E.M. Bennett – INST 6325

How have my thoughts on learning and how can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer evolved over the course of the semester?

Wow. . . Where to begin. Although I have not been very diligent in terms of punctuality and methodology in the course, I still feel like I have learned quite a bit. This final reflection question, as posed by the instructor, is worded very well. It asks us to reflect on the evolution of our own personal thoughts of instruction, learning, and teaching. I think what I have learned most has, primarily, to do with the roles of student and teacher.

As a student, I have struggled in this program. The main reasons for that are completely internal. I have had to deal with my own changing locus of control and the feeling that I have been losing myself in the world. Another, more practical, issue is that of having moved around so much the last 15 months that I could not get a grip on school. However, this does not eliminate my responsibility as a student. I still need to complete the work, etc. As a student, and as a person, I have learned that I have to “relearn” how to do certain things. I need to reach back to the ways I used to think about life, learning, work, and growth.

These ideas of growth and learning directly relate to teaching as well. My ideas of teaching have become centered around the idea of effectuating learning. We teach to pass on information. We teach to help others learn. We teach to help others grow. We teach because we care. This needs to be our focus. We teach because we want to help other succeed. Is it selfless? No – by helping others, we feel better about ourselves. I have heard there is no selfless act and I tend to believe that. . . I digress. We want others to succeed. If we do our jobs well, then those placed in our charge will become better people. We will work hard FOR them, not in spite of them. This is where this class has taken me. I want to work hard for my students, my peers, my friends, and my family. I want them to succeed, so I, too, will be a success. . .

Thanks to all the students in this course who have given feedback to me and to Professor Belland and Jordan for running the course.

What is learning?
Sometimes, we learn by living. Learning actually may NOT be the accumulation of new knowledge. It may be the acceptance of a reality one already knows. Most of the time, when I “learn” outside of the classroom, it is through a series of epiphanies. Things just seem to come to me. Thus – odds are – I already have the information, but could not process it the right way. Some mechanism in my brain does what I cannot do consciously. I dare say, this is still learning.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
In this case, I think all a teacher could do is be supportive. Again, as has been said elsewhere, a teacher can look for the signs of someone who may be struggling, and do what can be done to help the student. I had a professor during my undergrad who was that observant. She saw the ways students acted in class versus how they did on assignments and assessments. When she would notice inconsistencies in behaviour and/or attitudes, she would actually approach the student to see what she could do to help. These are the good teachers. Unfortunately, teacher ed programs cannot teach how to be a good person . . .

What is learning?
Sometimes learning is the act of recognizing something you have known all along, but had forgotten. Sometimes learning is the realization of the way things used to be. Sometimes we remember what was and want to recreate it. I’m doing that right now. Here is one of those personal posts I am putting out to the world for its review. Oh my, why do I do such things as these . . .?

I just finished writing an entry in my blog, shinshige, about this very topic. When I was younger, I had a very clearly defined internal locus of control. I felt confident and strong in everything I did, and rarely ran afoul of the fates. However – over the last few years, I have slowly lost this confidence and strength and have evolved (de-evolved) into a man who allows the world to control him. I feel little, if no, control over my personal choices and dictates. This, I believe, is why I am so far behind in my classes. I have allowed the world to overwhelm me and it is effecting, in a negative way, many of my relationships (including my relationship with myself.) And I will be the first to admit – I am not too happy about it. So, what now? That is a fine question indeed. . . What now is – I need to go back. I need to revert to the me I was when I loved me. I need to re-evolve into that guy I once was.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
This is a more difficult question to answer. Teachers are people, too. Sometimes they have baggage. Sometimes that baggage gets in the way of what needs to be done. Sometimes we all need help. Teachers are all around us. Parents, siblings, pastors, public figures . . . if you are a good person, then you are a teacher. If you are a teacher, then you should probably continue to go above and beyond to help out hose around you. Especially when you know they need help.

What is learning?
Learning. . . I am not an electrician by trade. I dabble in a lot of the construction trades as I have worked as a carpenter and as a heating/air guy. . . But, nothing too fancy. However, I know the physics of electronics and if I had it to do over again, I would have gone into engineering in college. Oops – my bad. This week, we are remodeling our house. That’s what I do. Neglect school because of other mundane things in my life. I regret it, actually. I am excruciatingly behind in this class, but I am sure I will at least complete enough of the assignments to accumulate enough points to pass. . . alas, I digress.

