4 Criteria For Selecting Compelling Classroom Material
Every teacher struggles with the challenge of finding material to engage students at a deep and passionate level. We already know that there are many challenges to overcome in the classroom, like different learning styles, different educational backgrounds, and different goals and objectives within the students themselves. Searching for the most relevant topics and then teaching them in a powerful way can be enhanced through the application of these four criteria. Using these as a guide, the teacher may be able to make the classroom experience more rewarding for themselves and for their students. Having seen many teachers put these into practice in my own university and by trying them on my cell, I am confident that you will be rewarded if you give them a try. Here are the four criteria I suggest along with a brief description:
- Requires discovery learning: the topic in material should be complex enough that it takes an effort for a group of people to find the meaning at the deepest levels. It shouldn’t require them to employ multiple points of view and engage in open and honest dialogue and inquiry. Material that can be issued on a silver platter may be useful, but it is a waste of classroom time to simply transmit well-known information.
- Concepts should be central to be knowledge domain you are in: the material should be actually related to the main ideas and issues of that area and discipline. It should deal with fundamental truths, beliefs in problem areas so that students feel they are at the center of the discussion. They will then be ready to engage in the important discussions when they return to the world.
- Requires student participation: this is the opposite of the traditional lecture. Students should be required to conduct reparation that is unique thing and then have an opportunity to construct knowledge with their peers and the instructor is a guy.
- Big ideas of enduring value: students want to get to the heart of the matter on topics that will engage them throughout their careers and lives. Nibbling on the margin will turn them off faster than anything
By applying these four criteria to your curriculum selection and design, you have an opportunity to gain and hold student attention throughout the class entire course. Give them a try and see how they work for you. Good teaching!
Ken Long, Chief of Research, Tortoise Capital Management
finance: http://www.tortoisecapital.com
essays: http://kansasreflections.wordpress.com
Independent research, combining technical analysis and behavioral psychology.
30 day free trial of reports and live trader chatroom.
Training, education, mentoring and coaching for professional traders.