A great video showing traditional teaching methods. Yawn.

Many years ago I decided something had to be done about the scrappy, incomplete and useless literature notebooks belonging to my weaker pupils. Every year it was the same story. The year would start off well: logical, legible notes would be written in the first two, or maybe three, pages but gradually, as books were left at home or someone was absent or the day was hot and I was boring, the notes descended into chaos.

“Sir, this is the most boring book I’ve ever read!”  I chirped my matric English teacher. “It’s got no relevance to us,” I continued as we plodded our way through another double period taking turns to read sections from “Shades”, our English set work book. The monotonous drone that was the tone in which most [...]

Learners do not enjoy reading, let alone studying. It’s unfortunate, because reading and studying form an integral part of learning. How on earth do we as teachers entice our learners into reading and studying? Should we be engaging learners on their level or continue following traditional teaching methods?

A few hints on teaching in an interactive and engaging manner.

My gripe with teachers is that many of them always seem to view the teaching profession as something that’s gone to the dogs. I suppose I’m generalising here, because even in the work place (i.e. business) there are people who absolutely despise their jobs to the point of rather wanting to work on a kibbutz or log pine trees somewhere in remote Siberia while drinking vodka and singing the “Volga Boatmen’s Song”.

Many classrooms leave much to be desired. Naked walls, where some have graffiti from the learners, filth messed on floors, chalkboards full of chalk powder and wooden cabinets heavy laden with dust. Old documents and scrap books sprawled on the teacher’s table, and everything that you can think of that injects you with the energy that simply says: “Keep as far out of this classroom as you possibly can”.

Leka ho nka leeto mehopolong ya hao, mme o tsepamise maikutlo a hao makgetlong kaofela ao o nnileng wa etela ngaka. Hopola botebo ba bohloko bo neng bo o qositse ho etela ngaka, ho farasa ha maikutlo a hao le takatso ya ho shwa nakwana e le hore bohloko bona bo thethefale kapa hona ho fela. Ana o ka dumela hore phetoho ya bohloko e bileng teng nako eo o kenang fela ka phaphosi ya ngaka, le pele ngaka e ka o tshwara, e ne e bakilwe ke boemo ba phaphosi eo ka sebele?

A key requirement for successful learning is that teaching should be interactive, i.e. that the learner is active during the process and not just the teacher. One of the most important ways of teaching interactively is to use effective questioning techniques. This is based on brain theories: The consensus among cognitive scientists (since B F Skinner) is that the mind seeks to find meaning, which is done through patterning. To achieve this, the mind must be active during the learning process. Here are some guides regarding successful questioning techniques …

If you’re a teacher stuck in the dark age, perhaps you should watch this video … if you know how.

Watter tipe opvoeder is jy?
In my kort tydjie as opvoeder en my 12 jaar as leerder, het ek nou al besef dat daar baie verskillende tipes opvoeders is.
Soos enige ander leerder, het ek ook toe ek op hoërskool was gunsteling onderwysers gehad. Dit is natuurlik die onderwysers en onderwyseresse wat ek die beste onthou.
Mev. Lingenfelder [...]

The National Curriculum Statement indicates clearly that learners must be encouraged to think critically and to engage in problem-solving:
v  The Critical Outcomes require learners to ‘identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking’ (p2).
v  The ‘kind of learner envisaged’ must ‘demonstrate an ability to think logically and analytically, as well has [...]