For years we heard that teachers were the “sage on the stage” lecturing students as the primary mode of instruction. As we learned more about pedagogy, we began to hear that teachers were the “guide to the side” collaborating with students as a primary mode of instruction. In the expression-driven classroom, the teacher takes on … Continue reading Teacher as Facilitator
My senior writing class sticks in my memory as one of my favorite classes. I learned much about research and writing because the learning was personalized. I was able to research whatever I wanted, and I chose to study the performance and compositional life of the Italian violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini. I remember being excited … Continue reading Make It Personal
In the classic tale “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Goldilocks searches for the “just right” porridge, chair, and bed. Upon finding that which was most satisfying, Goldilocks happily undertakes eating, sitting, and resting. Within each of our students (and ourselves!) is a cognitive “just right” for undertaking learning tasks. If a task is too easy, … Continue reading The Goldilocks “Just Right” Paradigm in Classrooms
Several years ago I had the privilege of working with a veteran of the United States Air Force. When I asked about his role in the service, he informed me that he was an Airborne Climatologist who was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. He went on to explain that … Continue reading Checking the Weather
On the surface, inquiry appears to involve the asking of questions and the seeking of information from which to make some response. Larissa Pahomov, author of the book Authentic Learning in the Digital Age: Engaging Students Through Inquiry, indicates that questioning is only “the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to inquiry (p. 18). … Continue reading Questioning Is Only The Tip Of The Iceberg
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