"Engaging Students beyond the Classroom"
By Jane Ng
Commentary:
In the article, “Engaging students beyond the classroom”, Jane Ng touches on the idea of teachers breaking century-long traditions of simply being the educator and having lessons being restricted to only curriculum time. It is stated in the article that more teachers have been engaged in activities that have greater customisation, catering more towards the individualised interests and learning needs of their students.
These learning experiences run the gamut from gaming and jamming to anime. Science Teacher Ms Ang Shu Hui, 25, the lead singer of the Ping Yi band, explains that these new experiences strengthen teacher-student relations and students now are more willing to take instructions from her.
What I find heartening to note is that the teachers also broaden their horizons and pick up many new skills. For example, teachers are now more well-equipped with IT skills. With that, they are able to challenge the physical boundaries and limitations of a classroom. Mr Low, a maths teacher, never hesitates to offer his mobile phone number, e-mail address and MSN address. As he says, students have no qualms in approaching him, and he would go all the way to answer their questions.
Although it is beneficial to the students, I feel that it may cause a change of the traditional dynamics between teacher and student. From the perspective of a student, I know there would be some students who might misinterpret Mr Low’s actions and start perceiving him as a friend, a buddy. This would certainly have implications on the authority of teachers.
Currently a 15 year-old student myself, I have seen such similar trends. Teachers who are able to relate well with our generation, are generally more popular. Apart from that, lessons are less “sleep-inducing” as they are able to evoke interest since teachers now have a better understanding of us and how we learn.
Research has shown that our generation is increasingly becoming a group of youths with short attention spans, we are highly resistant to pedagogies that require us to just absorb information. Learning for us has to be experiential and made relevant. Subjects, like Physics, may prove to be rather “dry” at times if students are unable to see how they are applicable in the real world or unable to see the theories in action. The ideas would remain abstract and inaccessible to us. That is why I think Jane Ng’s article is very encouraging. I hope what is happening in these schools is the norm rather than the exception.
Based on my years of classroom experience, a conducive learning environment would be one which the teacher is able to relate well with the students, and there is a common understanding between one another. Recalling back, my teacher makes it a point for students to take a short break and have a small “chit-chat” session whenever work gets too dull.
Perhaps we should be taken out of the classroom! Let us learn in fun and exciting environments! I really hope teachers will find inspiration in this newspaper article and see the merits of innovative teaching methods and reach out to the needs of youngsters. Make school both fun and meaningful for us!
Nonetheless, we as students must also be responsive and appreciative for what our teachers have done for us.
As society changes and the world continue to evolve, I believe the way we learn and the way we are taught must adapt with the times. Teachers now are all responding to these changes; let’s hope more will come on board.
Quek Hao Zhi (22)
3B
By Jane Ng
Commentary:
In the article, “Engaging students beyond the classroom”, Jane Ng touches on the idea of teachers breaking century-long traditions of simply being the educator and having lessons being restricted to only curriculum time. It is stated in the article that more teachers have been engaged in activities that have greater customisation, catering more towards the individualised interests and learning needs of their students.
These learning experiences run the gamut from gaming and jamming to anime. Science Teacher Ms Ang Shu Hui, 25, the lead singer of the Ping Yi band, explains that these new experiences strengthen teacher-student relations and students now are more willing to take instructions from her.
What I find heartening to note is that the teachers also broaden their horizons and pick up many new skills. For example, teachers are now more well-equipped with IT skills. With that, they are able to challenge the physical boundaries and limitations of a classroom. Mr Low, a maths teacher, never hesitates to offer his mobile phone number, e-mail address and MSN address. As he says, students have no qualms in approaching him, and he would go all the way to answer their questions.
Although it is beneficial to the students, I feel that it may cause a change of the traditional dynamics between teacher and student. From the perspective of a student, I know there would be some students who might misinterpret Mr Low’s actions and start perceiving him as a friend, a buddy. This would certainly have implications on the authority of teachers.
Currently a 15 year-old student myself, I have seen such similar trends. Teachers who are able to relate well with our generation, are generally more popular. Apart from that, lessons are less “sleep-inducing” as they are able to evoke interest since teachers now have a better understanding of us and how we learn.
Research has shown that our generation is increasingly becoming a group of youths with short attention spans, we are highly resistant to pedagogies that require us to just absorb information. Learning for us has to be experiential and made relevant. Subjects, like Physics, may prove to be rather “dry” at times if students are unable to see how they are applicable in the real world or unable to see the theories in action. The ideas would remain abstract and inaccessible to us. That is why I think Jane Ng’s article is very encouraging. I hope what is happening in these schools is the norm rather than the exception.
Based on my years of classroom experience, a conducive learning environment would be one which the teacher is able to relate well with the students, and there is a common understanding between one another. Recalling back, my teacher makes it a point for students to take a short break and have a small “chit-chat” session whenever work gets too dull.
Perhaps we should be taken out of the classroom! Let us learn in fun and exciting environments! I really hope teachers will find inspiration in this newspaper article and see the merits of innovative teaching methods and reach out to the needs of youngsters. Make school both fun and meaningful for us!
Nonetheless, we as students must also be responsive and appreciative for what our teachers have done for us.
As society changes and the world continue to evolve, I believe the way we learn and the way we are taught must adapt with the times. Teachers now are all responding to these changes; let’s hope more will come on board.
Quek Hao Zhi (22)
3B
posted by haozhi. at
Thursday, March 06, 2008
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