For as long as schools have existed, teachers have been the main source of knowledge in the classroom. In this month’s featured Video, Kayla Delzer looks at the impact a teacher’s power has on students.
In an era centred around technology, where teachers themselves have a world of knowledge at their fingertips, it is important to understand the impact of utilising a ‘students teaching teachers’ model. You may be thinking that this very idea is counter-intuitive (‘what is the benefit of the student teaching me?’), but Delzer states that we must understand that through allowing our students to have access to information prior to being taught it, it allows them to unlock its power on their own terms; it is often better to learn through exploration and discovery than being hand-held each step of the way. Delzer explores the idea that allowing a student to discover something on their own, and telling the teacher what they have learned will create a much better and more exciting learning environment for the student, one filled with intrigue and wonder.
When applying teaching strategies to the classroom, we can look at the impact similar methods have had within organisations. Delzer talks about the idea of ‘Genius Hour’, where Google allowed their engineers to devote 20% of their time to their own products and creations. This same concept can be applied to the classroom. Giving students one hour a day to study what they are passionate about will encourage creativity and promote a more enjoyable learning experience.
‘if something is boring on paper, it is still going to be boring on an iPad’
Technology has had a large impact on the classroom, but it must be used cautiously. Technology for the sake of technology isn’t going to promote a healthy learning environment. We must always start with the purpose. If we want to encourage students to learn, we must not assume that leaving them with apps and games is the way forward, we must foster creativity, allowing students to participate in long term projects where their minds will be constantly challenged. The long term impact of this will be hugely noticeable; a challenged student will only develop a further want for knowledge!
Reimagining Classrooms: Teachers
as Learners and Students as Leaders
David Docherty
Programme Officer for NAU
Education Team