Self-directed learning and Creativity

​I was never the student who said they wanted to be a teacher when they grew up. But along the way, I got lost and found my self here. I think this aspect of self discovery is extremely important for students. As such, my philosophy begins with teacher-led instruction and finishes with the students leading themselves.

​

This is made all the more important teaching in China. Since the times of Confucius, the masters have taught, while the pupils listened and took notes. But when does the pupil become the master? Only on the master's death... Today things are still the same. Teachers lecture, and students listen. There is no interaction between the two groups.

​

I do not have this option, nor the desire to teach in this method, because my students are all going to American universities. Therefore, for sophomore students, I start with 80% teacher-directed learning. Once I teach my students the vocabulary and the skills, I hope that number has moved to 50%- teacher / student-directed learning by the beginning of their junior year. Additionally, I hope that the students are leading the learning 80% of the time by the start of their senior year. If the students are able to make sense of their own learning they become much more motivated and fun to work with.

​

Secondly, through the many courses that I have taken in the MAED program, I really began to add creativity to the docket. I have done this by concentrating on key concepts that are generally though of as creative such as poetry, music, and architecture, and broke them down to their most simple component. Once the students  understand why these basic components are creative, I have combine them with other elements that are creative. Putting these two disparate elements together results in something unique and wonderful, and therefore, creative.