čtvrtek 9. května 2013

Changes in my learning experience

When I think about my learning experiences and their changes throughout time, I think that there has been changed a lot. When I was at the primary school, I have had one teacher for almost all the subjects except for English. He was an amazing man and a great professional with a lot of experience. His way of teaching was like from the old school times when the teacher wanted his pupils to strictly obey the rules but at the same time he always managed to spice up his lessons with humour and he was able to evoke interest in the field. He was a great authority for us. We never got homeworks because everything was done at school. On the other hand, he required a lot of discipline and if you disobeyed, you could get a little slap. That is something which would not be possible today since the parents would possibly sue you for physical abuse at the European Court of Justice. But at that time, some 18 years ago, it was still possible to be more strict with the children at school and I think that it made more good than harm because especially small children need a teacher who is a synthesis of authority and friendliness. So my learning at that time has been done exclusively in the school environment with the guidance of the teacher. 
Later on, at the grammar school, the more and more stuff to learn appeared. I got there various teachers whose teaching style varied. The most of them had though a feeling that their subject is the most important one in the world and that when we didn't learn everything in detail, we would probably miss a lot. However, self studying was a common way of getting information. Technique and practical applicability in the real life was not used much, most of the things were done in a theoretical way with little relation to real life. Unfortunately, this trend continued and is still in progress also now when I am studying at the university. I think that I have to study quite hard and do a lot of seminar papers but most of the seminars are theoretically based with loads of information but little practice. I miss also a feedback from our teachers. Great many papers I have handed out throughout my studies weren't provided with any feedback, just with a little note saying "passed".
To sum up, I think that the way of teaching of most of the teachers I met in my life was still quite a traditional one with a little use of technique, feedback, interactivity and open-mindedness. I think that it is because they established some kind of teaching style which they like and which is comfortable to stick to. On the other hand, the younger tutors and doctorands we had at the university were mostly open to changes and their lessons were usually more interesting. As if the new trends were just slowly approaching the younger generations. My own way of learning hasn't changed much since I got at the grammar school - I have to process a lot of information but traditionally with a little relation to their practical applicability.



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