The End is in Sight!

Well folks, this is it: the final required post for my Educational Psychology blog. The semester has just flown by, and it literally feels like just last week we were first contemplating the question: What is good teaching? This is the question that I, as well as my fellow Ed. Psych-classmates, have been thinking about for the past several months. As we draw near to the conclusion of the semester, and as other “endings” assail us, including final exams, final assessment projects, last papers, last compositions, (and last blog posts!), it seems an appropriate time to reflect again upon this question and upon what has led us to all these conclusions and endings. Still, time for reflection is not always easy to come by. Finals - be it presentations, exams, or whatever - are time consuming and stressful, exacerbated by the pressure to meet the looming deadlines. As a teacher, I will continue to face these demanding time limits as the holidays approach and semesters come to a close, and so will my students. I think it will be most important during these times, therefore, to bear in mind what constitutes good teaching and to work the hardest to remain a “good teacher.”

So what precisely is good teaching? I think this question is one that is not meant to ever be completely answered. Good teaching can depend on the context of the classroom, the grade level, the time and day, and numerous other variables. Good teaching one day might entail establishing class rules and procedures, while another, it will involve being a shoulder to cry on. There are consistent traits, however, that I have observed in all good teachers, in all great teachers, in fact. To begin, knowledge in one’s subject area needs to be a given, as well as knowledge as to what are effective teaching strategies. All teachers unquestionably need to have knowledge and a level of mastery in their subject field, yet I have found that even this is not the most important characteristic of a good teacher. The best teachers display a balanced combination of confidence and humility inside their classrooms and outside of them in the school and larger community. Without confidence, a teacher cannot gain the respect and trust of his or her students, and without humility, a teacher is not able to admit that he or she was wrong and therefore unable to learn anything new. Students respond well to teachers who both command their classrooms with self-assurance and poise AND who are willing to make and acknowledge mistakes, laughing just a bit at themselves along the way. I believe great, confident, and humble teachers know how to show their students they truly care, which is vital in motivating them to succeed. So will I be able to become one of these “good teachers”? Well, let’s just say I’ll keep you posted.

Chalk: The Movie

I would highly recommend the movie Chalk for any and all of those who have ever been involved in the public school system, whether as a teacher, student, or administrator (alright, so basically everybody). Chalk provides a candidly entertaining, yet somewhat disconcerting portrayal of the current state of public education in America. The film could almost pass as a documentary; the characters are so incredibly realistic that audiences may find themselves transported back to their high school Civics or gym classes. Furthermore, the actions and antics of Chalk’s teachers are amusing, even hilarious, though at the same time, it’s extraordinarily simple to imagine that they are actual teachers. They struggle to effectively manage their classrooms, they stumble when lecturing, they say rude comments to their colleagues, they tell students to stop using such “big words” in class, they complain about students and about their heavy workloads, and they are constantly stressed and fatigued.

Sometimes, watching these often clueless teachers is funny; sometimes, it is also disturbing. As I’m watching, I repeatedly find myself thinking, ‘that was wrong.’ Mr. So-and-So should never have said that to his class. Or Coach What’s-Her-Name really should be more careful with how she relates to her fellow teachers. However, I have not been able to invent any immediate solutions for these problems. If I were in the place of any of the teachers in Chalk, I might have had just as difficult of a time controlling the loud, rowdy classroom of unresponsive tenth graders. Unfortunately, these out-of-control classes occur with remarkable frequency. In fact, I’d guess that most or all students my age have experienced similar situations – wherein one’s teacher is unable to command the classroom – somewhere along the line in their educational experience.

So indeed, Chalk is an uncomfortably accurate depiction of schools today. Once in awhile, however, it also expresses small smidgens of hope and optimism for the future of education. For example, my Ed. Psych. class discussed one of Chalk’s characters: the ineffective social studies teacher who lacks the ability to restrain his wild class. He visits the library to research methods of “classroom management” because he recognizes his own shortcomings in this important area of teaching. Similarly, the overly-assertive gym teacher seems to realize she often comes off as aggressive. In self-reflection, she asks her close friend if she is too “pushy.” In these small steps, it is apparent the two teachers have the desire to change and truly enrich their “teaching skills.” The fact that they acknowledge their weaknesses and indicate an aspiration to improve seems, at least to me, to be the real message of the film.

