Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: How do we teach students how to learn?

Bigthink — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:46:45 +0100

As a child I learned how to study better when I had textbooks that had numbered paragraphs with questions at the bottom of each page. Those quesitons had key words that represented what the writer/educator was trying to teach in that specific paragraph. I have notice with my 18 year old son and my 14 year old daughter, not many books are set up that way anymore. It does not encourage comprehensive reading nor does not being able to underline and make footnotes in books as they get to only when they are in college where it really matters to have good study skills.

Comment on: How do we teach students how to learn?

Bigthink — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:08:32 +0100

We can teach students the skills they need to be successful but ultimitly they are the ones who have to use them. They have to take the initiative to work hard and implement the skills into real life.

Comment on: How do we teach students how to learn?

Bigthink — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:34:48 +0100

Hi there Matty,

I don't for a minutes question that most students will be unwilling to participate in the study skills courses. Most students are keenly focused on doing the absolute minimum to get through their course. (I am that much of a realist.)

However the opportunity should still be available. If 5% on students take advantage of it and produce better acedemic outcomes, then it is worth it.

RO

Comment on: How do we teach students how to learn?

Bigthink — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:00:11 +0100

Sorry Roakes but I tend to disagree.

I've been teaching for 8 years now and my view is that there are only so many hours in the day. If these 'life skills' are taught overtly, such as with the Key Skills certificates integrated into UK BTEC programmes, students just 'switch off' knowing that it doesn't count towartds their marks or their career. Equally PHSE (Physical, Health and Social Education), used to teach the more general skills such as working with others, debating and also Pastoral issues, even Citizenship are not well received.

I teach in a college and I'm noticing a 'supermarket strategy' towards modules being delivered - students attend because they want intrinsic knowledge, but only just so much. The numbers of students prepared to see the course through to the end of the 2 year Full-Time stint is dwindling.

Comment on: How do we teach students how to learn?

Bigthink — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:54:15 +0100

Hi there manpollo

You are quite right. We get very little direction at school and at work. I bumbled through school and university making it up as I went along. Mercifully the university I went to (Monash Universtity) ran remedial classes in essay writing and mathematics. Otherwise I would never have got through!

Businesses are not much better. Even large corporations (who should be good at this sort of thing) are very weak at setting targets, measuring and managing performance.

Getting pissed with society is a bit like a dog baying at the moon. It doesn%u2019t do much good. As a student you have to get out there and find out what you need to know for yourself. Pester your teachers for information and feedback. (That should freak some of them out!) It is the same in the workplace. Pester your people leader/manager until you know exactly what is expected of you.

In both cases you will be doing more that 95% of the other students/workers. That is usually enough to be very successful.

RO

Comment on: How do we teach students how to learn?

Bigthink — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:52:47 +0100

We all start life in a circle/ group thinking, it takes strength to become an individual, but no less than 95% of the population want to break free of the group.

When a school bell rings the experiments of Pavlov's dog come to mind ;-)