Hi,
I am compiling the essence of what I have learnt in Teacher Education - I mean what a teacher can do to improve her classroom instruction. That essence I found was in a workshop/module - of 2 and a half months, for which I would not even get a letter grade (A or otherwise) but it is what has really made my trip to Harvard worthwhile. I stumbled upon it by chance and many times thought of dropping it initially -as might be too tough for me - or otherwise.
I now realize that I have learnt what is expected of me in a developing world context -- an M.Ed. there stands for excellence in teaching - and nothing else - so atleast that much I must be able to demonstrate. This module is Reading and Writing for Secondary School (grades 5 upwards) and beyond by Professor Vicci Jacobs - has not only given me - a theory (which I will now present) but classroom activities - which I can demonstrate as a Wizard from Harvard Graduate School of Education. I'm sure most of the activities will dazzle everyone .
I had taken a program by Profesor Kay Merseth on Instructioanl and Organization School reform - which taught me the overview and how I would implement these techniques if I landed a job as a teacher or a principal or a superintendent. Further, Professor Robert Schwartz taught me how to create policies to empower/force people to innovate and use such practices.
Professor Reimers taught me in the two courses that I am taking - what are the problems are around the world, what is being done about it - and international and national levels - and even at school levels - and the discerning power - what is good, what is bad and what is ugly. Professor Schiefelbein is honing that discerning power - in a variety of ways-using a fine laser beam approach.
But it all boils down to the kids and the teacher -- and this is where this short module comes in. I was part of conducting a teacher training workshop also (which I can add to my resume) for teaching one aspect of these strategies -to other students of our class. Further, I was asked to write only about 5 to 7 pages for thefinal paper - to take back what I have learnt here. Perhaps this course was designed for US students - who may have already got to know many of the concepts-for me even 30 hand written pages seem to so less.
Once I leave Harvard I may not be able to fall back on their advice-an may not recollect what they taught me. Only that knowledge is useful that you can recall when needed (or like Karna -under ParshuRam's curse) you loose the battle. So maybe US students can hope to come back and seek her advice, this paper I am making - is first for my use - and yours in the developing world - and later (with editing) for the professor's use.
The paper follows - though mostly material from the readings - Google the Bibliography - for getting details of the strategies if not clear.
Umesh
PS: Another useful thing not found in Colleges of Education in developing countries is Education Research - Quantitative. I think our professors in this field would put Math geniouses to shame - esp Professor Terry Tivnan
Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________ Assam mailing list [email protected] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam
Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
