277 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Vin LoPresti's avatar

Great model, one guaranteeing maximal resistance from the established "order". There are compromises. A colleague and I used the TAPPS (thinking aloud pair problem solving) method in our large classes (supposedly "lecture halls") of 150-175 college freshman bio/chem integrated curriculum students, with both he and I (the chem and bio professors) and four or five grad students circulating through the hall to listen to the students converse. While it was hardly ideal, it was a wonderful dent in the status quo of passive "learning", and a great way of identifying misconceptions.

https://www.uwlax.edu/globalassets/offices-services/catl/teaching-guides/group-learning-materials/think-aloud-pair-problem-solving.pdf

For physical science teachers, I also recommend Arnold Arons' book, A Guide to Introductory Physics Teaching, also a nice source of student misconceptions in physics.

Expand full comment
Megan Baker's avatar

Thanks for the link. I'll take a look....Self-directed education is definitely hostile to the status quo, which is why I advocate abandoning the school system instead of sinking another century into "reform." If the elites were smart, they'd ban homeschooling and flood the system with cash, since the more money it has the dumber it gets.

Expand full comment
Landru's avatar

Nothing like doing what you are learning is there : )

Expand full comment