In any case, regardless of the real purpose of the movie, Chalk is undeniably funny, and I would definitely recommend watching it.

MOTIVATION

This week’s topic in Educational Psychology centers around the concept of motivation and how it relates to teaching and learning. What motivates those of us who want to teach has been something we’ve already discussed extensively this semester. Clearly, we, meaning my fellow education major/minors and myself, are all passionate about learning and about our specific subject area. We also love working with people, particularly kids. Our motivation is not really the issue that needs addressing. Rather, we need to learn how to motivate our future students.

In trying to understand how I will possibly motivate my own students someday, I’ve been reflecting upon what exactly has served as motivation for me in the past. It’s hard to admit, but I’ve found that many previous goals and motivating factors in my life have been, well, not so positive. In our textbook’s chapter about motivation, the distinction is made between mastery goals and performance goals. Mastery goals refer to a more intrinsic motivation - the desire to complete a task, improve abilities, and learn, despite “awkward appearances” or initial failure. Performance goals, on the other hand, are more along the lines of extrinsic motivation; these goals are driven by the need to be recognized by others or to receive some sort of reward. Of course, we all want our students, and ourselves, to be motivated intrinsically and to aim for mastery goals; it seems more noble and dignified, less egotistical or narcissistic. Furthermore, our textbook explains that students who set mastery goals actually utilize better cognitive strategies, ask for help when needed, have stronger study skills, and are more confident in handling academic tasks. So I’d like to say that the majority of the decisions I made and accomplishments I attained throughout my years in school were entirely due to “mastery goals,” inspired by intrinsic motivation. However, I will be honest and say that performance goals in fact played a large role in influencing my actions and behaviors as well.

I was a straight-A student throughout middle and high school, a trait that has remained true in my collegiate career as well. But I wonder if these high grades were the only factors that influenced my study habits and work ethic. Was it the aspiration to receive a perfect score that compelled me to study for hours and hours before each and every Spanish test? Did I complete all those extra-credit projects for Chemistry only because I needed to secure an A? Do I still stay up until the early hours of the morning revising my research papers for Music History because I wouldn’t be able to handle earning a B, a grade deemed only “above average”? In truth, the answer is a bit complicated. Although I admit (somewhat shamefully) that percentages, test scores, and grades have played an influential role in motivating me to excel in my school work, there are other factors as well. First and foremost, I sincerely enjoy learning, which allows me to approach most school work with less anxiety or dread than most. Also, school, especially the subjects of English, social studies, and music, have always been fairly easy for me. This relates to the idea of self-efficacy: because I believe I can succeed, and/or finish whichever task it may be, I tend to have higher levels of motivation (and also persistence). What concerns me, however, is the fact that in my classroom someday, I will not be faced with teaching 25 miniature Haleys, who are either motivated extrinsically by grades, or intrinsically by personal yearning for learning (cute - that rhymes!), or by some combination of both. Simply put, in order to effectively and positively motivate my students, I might have to teach them how to enjoy learning. Easier said than done! Still, motivation is not a skill like adding fractions or playing the recorder. To me, it seems unquantifiable, and motivation will certainly differ from child to child. I know I should make lessons appealing to students and relevant to their lives; I also need to show them I value them and genuinely care. Yet currently, I still remain somewhat worried about my own abilities as a motivator.

Well this quite long already (again!) and so I think I will wait to further address my concerns about motivation sometime in the future. Perhaps I will just have to rely on my undeniable charm and charisma to motivate my students…ok, I’m kidding. In all seriousness, however, I am quite glad I have a few years of college left to figure out how to create an inspirational classroom environment and how to truly motivate students to learn.

Children of Darkness and Light

This week I attended a lecture titled, “Islam and Christian Muslim Dialogue: Theological and Political Challenge and Opportunity“ given by Dr. Charles Ahjad-Ali, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor at Luther Seminary. Sounds like pretty heavy stuff, huh? That’s what I was thinking when I heard the lecture’s title and when I learned Dr. Charles Ahjad-Ali’s title, too. It may seem strange that I chose to attend this lecture as part of the requirement for this Educational Psychology class. After all, the realms of religion and politics are viewed as dangerous, controversial areas that do not belong in public education. As it turned out, this rather informal lecture was less political and more theological/historical, and in all honesty, not at all related to education or educational psychology. Still, I was struck by a few of the main ideas Dr. Ahjad-Ali mentioned, and in reflecting further upon them, I think I might have found a few important connections to education psychology.

