The myth of average learners is just that. A MYTH. There is no such thing as average when it comes to people. Just as each person in unique in how they look, no one is the same when it come to how they learn. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. No one is just "average". Todd identifies this concept as a "jagged learning profile." Learning profiles are unique, just like fingerprints or snowflakes. While two students may be similar, no one learns the exact same way. Understanding there is no average student is important as a teacher. As Todd points out, teaching to average hurts everyone. It destroys our brightest students by not letting them challenge their potential and it destroys the morale of our weakest students because average is still above their learning level (Tedx Talks, 2013)
As teachers the responsibility of the banning the average lies on us. We need to be willing to break free from traditional strategies and incorporate more individualized learning for students. Flexible learning environments nurture student's learning potentials. When students are able to learn in a way that addresses their strengths and weaknesses, we are creating a safe learning environment where everyone can learn.
There are many different ways to ban the average in your classroom and teach to the edges. I believe that a flipped classroom is one of the best ways. By allowing students to listen to lectures and complete major reading assignments outside of class, that gives you as the teacher the entire class period to work with students in a way that meets their academic needs. Other than the obvious monetary means it take to support technology in the classroom, the biggest barrier to teaching to the edges is time. In a typical high school class, it is difficult to spend individualized time with the 25-30 students in a fifty minute class period. That's two minutes or less per student. That is not enough time to sufficiently meet their academic needs. That is one of the many reasons I feel that a flipped classroom would be a possible solution.
What are your thoughts? What strategies would you use in your classroom to teach to the edges and ban the myth of average?
References: Tedx Talks. (2013, Jun 19). The myth of average: Todd Rose at TedxSonomaCounty [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eBmyttcfU4&t=210s
I'm going to start with the "average learner" when it comes to homeschooling. With homeschooling, you can meet the needs of each individual child. They don't need to be in a grade. If they struggle in math, you can take time needed for him to understand the material. If he excels in math. He can work ahead so he is challenged.
ReplyDeleteIn a school setting, this would be difficult. Everything is based on a grade level. Could you do away with the grade levels? Have testing every year to see where each student is in each subject. Based on the test results have the student place in an appropriate "grade". This would be confusing at first. What grade level are they in? When do they graduate? They graduate when they meet whatever the standards are for graduating. That may mean they are done with English a year ahead of time, two years behind in science. But, the student would be learning at their own pace.
Meeting the needs of all students is much easier in "non-traditional" settings. I think grade levels should be determined by ability instead on age. A current 16-year old could be taking English 3, history 4, math 2 and science 3. It works like this in many schools with AP and Honors classes, but these students end up taking extra classes as well. Grade levels would be very difficult to do away with.
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