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4 Replies Last post: Dec 27, 2007 2:11 PM by hmooney  
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mwomochil
6 posts since
Nov 14, 2007

Nov 19, 2007 5:36 AM

? for the Profession -- A discussion from Making a Difference Magazine

  • The question I pose to the profession today is this: "If student learning is dependent upon the quality of the ‘classroom experience the teacher provides,' then where do you learn and develop these skills?"

As a new feature in the Making a Difference magazine, each month the LPS Team is posing a question to the profession that relates to the issue's theme. The November issue is focused on Effective Teaching and how do develop those skills that make you a "facilitator of learning" not just a "deliver of information".

If you missed the article where the question is posed you can find it here http://makingadifference.ffa.org/ Click on the ? to the profession tab. After reading the article take a minute and post your answer to the question. Just how do you gain the expertise that enables you to be a truly effective teacher and whose responsibility is it to provide this professional development. This is your thread on your professional organization's website. Tell us how you truly feel.

thanks

MW

Tags: professional, development
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ethompson
25 posts since
Oct 3, 2007
1. Nov 19, 2007 9:01 PM in response to: mwomochil
Re: ? for the Profession -- A discussion from Making a Difference Magazine

I think one of the biggest obstacles Ag teachers face is deciding which task takes precedence for the day. Is it grading papers? Copying off old CDE tests? Sending an FFA picture to the paper? Or, infusing the upcoming unit with a dynamic engaging lesson? Unfortunately all to often we are faced with this decision. Most Ag teachers are armed with countless resources but finding the time to implement them is often the missing link. For me personally I have learned the most about how to make my classroom a learning rich environment from the 5 minute conversations with other Ag teachers in between workshops, or the quick 10 minute tour of another Ag department during an FFA fun night somewhere. Each teacher has their own special flare that we bring to the classroom everyday. But, as far as where we learn these skills, everyday life moments. Our college programs do a great job of preparing us for the curriculum but how to classroom manage that requires time in the classroom and communication with others doing the same thing.

I have been advocating for some time now the importance of watching other teachers teach. Not during the University years but well into our teaching careers. It does not necessarily have to be other Ag teachers either, just watching how others in the profession interact with students, handle situations, and lesson delivery. Hands down this, in my opinion, is where we learn the most about developing quality classroom environments.

We must be more proactive in insisting that we collaborate and try new things. I believe this is a crucial stepping stone in solidifying the role of agriculture education in the learning continuum.

Please share your thoughts on this discussion. I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

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smithl
54 posts since
Nov 7, 2007
2. Nov 20, 2007 11:49 AM in response to: mwomochil
Re: ? for the Profession -- A discussion from Making a Difference Magazine

The teachers I learned the most from were those whom I respected because they were good, hard working human beings that treated students with respect...


That's the first key. To get students to listen to and respect us, we must show a desire for our teaching and a desire for their learning. The first skills any teacher should observe and be taught are the interpersonal skills needed to gain student admiration. It's not delivery, knowledge, testing procedures and questioning... it's human-to-human interaction on a very personal level with no one left out.

I had teachers who made learning fun and interesting because of who they were and their sincerity.

Now, no first year teacher will create a repoir the same way I can. No vetran teacher can mimic me just as I cannot mimic them. We can borrow methods of interaction but if it's not from the heart, kids will know it's not sincere. There is a balance that has to be struck between friendliness and familiarity with familiarity being the least desired attribute of a teacher. But there has to be enough familiarity for students to feel comfortable around us.

These are things that can't be taught, only felt. These things can be learned by new teachers if they are willing to take their lumps and not blame teacher prep programs for not being prepared.

A young teacher once observed me and made comment on the converstional manner in which my students interacted with me during a lesson. He said he wanted to do that but didn't think it would work in his class because the students wouldn't behave well enough. I explained to him that my first years were not like that. I learned by a trial of fire how to accomplish this and he would too. After methods of interaction are learned, other approaches to teaching can be experimented with.

So to sum these thoughts up, before any teacher can develop perfect lessons, keep everyone's attention, create the most attractive interest approaches, they must make themselves personable.

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JPH
1 posts since
Dec 3, 2007
3. Dec 3, 2007 10:02 AM in response to: mwomochil
Re: ? for the Profession -- A discussion from Making a Difference Magazine

One of my college professors told us that "you go to school to get the degree and the certificate, but you'll learn to teach the first two or three years on the job." After 24 years of teaching, when I reflect on that statement I have to agree in part, but I contend that every day you have the potential to learn how to be a better teacher. Some opportunities are obvious, workshops, conferences, evaluations, etc., other opportunities are more subtle. Try a different approach; teach a different topic; do something unique; it will not always work, but you'll learn and your students will learn. Ask questions and listen to the answers from other teachers who are successful. By the way, it's OK if they are younger than you.

