Past teachers in my life have all had different teaching styles. My math teachers were more direct with instructions while my english teachers encouraged more free thought obviously from the subjects being taught. When my math teachers taught me a specific method to a problem I stopped learning and used the cookie cutter method to solve problems. It wasn’t until I joined the army that an instructor said, “This is one way to do it, not the only way.” His comment implied that there are more ways to do things, you just have to find out what is is. When I heard that, it made me think more unorthodox or outside the box to tackle issues and problems.

Looking back at my past education, I have many different experiences. Every single teacher/professor I have ever had all have different impacts on me. I believe that I am a very visual learner, and when my past teachers have given me a lot of hands on experiences, those events tend to stick with me more than others.

Now that I am thinking more and more about my past learning experiences, all of the teachers that give me direct instruction give me more security in knowing my outcome. But at the same time, it was very frustrating because it never allowed me figure things out on my own, or create my own. So yes I would have to say yes. When teachers just give me the direct instruction, I will always look for an easy way out, look for that way around it all. I also don’t like the idea of “being told what to do”. So when I get forceful directions, I just feel like it’s a job more than a personal want. I find it more common as well when it is a subject that I have no interest in.

It is a great strategy & idea – but there is a bunch of ‘pre-teaching’ that needs to be done. Students at the HS level need to be taught about the scientific method, variables & controls; AND they need good guidance with it too. They also need a tremendous amount of TIME.

Its that time aspect that is the main problem. Once you go towards standardized testing as a way of measuring students (and teachers!) there is a pressure towards students learning & memorizing CONTENT over process, and understanding. All that matters is the test score & final mark, not what the student can process, or discover.

The problem lies deep within the educational systems that allow public/parental input into course standards & policies. Education is one of the only areas that we allow such an odd marriage – can you imagine a hospital being run by patients? Or a doctor being told how to operate or medicate a patient BY the patient? Or a lawyer being told which angles & strategies to take in a case by the client?

But that’s what we do in education. The inmates run the asylum – then when it goes wrong we blame the messengers, but not the policy makers who bent to public/parent pressure.

Turn education over to the PROFESSIONALS and watch it grow – it does in many other countries, the ones the US lags behind.

A sense of discovery and adventure can pull us forward, while the foundation of experience gets us started. Both of these in a balance of “creative tension” let us build on and spring forward from our knowledge base.

Finding the balance for each subject, group of learners and the setting/situation is where the “artful form” of teaching arises and is sparked. Can life get much better as we constantly learn anew how each learner and/or group approaches and accesses opportunities with various subject matter, learning styles and methodologies?