learn about and continue to be interested in biology? And not only biology but also incorporating the scientific method, quantitative skills, writing and collaboration all of which are important not just for college but for life and their future careers? I read an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education that contained a quote that made me feel like my questing wasn't in vain; however, it will be continual.
"Real education happens only by failing, changing, challenging, and adjusting. All of those gerunds apply to teachers as well as students. No person is an “educator,” because education is not something one person does to another. Education is an imprecise process, a dance, and a collaborative experience." -Siva Vaidhyanathan Here is the link to her entire article that focuses mostly on massive online learning that is free to the public. Most of these contain videotaped lectures which contain great information in a variety of areas. I've pointed my students to some of them-through Pearson and also Khan Academy. However, the author points out, and I agree that it is not enough. It is not enough to listen to a lecture online and answer some multiple choice questions. So, then if memorizing the material isn't enough what then? What is education? Applying those skills? Basically, taking it a step further on up Bloom's taxonomy, beyond memorization to include critical thinking, evaluation etc.. I would also add the "soft" skills such as learning to work as a team and communication.
So I just found this unfinished post and thought I would put it out there. I originally wrote 99% of it on April 27, 2013. More to come post-Denver and ASMCUE (American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators) which was amazing.
"Real education happens only by failing, changing, challenging, and adjusting. All of those gerunds apply to teachers as well as students. No person is an “educator,” because education is not something one person does to another. Education is an imprecise process, a dance, and a collaborative experience." -Siva Vaidhyanathan Here is the link to her entire article that focuses mostly on massive online learning that is free to the public. Most of these contain videotaped lectures which contain great information in a variety of areas. I've pointed my students to some of them-through Pearson and also Khan Academy. However, the author points out, and I agree that it is not enough. It is not enough to listen to a lecture online and answer some multiple choice questions. So, then if memorizing the material isn't enough what then? What is education? Applying those skills? Basically, taking it a step further on up Bloom's taxonomy, beyond memorization to include critical thinking, evaluation etc.. I would also add the "soft" skills such as learning to work as a team and communication.
So I just found this unfinished post and thought I would put it out there. I originally wrote 99% of it on April 27, 2013. More to come post-Denver and ASMCUE (American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators) which was amazing.
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