I am good at Maths, My parents were good at maths, my sisters are good at maths, my nieces and nephews are good at maths. It seems that everyone n my family are good at maths. This aptitude is due to nature, and there is some qualification, but most of the qualification is due to nurture.
My mother wasn't taught maths at school and therefore has little understanding. One of my sisters felt like she was living in the shadow of her older siblings so choose not to excel in the area. A niece was surrounded by peers who made fun of her for her ability, so she was angry that she could do maths. Whilst for me it was the only aspect of primary school that was able to penetrate my lack of concentration, my day dreaming and reach my consciousness. And my nephew Michael was always more interested in electricity, electronics and computers than pure maths. So there is definite variation in what nature has provided, and what has been made of the potential through nurture.
17 April, 2008
The way I approach teaching and learning.
These are a number of different aspects to this issue.
Learning relational and personal skills require practice. For example, I believe learning public speaking, relationships and other behaviours, can only be done effectively by practice. This is because these are in fact skills, and just like riding a bike, driving a car or learning to swim skills can only be obtained through practice.
Some people may well benefit from discussion of theory, and most by seeing the behaviour modelled. But this is not enough in itself. If you have seen someone swimming then you have some idea of the goal, and what movements are required to achieve them. Harry Potter could not understand how to do a Wonksey faint from the descriptions that Oliver gave him. It wasn't until he saw Krum preform the manoeuvre at the International Quidtch finals that he understood what Oliver wanted him to do.
Theoretical concepts on the other hand do require a verbal explanation. Geometry can never be taught by modelling and practice alone. Some explanation is necessary. Practice in applying the theory is also important. Of course some people must be able to workout theory without explanation, otherwise nothing new would ever be discovered, but the process is very slow.
Personally I enjoy theory, especially science and maths etc, so a theoretical discussion and explanation is a joy to me. I enjoy lectures because they increase understanding very quickly and then I enjoy putting what I have learnt into practice. However I know that many, or possibly most people don't like the theoretical approach.
Many people don't learn anything from lectures because they don't relate it to what they need to know, how they can use it. For these people it is important to start with how they are going to apply the theory in their lives. This is something that I am not yet good enough at dong in teaching. I need more practice because I tend to think more explanation will help and it often doesn't.
Learning relational and personal skills require practice. For example, I believe learning public speaking, relationships and other behaviours, can only be done effectively by practice. This is because these are in fact skills, and just like riding a bike, driving a car or learning to swim skills can only be obtained through practice.
Some people may well benefit from discussion of theory, and most by seeing the behaviour modelled. But this is not enough in itself. If you have seen someone swimming then you have some idea of the goal, and what movements are required to achieve them. Harry Potter could not understand how to do a Wonksey faint from the descriptions that Oliver gave him. It wasn't until he saw Krum preform the manoeuvre at the International Quidtch finals that he understood what Oliver wanted him to do.
Theoretical concepts on the other hand do require a verbal explanation. Geometry can never be taught by modelling and practice alone. Some explanation is necessary. Practice in applying the theory is also important. Of course some people must be able to workout theory without explanation, otherwise nothing new would ever be discovered, but the process is very slow.
Personally I enjoy theory, especially science and maths etc, so a theoretical discussion and explanation is a joy to me. I enjoy lectures because they increase understanding very quickly and then I enjoy putting what I have learnt into practice. However I know that many, or possibly most people don't like the theoretical approach.
Many people don't learn anything from lectures because they don't relate it to what they need to know, how they can use it. For these people it is important to start with how they are going to apply the theory in their lives. This is something that I am not yet good enough at dong in teaching. I need more practice because I tend to think more explanation will help and it often doesn't.
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