Abnormality in Teaching and Learning by Jayla

Abnormality in Teaching and Learning by Jayla - September 2024 Scholarship Essay

Teaching and Learning
When talking about education, it is only natural that the mind jumps to your traditional classroom set-up. A teacher at the front, students lined neatly in desks, perhaps a Promethean board illuminating half-asleep faces. But does that have to be how things are? The school day is tiring, and having students re-hash the same format for eight hours a day, five days a week, can become incredibly mentally taxing for them. This is why many teachers have developed “non-traditional” styles of learning. Teaching that strays from the conformal, almost mindless routine.
My personal favorite abnormal method of teaching happens to be hands-on. Following the simple rules of “show, don’t tell” can be one of the most effective ways to teach. I often find myself confused hearing the constant babble of words, especially for a subject I struggle with. But when I have a visual example, something I can touch, manipulate, or perhaps even act out, has let me take leaps forward with my education.
I, as a senior, have often found myself in a teaching position, rather than a learning one. Maybe I am teaching the underclassmen how to play their instruments in band properly. Or perhaps I am demonstrating a technique in one of my art classes. When I teach, I often use my own work as a visual example, or my own playing as a visual example. I like to slow things down, repeat, speed up, and try again. Maybe I’d have a drummer play on a different material to help them with their technique. Or I’ll have an artist use a completely different pen or brush.
Currently outside of school, I am learning some new public speaking skills. I have never been particularly shy, and I was often told I had a good speaking voice by many teachers. Since I want to become a storyboard artist, I realized soon I would be pitching my own ideas. I need skills in persuasion, speaking, and holding my own in front of a large crowd. I have pracitced this by gathering my friends and reading essays I have written out loud to them. I am fairly confident that this essay will even come into practice.
I believe non-traditional learning is, and has been, the future of our classrooms. The days of preparing students as if they were simply products in a factory will soon be over. If we can adapt to different students' different learning styles, we will be able to creative environments where many more can thrive and succeed. Students are the future of our world, economy, and countries. It is time we started treating them like it.