What is purpose of teaching?

"If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn". Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Estrada

As I said before I had opportunity to create learning experience for more than 1500 people from 12 different countries, in last 2 years. Yes, I am proud, but on that journey I failed a lot of times and that is the main reason why I never stop to challenge methods and approaches which we used. Therefore, is the normal that lot of questions coming in my mind related with education, such as: How we can improve our teaching methods? How we can inspire students to love learning? How we can use technology in order to support learning process? What is learning? What is education for? But fundamental question for me as an educator is:

What is purpose of teaching?

This is tricky question and people different react and respond on him and that is reason why is very hard to establish common ground. Therefore I decided to share with you one story for our better understanding.

Friday afternoon and every part of the school in Pestalozzi Children's Village, here in Switzerland, was occupied by students. Amazing energy was in the speakers. Hall beside radio room was really small for all of them. Time for last debrief, final hug and quiet good luck, in front of the door. Inside, students are leading LIVE RADIO SHOW with theirs classmates who present what they have learned during the the intercultural exchange. On the other end of line, miles away, parents and friends carefully follow show.

Some students prepared stories about child rights, others shared knowledge about gender roles, third explain why and how people from different cultures regret and so on.

In preparation for that day students have worked very hard. They were divided in groups, for two weeks courses, according to their interests. Together with professional educators and facilitators they had opportunity to learn about child rights, gender, intercultural communication, violence, discrimination and media.

They learned about mentioned topics trough: games, role plays, public presentations, debates, etc. After every activity they have produced draft of their work and received critique feedback from classmates. They have worked with experts for communications and media, also. Expert encouraged and prepared them for the “D-day ”.

And nobody thought about marks. Students were worrying only how audience will respond.

During those two weeks everything was about 40 children, not about teachers or curricula or assessment. Result of this student – centered approach is that teachers are no longer students’ primary source of information. Their role is not to lecture 6 hours every day in order to fulfill empty “weasels”. Instead of that teachers responsibility were to: 1. design creative learning conditions; 2. inspire student inquiry; 3. serve students and 4. advise them how to solve problem and make a products of their learning.

With this in mind we can say that is all learning about ownership. For every learner is most important to have opportunity to apply their knowledge. As I see it magic happens only when purpose of teaching fit needs of learners and expectations of knowledge economy.