Question:
We have just celebrated Independence Day in the U.S. What skills of independence do you wish your students had? How do you promote independence in your classes?
Replies:
Kevin Cummings - Puyallup, WA
To me independence is internal and unique for each person. As a Science Educator I try to instill in my students the curiosty to "Find Things Out". In this they will develop the will to figure out and challenge rather than just following the pack. The gift of critical problem solving skills, in all arenas, is the life long skill of survival that can lead to each individual becoming independent and able to stand on their own two feet as successful memebers of the society they choose to live in.
VA
I teach 1-8 computers. I have a rule in class about questions. You aren't allowed to ask the teacher how to do something until you have 1)tried it twice 2)asked your neighbor for help. I have moved students from tears and fear to amazing self confidence. This especially applies to girls who sometimes believe they are at a disadvantage because they don't game like the boys do.
Terry Murphy - East Hanover, NJ
This is a problem that continues to plague my classroom each year. Independent thinkers are rare and many of my students would rather I do the thinking for them... I am not speaking of questions that a student would submit to myself and the class that would promote learning, but rather arcane questions such as: "Should I put my name on my paper?" "Should I do this over?" "What do I do with this?" "What time is it?" "What day is it?" "Should I color this brown?" YIKES!!!!! My answer is always the same: " I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK!"
If you would like to read and respond
to this week's question, click here. |
