An Ideal Classroom For All Students by Alyssa

An Ideal Classroom For All Students by Alyssa - October 2014 Scholarship Essay

Education is one of the most important keystones in living a successful life, and it has the power to change a person’s life. There are such a variety of classrooms that are seen around the world today, some students learn best visually while others need to read or write a topic for it to process. All of these combined, however, can pull together all individuals and allow for successful learning. Walking through some schools today, there are these charts displayed that are not easily forgotten. These charts say “I remember: 10% of what I hear, 20% of what I read, 30% of what I see and write, 70% of what I discuss, and 90% of what I do and apply.” These are all key components to an ideal classroom, but doing and applying are the keys to a successful education.

Problem solving, applying concepts, and experiencing concepts are all major components of the ideal classroom environment. It would be a game-changing experience to cut down on the unnecessary, repetitive competition in a classroom and replace it with an expansion on student’s interpersonal skills. The ideal classroom uses a portfolio system that focuses on student’s growth and improvements more so than their comparison to their peers. Competition is good, absolutely; it pushes people harder just as a natural instinct. However, due to this new technological age a heavier focus needs to be put on interpersonal skills and problem solving skills to make students competitive in the professional market upon the completion of their immediate education.

A portfolio system allows each student to grow based on his or her own developmental levels. For instance, grading and reporting on individual growth over the year encourages the applicative learning of material instead of simple memorization of data. Anyone can learn how to memorize some dates, it is much more difficult to learn how to apply these concepts. Exams are great for comparing student a to student b, but when these two students enter the job market their superior test taking skills are not going to make them stand out from every other student. Developing problem-solving skills at a young age could make substantial difference in not only the professional world but also intercultural communication.

Instead of focusing on who is better than another, the focus should be placed on individual growth. As much as it is a concern to allow a student to fall behind, it is a concern that a student’s growth is stagnant. Although there are programs such as academically gifted, or AG, students are not being challenged or pushed. The answer to a student being ahead of the norm should not be to just skip them a grade either. It is important for students to learn to grow within their boundaries with a variety of abilities. If anything, putting a lower student with a higher student could help both in their academic studies. Sometimes you learn the best when you are able to teach, which shows your ability to apply material. On the other hand, sometimes your peers are the best to learn from as they push you to be your best.

Educators are also a key aspect to the education experience and classroom environment. Too often, teachers find themselves falling into a routine where they use the relative teaching techniques that worked three decades ago. Especially with the growing technology in a student’s life, it is key to bring those tools into the classroom. Students are comfortable with technology and therefore they would be more apt to learn with these new tools. In addition, teachers need to keep up with the new curriculum. Just like any other professional field, material is always changing. There will always be new books, new research, and new information that they must learn and add to their classrooms. In addition, it is important for teachers to take more responsibility for the education of students instead of placing the blame on the parents. No matter what kind of student walks through the doors of a school, they should all be treated equally and receive the same high level of education. It is the teacher, not the parents, job to instill the want to learn. Without this drive and perseverance provided in the ideal classroom students will undoubtedly remain stagnant in growth.

Every student will have a different perspective on the ideal classroom, but in actuality the best classroom environment is one where every student can succeed. This is our nation, our world’s future. It is key that students are growing, developing, and moving forward every single day in their education. Old techniques do not work anymore, technology and change has led to so many new developments. Along with this change, education should change as well. This new portfolio system is just being suggested and researched on its success. However, go ask any student if they would rather be compared to the success they made or the success their peers made. If a student can see their own growth, their own success, they will be more motivated to work harder and therefore be more successful in the long run.