1. |
Most of the responsibility for learning is the student's. One major responsibility the teacher has is to help students realize this. |
2. |
Students learn best when they ask the questions and find the answers or non answers themselves. One way teachers can help their progress is by offering them moral support and helping them know when they are on the right track even though they may be experiencing frustration. |
3. |
Students are never blank slates. They always have experiences and assumptions that can both help them and hinder them. Teachers can help students build on past knowledge and revise faulty assumptions. |
4. |
Students have a lot more power than they generally think they do. Awakening this power means the teacher must be prepared to be challenged in his/her assumptions. |
5. |
Every student is unique and can reveal to the class, including the teacher, valuable perspectives and insights. |
6. |
Students need to be provoked, challenged, and confronted, and the sooner they can have enough confidence to enjoy this process, the better. |
7. |
Students need to understand what is expected of them, and this is not as simple as just telling them. Good activities early in the term help students to know how to behave and what they must accomplish in class. |
8. |
For any real learning to take place, students must see how what they are learning is connected to their lives. Teachers can help students to make these connections more and more on their own. |
9. |
Knowing students on a personal level, even if only a little, is very helpful for building rapport and for knowing how to direct students. |
10. |
Teachers are students with more expertise. |
11. |
Teachers need to be aware of individual needs and assist all students in their progress. |
12. |
Teaching sometimes happens without learning and learning can happen without formal teaching. |
13. |
Teachers also need to be provoked, challenged, confronted, and reminded. |
14. |
Teaching and learning are both enjoyable activities when done well. When done poorly, they can be frustrating, but can still lead to valuable experiences. |
15. |
Learning is life long, and past knowledge can always be revised to incorporate new ideas and perspectives. |