Arias+of+Learning


 * __ WEEK 1 - IDEAS WORTH SPREADING __**

So we have started, and our first step to becoming teachers is a lecture on Educational Issues.

This week we looked at how we can become effective teachers and to be able to define effective schools.

So what key factors make up a "good" teacher?
 * being passionate - showing joy in what you do is contagious
 * being creative - keeps students stimulated without the same boring teaching style
 * being flexible - dramas happen and lesson plans will often have to be adapted or not done
 * having the ability to integrate - to combine all subjects and curriculum areas together
 * being able to make connections - this gives students value. Teachers may be required to support others who are emotionally struggling from time to time.

What factors make up an effective school?
 * Having professional leadership
 * The main focus being on teaching and learning
 * The demonstration of purposeful teaching
 * All staff share the same vision and goals
 * There is a high expectation of all learners
 * All at the school are accountable
 * There is the demonstration of learning communities
 * The learning environment is secure and stimulating.

An interesting point was that education was built on industrialism. Therefore the subjects that were deemed more important to help you gain employment held greater importance. Therefore Maths and English were taught more than Humanities and Art. But as was shown in Sir [|Ken Robinson's - TED talk] creativity is as important as literacy, it just that many educators don't know this yet!

Children have the ability to think creatively; perhaps teachers should look and learn from their students. Students will take a chance if they don't know an answer; they are not frightened of being wrong. So effective teachers need to be able to be self reflective, to make sure they are teaching in an effective manner to "get the most out of their students".

As I sat and read Arias of learning: creativity and performativity in Australian teacher education, (Julie White, 2006) I realised I am one of those persons who is expecting someone else to teach me how to teach. Julie White's article identified to me that I can already teach; it is being brave enough to take risk on how I teach that will mould me into a better teacher. I now want to take all this information and use it to be become one of those teachers the kids all want to have, not one they have to have. I want the classroom that is an inspiration to others. I want to create an approach to teaching the curriculum that is varied and different. But not so different that the students are seem as different by their peers, but admired by the new and exciting work they have created on the same curriculum guidelines that all teachers are working on. As in the article "From an old world-view to a new" we don't really know what world our future generations will encounter, so how can be teach them to be prepared? All we can do is teach them the fundamentals on an academic and personal level, that will help form their lives. All that remains is to find a school that values my enthusiasm and encourages new ways and directions, and doesn't make us conform to what is perceived as the tried and tested way of teaching! Penelope Harris 9th March 2009

= __ Response: Orla Mackintosh __ =

The factors mentioned in the lecture that Penelope has listed above have provided us with the fundamental framework that we need to consider as trainee teachers - what it means to be an effective teacher. With this framework we can now build on this and learn the strategies to practice being effective teachers i.e. building on the knowledge the students already have, using teaching strategies to engage children so that they //want// to learn and take an interest in the content so that they can apply it to everyday life.

As Penelope has pointed out, there is a new focus emerging in education where emphasis is being placed on creativity, and creativity is being seen //as// important as literacy. I think this is something we need to be aware of, and we can be creative as teachers in exploring activities that can contain an overlap in literacy and creativity. e.g. making objects in art class, then writing up the design plan, materials used and outcomes etc. Drawing back to Ken Robinson's speech - it is important that we don't educate the creativity out of children!

Also as mentioned by Penelope, we cannot be certain what the world will be like for our future generations. Our changing society is having continuing effects on our children today and we need to prepare children to enter into a world that is very different from when we were at primary school level. "From an old world to a new view" draws on some of the issues we need to consider - the effects of global warming, a change in working patterns, an increase in travel, the prospect in a borderless society and multiculturalism. The article points out the need to prepare children to enter this ever-changing society and to help children to form values and beliefs.

Our first lecture for Issues has us thinking about some big issues right from the start- (the future, changes in education/technology/the world in general!) I liked Ken Robinson's speech and his example of the ballerina who at one school was thought to be not a great student but when placed in the right environment she thrived. I think this simple example leads us to think about how we can adapt our teaching methods to benefit the children in our classrooms. As creativity continues to emerge as a key focus in education I think it is extremely relevant for us to be reflecting on what makes us a better teacher - to think about how we can't just go to uni and be made into a teacher but that we ourselves are responsible for becoming adaptable, inspiring, passionate and creative teachers.
 * __ Response: Genevieve Hoban __ **

 I agree strongly with all comments and opinions posted already. It's exciting to think that, at this early stage of our teacher training we are all instilled with strong ideas and reflections on how 'WE' can make a difference. I think the main message I got from the readings in this week was, indeed how us as teachers of the next generation, can push ourselves to look outside the box, take risks and evolve with the world to enhance and learning lives of the children we will all hopefully teach! Using creativity to enhance not just our classrooms but our own teaching practices when tackling the curriculum. We all remember sitting in classrooms thinking..."boring" or "here we go again, another worksheet" and how much we would have disengaged from the learning and the possibilities within the topic that we could have explored. I would hope that I can encourage the children through a creative, engaging classroom to be self motivated to extend their learning at all times! I'm sure though just by reading the posts so far... there's going to be some great teachers out in the force next year ...:)
 * __Response: Kellie Fenton__ **