Dr. Ahjad-Ali’s lecture focused on the intimate yet volatile relationship between Christianity and Islam, and the central question that seemed to shape most of his lecture was “How do we live together as Muslims and Christians?” He made the point that in general, the Christian perception of Islam is an “us against them” mentality, or the idea that “if you’re not with us, you’re against us.” He also defined this frame of mind in another way; he stated that some Christians seem to think: “we are children of the light, while they are children of darkness” [‘they’ meaning Muslims and other non-Christians]. This poignantly expressed idea especially caught my attention as something potentially applicable to education. I think it can be incredibly easy at times for teachers to let their own biases or personal prejudices into the classroom. I’d like to think this never occurs on purpose, and in reality, I’m sure most incidences of intolerance or partiality on the part of the teacher are accidental. Nevertheless, the idea of “us” versus “them” does exist in the world of education. There are defined roles and groups in the classroom, all juxtaposed against one another: the teacher versus the students, the brainiac versus the learning disabled, the economically advantaged versus the disadvantaged, the class-clown versus the social outcast, and the list continues. As a teacher, I believe it must be difficult at times to avoid classifying or pigeonholing students, or even dismissing them altogether as not worth the extra effort. Once children have been labeled as naughty, misbehavers, or as bad kids, it becomes even more problematic and challenging to truly reach them. It is these perceived “children of darkness,” the children who have been branded as outsiders, who really need a teacher to struggle with and for them, to actually care and value them as students and as people. Ideally, boundaries between students in the classroom, as dictated by physical appearance, mental ability, cultural background, religious preference, or socio-economic status, do not exist; there is no “us versus them” or “children of light” as opposed to “children of darkness.” Indeed, in this ideal setting, both students and teachers refuse to categorize one another and instead, work to sincerely understand and appreciate the ideas, efforts, and contributions of all.

Well, there is so much more I could say on the above topic. However, this entry is long enough already, so I’ll try to use the words of Dr. Ahjad-Ali to summarize what I’ve been thinking. The following is a core component to Dr. Ahjad-Ali’s personal philosophy: “We cannot be passive in the face of injustice.” What a profound concept. I feel strongly that this belief can and should be applied by teachers everywhere to ensure that their classrooms are safe, thriving environments where all children can reach their full potential.

School Boards: Are They Really as Boring as I Have Always Assumed??

As part of our weekly seminar this week, our Educational Psychology class invited two members of the local school board to come discuss their roles in these positions. To be perfectly honest, I probably could not have thought of a less interesting education-related topic. Obviously I recognize that school boards wield significant power in the realm of public education, yet what exactly that power entails, I could not have begun to explain before reflecting upon Monday night’s seminar. To say that what these two particular board members revealed was “eye-opening” or “astounding” would be a stretch. However, I will concede that the discussion was educational as we received informative answers about of the inner-workings of a public school board.

During the discussion, I was specifically struck by the definition of a school board’s role provided by our guests at the beginning of the seminar. Apparently, the role of a school board is twofold: one, to set district-wide policy, and two, to hire a puppet, (ahem! Did I just say that?) I mean, a superintendent whose job is to follow and enforce policy. At the time, I again found myself thinking, how boring! For me, at least, the term policy conjures images of piles of paperwork that outline rules, regulations, precedents, (pardon me while I yawn) and procedures for all school district functions. Each little category of school board policy may vary, from the broadest concepts regarding district-wide curriculum to the most miniscule details concerning middle school dress code. Nevertheless, as I think about and attempt to describe what I perceive as school board policy, I realize I am beginning to discover the real power a school board possess. These policies, which may be consequential or seemingly irrelevant, have an impact in the classroom, in the school, and possibly in the community. Though I find the idea of school board policy-making and policy-reviewing extremely tedious, I can only begin to fathom the profound impact such guidelines have on teachers. School boards can potentially influence and even dictate precisely what is included in the curriculum, how this curriculum is taught, and the type of environment in which the material is presented. This is something I will definitely have to keep in mind as I begin my own teaching career in a few years. Indeed, this week’s seminar has led me to conclude that perhaps I should really re-think my rather unenthusiastic perception of school boards. After all, you are supposed to “known thine enemy,” right? (I’m kidding. Mostly.)

