Encouraging Thinking

Considering students as partners in teaching and learning instead of objects makes a great difference. When students are aware of the learning objectives of the day,  they can better participate in active learning.

Making the goal of the lesson clear, and reminding students that it is their responsibility to learn it, and that your job is just to help them is a huge step towards the right direction. After all, the learning happens in their brains.  

Letting your students explain their own thoughts about the learned to each other helps them understand the objective better. Even we adults often reflect our thoughts in conversations, and gain the clearer understanding about different matters while discussing about it. Let your students benefit from that, too. It can be easily managed in a classroom with well targeted speaking assignments.

Also, providing a clear summary of the lesson helps your students learn. We want to teach for understanding, not just for memorizing, right? The revised Bloom's Taxonomy (remember -> understand-> apply -> analyze -> evaluate -> create) is a great tool to make that happen. Just remember that in order to be able to apply, student must remember and understand what they are doing!

Encouraging Thinking

Considering students as partners in teaching and learning instead of objects makes a great difference. When students are aware of the learning objectives of the day,  they can better participate in active learning.

Making the goal of the lesson clear, and reminding students that it is their responsibility to learn it, and that your job is just to help them is a huge step towards the right direction. After all, the learning happens in their brains.  

Letting your students explain their own thoughts about the learned to each other helps them understand the objective better. Even we adults often reflect our thoughts in conversations, and gain the clearer understanding about different matters while discussing about it. Let your students benefit from that, too. It can be easily managed in a classroom with well targeted speaking assignments.

Also, providing a clear summary of the lesson helps your students learn. We want to teach for understanding, not just for memorizing, right? The revised Bloom's Taxonomy (remember -> understand-> apply -> analyze -> evaluate -> create) is a great tool to make that happen. Just remember that in order to be able to apply, student must remember and understand what they are doing!