Each of you works with children of varied ages, experiences, and abilities, but there is one common threat that we all should see. A child's mind is an amazing thing. Last night, as I was talking with my son Ryan I could not help being amazed at the way in which his mind functions. He is a typical child (way to much like me if you ask his mother) with extraordinary creativity. I was watching him create Lego ships that would be used in a battle before he had to go to bed. Watching his thought process and his problem solving abilities was fun to see in action. When I tell you I was amazed at the strategies he was using I am not exaggerating. When he realized he needed a piece that was 8 sections long and he had none remaining he was quick to say I can just use two that are 4 sections long (thanks Ms. Bush). It is this type of thinking that all our students need and we as educators need to be providing opportunities for them to solve problems, and to think outside the box. Provide your students with authentic learning opportunities that force them to use the material you are teaching. Be careful you are not concerned with students ability to memorize material and you lose focus on the importance of students ability to transfer their learning. Can your students take what you teach them and use it in their lives? This is the real challenge in education. We need to remember we teach students not content.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Creativity + Flexibility + problem Solving = Success
Each of you works with children of varied ages, experiences, and abilities, but there is one common threat that we all should see. A child's mind is an amazing thing. Last night, as I was talking with my son Ryan I could not help being amazed at the way in which his mind functions. He is a typical child (way to much like me if you ask his mother) with extraordinary creativity. I was watching him create Lego ships that would be used in a battle before he had to go to bed. Watching his thought process and his problem solving abilities was fun to see in action. When I tell you I was amazed at the strategies he was using I am not exaggerating. When he realized he needed a piece that was 8 sections long and he had none remaining he was quick to say I can just use two that are 4 sections long (thanks Ms. Bush). It is this type of thinking that all our students need and we as educators need to be providing opportunities for them to solve problems, and to think outside the box. Provide your students with authentic learning opportunities that force them to use the material you are teaching. Be careful you are not concerned with students ability to memorize material and you lose focus on the importance of students ability to transfer their learning. Can your students take what you teach them and use it in their lives? This is the real challenge in education. We need to remember we teach students not content.
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I can relate to that, as I watch my son, only 3 manipulate and build train tracks while saying things to me, like "I need a connector" or "double holes," "only these pieces will fit", I am truly amazed at his thinking process. I can only imagine the possibilities, and know that I can encourage my students to use their thinking skills and problem solving abilities and guide them through these processes as they always amaze me as well!
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ReplyDeleteWhen you tap into a child's interest and they are motivated it is amazing what they can accomplish.
ReplyDeleteThat's what programs like Odyssey of the Mind strive for. In that program, there is no right or wrong answer - just endless possibilites - creativity is the key. It's all student driven, and it's such a joy seeing their mind in action and working as a team.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I love the program. I hope it is something Ryan wants to be a part of.
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