Teaching Methods for Inspiring the Students of the Future | Joe Ruhl | TEDxLafayette

TEDx Talks
27 May 201517:42
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker, with 37 years of teaching experience, emphasizes the importance of research-based teaching techniques and relationships in inspiring students aged 14 to 18. They advocate for a student-centered classroom that incorporates choice, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity—the 'five Cs'. The speaker shares personal anecdotes and strategies, such as offering a 'smorgasbord' of activities to cater to diverse learning styles, and stresses the significance of a teacher's passion for the subject and genuine love for students as the most powerful teaching tools.

Takeaways
  • 😀 The speaker enjoys working with young people because they are fun, energetic, and creative, which keeps them feeling young.
  • 🏫 The traditional teacher-centered classroom model is not always the most inspiring for students, prompting the need for alternative teaching methods.
  • 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of research-based teaching techniques and relationship-building with students for effective learning.
  • 🔄 The concept of 'student choice' is introduced as a way to engage students by offering them a variety of learning activities that cater to different learning styles.
  • 🔑 The 'four Cs' - Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity - are identified as essential 21st-century skills by the National Education Association.
  • 🌟 The speaker believes that our brains are naturally wired for the 'five Cs', including the newly added 'Choice', which facilitates authentic learning.
  • 👨‍🏫 A shift from a teacher-centered to a student-centered classroom is advocated, with the teacher acting more as a guide rather than the central authority.
  • 💡 The idea of 'Arts and Entertainment' in teaching is highlighted as a creative way for students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts.
  • 👥 The speaker credits the success of their teaching methods to the influence of various educational giants and mentors throughout their career.
  • ❤️ The importance of a teacher's love for the subject and genuine care for the students is underscored as a powerful motivator and inspiration.
  • 🎓 The speaker concludes that while lesson plans and standards are important, it is the teacher's personal connection and caring that students will remember most.
Q & A

  • What is the speaker's profession and what age group do they work with?

    -The speaker is a teacher who works with students aged 14 to 18 years old.

  • What does the speaker believe contributes to keeping a person young?

    -The speaker believes that being in the presence of kids contributes to keeping a person young.

  • What are the two key elements the speaker identifies for effective teaching?

    -The two key elements identified for effective teaching are research-based teaching techniques and relationship.

  • How does the speaker describe the traditional teacher-centered classroom?

    -The traditional teacher-centered classroom is described as having the teacher at the front and center, students in neat rows not allowed to talk, with the teacher as the authority downloading information to the students who then regurgitate it on tests.

  • What concept did the speaker implement in their classroom to inspire students?

    -The speaker implemented the concept of 'student choice' in their classroom to inspire students.

  • What are the 'four Cs' identified by the National Education Association as essential 21st century skills?

    -The 'four Cs' are Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the role of a teacher in a student-centered classroom?

    -In a student-centered classroom, the speaker suggests the teacher's role should shift from being a 'sage on the stage' to becoming more of a 'guide on the side'.

  • What is the significance of the 'Arts and Entertainment' activity in the speaker's classroom?

    -The 'Arts and Entertainment' activity allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of a concept in a nontraditional way, limited only by their imagination, fostering creativity and engagement.

  • How does the speaker describe the importance of a teacher's love for the subject and the students?

    -The speaker describes the teacher's love for the subject and the students as the most powerful teaching techniques, which are as old as the hills and always work.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the most memorable aspect of a teacher for students?

    -The speaker suggests that the most memorable aspect of a teacher for students is the genuine care and attention the teacher gives to them as individuals, beyond just academic performance.

  • What is the 'sixth C' the speaker refers to and why is it considered the most important?

    -The 'sixth C' referred to by the speaker is Caring. It is considered the most important because it embodies the love and genuine concern for students that motivates and inspires them the most.

Outlines
00:00
😄 Embracing the Five Cs in Education

The speaker, a passionate educator with 37 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of research-based teaching techniques and relationships in inspiring students. They reminisce about the traditional teacher-centered classroom and propose a shift towards a student-centered approach that incorporates 'choice' alongside collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. This approach is based on the National Education Association's identification of these skills as essential 21st-century skills. The speaker believes that allowing students to engage in these five Cs will lead to authentic learning and enjoyment, and they describe how they implemented this in their classroom, transforming the learning environment to one where students have diverse learning activities to choose from.

05:01
🌟 Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

The speaker acknowledges the influence of great minds and educators on their teaching philosophy, referencing Plutarch and Albert Einstein to underscore the importance of igniting the mind rather than simply filling it with facts. They share a humorous anecdote about 'meeting' Einstein at a wax museum, highlighting their admiration for his views on education. The speaker also credits pioneers in education like Montessori, Piaget, and Dr. Sam Postlewait, as well as their own mentors from Purdue University and various teaching experiences, for shaping their approach to teaching. They describe how they implemented a menu of activities in their ninth-grade biology classes, allowing students to choose from a variety of learning experiences that cater to different learning styles.

10:02
🎨 The Power of Passion and Love in Teaching

The speaker reflects on the profound impact that a teacher's passion for their subject and genuine love for their students can have on the learning experience. They recount a personal story from their childhood where a teacher's love for reading 'Tom Sawyer' inspired them to become a lifelong reader. The speaker distinguishes between emotional love and 'agape love,' a self-sacrificial, decisional love that prioritizes the well-being of others. They argue that this kind of love is a powerful motivator and inspiration for students, and it is the teacher's role to embody this love through their actions and interactions with students.

