In this blog post I was required to watch a short video on the differences in teaching and educating. The two are very separate, but also go hand in hand. I intend to educate as many children as I can while I have the opportunity. In the video, educators are tied to inspiration, enlightenment, guidance and mentoring. All of these qualities I hope to uphold. Teaching is in reference to giving instruction, explaining how to do something and causing someone to learn by example. Can't we as teachers tie both of these together?
I want to be the teacher that is wanted by every student. Not because the past students have passed and enjoyed my class, but because I made a change and inspired children in ways that others do not. Instead of just explaining information; I want the children engaged so I can be a guide to their success. I plan to tie the teaching aspects into my educating skills by being a supporter of student centered activities. You can not have instruction without guidance and you can not have inspiration without some kind of examples to bounce off of. I plan to give my students the lee-way to explore different options and finding out that they to can be an inspiration to me.
I want an open classroom, where the students and I have great communication. Some might say this is impossible, but hopefully I can prove them wrong. I intend on using my skills and to help the students prepare for the upcoming years and give them a sense of reasoning that follows accomplishment. Accomplishment that they have set forth themselves and achieved it.
Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home
Don't let them take the pencils home sends a good message to others. It took me a while to figure out what exactly he was referring to but I think I finally got it. The writer shows us that it is less important to focus on the problem at hand, and more importance on finding a solution to better the situation.
Teachers should be more focused on what the child is actually learning rather than the test scores they obtain. What really does a test prove? In most cases nothing. Some children can be very bright and make very good grades except when it comes to test taking. It is not fair for them to be rated or judged because of the test they took.
The outcomes of a student should be far more interesting than a pencil and paper test. Teachers should look at their whole learning process. They should be focusing on the advancements that the students are making as the year goes by.
Hello Ashley,
ReplyDeleteBefore watching the video "Do You Teach or Do You Educate", I had never thought about a difference between these terms. Honestly, I used "to teach" and "to educate" interchangeably in other blog posts. After watching this video, like you, I have decided that I will teach and educate. I believe that students need to learn by example and by instruction. Like you, I also want a classroom full of communication and strong relationships between my students and me. I believe that if a student trusts in their teacher, they will strive to achieve higher goals.
The short blog, "Don't Let Them Take The Pencils Home", holds an interesting point, but was not surprised at all. You ask, "What really does a test prove"? Well, we are tested every day of our lives, at work, at home, in school, so I believe that a tests prove how much you can handle, or what the student or teacher needs to focus on. Why is it not fair to be rated because of scores on a test? We have to have standards and limits for teaching, otherwise you and I are wasting money on college. Testing gives the teacher, the principal, the state, whoever a standard of what to expect from of our students and what subjects need more attention. You are right, we, as teachers, should be focused on advancements made by the students, but how are we going to know what advancements the students have made without rating them according to their test scores?
Great post! Good luck with the remainder of EDM 310.
Thanks.
DeleteI to used to use the words, teach and educate, interchangeably. We are tested everyday and they do hold a purpose. When I say, that we should not be rated on a test alone, I mean that the actual individual's intelligence should not be judged. I do agree that tests give the teacher a standard of expectations for the student, but what if the child is brilliant but flunks every test because of test anxiety? The scores will prove a false rating of what they have learned.
Thanks for commenting.
Ashley
No, you didn't get it. Johnson's (Spencer's) commentary was an extended metaphor or allegory in which pencils were computers. Reread the post with this in mind.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dr. Strange. The commentary was hard to figure out and I still got it wrong. Now, that you have pointed that out to me, I see the metaphoric meaning.
DeleteAshley
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