How do we talk about issues that matter ?
Taking about issues that matter can sometimes lead to unwanted conflict, so how do you address these sensitive topics? From my experience in school, the way that teachers tried to address issues that matter was not efficient. Making a boring slideshow for your students to look at and making them watch these long videos was always like saying its nap time. The way that my previous teachers tried to address these issues were not opening discussion among classmates but making us more closed off and afraid to say anything.
However, I’m not saying you can not use slideshows and videos to talk about issues that matter, instead I’m suggesting you encourage more discussions among students so that they can speak their mind and hear the thoughts of others. For example, lets make the slideshows and videos shorter so we do not lose our students attention. Allow students to have a chance to share their opinions or experiences or if they are still closed off, pass out papers and tell them to write their thoughts and feelings about said issue anonymously and the teacher will read their papers to the class which will generate conversations among the class.
In doing so students will learn more about the issue at hand from their classmates prospective and not only a slideshow and video that most forget by the end of the day. It is the teachers job to create a environment where their students feel safe to speak on topic and let their voices be heard, while of course being respectful about the things they say.
Hey Jacie! I first wanted to say that my teachers were the same way when introducing sensitive topics. My teachers wanted to avoid conflict in the classroom so much that they did not allow us students to share our opinions and we had to sit and listen to the material being provided. I think that allowing students to share their opinions anonymously is a great idea! I remember doing this and feeling like I could be a bit more honest and included. Personally, I loved watching educational videos in school but like you said, I agree that they should be shorter. Or teachers could allow breaks in the video, ask some questions, and allow the students to share their thoughts with a group or the whole class. Slideshows may bore students in the sense that the there is nothing for them to do other than listen. I loved your thoughts and ideas!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your first statement! All throughout school teachers would put their notes on slideshows and not allow us to have actual conversations. All this did was lead people to not pay attention and focus on something else. I liked your idea about making slideshows and videos shorter because the attention span of kids just keeps decreasing so a 1 minute video would have a way bigger effect on kids than a 6 minute video would. I also think the anonymous papers a teacher would read out in class is also a brilliant idea cause I know a lot of people, me included, want to share what they think but don't want to have it come from them. This way lets them say what they want without knowing they wrote it. Overall, I think your ideas were a great way to add more discussion into the classroom that gets everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteHi Maya! I agree that the attention span of kids are decreasing that’s why I think the videos and presentations should be shorter because I could relate, after a while of watching a educational video my mind would just wonder off. Thank you for commenting, I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed my ideas.
DeleteHi Jackie, I've had the past experiences you've had as well. And now that you mention it, I never realized it until now. I remember just watching videos rather than having a full on group discussion or one on one discussions. Having long videos definitely does get students to either doze off or not pay any attention. I like your idea about passing out a paper and getting the students to write their own thoughts. Not all students might be the type to speak their mind, or some students might also rather not have "conflict." It is important that students feel safe enough to express their thoughts and opinions. A teacher's job is far more important than what we might think. Not only is it just about teaching students, but making them feel safe and keep their minds open as well. Now, students will always have an open mind when in their classrooms.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley! Thank you for commenting, I’m glad to hear that you agreed with my post. It seems like everybody has had a similar experience and that’s good that we all realized it now! We have a chance now to correct things that our previous teachers may not have noticed.
DeleteHi Jacie!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is spot on. Because I felt the same way when a teacher would put on a video or slideshow during class. I'd look around the room and there would be some students asleep, some on their phone, some dazed off into space, very little students would be paying attention. One thing I enjoyed in my art class last semester was the professor discussed a topic with the class, we watched a video and then she would go around the room and ask what each of us thought of the topic. This allowed for us to have an open conversation regarding the topic and be able to hear our classmates' own thoughts and opinions. I think they have students write something down without putting their name on the paper is great. Especially for the students who feel embarrassed or don't want to share what they are thinking in front of everyone. Another one of my classes, the professor would do this. And she noticed when she did this, she received a lot more participation from her students.
Hello Jacie! I love your article and completely agree that the way teachers went about handling these issues in school was done in a incorrect way. I feel like there were never open conversations had and it was always the teacher lecturing about it and then asking if anyone had any questions or things to add and people always stayed silent. I think it is so important to have an open classroom where many things can be discussed in a professional and calm manner. These are difficult to talk about or have people open up about but we need to learn and be open to listening to people whose opinion differ from our own. Being respectful and making sure everyone has a chance to be heard is very important since these are such strong topics it will often lead to disagreements and hurt feelings amongst people who aren’t willing to listen.
ReplyDeleteHi Jacie, I really enjoyed your post. I also could relate how my previous teachers didn't ever really address big issues and make it less of a big discussion. Do you think that not always talking about things in class affected how you grew up talking about important issues? Would you have felt more prepared as a teacher if you would have experienced more discussion style conversation in the classroom. I feel like personally that has affected me, in a way that I don't really like talking about current issues in public or in a classroom setting. I think this has shown me how to incorporate class discussion in my own classroom. I really think you did a good job expressing your feelings on this, but I definitely would have liked to hear more about how you would incorporate these findings in your own classroom. Overall, great BLOG post and I really enjoyed reading your opinions.
ReplyDeleteHello Jacie,
ReplyDeleteTalking about emotions can be a sensitive topic and not a lot of students were taught exactly how to. It has to be practiced, but like you mentioned, the lesson plans taught were not efficient. A slideshow is not the best example to get through to students about such an important topic. The activity you stated is a great activity to help get students to express their feelings in writing, but it might not help those who need the words to come out of their own mouths and speak from the heart. Do you have any idea on how to help those students who don't have any problem expressing their feelings in writing, but have trouble speaking and holding a conversation dealing with emotions? I agree that it is extremely important to create a safe space in your classroom so that when these topics come up, it is not uncomfortable or scary for a student to talk about something sensitive. I enjoyed your perspective!
I agree with what you said many people are not open in talking about issues or having a conversation about it because it gives delema. Teacher feel uncomfroable having conversations with kids about issues and they try to avoid it. What I feel you should add some of your ideas how would you talk to your students about and how would you word it. What examples could you give teachers to address these issues and how would yourself address the issues. When i was younger my teachers never directly addressed issues with students they also choose to ignore the topic and not address it with the student or even talk about with the students. I really liked your blog post and your ideas about how to address issues and i loved how you talked about kids putting what they have a problem with on people and not saying their name so they can talk about what they are afraid to talk about.
ReplyDelete