Every industry
the in the world must adapt its products and services to the ever-changing
needs of its customers. This is no less true in education. Students
have changed. With increased exposure to television, music videos,
advertising and the Internet, young people have developed shorter
attention spans and different values. No longer do educators command
the respect and attention of students just because they are playing
the role of teacher. Consequently, many traditional teaching methods
no longer work. Last year's lesson plan may not work for this
year's class.
What has remained
constant is the teacher's obligation to meet state education standards.
While educators and policy makers see the value in these standards,
the average back-pack-toting sophomore reporting for 2nd period
may not care. Why should he? He knows what the teacher's getting
paid. And in today's "bling-bling" culture, money talks
and curriculum walks.
Before we
can educate these students, we must get them to buy into the process
- to accept the traditional student/teacher relationship and open
their minds to new information. This comes about less from teaching
and more from connecting.
Experienced
professional speakers will tell you that their first step in delivering
a successful speech is building rapport with the audience. They
initially establish this connection not through the subject matter,
but from something humanistic. They tell a story or a joke. They
discuss their experience of the event everyone is attending, or
of a current event everyone is thinking about. Most importantly,
they meet the audience where they are at -- conveying a sense
of understanding and familiarity -- before attempting to give
them something new. The speaker knows that before she can launch
into the real content of the speech, she must first establish
common ground with the audience.
Effective
teachers do the same thing. They know that before students respect
them as teachers, they must first appreciate them as people. Some
talk about their summer, their families and their hobbies, revealing
enough information to seem as human as students, while remaining
dignified and appropriate. Others ask about the students' lives
outside the classroom (again, keeping discussion appropriate).
It is a mistake to regard these discussions as extra-curricular.
A classroom with a personable instructor is an environment where
curriculum is most effectively delivered and standards are met.
It is also
worth noting that standards, are just that - standards. Minimum
requirements. Potentially a teacher can have far greater impact
on students than the state requires. A math teacher who limits
his responsibility to teaching mathematical concepts is depriving
his students of an important mentorship. With an ability and willingness
to connect, an educator can influence students at life-changing
levels.
To further
enhance the classroom environment, the teacher should also promote
connection among students. This goes beyond collaborative learning
assignments. Occasional experiential exercises in team-building,
communication and trust will quickly win students' attention and
make class a place they want to be.
For specific
ideas on great teaching activities, check out Silver
Bullets, Quicksilver,
Adventure
in the Classroom, Diversity
in Action or Focus.