Thursday, April 29, 2021; Week 2; Lynnette Brady's Response to:
"Is the Great American Teacher Dead?
Principles to Resurrect Meaningful, Effective,
and Consciousness Raising Instruction"
by John J. Ivers, Brigham Young University, Idaho
In his abstract at the beginning of this article, Brother Ivers explains that anthropologists and some American authors think that the American intellectual on university campuses is dead--and then they put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the teachers at these universities. Brother Ivers article then sites and explains many principles to help these teachers become great--or at least on that road. He explains that the views from outsiders might give us a clearer picture of the problems: student disengagement; lack of motivation and inspiration; no educational improvement after years of school; and pervasively poor teaching. Then he goes on to give tips and techniques, along with some scientific evidence and statistics, social and psychological insights, and emotional support to encourage a "resurrection" in great teaching.
I loved the techniques of grabbing attention at the very first of the class. And the 10-minute rule: to re-boot students attention every 10 minutes with new stories, examples or discussion was very helpful. The technique of immediate review to set a memory will be used in my future classrooms. His evidence on brain function and his medical and mental facts about both kinds of health--physical and mental--being impacted by the way that we teach, almost made me afraid to embark on this journey! But his emphasis on invitational education: emphasizing optimism, trust, caring and respect, along with a great deal of enthusiasm brings hope again. And his final "top 10" elements of good teaching will hold a place of intentional review in my arsenal of great tools. I too, will try to take care of the troops.
But I believe in the power of the person, and in the power of individual choice. Teachers guide, direct and inform. Maybe they can motivate and inspire. But it is still the student that is responsible for his own education. Perhaps I cannot see the forrest for the trees, but I do NOT put the blame for the lack of American intellectuals onto the teachers. And in comparing American universities to other countries in the world, we need to recognize the differences in culture and admittance opportunities. In America, there is no test to help pre-university students see other options besides university. In America, the government will give very low-cost money to get into university. And in America, the culture is that university is--of course--the place to go after high school because what else is there to do, and where else are all my friends going? I also believe that along with a mental/intellectual, physical, social, and emotional education there is also a spiritual preparation that can guide students even without the aid--or interference--of a teacher.
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