- How would you go about creating an environment in your classroom that would make you a model that the students would love to model their learning after? If you're the 'cool' teacher, will students learn more from you?
-Any person or person-like creation (animation, etc) can be a model. Models teach through their behavior and actions and people learn from observing.
-Live models have significantly affected me and my content area. I would not be here without the models I have observed, looked up to and tried to imitate. I chose to me a music educator because I saw someone doing it and I loved it. He was the high school director when I was in elementary school. When I was finally his student, I learned every differently under him than most other teachers because he was my model. I observed intently every thing that he did on the podium and practiced it over and over. Later on in high school, I met a college director who got his undergrad and doctorate here at IU. He is most definitely the reason I am here. I look up to him and I want to be like him. Models have shaped my life, maybe too much, but I've learned most of what I know through observational learning.
To address your question...
ReplyDeleteI feel that there is a fine line between being the "cool" teacher and being a model. I remember throughout school there were teachers that everyone wanted to have because they were easy or nice. At the same time, students (especially in high school) knew that they were going to learn very little if they chose to have those teachers. Yes, class was easy and fun, but it was not worth the students' time. I think a teacher has to create a balance between being the "cool" teacher while being a model. Creating engaging, interactive activities for students is often a way for students to enjoy learning more. At the same time, this style of learning is something students want to model after. Also, giving positive reinforcement and helping a child develop self-efficacy, helps the child enjoy learning more, which in-turn makes the teacher a better model. I hope this makes sense and helps answer your question.
I agree with what Heather has said. A teacher needs to create an environment where the students are able to respect him or her. A teacher cannot really be friends with the students, because then the students won't see the teacher as a person in power. A teacher can't punish a student for acting out if they have a 'friendly' relationship, because then the student will become even more upset. I really think that if a teacher is able to engage the students and cater to their learning styles, then the students will respect them and enjoy the class. You don't have to be a really easy teacher to be respected and liked by your students. Teachers can still create a fun school environment, but the classroom environment also needs to be one where the students can learn. A teacher should remember that they are the teacher: the elder, the role model, the educator, etc. I had a lot of respect and enjoyed the teachers who respected the students and listened to the students needs and concerns.
ReplyDeleteThe how to set up the environment is the difficult part, so I'll begin with "if you're the 'cool' teacher, will students learn more from you?” The answer is no, they will not necessarily learn more from you. I had cool math teachers for 11th and 12th grade. I did not learn anything from them. We (the counselors) actually discussed this on the way back from the IU Children's Choir Camp. The Descant Choir (grades 2-3) clearly loved their director, but they did not fully respect her. They wanted to learn for her, but they knew they could get away with not learning.
ReplyDeleteAs for setting up the environment, my MUS-E131 (Freshman Colloquium in Music Education) teacher told us to be strict when you begin teaching then get nicer as you go along. If you aren't strict at the beginning, the students will try to walk all over you and won't respect you as authority.
A teacher can be a "friend" to a student, as long as the roles of student and teacher are still there. When a student respects their teacher, they're more likely to learn from the teacher. I learn the most from the teachers that I like/respect. It's difficult for me to do very well if I can't get along with my teacher or don't respect them.
You have to show what you know to the students. I think you could also show the students why what they're learning is fun/ important and talk about the content with enthusiasm. If you're not interested in the issue, they probably won't be interested in it either.