Rethinking Education (ch 5) Reflection

Learning is leaking from the classroom to home and as teachers we can either accept this leak or we can try to dam it up and stop it.  I think it’s a good thing that students are willing to learn outside the classroom in other than traditional ways.  Some students learn differently than others and as hard as teachers try, they can’t always accommodate every single learning style found in their classroom.  It is beneficial for students to have access to television shows, games, and computer simulations that will enhance what they were supposed to have learned during the school day.  Some students are more hands on and need to actually experience a situation for it to make sense to them, while other students learn better from watching a movie or just listening to a lecture.  The idea of homeschooling and technical certification is harder to swallow because it is taking students that would be in traditional schools out into a different environment.  Most parents who have their students take part in this type of education have specific reasons for wanting their children to learn in this way.  It most likely has nothing to do with the type of teacher you are, but has to do with the environment in which they feel their child is most likely to succeed.  As teachers we need to teach to the best of our abilities and use the tools given to us to make sure our students are learning things that will benefit them later in life and help them to succeed.  I feel that learning centers and distance education are other ways that only enhance a student’s academic experience.  Learning centers are great for kids who need extra help in a certain subject but may not qualify for special education classes.  Children can go to these centers and get help in whatever subject they may be struggling in so they can do well in school.  Distance learning gives students access to classes that may not be offered in the school they actually go to.  This is a good way for students to take classes that actually interest them and not be limited to only classes offered at the physical school they go to.  As a teacher I will encourage my students to use any resources that are available to them to help them learn.  I want my students to want to learn and if that means giving a student the name of a website or the name of a game that might help enhance what I taught in class that day then I will.  I know from experience that lecture doesn’t always work for kids in every subject, sometimes the best way to learn something is from trial and error, and eventually you find something that makes it stick.  I will make sure my students have access to multiple ways of learning the same information so everyone in my class can succeed.