Mid-Terms and Finals and Exams...Oh My!

What is it about the words mid-term and final exam that strikes fear in the hearts of today’s students? Is it the cumulative nature of these tests that causes them to be so intimidating? Or is the fact that mid-terms and finals often constitute a larger percentage of our final grades that makes them send shivers up our spines? Perhaps it is a combination of both these reasons. It seems many students have been classically conditioned to have a physical, negative reaction when presented with the idea of a big test, and even more so when this big test is labeled as a mid-term or final.

I sometimes feel as though I am an exception to this generality. Along with a slight sense of nervous expectation, I often also feel a thrill of anticipation at the prospect of an upcoming exam. Mid-terms and finals are a chance to prove how hard I have been working all semester, and the feeling of satisfaction and relief upon completing an arduous test is rather unique. Of course, these sentiments probably place me in the minority in comparison with my classmates and fellow students. If given the option, I would say that most would choose to complete a group project or give a presentation rather than study for and take a traditional college mid-term or final. For me, however, this traditional type of learning seems to work. I appreciate the predictable nature of these exams, such as the mid-term we just took in Educational Psychology. I have developed effective studying methods that prepare me well for each typical section: multiple-choice, vocabulary definition, and essays. This is not to say that I do not learn from other long-term assignments or types of assessments, like research papers, projects, or presentations; yet for me, conventional and established methods of evaluation and testing actually seem to work.

Still, I must admit that our recent Ed. Psych mid-term was a bit surprising for me and even more of a shock for some of my classmates. Given the more laid-back nature of our class conversations and assignments, along with our tendency to discuss the idea of traditional, standardized tests with scorn and disdain, I can understand why I, as well as many other students, felt taken aback. With further reflection, however, I feel the conventional mid-term allowed me to better understand two key ideas about myself and about learning in general. First, I realized more surely about myself that I learn well under more traditional methods of teaching, which does involve the standard idea of a mid-term or final that I have been writing about. Second, and more importantly, I’s also concluded that most people do not learn their best through this method of teaching and learning only. This is certainly not a new idea, yet it will be vital for me to keep this mind while teaching someday in order to ensure as many of my future students as possible are able to truly learn.

Reactions: Role-Play Activity

In place of having the typical lecture during our weekly group seminar for Educational Psychology last Monday evening, we instead partook in an instructive and interesting role-play activity. This activity forced me and my classmates to take on a specific point of view and then defend that view, whether we truly supported it or not. Additionally, the role-play also served as an example of a potentially effective teaching method for future use in our classrooms.

The role-play activity involved an imaginary proposal for a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP): a district-wide strategy to employ new methods for gathering data via standardized tests, to set higher standards for students and teachers in accordance with No Child Left Behind legislation, and to implement punitive measures for those who failed to meet expectations. In small groups, we were to take on a role and prepare to defend our position for or against the plan at the upcoming school board meeting. My small group chose to assume the role of parents of low-achieving students and oppose the plan. We chose this position because it was so far removed from any of our previous experiences; as motivated learners from middle class families, our parents typically viewed themselves as parents of high-achieving students. In all likelihood, plans like the proposed CSIP would have gained the support of my mother and father, who have always wanted challenges and opportunities for me and my siblings.

Despite the fact that our role was rather unfamiliar, I did not find it unusually difficult to formulate an argument against the proposal from this perspective. In fact, when listening to other groups present their statements for or against the plan, I found myself being particularly critical of their arguments and rationales because I was already so entrenched in my opinion, even though it really wasn’t my own. It seemed the situation - the crowded room, the zealous claims of my classmates, the provocative questions of our professors, etc. – somehow affected me and, like most of the other students, I found myself wanting to be heard. Certainly, the activity allowed me, on the surface at least, to begin to appreciate the difficulties surrounding such issues as grade-level standards, testing, No Child Left Behind, and the politics of education. After our school board meeting, I recognize how complicated it must be to reach a fair, agreed-upon, and morally-acceptable decision regarding school improvement.

On another level, this activity also proved to me that role-play can be utilized as a valuable teaching tool. My classmates and I took the activity seriously, and I feel I learned more from our school board meeting than I might have if someone had merely stood in front of me and lectured on the complexities and problems that arise when dealing with politics in education.