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Teaching Tips November 2011 |
The title of this article may look like a mathematical representation of the Trinity, but there’s more to it than that. It is the vital key every homeschooling
parent holds to unlock their child’s learning potential.
The first component is knowledge. No matter what topic you are learning, there is a set of skills or information that must be known in order to understand the material. You may wonder why this is even worth mentioning; it seems like common sense. Hold that thought for a moment while we look at the next component in the formula. Experience. This is the current buzzword in educational circles. The fancy term is discovery-based learning. By exploring a topic firsthand and interacting with the material in a way that heightens personal interest, students discover how relevant the topic is to their everyday life. The emphasis is on each child’s unique experience with the material. Supposedly, because learning is in context with other topics, the material “sticks” better. There’s a few problems with this approach: (1) Learning is limited to what the student can experience, and there is so much more to every topic than what can be examined in just a few interactions. (2) Without a framework or set of reference points, it is difficult to make sense out of a hodgepodge of experiences. (3) What is “relevant” has become what keeps the student’s interest or is entertaining, rather than what is useful. Imagine yourself taking a new job: congratulations, you are the new company flufferdorf. You arrive at your new post and are told to discover your job. But before you begin, the manager allows you to ask questions about the specifics of the job. What questions come to mind? Since you know absolutely nothing about the job, you don’t even know what questions to ask. You don’t even know how to begin the discovery process. Now you know how students feel when they are faced with discovery-based learning. Focusing solely on experiencing learning falls short. That’s why the knowledge component is so crucial. Without some basic knowledge being passed along first, there is no starting point for discovery. There’s no framework to hang new learning upon; there’s nothing to help make sense out of the collective experiences. Which brings us to the third component — thinking. Learning a stack of facts means little, except perhaps in a trivia contest. That’s how rote learning got its bad reputation. The same with teaching doctrine in the Church. This kind of learning gives us some substance, but little in the way of practical, personal connection. Likewise, having a bunch of experiences without any meaning given to them leaves us with fleeting emotions and little substance. The material sounds somewhat familiar, but there is no understanding. Here’s where home education can shine. The parent supplies the basic information or skills. Together, the parent and children interact with the material in a way that is not possible in a closed, group classroom setting. In the home setting, the interaction can be geared to each child’s learning style, making it even more meaningful. There’s plenty of time to explore and discover whatever stimulates the child’s curiosity. Then when the time is right, the parent can add the necessary context, perspective, or insight from his/her own experiences to help the child make sense of the material. The parent can ask leading questions that help the student through the thinking process. The student can have the time to think about how it all relates and reflect on its significance. The result is one integrative learning process. 1 (knowledge/skill/doctrine) + 1 (experience) +1 (thinking) = true learning. Is your teaching not sticking? Then check to see which component is missing. 619 Words To view more 'Teaching Tips' Articles please 'Log In' and visit the 'Achives' page. |
