Learning Centered Education – Encouraging Student Responsibility For Learning

Accepting responsibility for their own learning can be a significant challenge to students. This is especially a problem if they have grown up in a school system that had an emphasis on objective testing against nation-wide standards. in that kind of learning environment it is commonplace to have teachers teach the test and focus on baseline level practice that translate well into multiple choice tests. Overcoming the economic incentives for this style of teaching is nontrivial.

It is a fair question to ask why bother? Why should a teacher who’s looking to make a living buck the system to encourage students to take more responsibility for their own learning? if the school system in question has a history of lecturer based instruction this approach will be unpopular with both faculty and students as well as an administration which will equate standardized test performance with uninterrupted funding.

The short answer, of course, is that the modern world doesn’t really care about our objective tests and are sources of funding but actively rewards those who take the initiative and personal responsibility to develop an inquisitive habit of mind. 30 years ago it was all very well for the education system to beat all signs of individuality out of our students, and support the industrial ages need for a compliant and obedient worker drone population. Even if that was ever a good and decent goal, which I doubt, the future demands freethinking creative and critical thinking individuals who can help us all navigate through an ocean of complexity.

The problems facing our world do not lend themselves to simple solutions by the simpleminded. Brute force and ignorance have gotten us this far, which seems to be on the edge of a cliff looking into oblivion. It will take creativity and critical thinking in the combined power of millions of freethinkers to pull us back from the edge.

It begins in the educational system in every classroom with problem-based instruction and a respect for diversity and multiple points of view. Encouraging teamwork and collaboration will help us build the kind of interconnected society of citizens who genuinely care for and rely upon each other.

Interested in Volunteer Teaching Abroad Program – Know More About It

If you have some spare time and want to utilize it in the best possible way, you can enroll for a volunteer teacher program. Becoming a volunteer for any cause is a very great deed and gives a lot of self satisfaction especially if you are involved in a cause like enlightening people’s life with education.

All of us live a routine life – we wake up in the morning, go to office, come back home, eat our dinner and then sleep. This is what majority of the people are doing everyday. When ever we think of a break we plan a vacation. This break from our boring lives can be utilized in a much better way by enrolling for a Volunteer Teaching Abroad program. Such a teaching program will not only help you to enjoy a break but it will also enable you to perform some social work for lifelong memories.

A volunteer teacher program might seem to be a little difficult if you do not have prior teaching experience but if you have attained basic education you can go for it. You can opt for a program that supports Volunteer Teach English and help people learn how to read and write in English language. It is not mandatory to acquire a professional teacher’s license or a Master’s degree in English language as most of the volunteer schools and placement organizations do not ask for any certification. The eligibility criterion for being an English teaching volunteer could be completion of basic education with English as the first language. Your educational background might not be a barrier to your volunteering plans, but what makes a difference in such a social service is the kind of attitude you possess towards helping the poor communities.

In a volunteer teaching abroad program you have the opportunities to teach all age groups ranging from kindergarten kids to grown ups. You might even have a businessman or an old man/woman as your student. Before you decide which age group you would like to teach, it is important to consider that children are bound to a class whereas adult learners come to a class out of their own motivation. Hence one can conclude that it is much easier to teach the grown ups as compared to the kindergarten kids. However there is an element of love and innocence attached to the kindergarten.

After you have decided to teach English as a part of your volunteer teacher program and you have also chosen the age group of the students you would like to teach, you can approach the volunteer organizations or placement agencies. The volunteer teach English program is more prevalent in Asia and South America. You can select a destination as per your interests in the culture and communities of these regions. Make sure that you have the right attitude to serve people and want to make a difference in their lives.

This is a social service, which would enable you to make a very real contribution to the society. There are numerous volunteering organizations that provide ample opportunities to commence social service activities. Volunteer challenge is a reputed organization that can help you find several volunteering opportunities in Bolivia.