Subject: What are the differences between teaching ST/SD and other subjects?

Posted by Bob Gorman on 6/7/2010
In Reply To:What are the differences between teaching ST/SD and other subjects? Posted by Sharon Villines on 6/6/2010

Message:

Sharon Villines wrote:
On Jun 6, 2010, at 9:37 AM, tony phuah wrote:


If I read your comment correctly, it seems to suggest that conventional subjects actually seldom try to assess their transfer of learning to students' everyday life for longer period of time.
Reply to Tony:
Transferring a learning to new area requires time & conscious effort. Many, if not most academics consider their job done when they've 'taught' their subject matter. They do not consider it worth the extra effort to transfer the new learnings to students' everyday life.

In several classes I've taught to both 'challenged' adolescents, as well as business executives, I reserve the last session specifically for transfer, since I believe it needs a conscious effort; its not something that 'just happens'.
Related to this, my 1st session is to find out what real world problems are on each students mind. I usually try for 3 problems, an easy, medium & hard problem.

Then I teach the module, Mind Maps is one of my favorites.

Then the last session is specifically for transfer.
First I ask: "Where else in your life could you use this technique"? This typically flushes out a few transfer applications. Then I ask my Million dollar question, which I learned from one of my sons. "Where else in your life could you NOT use this technique? This really get their Grey cells into overdrive, and usually produces many more applications where they can use this technique in their lives.

But again transfer never 'just happens'; you have to make it happen...


Reply to Sharon:

Long again. i guess if I write at all, I write long.
My guess, is you really care about these ideas...