My Reflection Essay 17/10/2023

   In the Week 3 lecture and tutorial, Dr Lina taught us about different styles of teachings strategies, the Jigsaw Method, and many more.Initially, my knowledge was limited to the Flipped Classroom and Active Learning, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the diverse range of strategies available. This expanded understanding made me enthusiastic about exploring these methods further in my own teaching practices. They were: cooperative learning, interactive learning, graphic organisers, reciprocal teaching, manipulative and assessment-based learning. I found the lecture and tutorial on teaching strategies to be highly enlightening and engaging.

    Before we started the class, we were encouraged to post the names of our favourite blogger within the class onto Mentimeter. I found that I enjoyed my friend Luanne's blog. She always had very interesting perspectives on the class as well as her refreshing thoughts that she showed. I submitted her name onto the Mentimeter and surprisingly, many of my course mates thought the same. 

    The discussion on teaching strategies reminded me of my own experiences as a student. I recalled instances where some teachers effectively employed interactive learning methods to make the class more engaging. Furthermore, I realized that many of the teaching strategies discussed could have positively impacted my learning experiences had they been used in more of my courses. This connection underscores the importance of instructors diversifying their teaching methods to cater to various learning styles. I found that whenever I learnt something new in Dr Lina's class, I understood my high school and primary school teachers more. I started to understand how their classes functions, how their thought processes were like and most importantly, how they wanted to use different learning strategies to enhance our learning.

    During the class, we did an activity where we picked a teaching strategy and grouped up with our course mates. I enjoyed hearing how my friends developed and interpreted knowledge. I picked the a strategy called reciprocal teaching. It was the most interesting out of the other strategies. Within this group activity I had newly found knowledge. I found that reciprocal teaching is a structured reading comprehension strategy that involves a cooperative dialogue between teachers and students. It was developed by Annemarie Palincsar and Ann L. Brown in the 1980s (Palincsar & Brown, 1984). This method aims to improve students' reading comprehension skills by actively engaging them in a discussion about the text they are reading.

    The recognition of diverse learning styles is a fundamental aspect of Dr. Lina's class. By introducing a variety of teaching strategies, the class caters to the varied needs and preferences of students. This approach aligns with learning theories such as the Multiple Intelligences theory proposed by Howard Gardner, which suggests that individuals have different ways of learning and processing information (Gardner, 1983). Dr. Lina's class equips educators with tools to adapt their teaching methods to accommodate these diverse styles.    

    The discussion of teaching strategies in Dr. Lina's class encourages students to think critically about the educational process. By exposing students to evidence-based teaching methods and allowing them to explore the rationale behind these strategies, the class fosters a deeper understanding of how effective teaching can impact learning outcomes. This aligns with the principles of critical pedagogy, emphasizing a reflective and critical approach to education (Freire, 1970).

    In conclusion, the exposure to a wide array of teaching strategies in the third-week lecture and tutorial left me with a deeper appreciation for the nuances of effective education. It highlighted the importance of diversifying teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles and preferences. Additionally, the experience of selecting and discussing reciprocal teaching underscored the significance of structured reading comprehension strategies, which have the potential to enhance students' reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.

Signing off,

Capybarabara

(17/10/2023)

References

Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Herder and Herder.

Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Basic Books.

Palincsar, A. S., & Brown, A. L. (1984). Reciprocal teaching of comprehension-fostering and comprehension-monitoring activities. Cognition and Instruction, 1(2), 117-175.