15:09
💖 The Sixth C: Caring as the Cornerstone of Education

In the final paragraph, the speaker stresses the significance of caring in education, referring to it as the 'sixth C.' They argue that while lesson plans, discipline, technology, and standards are important, it is the teacher's ability to connect with students on a personal level that leaves the most lasting impression. The speaker encourages teachers to be present in their students' lives, to show interest in their activities, and to create a genuine connection. They conclude by emphasizing that it is the teacher's love and care that students will remember most, and that this is the most effective way to motivate and inspire them.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Inspiration
Inspiration refers to the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. In the video's theme, inspiration is central to the teaching philosophy presented, where the teacher aims to motivate and ignite the students' minds. The teacher reflects on what truly inspires students beyond traditional lecturing, leading to the implementation of student-centered activities.
💡Student-Centered Classroom
A student-centered classroom is an educational approach where learning is focused on the students' interests, needs, and learning styles, rather than the teacher being the central authority. In the script, the teacher describes shifting from a teacher-centered model to one that empowers students with choices, fostering a more engaging and personalized learning environment.
💡Choice
Choice, in the context of the video, signifies the opportunity for students to select their preferred learning activities, catering to diverse learning styles. The teacher emphasizes the importance of incorporating student choice into the classroom, drawing a parallel to how students enjoy having options in the cafeteria, and how this choice enhances their learning experience.
💡Collaboration
Collaboration is the process of working together to achieve a common goal. The script highlights collaboration as one of the essential 21st-century skills identified by the National Education Association. The teacher integrates collaborative activities in the classroom to mimic early human experiences, such as hunting in groups, which required teamwork.
💡Communication
Communication is the act of conveying meaning through verbal, nonverbal, or written means. It is presented in the script as a fundamental skill for students to develop, essential for effective collaboration and the sharing of ideas, drawing a historical parallel to how early humans would have communicated around a campfire.
💡Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information to form a judgment. The teacher in the video relates critical thinking to the early hominid ancestors' problem-solving skills during food hunting, emphasizing its importance as a core component of the learning activities in the classroom.
💡Creativity
Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to produce something new and valuable. The script describes creativity as a uniquely human, pleasurable activity, suggesting that our brains are wired for creative expression, which is nurtured through the classroom activities that allow for creative projects and presentations.
💡Mentorship
Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced or knowledgeable person guides another. The teacher discusses the role of mentorship in a student-centered classroom, where the teacher becomes a guide on the side, coaching and nurturing students, rather than being the sole source of knowledge.
💡Authentic Learning
Authentic learning refers to education that is meaningful and relevant to real-world experiences. The script suggests that authentic learning occurs when students engage in the five Cs (Choice, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity), allowing them to connect new knowledge with past experiences in a meaningful way.
💡Caring
Caring, in the context of the video, represents the emotional and psychological support a teacher provides to students, which goes beyond academic instruction. The teacher emphasizes that caring—the sixth C—is the most powerful teaching tool, as it fosters a connection with students that they will remember and value.
💡Paradox
In the script, the teacher paradox refers to the counterintuitive idea that by stepping back from being the central figure in the classroom, a teacher becomes more important in the students' learning journey. This is because the teacher is able to focus on more personalized and effective teaching techniques, such as responding to student-initiated questions and fostering a genuine connection.
Highlights

The speaker enjoys working with young people aged 14 to 18 due to their fun, energetic, and creative nature.

The speaker believes that kids keep a person young and sometimes finds it challenging to act around adults.

Teaching success requires a combination of research-based techniques and building relationships with students.

The traditional teacher-centered classroom is contrasted with a more interactive and student-focused approach.

Lecturing is acknowledged as enjoyable for the teacher but not always inspiring for students.

The idea of incorporating student choice into the classroom was inspired by observing students' preferences in a cafeteria setting.

The 'five Cs' model (Choice, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity) is introduced as essential for 21st-century learning.

The speaker emphasizes the natural fit of the 'five Cs' with early human survival skills and social behaviors.

A shift from a teacher-centered to a student-centered classroom is advocated for authentic learning and engagement.

The teacher's role evolves from a 'sage on the stage' to a 'guide on the side', facilitating rather than dictating learning.

The speaker acknowledges the influence of educational giants like Montessori, Piaget, and others in shaping their teaching philosophy.

A detailed description of a ninth-grade biology class implementing the 'five Cs' with a menu of activities is provided.

The importance of the teacher's passion for the subject in inspiring students is highlighted.

A personal anecdote about a third-grade teacher's impact through reading aloud to the class is shared.

The concept of 'agape love' or self-sacrificial love is discussed as a powerful motivator in teaching.

The speaker stresses that while lesson plans and standards are important, it is the teacher's genuine care and connection with students that leaves a lasting impact.

The 'sixth C', Caring, is introduced as the most important element in teaching, transcending all other techniques and methods.

The talk concludes with a reminder of the significance of love in education and its role in motivating and inspiring students.

Transcripts

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Student-CenteredTeaching Techniques21st Century SkillsEducational InnovationLearning StylesClassroom DynamicsCollaborationCommunicationCritical ThinkingCreativityCaring