Remodeling the house, and I have to run new lines to and from various lights. A single pull light is easy – one hot line in loops back through a switch. You turn it one way – a connection is mad and voila, like magic, the light comes on. You switch the switch the other way, and, just as magically, the light goes off – not so magical is the physics behind an open circuit not creating a connection to actually cause the light to be on . . . Three way switches, for some reason, seem to baffle people. In reality, the same concept applies. But, in this case – you have two switches controlling the same light. If you have a closed connection, then the light works, if not, then the light does not work. Simple. The magic of three-ways (feel free to snicker) is in the switches themselves. There are two traveler lines. If one line is connected, then the power flows and the light works. When both traveler lines are open, then no power flows, and voila – no light.

We tend to take a lot of things for granted. We assume, for example, when we flip a switch – a light comes on. Sometimes, however, we flip the switch, and nothing happens. It is then we need to start digging into the reasons behind the way things are. Learning comes from insight and questioning. Learning comes from seeing how things work under normal circumstances and what may cause a change when things don’t work normally.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
As teachers, we have an obligation to know our students – to recognize when the light does not come on. Unfortunately, this does not always appear in our methodology. We find ourselves wanting our students to take care of themselves. Sometimes, however, they do not ask for the help they need. If they get behind, for example, they may not be willing to step forward and tell us they need help. We, sometimes, need to just see it. . .

What is learning?
Learning has taken shape as the process of being introduced to something new, incorporating it with something old, and synthesizing something brand new. I have a son who will turn five on 03 November 2009. We first started teaching him letters a few years back when he was attending La Petite Academy.

He was two when he first learned the alphabet song. He was three when he learned to sing the sounds of the alphabet, and by 4 he had gained the ability to understand letter and sound recognition at the same time. He started at Challenger School in April 2009, and they reemphasized the importance of teaching letters, words, and reading.

In August of this year, he earned his “alphabet crown” which was his preschool certification saying – “I know all my letters by sight and the sounds they make.” On 01 October, he earned his “blending badge.” This is the next step in the process of learning how to read. Earners of the blending badge have certified they can combine two letters in making one monosyllabic word. He read to us, “ab ec id og ul am en ip ot us ax iz”.

Two weeks ago, while sitting at a restaurant, eating breakfast, I observed him looking at a sign above a doorway. I listened to this: “rrrrr, rreeeesss, rreessstrr, rreeesstrrooooooo, rreesstrrrooom, reeestrooms” I almost cried. . . That, my friends, is learning.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
Without the diligence of those who are charged with the care of others – teachers, parents, pastors, counselors . . . we would have an awfully stagnant populace. Because there are those who care; those who work hard; those who WANT others to succeed, others WILL succeed. If we did not have a preschool dedicated to helping my son and others with him, I would have a 4 year old who could not read the word “restrooms” at a restaurant. The world needs to recognize what a teacher is and what a teacher does. . .

What is learning?
We make decisions every day. Some are right, some are wrong. Some are smart; others – not as much. Learning is what happens when we understand how to make less wrong decisions and more right decisions. I struggle with this all the time. I’m 34 years old and still make poor decisions. Have I not learned?

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
Example: My father died when I was 16. I miss him. There are a lot of things in my life I do not understand. Over the last 18 years, I have needed a father many times. Parents are teachers. Parents are the most important teachers in a person’s life. Learning can be best effectuated by a parent inasmuch that parent is there to teach. Sometimes, however, parents are not available to help that child, and when that happens, is it incumbent upon us to help and teach ourselves? One thinks that may be the case. Therefore, we struggle. We learn.

What is learning?
I thought about this blog the other morning while dropping off my son at his preschool. It was pretty random, actually. I believe something was on NPR that reminded me of, “What is learning?” Learning is a very complicated feat. We all learn, every day. What we do with that learning, however, is a completely different story. I think we should all pay just a little more attention to what we are supposed to be doing in our everyday lives. On my Facebook page, I have quoted what I believe is a saying attributed to John Lennon, that goes, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” I believe this to be a true statement. I learn something new everyday. Do I retain that knowledge and put it into practice? Generally, no.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
If we assume learning takes place all around us, then we are all teachers and trainers, as it is our interactions with the universe that lead to learning – and subsequently, teaching. Learning can be effectuated be the teacher who is willing to teach. If an opportunity arises to show someone something they may not already know, then teaching can take place. If someone asks a question, then it is incumbent on one who knows the answer to share it. I think passive education is an unfortunate means to an honourable end. If someone wants to teach, then it is that person’s responsibility to do what is necessary to help whoever their students may be.

