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How much freedom do you feel you have in the way you teach?
For those who are teachers, how much freedom do you feel you have in the way you teach? Do you feel that the way you teach is how you were told or do you feel you have freedom? For example to be more or less interactive, or more hands on or less hands on.
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4 answers
Cori Coburn-Shiflett
Manager of Educational Technology Support Services / STEM educator
29
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Cori’s Answer
There are a lot of factors that determine your "freedom".
Above all, the direction provided by your school administration will shape the culture and expectations of your classroom. The endorsed curriculum is the guide for the content and assessments. The relationships you build with your students and their families is what drives the flow day in and day out. Great teachers are able to relate their students' interests to the course content and provides proven educational paths to critical thinking opportunities and deeper dives into the learning.
I advise new teachers to seek our guidance from instructional coaches and veteran mentor teachers to learn how to incorporate multi-modal learning experiences and interactive activities to support their students' learning.
Above all, the direction provided by your school administration will shape the culture and expectations of your classroom. The endorsed curriculum is the guide for the content and assessments. The relationships you build with your students and their families is what drives the flow day in and day out. Great teachers are able to relate their students' interests to the course content and provides proven educational paths to critical thinking opportunities and deeper dives into the learning.
I advise new teachers to seek our guidance from instructional coaches and veteran mentor teachers to learn how to incorporate multi-modal learning experiences and interactive activities to support their students' learning.
I will look into that!! Thank you for your feedback!
Matthew
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
Freedom depends on where you teach. I taught high school and I had to follow a curriculum mandated by the school district. I also was a professor (I’m retired now), and I had much more freedom to teach what I wanted to teach.
If you teach in public schools, ask about what is mandated.
Same with college. Some college programs do have mandated requirements.
ASK! Don’t be shy!
Lisa recommends the following next steps:
Thanks for the advice.
Matthew
Updated
TLAUREN’s Answer
While content may be required, teaching may still vary: In point of fact, this probably reflects s standard point of view. Specifically, a curriculum framework obligates all teachers of the courses or grades in question in the majority of districts and many private schools, but little is required in terms of specific teaching methods or instructional activities; that is usually left to teachers to decide.The fact that 70% of people want teachers to have more flexibility probably reflects a widespread belief that professionals in all fields should be able to determine what their clients need.
Updated
Rahul’s Answer
Teaching has moved from being an exciting adventure towards being a monotonous paint by numbers/ by the book exercise. The emphasis is placed upon the students response to the Teacher's skills rather than acknowledging the originality of the efforts that the Teacher puts in. Since parameters to assess the Teachers Performance have been forcefully modified to include an element of pandering to stereotypes/personal popularity l
, it is likely that the freedom to engage in a productive discourse has suffered too (for the fear of punitive action). Trusting a teacher's singular vision and allowing them to challenge their pupils (and for pupils to challenge them back without nevessarily insulting them) would go a long way in ensuring that both sides are able to benefit from the exercise.
, it is likely that the freedom to engage in a productive discourse has suffered too (for the fear of punitive action). Trusting a teacher's singular vision and allowing them to challenge their pupils (and for pupils to challenge them back without nevessarily insulting them) would go a long way in ensuring that both sides are able to benefit from the exercise.