My simple definition of teaching is: organizing and fostering a learning environment. For a positive environment to function, it must have balance; making sure all parts work together in sync.

The environment a teacher creates and fosters is at the discretion of their unique combination of personality, beliefs, skills and knowledge.  It can be difficult for a teacher chose a distinct teaching style because there is always new research, trends, curricula, and teaching styles being flashed in front of us in the form of inservices, PD, research, articles, and opinions.

It is imperative that a teacher find a teaching philosophy or method that works for them. In order for a teacher to work effectively and earnestly, they must find a teaching philosophy to stand by and develop with confidence.

I feel I have found the teaching philosophy that is ideal for me. After much searching and trial by fire, I have recently initiated project-based learning (PBL) in my classroom after extensive preparation (see here). One challenge I encountered was learning how to reapply my teaching skills to suit a new framework. I had to sort out how all my ideas could be delivered while still being student-centred. At first, I was very focused on the student-centred part, asking the class a lot of guiding questions so students, getting them to ask questions in turn and voice how they think the unit should operate. I couldn’t just ask “what do you wanna do?” to a class full of kids and just make a project on the go. It needed the touch of a professional to bring it to life.

The Buck Institute for Education, gurus of PBL information and resources, define PBL as:

a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks.

Teachers who want to implement PBL will need to do a considerable amount of planning and preparing. A structure needs to be established, and they need to be there to guide the students through it. It will be difficult at first, but as the project unfolds, it becomes more fluid. Teaching a unit, in the traditional sense, requires the teacher to prep lessons, deliver, assess, and repeat. PBL is different because you have to have a large process planned, what the students produce to demonstrate their understanding will vary.

I’ve learned that a teacher using PBL can’t just “go with the flow” and wing-it under the guise of “student choice” or “inquiry”. That’s lazy and the unit will end up be chaotic and rudimentary.  If anything, fostering student choice and inquiry takes a considerable amount of planning and forethought. A teacher needs be active in setting up structure and parameters in a project-based learning unit for students to work within successfully. Starting an unstructured PBL unit is like throwing students into the deep-end of a pool. Yes, some will benefit and do it successfully. But that misses the point.  When planned properly with structure and parameters, students will have freedom to work within a dynamic learning environment where they can inquire, learn, and collaborate.

I’m literally excited that I’ve found a teaching style that suits me. It’s a great teaching style for me because it’s diverse, goal-oriented, and collaborative. It can incorporate a multitude of essential learnings, assessments, and content delivery methods. It’s critical and creative. Inquiring and reflective. The main thing I’m getting at is that I’ve have found a teaching style that suits my attitude, beliefs, and skills. I’m invigorated by this method, and I think that transfers over to the students. Isn’t that the ultimate goal?

Are you a teacher with a philosophy? Don’t use that as an excuse not to incorporate new technology or pedagogy!

Are you a teacher without a philosophy? Then do some shopping and find one. You’re not doing yourself any favours by  being at the mercy of everything that PD, inservices, and research tells you. Assess who you are and how you learn. This will help determine how you can teach most effectively.

Are you a new teacher? Then you need a teaching philosophy!  I recommend you do some floating around to see what’s out there and what works for you, but make sure to have some foundation to build upon. I think the foundation of being a teacher is to have a solid set of beliefs to build your professional skills upon. It’s up to you to decide that.

Who am I to say all this? Just some teacher guy with a blog. Take it for whatever you think it’s worth.

Musings pbl teaching