Learning Teaching 2006

  Reflections on your first steps in teaching

Intro/Background

• On this page, we shared positive feedback on the presentations in class, as well as reflections on different aspects of the teaching process.

Team 01: Presentation on Jean Jacques Rousseau

• Date: July 07, 2006
• Team members: Agustín Onis, Romina Mermelstein, Pablo Pecorelli and Rodrigo Rouco

1. I liked the way you worked as a team, sharing tasks and supporting each other
2. I liked the way you clearly planned your lesson, stating what each one would do, and in what order
3. I liked the way in which you promptly responded to feedback on your first handout drafted
4. I liked the fact that you met all deadlines.
5. I liked the way you adapted to meet timing requirements, although it forced you to change plans on the spur of the moment.
6. I especially liked your attitude, which showed you were aware of the challenge you were facing, and yet willing to go for it! :-D
7. Agustín: I liked your commitment to the task, the seriousness and effort your presentation showed... That's all you need to become a GREAT TEACHER!
8. Romina: I liked the way in which you stayed always "around", backing up your partners all throughout the presentation. TRUE EDUCATORS never forget they can only achieve their aims by joining others!
9. Pablo: I liked the way you asked questions of the class, trying to get them involved, and the fact that your voice carried well. SUCCESSFUL TEACHERS know one of their roles is to entertain and motivate their learners!
10. Rodrigo: I liked your attempt at using the blackboard to check answers as the class carried out the task assigned. An effective use of techniques is one of the pillars on which EFFICIENT TEACHERS always rely!

Team 02: Presentation on Maria Montessori

• Date: July 14, 2006
• Team members: Vanesa Aja Rivero, Tamara Diaz and Pamela Mesquida Mraidan

1. I liked the fact that you planned aims for each stage of your presentation, clearly stating what you expected the class to get from each moment in the lesson.
2. I liked your efforts to apply ideas you were learning about to the teaching of your own lesson
3. I liked the way you made the class work all throughout the lesson.
4. I liked how you encouraged involvement among your class, and your "courage" to decentre the lesson during the debate.
5. I especially liked your colourful blackboard synopsis, and the copy you made for the class.
6. Your timing was simply PERFECT (congrats! that's really difficult for most teachers in our culture!)
7. I really liked how you respected the task cycle (assigning, carrying out, checking task) in all cases.
8. Tamara: I liked the way you sounded: confident, in charge... A CONFIDENT TEACHER helps learners feel confident too!
9. Vanesa: I liked the hard work your presentation suggested. INSPIRING TEACHERS show their learners what kind of behaviour they expect from them by setting an example.
10. Pamela: I liked your seriousness and commitment to the task. TEACHERS WHO SEE THEMSELVES AS ONGOING LEARNERS always have the chance to keep growing, and are a true example of lifelong learning.

Team 03: Presentation on Domingo Faustino Sarmiento

• Date: July 14, 2006
• Team members: Liliana Caggiano, Mabel Roque and Mónica Zurraco

1. I liked the fact that you clearly planned to respect "task cycle" (i.e. assigning a task - having the class carry it out - checking the task).
2. I liked the way you all looked: spontaneous, well prepared.
3. I liked the way you smiled, all throughout your presentation. Did you notice your audience smiled back?
4. I liked the way you generated an atmosphere of joy/fun associated with learning.
5. I liked the fact you regularly paused to check the class was following you, and your efforts to keep them involved all throughout.
6. I liked your use of the BB to check tasks.
7. I liked the excellent research work which can be inferred from your presentation.
8. Mónica: I certainly liked the confident attitude your voice conveyed. TEACHERS WHO FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING are more likely to make their learners feel good too.
9. Liliana: I particularly liked the way you kept eye contact with the class as a whole, without focussing on any student in particular. EFFECTIVE TEACHERS work to make everyone feel part of the lesson, and body language is one of the best ways to convey this!
10. Mabel: I especially liked the calm atmosphere your tone of voice created. It seems you know GOOD TEACHING always starts by helping learners feel relaxed and positive about their learning.

Team 04: Presentation on John Dewey

• Date: July 21, 2006
• Team members: Alejandra de Antoni, Andrea Janiec and Yohana Solís

1. I liked the proportion between student-talking time (STT) and teacher-talking time(TTT)in your presentation.
2. I liked the involvement you promoted among your class. You favoured equal participation on the part of all students.
3. I liked the excellent visuals you prepared to support your presentation.
4. I liked the variety of tasks and sources of stimuli you introduced during your lesson.
5. I LOVED your timing. Well done!!!
6. I liked your class dynamics.
7. I liked your moderation of teams during group work.
8. Andrea: I really appreciated your courage to dress up and role-play "the teacher" in front of the class. A TEACHER WHO'S NOT AFRAID OF TRYING NEW OPTIONS to motivate their class is sending a valuable message: "risk-taking is essential to learn in life"
9. Yohana: I liked the way in which you struggled to link what what you saw as the essence of Dewey's message to your partners' experience. STUDENT-CENTERED TEACHERS have discovered a precious secret: "you must listen before you can tell anyone anything!"
10. Alejandra de A.: I liked the way in which you played your part, all along the lesson.Only TEACHERS WHO CAN STEP INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOES can walk by them along their "learning paths".

Team 05: Presentation on Paolo Freire

• Date: July 21, 2006
• Team members: Déborah Durán, Andrea Freire, Andrea Provinciano and Alejandra Vistué

1. I liked your commitment during preparation of your presentation, and how you showed you cared about me as a person (not just your tutor in this course!)
2. I liked the way you worked to get over challenges presented during preparation.
3. I liked your flexibility to make good use of all I could offer, and what I could not!
4. liked the impression you conveyed of comfort working as a team.
5. I liked the way you used the blackboard to check tasks.
6. I liked the way in which you managed to keep the whole class on task, although most of them were already willing to think of the winter break! ;-)
7. Déborah: I liked the way you used your student's first names when checking answers. HUMANISTIC TEACHERS know that's one of the easiest ways to show we see them as people, not just learners.
8. Andrea F.: I liked your effort and commitment to the task.TEACHERS WHO ARE READY TO WORK HARD are bound to succeed!
9. Andrea P. I liked the way you kept monitoring group work and provided support during task completion. SUPPORTIVE TEACHERS help their class feel they can learn, and are also more likely to get support from their learners in turn.
10. Alejandra V.: I certainly enjoyed listening to you. Your language has improved a lot, and I hope you have already started appreciating the results of your hard work to get better.TEACHERS WHO WORK ON THEIR SHORTCOMINGS send their classes a most important message: "we are all learners, and we can all succeed!"

All teams