What is learning?
One should attempt to receive an education to help gain a greater understanding of him/herself and his/her own life. I was the first person in my family to go to a traditional college out of high school. I had an older brother and sister who did some trade school, but in terms of academically based higher education, I was the first. I was told I was to go to college because I needed to get a good job. So, I went in studying business. It so happened, while I was a student, I worked as an academic advisor for incoming transfer and freshman students. Through the course of my job, I learned that higher education is a time for people to experience life, learn more about themselves and do what they can to gain an understanding of the world and their place in it. What higher ed (learning) is NOT is rote regurgitation of facts, simply because a “teacher” says this is the way it is.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
Teachers have the utmost responsibility in instilling the correct functions of education in their students. Teachers who perpetuate illogical academic pursuits, at the expense of critical thinking and true discovery are the root cause of most of todays’ issues within academia. Because of the practicalities of having to teach to tests and alleged “teacher accountability,” those teachers who dare push the envelope put themselves at risk for dismissal and censure. This is counter-intuitive in the grand scheme of how academics should be employed. Teachers should, by necessity, be the catalysts for their students’ personal growth and expansion. Now, some do – but not all – and those who do, run a greater risk of disciplinary action by the powers that be.

What is learning?
Learning is broadening your horizons. Learning is opening up to the truth. Learning is acquiring the ability to see what lies ahead before it happens, to predict what is going to happen before it happens – predict student bx, administrator expectations, instructor teaching styles. Learning is NOT following. Learning is not doing what you are told, simply because you are told. You can do what you are told all day (semester, year, program) long and not learn a thing. How many teachers do you know with actual teaching degrees that can’t teach for shit? I know a lot and have worked with more than I feel is appropriate. What did they “learn” about teaching in their teaching programs? Not much. But, they got the little piece of paper that says they know how to teach.

Broaden your horizons. Open up to the truth. Acquire the ability to predict. Learn. Think outside THE box. Look around.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
It is ABSOLUTELY incumbent upon teachers and trainers to show students the way. You can lead a horse to water, but you can not make them drink, right? Right. So, what do we do, as educators to help our students? We do what we are told to do. We write lesson plans, we write IEPs, we write studies, we are required to have our students score “x” on tests and exams. We follow “best practices” But, do we teach? Are our students acquiring the ability to think for themselves? Are we teaching our students to question what we tell them? If we are not, then we are doing them a disservice.

Ciao.

What is learning?
Today I am bitter. Today – learning is a societal construct designed to keep us in check. Today, I think we do what we are told because we don’t know any better. I may offend someone today. . .

Today – Learning is the process by which we gain an understanding of what is right and what is not. I’m not talking right in any absolute-truth sense of the word, but in a purely empirical way. Right is relative, after all, is it not? It is. We, as humans, specifically within the Western Judeo-Christian ethic, are conditioned to believe certain things. This conditioning becomes paramount to learning within our system. When we are young, we are taught to eat three square meals a day. Not because it is the healthiest way to live, but because it is the right way to live. Why is it right? Because we said so. Why did we say so? Because in order for our system to work – everyone needs to be on the same schedule. We can’t have drones stopping their work to eat at all hours of the day – that’s counterproductive. . . Kids need to be in school – 50 minutes at a time – they need to learn. Pay no mind to their blood sugar levels. You eat at noon, damnit. Don’t argue. You have 35 minutes, so eat fast!!! Learning to behave. At its most fundamental level.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer (be specific/give examples)?
Well, that all depends on the intentions of the teacher. If the intention is to continue to lead the herd into the warm, fuzzy world of acceptable bx, then learning can best be effectuated by a teacher’s didactic mentality and perpetuation of the status quo. If, however, the intention of the teacher is to inspire creativity, a free will, and individuality, then the teacher will do whatever is in his or her power to break the molds in which they, themselves, were probably educated. Instruct students to do what is right absolutely. Lead by example. Do what is right – regardless of the underlying contemporary social consequences. . . An example: Jesus Christ. Another: Buddha. Another: B.F. Skinner. Another: Carl Rogers. Another: Karl Marx.

Ciao.