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Re: What Does TIMSS Teach Us? (Short)



Actually it is not the "new" techniques, but the old techniques that are producing the problem. Teachers are under a mandate to produce better test scores, so they do the natural thing. They drill and review sample items. Students memorize rather than reflect. Essentially they are spoon fed the material in very small easy to swallow bits. This produces an immediate rise in test scores after the prep., but it sacrifices overall thinking skills, and breeds more dependence.

John M. Clement



Rick wrote in part:

In simple
words, we are
getting more and more DEPENDENT learners. I fear that many
of the 'new'
pedagogical techniques being pushed just buy into that. We
are structuring
their study and learning so much, that I'm worried that they
won't have
really 'learned how to learn' and will remain dependent--to their
detriment.

This states well my concerns and worries; both with the state of current
education and what and unintended effect of 'new' pedagogical techniques.

Joel Rauber
Joel_Rauber@sdstate.edu