When I think back to college and even high school classes the teachers that I remember as being the best were always the ones who could make the material relevant to me at the time. It is a combination of interesting presentation, passion for the subject matter and genuine interest in the well being of their students that distinguished my best teachers and professors. The talking head at the front of the class never did it for me; I try to never be that guy. My philosophy relates directly to the Motto - Doing to Learn. The best way for my students to grasp a concept is to do it themselves. After an obligatory spell in the classroom for safety and basic theory my students are in the laboratory working on project based lessons.

I always learned more when I was encouraged (sometimes forced) to take ownership of my own learning. So far it has been my experience that this equally applies to my students. We use competitive agricultural mechanics projects as a cornerstone of our local program. A young man who's father may have inadvertently taught him that mediocre work is acceptable (+This can happen to any of us when we get in more of a hurry to finish a job than to see it done correctly.+) will step up his game when he knows that someone other than his dad or his ag teacher is going to take a critical look at his work. By the way, Dad will be a big supporter of the program when he sees Junior doing work of exceptional quality. Young women who are exposed to expectations that their work should not be as good as the boys' will find it "very cool" that they can develop the same kinds of skills, sometimes even better.

It is my opinion that as teachers we have an obligation to our students to stay current with developing technology. This includes the things we teach and the methods in which we present the information. If you have access to technology - use it. All of us have seen Power Point presentations by so called experts in education that could have just as well been done on an overhead projector or even a chalk board. If you are going to use PPT presentations learn how to incorporate quality pictures and video clips, but do not forget the basics of putting the lesson directly into the hands of the students. It is also very important to remember why we chose to teach in the first place; for most of us it was not the money.

As experienced educators we have an obligation to our profession to pass on the things we have gained through that experience to the younger teachers among our ranks. If you are good at something or have found approaches to lessons that work particularly well, share with your colleagues. We need to step aside in some instances to let new people gain leadership abilities and the inherent knowledge that comes with leadership. It is important that we do this while some of us older teachers are still around as mentors. It is equally important that we stay in contact with our teacher training institutions to assist them in staying current with needs of today's teachers. Invite other teachers to visit when your chapter is participating in innovative activities and encourage young teachers to find their niche' within the big picture.

jph

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hmooney
9 posts since
Dec 26, 2007
4. Dec 27, 2007 2:11 PM in response to: mwomochil
Re: ? for the Profession -- A discussion from Making a Difference Magazine
After reading the remarks of Ellen, Lee and JP it appears to me that they share a belief that teacher preparation programs focus on what we are to teach. The three of them also seem to see a need for teachers to work on "how" they teach.

Imagine if we prepared people for all occupations in the same way that we prepare teachers. With teachers we send them to college, provide them with the theory of how to teach, and then tell them to get a job and try teaching out on some students. What if the next time you board an airplane it is announced that your pilot just graduated from pilot school with honors and this is his first time flying a plane. Now just sit back and enjoy the flight.

We allow teachers to practice on students and hope that they figure it out quickly. Because agriculture teachers develop relationships with their students they often are able to connect with them. Teacher preparation programs vary from state to state and even between universities. With the shortage of teachers today I do not think that it is realistic to create additional requirements to earn a teaching credential. We need to find a better way.

As has been suggested others have developed methods to better engage students in instruction. Following twenty-one years of teaching I had the opportunity to participate in the National FFA Delta Conference in 2005. I must say that Delta required me to get out of my comfort zone. I never imagined that participating in a conference could have such a profound impact on my view of quality instruction. Before attending Delta I thought that I was a pretty good teacher. I became much more effective at engaging students in instruction because of my Delta experience. I distinctly remember a question being posed to the group; "do you provide each of your students the best opportunity to learn every day?" As I reflected on the question I had to answer no. As Ellen stated in her remarks we often are distracted by so many things to do. I think this is true for most teachers. We all need to discover other methods for engaging students in instruction. The Delta Conference had such a profound impact on me that I also took advantage of attending the Delta II conference in 2006. I developed better questioning techniques. I thought more about the way that I gave directions. After the Delta experience my brain was able to build on the rich experiences that I had teaching and develop the best way to share my knowledge with students.

Unfortunately, National FFA is no longer hosting the Delta Conference. Last summer there were Delta Conferences in Texas and California. Plans are moving forward in those states to hold Delta Conferences again this summer. I have heard of other states working on hosting a joint Delta Conference. I would encourage you to attend a Delta Conference if you have the opportunity. It will not be like any conference you have ever attended.

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