Mel Pace (mpace1@tampabay.rr.com)
Sun, 18 Apr 1999 09:49:01 -0400
From: "Mel Pace" <mpace1@tampabay.rr.com> Subject: Constructivism and individualizing of instruction Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 09:49:01 -0400
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Colleagues,
I am going to TRY to write this response in a tone of empathetic
understanding: however, it will be difficult since I am SO passionate about
this topic.
The following comment was made recently in a discussion of teacher-directed
vs exploratory learning environments:
In the current system there is no time for
individualization of instruction. No time for one on one interaction. The
question that has to be answered is how do we reach the most kids for the
time spent.
Before I respond directly to this comment, please allow me to give a little
background. For ten years I was in the field of educational sales and
consultant work. As such, I visited thousands of classrooms and worked with
likewise thousands of teachers. The best teachning that I ever saw was a
wonderful older woman in Linden, Tennessee teaching in a kindergarten
through eighth grade one room schoolhouse. She had 35 students and her
entire program was individualized. It was the most amazing thing to watch!
I had previously taught for only four years in a regular primary classroom.
However, 9 years ago I returned to classroom teaching and determined that I
would become at least as good at inidvidualizing my instruction as that lady
in Tennessee. It was not as hard as I thought it would be; and at one point
I was doing it with 44 students at a time, in a multi-age classroom of first
through third graders. In my opinion, that was the best teaching that I
have ever done.
So, please don't make all encompassing statements like there is NO way to do
this type of thing. Teachers all over the world ARE doing it and their
students are benefitting immensely.
Mel Pace
Media Specialist Roosevelt Elementary
Doctoral student Instructional Technology
University of South Florida Tampa, FL USA
mpace1@tampabay.rr.com
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