Module 1 Activity 4 - Behaviourism-new_strategy

This activity proved to be an eye-opener to me. When I started teaching the adult group of ladies, I became aware that they needed more individualized attention if they were going to succeed. I am aware of the benefits of small group strategies but I felt that my hands were tied as far as space was concerned and I opted to limit my use of them.  This reading got me thinking about what I could do with my class to bring about the desired changes in behaviour and I resorted to group work. Lucky for me, the class had gotten smaller at the start of this term due to the migration and other commitments of some students. I assessed the space again and I realized that the small group method could work.  I planned it and tried it and it worked beautifully.  The students did not want to leave on those days. It was great and there were a number of lessons learnt in the process, namely:

-  Students like the idea of being responsible for their own learning
-  Students like to interact with others in the classroom
-  It is important to give students the opportunity to show their potential
-  A teacher is able to assess individual students in a small group situation like the jig saw approach
-  Proper planning is key for the effective execution of the jig saw method
-  It is important to build on the students' experiences in order for learning to be meaningful

Reading 2

Reading about the teacher's plight with her new students made me very conscious of the need to know my students and cater to their needs.  Many times we judge our students without knowing the details and without knowing it we paint all students in a class with the same brush.  Children come from diverse backgrounds.  They are socially, economically and culturally different and the teacher has to devise strategies and tactics to best cater for the mix. Another lesson learnt is that teachers cannot bury their heads in the sand and expect problems/situations to go away.  It is best to face the situation and find the best possible way to fix it. They must also remember that there are no quick fixes.

Collaboration is also a key element to enhance learning in the classroom. If a teacher is faced with a situation and she is not sure how to handle it, she may speak with other teachers who may be facing similar situations.

Learning 1

Having read quite a few comments from my colleagues on that special moment in their lives as teachers, I realize that many individuals had similar beginnings....not really interested in teaching at first but opted to do it because of positive influences of others.  There are those who had to find their way amidst the stumbling and falling to get a grip on something that was totally new to them.  Others knew what they wanted and went after it and are still working on perfecting their skill in teaching.  Whatever the circumstances are, we are all teachers striving to make our students become critical thinkers, active learners and constructivists in their approach to learning. The following is a summary of the powerful lessons learnt from my colleagues:

Consider the needs of your students and cater to those needs
Teachers can also learn from the students they teach 
Keep abreast of educational happenings by reading journals etc

-          Participate in professional development sessions

-          The need for introspection and reflection as teachers 

-          Utilize various strategies and knowledge of others to be able to teach 

-          The need to be open minded, to listen in order to learn new ideas 

-          Sharing best practices and experiences

-          Reflective practice

n     

      It would appear that they have captured the essence of this noble profession called teaching and are aware that teaching should be student centred rather than the teacher centred. It means that classrooms have begun to change and the way students learn should also begin to change. With teachers embracing the new paradigm shift, the future of our students will be secure.