Comments on: How We Teach How to Teach http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/10/how-we-teach-how-to-teach/ Standing on the verge of a technologically educational revolution. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:07:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: admin http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/10/how-we-teach-how-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-27 admin Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:38:50 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=31#comment-27 Tom, I agree that learning becomes so decontextualized when we walk kids through all the steps in a process. Letting out the tether and allowing students to figure out various aspects of learning on their own empowers them to transfer that learning in other situations in life. I think letting out some slack in the line is one of the most difficult things for teachers to do as they don't know what the end result will be or where the students will end up leading themselves. Ben Tom,

I agree that learning becomes so decontextualized when we walk kids through all the steps in a process. Letting out the tether and allowing students to figure out various aspects of learning on their own empowers them to transfer that learning in other situations in life. I think letting out some slack in the line is one of the most difficult things for teachers to do as they don’t know what the end result will be or where the students will end up leading themselves.

Ben

]]> By: Tom Hanson http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/10/how-we-teach-how-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Tom Hanson Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:42:45 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=31#comment-25 Your analogy regarding the provision of step-by-step directions is dead on. All too often, in the classroom, students will "concentrate on following each turn" as the instructor presents the material but in the end miss the "context of the trip" and the big picture. In fact, the more that students have been exposed to that methodology, the more they seem to concentrate on the turns. Tom Hanson Your analogy regarding the provision of step-by-step directions is dead on. All too often, in the classroom, students will “concentrate on following each turn” as the instructor presents the material but in the end miss the “context of the trip” and the big picture. In fact, the more that students have been exposed to that methodology, the more they seem to concentrate on the turns.

Tom Hanson

]]> By: Lee Kolbert http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/10/how-we-teach-how-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Lee Kolbert Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:24:42 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=31#comment-18 Ben, OOPS! I not only called you Demian, but I posted this comment on the wrong post. It was meant for this post: http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=40 I'm a ditz, but appreciate you forgiving me for that. :) ~Lee Ben,
OOPS! I not only called you Demian, but I posted this comment on the wrong post. It was meant for this post: http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=40

I’m a ditz, but appreciate you forgiving me for that. :)
~Lee

]]> By: Lee Kolbert http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/10/how-we-teach-how-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Lee Kolbert Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:21:13 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=31#comment-17 Damien, Your comment on my blog led me to your very insightful and relevant post here. I also posted about back channels after NECC because it was my first experience with them. http://macmomma.blogspot.com/2008/07/backchanneling-at-necc2008-and-beyond.html I'm not sure I have a problem with numeros back channel chats going on simultaneously only because I think many people feel that's their only option for bringing in their network. Of course they can send out a link to the current "main" back channel but for now, not sure people are thinking of that. In addition, if they are letting their network know if advance where they will be (not everyone uses a synchronous app like Twitter and Plurk) it may in fact be the only way to bring others into the conversation. Just a reminder also that the people who are doing this very thing are most capable of participating in more than once at a time. I appreciate your thoughtful post. Damien,
Your comment on my blog led me to your very insightful and relevant post here. I also posted about back channels after NECC because it was my first experience with them. http://macmomma.blogspot.com/2008/07/backchanneling-at-necc2008-and-beyond.html

I’m not sure I have a problem with numeros back channel chats going on simultaneously only because I think many people feel that’s their only option for bringing in their network. Of course they can send out a link to the current “main” back channel but for now, not sure people are thinking of that. In addition, if they are letting their network know if advance where they will be (not everyone uses a synchronous app like Twitter and Plurk) it may in fact be the only way to bring others into the conversation. Just a reminder also that the people who are doing this very thing are most capable of participating in more than once at a time. I appreciate your thoughtful post.

]]> By: admin http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/10/how-we-teach-how-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-10 admin Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:24:21 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=31#comment-10 Damien, I was pretending to be the unbiased moderator. I certainly had chosen a side, but I was trying to play the judicious teacher who lets the students duke it out for a bit before chiming in. I don't think I did a very good job of remaining neutral. I agree with you about the importance of understanding the art of critical thinking. Taking things step by step forces the focus on the steps rather than the need or reason for the steps in the first place. Damien,

I was pretending to be the unbiased moderator. I certainly had chosen a side, but I was trying to play the judicious teacher who lets the students duke it out for a bit before chiming in. I don’t think I did a very good job of remaining neutral.

I agree with you about the importance of understanding the art of critical thinking. Taking things step by step forces the focus on the steps rather than the need or reason for the steps in the first place.

]]> By: Damian http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/10/how-we-teach-how-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Damian Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:08:21 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=31#comment-9 I think you know I agree with the give 'em a small lesson so they don't drown and then throw them in the pool approach. Otherwise people that you're trying to teach cannot find a way to make the lesson meaningful to themselves. I know for example, that most of my Regular Physics students will never go into engineering or a related field...but, I want them to come out of my class knowing how to critically think about why things do what they do, and they should be able to sequentially think about problems, and problem-solve equipment related issues, and do simple research into topics they need to know about. The direct, step-by-step approach is great if you're teaching someone on an assembly line to make widgets--there's no choice involved with the final product there. However, in learning (and therefore teaching) everyone is going to use the gained knowledge in slightly different ways. It drove me crazy this summer when I was in the Advanced Excel class, and we were following the examples in a workbook. I could see that in an intro class, but in an advanced class, I'd like to see some interesting features, and think about how I can incorporate those into what I do. I thought it was funny that the department secretaries who were taking the class thought it was great that they were making pseudo-gradebooks in Excel. Step-by-step, they lauded the instructors, even though they'd never be making a gradebook again, and I'm sure the thought process about "what can I use that function for in my workflow" never even crossed their minds. Oh well, there's my similar rant. And what did you mean you were sitting on the fence being an unbiased moderator? I think you know I agree with the give ‘em a small lesson so they don’t drown and then throw them in the pool approach. Otherwise people that you’re trying to teach cannot find a way to make the lesson meaningful to themselves. I know for example, that most of my Regular Physics students will never go into engineering or a related field…but, I want them to come out of my class knowing how to critically think about why things do what they do, and they should be able to sequentially think about problems, and problem-solve equipment related issues, and do simple research into topics they need to know about. The direct, step-by-step approach is great if you’re teaching someone on an assembly line to make widgets–there’s no choice involved with the final product there. However, in learning (and therefore teaching) everyone is going to use the gained knowledge in slightly different ways.

It drove me crazy this summer when I was in the Advanced Excel class, and we were following the examples in a workbook. I could see that in an intro class, but in an advanced class, I’d like to see some interesting features, and think about how I can incorporate those into what I do. I thought it was funny that the department secretaries who were taking the class thought it was great that they were making pseudo-gradebooks in Excel. Step-by-step, they lauded the instructors, even though they’d never be making a gradebook again, and I’m sure the thought process about “what can I use that function for in my workflow” never even crossed their minds.

Oh well, there’s my similar rant. And what did you mean you were sitting on the fence being an unbiased moderator?

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