Changing Education by Krystal

Changing Education by Krystal - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

If the roles were reversed, and I found myself in the comfy seat in the spacious office of one my college professors, I believe I would like to teach the subject of Geology. I say this not because I am extremely passionate about the natural processes of the earth--don’t get me wrong, I think they rock--but rather because I am currently enrolled in a geology course, and I just don’t think it’s being taught to it’s full potential. If it were me, I would get my students out of the classroom more often, provide hands-on learning, and make the material applicable to each student.

If I were a geology teacher, I would get my students out of the classroom more often by taking them on significant and stimulating field-trips. I believe that students can learn far more by experiencing the world than they can from perusing textbooks. If we want to create life-long learners, we need to teach students to treat the world as their classroom. That being said, I am not naive to the time and resources that this would take, however, I believe that the benefits reaped would far outweigh the costs. We can not inhibit learning potential by only teaching in ways that are convenient.

In addition to incorporating more field trips, I would provide hands-on learning by incorporating labs, workshops, and interactive classroom activities. In the setting of higher education, too many courses are filled with mundane lectures, and lengthy reading and writing assignments. I am not at all discrediting these methods--they are obviously very effective ways to convey information. However, the duty of a teacher should be so much more than merely conveying information. If I was a geology teacher, I would not teach my students about the characteristics of rocks and minerals, I would show them. I would let them rub grainy sandstone rocks between their fingers; press sulfur crystals up against their noses to inhale the distinctive stench. Real, meaningful learning occurs when students experience things on a personal level.

Lastly, I would make the material more applicable to my students. Granted, this may be harder to do depending on the subject material, however, ours is a world full of connections. Every field of study is in one way or another related to each other. If I were my geology teacher, I would allow students to explore how geological aspects relate to them, and their personal fields of study. And not just that, but how it relates to them as human beings. All too often, students are learning material for the sole purpose of passing tests. This is not an effective system, and this is not how will we better our society. If we want to better our society, we need to stop drilling facts about the world, and instead help students to find their place in it.

In closing, there are many changes that I might make if the roles of teacher and student were reversed. Among those, would be to get my students out of the classroom and into the real world, provide hands-on learning, and make the material relevant to them. Building a better world begins by bettering our individuals. And that betterment takes place in the walls of our schools. Perhaps someday, I may find myself in the place of my professor. My hope is that I can change the pre-existing paradigms, procedures, and perspectives when it comes to education. Thank you.