Learning #4

Learning Experince #4 - Looking back

Looking back on the semester I can think of one very important lesson I have learned. It had a lot do with my major and what I plan to do when I graduate. I have learned that when I teach I want to combine styles of teaching. I do not want to have a powerpoint everyday with notes nor do I want it to be discussion based all the time. I want a classroom filled with conversation and learning.

I am in a history class about European since 1800 something. I thrive on history. I believe it is like reading a pretty good book. I think their is so much to learn from it. Unfortunately in my history class we sit and look at a powerpoint almost the whole class. On occasion he ask us questions and considers it our participation grade. We sit and listen to our professor talk about the powerpoint.  I can tell he does know the material and does enjoy it but the way the class is taught I don't know if he enjoys teaching.  I would like to teach History after graduation therefore this class has been a good eye opener for some ideas on my particular style of teaching. I hate to admit it but this class has been a let down with teaching styles.

I am also in a wonderful education class on the profressional roles and responsibilities for teachers. This class could not be more polar opposite from my history class. In this class we sit and discuss everyday the readings we have read. We ask questions and we get asked questions that challenege our way of thinking and that help us grow. Much of the class is on our own as well. For example we did a personal learning project throughout the semester to improve one or more of these categories: cognitive, spitural or emotionally. We could pick anything from running a marthaon to learning out to play the guitar. We were given the freedom and responsilbity to do what we want as long as it improved us or we grew. We had many other things similar to this such as letters we wrote to our professor and did many 1 to 1s with him as well. This class helped improve not just my knowledge about teaching but also my self as well. This style of teaching really hit me. He really cared about us and wanted us to improve ourselfs and to get something that mattered out of his class.

Now for  my Lit and Civ class I have enjoyed the style of teaching. I have enjoyed getting to know my classmates so well. I have enjoyed getting to know Dr. Williams so well. I think in this class the flow of communication has been wonderful. We have learned and had fun doing it. We have laughed (surprising in a comedy class I know) and we have talked seriously about problems. We have read books and then discussed them. We have presented many small projects in groups or alone. To sum it up it seems like we have done a little of everything. I quite enjoy that.

Just looking back at these three classes this semester I can see my thoughts on styles of teaching expanding. Getting to have multiple different teachers and different styles has helped me learn what might work for me while teaching. I don't want to put down any one style of teaching some just aren't for me but might work for you or whoever is teaching it. I want to have a teaching style that isn't a method or a model but combines what I believe will be the most useful and intentional to teach my students, to be able to connect to my students and to be able to keep them involved.  These classes have helped me re-look at teaching styles and re-look at the stereotypical style of college teaching ( I believe there is one... just look at the movies).

Thank you to my teachers for letting me have a look at so many different ways to teach. Thank you for letting me glimpse and observe. I believed I have learned a lot or in the very least thought about a lot.