Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Pity for the Ancient Teachers

As I read through the articles we had this week regarding learner autonomy and the one computer classroom, I couldn't stop thinking about what I would do in a classroom had I not had any computers. For me, imagining a class with no computer is almost total chaos. I would know what to do, but it would be so de-energizing.
I also started to think about the teachers that taught me without a computer in the class, nor even at home probably. I felt so much pity for them. Not only did they not have access to a computer, but they also had at least 25 students in each class. I am filled with respect to them on how they managed.
However, what really annoys me today is the fact that there are some of these ancient teachers still teaching nowadays with their same old methods, even if they have computers in the classroom. If you talk to them and ask them why they don't use it in teaching, they would tell you that they are too old to learn how to use it themselves, how would they use it with their students? And if you ask them why they don't go learn how to use it, they also reply that they are too old to learn as well. They have been teaching the same things in the same way for 20 or so years, they are too rusty to change. Despite that, there are some "old" teachers that I know who went technological as soon as they could. In my eyes and in the eyes of their students, these teachers are still young and energetic despite their physical age. It is these teachers who really teach their students, not only classroom lessons, but also life-lessons about never giving up and always being updated.
Blessings to the young teachers in old bodies...
Charbel

2 comments:

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  2. Hello Charbel!!! How right you are saying that one can't live without computer. Computer is the thing of first importance nowadays. If I remember the days when I was taught everything was different of course, but it could be better if our teachers had computers at that time indeed. But another thing I agree is that some teachers don't want to give up their old-fashined styles of teaching and don't strive to learn even the simplest ways with computers. that is the pity, in fact. Right point!!!
    Peri

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