Repeating, memorizing, naming, recognizing and so on are common objectives
related with learning and teaching any content. Although they are parts of
the process, they just represent the first step for achieving understanding.
Nobody can deny the importance of these concepts, however, learning
something requires more than that. It implies to go beyond the given
information in order to build mental constructions which allow us to connect
the outside events with our personal lives.
How could we go beyond information to foster deep and long lasting
understanding? Perhaps, if we consider not only the facts of a discipline, but
also the development of skills underlying those concepts, we could promote
long term learning and more profound understanding.
According to Wiggins and McTighe, big ideas are considered key concepts
that give meaning and connection to facts and skills. This belief implies to
count with teachers, students, parents, administrators, program designers
who are willing to innovate and take risks. If there are no honest efforts to
make progress in Education, it will go on being a passive observation of
isolated pieces of knowledge.
Absolutely true! It's really hard to try to change our system of teaching/learning styles. We need a deep and real change of everything, people's minds, more time and resources in education and make efforts to succeed. Otherwise, we'll be stuck in the same situation forever!
ResponderEliminarTo prevent what you have stated from happening, there is an urgent need to make a change in how English is being taught in Chile as well a change in teacher training programs.
ResponderEliminarBig changes !! Absolutely, without deeper changes we will continue having poor results, feeling guilty and lacking motivation.How can you motivate students if you are not motivated at all?
ResponderEliminarI also believe that teachers, students, parents, administrators, program designers
ResponderEliminarshould be part of the learning process and be willing to innovate and take risks. Teachers are not the only ones in charge of the educational process of students.
You are right when you say this is a process that involves teachers, parents, students, school community... everyone. I also believe is really difficut to make this change, to go deeper into the contents. As long as we continue working with the old system, meaning learning without questioning or creatively expanding on topics, we are not going to obtain any results. The problem here is that too many actors are involved in the process, and coordinating and alining the minds into one belief about teaching and learning becomes extremelly difficult.
ResponderEliminarHaving a clear idea of priorities in terms of the learning process, I think there are no questions to ask, neither inquires about others´roles, but deep and conscious reflection about our own duty. A change must be produced...sorry, we must produce a change! chilean students must learn english...How? I´m sure we all know how to do it...big ideas, understanding...desired learning...clear goals...individual differences...motivation...engagegment... planning....what else?
ResponderEliminarYou are so right when you say that we should consider not only the facts of a discipline, but
ResponderEliminaralso the development of skills underlying its concepts, in order to promote long term learning and more profound understanding. Unfortunately, I feel authorities do not see the importance of that idea. Taking a test such as PSU at the end of the educational process that is centered only in the amount of concepts memorized and the ability to name and recognize information they are driving education away from real understanding. I miss PAA.