Just following from our discussion in class today. What is your approach to your own subjectivity in your class? How much bias (passion/emotion) is okay? What are ways that we can balance our approach to a topic that leaves the 'learning' (interpretation) to the students?
This is a really interesting topic, because I don't think teachers in any subject matter can get away from subjectivity. We have to be subjective. It is our subjectivity that allows us to make decisions about what parts of the curriculum to spend the most time on (within the IRP guidelines, of course), how to approach topics (discussions, experiments, research or lectures), and what to test. Passion and enthusiasm comes across, and students thrive with it. I think more importantly, we have to be aware of our biases, and create an environment that embraces all students values and opinions, even when they differ from our own. Here is a link to an article that I found really interesting, entitled "Shifting out of "Neutral": Beginning Teachers' Struggles with Teaching for Social Justice". http://www.csse.ca/CJE/Articles/FullText/CJE26-4/CJE26-4-Kelly.pdf I know we're all busy, but if you get a chance, even skim through the headings and the conclusion. The article changed my perspectives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lindsay, being aware of your own biases is definitely key. As teachers, we are going to come across as an authority in one way or another. So we have to be SUPER careful about how much of our own opinions and values are coming across in our lessons. We wouldn't want to be planting wheels in the heads of our students! That being said, being completely neutral is almost impossible, and in some circumstances an opinion is fully warranted. I think as long as you are being respective of other opinions, and not sharing your personal biases as truth, you should be ok!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we have had professors that do not even attempt to be neutral when they are teaching. At times, their subjective opinions are so obvious that it is almost offensive to those in the class that do not share the same opinions.
ReplyDeleteI think that as teachers, we are somewhat in a position of authority. Depending on how we establish ourselves in the classroom, there are probably many students that would believe most of the words that come out of our mouths. It is important to train students to be critical thinkers. They need to learn to sift through what they are taught and identify which ones are sound and which ones are based purely on opinion. Unless they are taught how to do that, teachers can risk placing wheels in their heads. These wheels may be ideas that discriminate against groups or beliefs.
Passion is necessary in successful teaching, as i experienced in high school. I believe that bias will inevitably show when one is passionate. I believe it is impossible to be completely objective. Furthermore, I do not think it possible to be passionate and objective. It is imperative that we teach critical thinking. By teaching this skill we have already become bias against truth-telling forms of authority. I think the best approach is to be fair, encourage and protect different student opinions. Students can pick up on your views after a while. They will be able to tell what you have a passion about and what you don't. Personally my favorite teachers have always been ones that are opinionated and show some of their beliefs. I do not necessarily agree with these beliefs that these teachers demonstrated but at least they are honest with their students and promoted critical thinking. I think honesty is very important as kids are probably the best B.S. detectors out there. If the kids of today are anything like me 10-15 years ago they will hate being lied to as did I. This leads to loss of respect for the teacher.
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