How my ideas of teaching and learning evolved during the first 4 weeks of BEd at OUIT

 

 

  In  my career as a student, I have experienced a variety of education systems which, became the foundation of my understanding of teaching and learning. My primary education in the Middle East was centered around the lecture style teaching. Students sat in desks in rows and listened to the teacher at the front all day long. Curiosity was discouraged and wrong guesses were ridiculed. End of year exams was ranked and compared to others. My secondary education in the UK was very different as it encouraged exploration and recognized effort over marks. Assessments were rarely announced and took a variety of forms.  

 

  In the past few weeks, the main thing I discovered is that there is an education culture that came from years of teaching practices. And this culture is outdated and failing our youth.

 

  From day one, some of my understandings of teaching were strengthened. I was able to connect my experiences to the theories. Such as, making learning inclusive to all. There are a variety of learning styles and as a teacher, we need to plan the lesson in a way to support all the different styles.  

 

  I was pleased to learn the different forms of assessment and how research debunks the conventional belief and method of assessment through an end of term exams. I personally didn’t like the method of an end of year assessment, as it didn’t allow for students to improve and grow. I believe that assessment should be ongoing, formative and should only be used to inform the student and the teachers their strengths and weaknesses to help them develop action plans to improve. Assessment should also vary in forms to support the different of learning styles and lead the students to success.

 

  I learned about the different learning communities and the importance of incorporating all in of them in a classroom. It is important to help the students make connections between what they are learning in the classroom to their surrounding and making cross-curricular connections to enhance students learning.  

 

  I was unaware of the importance of pre-assessment of students to gauge their understanding and using it to plan lessons. Also getting the students involved in their own learning by peer or self-assessments, allowing them to set their own goals and check the success criteria heightens the learning experience for the student.

 

  I was truly surprised to learn that, punishments are not the best form of classroom management. In fact, the opposite works best, by not giving attentions to bad behaviors and highlighting positive student behavior. But the best form of classroom management is the in creating a safe learning environment first,which will help minimize behavioral issues.

 

  The more I learn, the more I realize all of the thought and planning that goes into creating a meaningful lesson for the students. I found that my ideas of teaching and learning were on the right path but just needed a touch behind a magnifying glass to truly make me understand the what-s, why-s and how-s.