I read/heard about a great strategy. (can't remember which) Basically, high school math teacher is trying to figure out how to help students learn better. Decides to film lectures. Has students watch lectures at home, as homework. During class, students work on the assignment related to the previous night's lecture. Teacher is free to answer questions and 'teach' those who are struggling or need some alternate explanations.
Brilliant!
Of course, there are complications to resolve, problems to be dealt with, and unforeseen circumstances to negotiate around. The ideas, however, is quite clever. The teacher spends the majority of her/his time working directly with students rather than talking at students.
What I like most about the idea is that it looks at the idea of improving education and comes up with a clever method. I also appreciate the effort to view education differently than the traditional view. I realize the methods of instruction have been refined over the years and are, for the most part, effective. This however, has the guts to ignore traditional approaches in order to reach student needs.
I wonder what other areas could be improved by looking/trying things in a new way? Classroom arrangement or location? Perhaps. I'm thinking strongly about this in regards to the rows I have in the computer lab. However, I am a bit tied down by the direct wiring the computer tables have into the wall. It is a large, limiting factor to my ability to play around with alternative furniture arrangement. Still, so many ideas....
I love the idea. My favorite classes were the ones that we prepared by studying the text and the class time was all discussion instead of lecture.
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