Teacher as this.........          ...................................... or this?

"The teacher is no longer merely the-one-who-teaches, but one who is himself taught in dialogue with the students, who in turn while being taught also teach. They become jointly responsible for a process in which all grow."

~ Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

I think that the more I "let go" of having all of the right answers, I might just become a better teacher. (images by Hanach Piven via moonriver)

A colleague once gave me a copy of Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Reading this book caused a paradigm shift in my thinking. His ideas are revolutionary. I’m wondering: why isn't this book required reading in education classes? The book is taught in sociology, philosophy, and political science courses at the university level, but in my seven years of undergraduate and graduate study, not a single professor has introduced me to Freire.

In Pedagogy of Freedom, Freire writes:

"To teach is not to transfer knowledge but to create the possibilities for the production or construction of knowledge."

and further on:

"Whoever teaches learns in the act of teaching, and whoever learns teaches in the act of learning." ~ Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of Freedom

Nothing has taught me more about this idea of "if you want to learn something, teach it" than my recent shift in career from high school English teacher to technology/ computer teacher.

Today's young people are in a unique situation. For the first time in history, society's youth is more knowledgable than adults about technology (and upon reflection, many other things, too.) For example, many of my students know more than I about some computer programs. I could choose to feel threatened by this, or I could step back and do the following:

• If a student knows a piece of software better, give her center stage and let her teach. She is learning a valuable lesson: how to teach. And, it's great for her self-esteem to know more than the teacher. Plus, students prefer learning from their peers than from an adult teacher.
• Pair a student "expert" up with those who are struggling. There's no greater sight than seeing students helping each other learn. Plus, it takes the pressure off of having to personally assist every student with their hands waving in the air.
• Say to the class, "I don't know! Can you help me?" Inevitably, a solution to the problem is eventually reached by trial and error, and the students have learned, which is the whole point, anyway.

I think that the more I "let go" of having all of the right answers, I might just become a better teacher.

According to Freire, teaching from a model that views the teacher as the "dispenser of knowledge" and the students as the "receptacles" and "containers" that need to be filled, is detrimental to learning.  He says, in fact, that

"Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other."

I want that type of classroom where the students are inquiring, and the teacher is the facilitator who acts as a guide to learning.