We have talked a lot about the use of technology in the classroom. I certainly believe that we fool ourselves if we think we can get up in front of a group of students and just drone on all day long and reach into them.
Our students whether they be children, teenagers, or adults live in a media based world. To leave media out of presentations means to leave out important attributes that our students are accustomed to every day of their lives.
Brookfield (2006) speaks of becoming stale in teaching and also going on automatic pilot.
I want to push the envelope and make learning to be interactive, fun, and relevant to the learners. Shame on us if we are boring. We are to be sharing life principles and truths of the world and we put people to sleep as we do it.
Be daring. Take a risk. Be different. These statements should represent the heart of the teacher. That is what I want to be.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Global Cultures - the instructional plan
I have just posted the instructional plan in my group discussion board. The plan explains an eight hour one day course to be taught to my company on global cultures.
The format is a good one. There is a great deal of interaction and a great deal of variety in the course. The participants are all business professionals who are working more and more with customers and employees around the world.
I love interactive classes. I hate BORING classes. Let's get the people involved. This course will involve them and provide practical information for them.
Brookfield (2006) in The Skillful Teacher explains that students will not speak up and participate if we do all the talking for them. The solution - "stop talking so much" (Brookfield, p. 140). Break them up in groups to talk among themselves and then share to the whole. Ask questions. Do not let the class be spectators.
The format is a good one. There is a great deal of interaction and a great deal of variety in the course. The participants are all business professionals who are working more and more with customers and employees around the world.
I love interactive classes. I hate BORING classes. Let's get the people involved. This course will involve them and provide practical information for them.
Brookfield (2006) in The Skillful Teacher explains that students will not speak up and participate if we do all the talking for them. The solution - "stop talking so much" (Brookfield, p. 140). Break them up in groups to talk among themselves and then share to the whole. Ask questions. Do not let the class be spectators.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Learning global cultures
The two business educators that I have contacted are Devendra Dixit and Kati Teer. These both are Emerson employees. Devendra is an HR director with responsibilities of overseeing HR in India. Kati is responsible for the oversight of all Emerson training in Europe.
Both of these individuals can help as I develop a course for own employees called, "Global Cultures." Our company has locations in the United States, Mexico, Europe, China, Canada, and India. We see a need to instruct our employees on the cultures of these other countries. We want them to understand how to interact with other cultures and to understand the US way is not the only way.
We will have Devendra and Kati prepare videos in which they describe their own cultures and suggestions for Americans to be better received and understand how others view the world. Their email addresses are Kati.teer@emerson.com and Devendra.dixit@emerson.com.
These videos can be incorporated in the training and played at appropriate times in the instruction.
The book I am reading is The Skilled Teacher. The author, Stephen Brookfield (2006), reminds of the importance of making learning relevant for the learner by saying, "People will generally resist activities for which they see no justification" (p. 219). By using "instructors" from specific parts of the world, our learners will be able to connect the need for the presentation with their work.
Both of these individuals can help as I develop a course for own employees called, "Global Cultures." Our company has locations in the United States, Mexico, Europe, China, Canada, and India. We see a need to instruct our employees on the cultures of these other countries. We want them to understand how to interact with other cultures and to understand the US way is not the only way.
We will have Devendra and Kati prepare videos in which they describe their own cultures and suggestions for Americans to be better received and understand how others view the world. Their email addresses are Kati.teer@emerson.com and Devendra.dixit@emerson.com.
These videos can be incorporated in the training and played at appropriate times in the instruction.
The book I am reading is The Skilled Teacher. The author, Stephen Brookfield (2006), reminds of the importance of making learning relevant for the learner by saying, "People will generally resist activities for which they see no justification" (p. 219). By using "instructors" from specific parts of the world, our learners will be able to connect the need for the presentation with their work.
Teaching global cultures using global resources
My company is a global company. As a manufacturing company, we have locations in the United States but also in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and China.
One of the challenges of our company is to remind our American employees of the fact that we are global. Our US employees need to take time to understand the cultures of the other countries and with that understanding to develop a respect for them.
I will develop a one day (eight hour course) called Global Cultures. The purpose of the course will be to introduce the employees to the cultures and perspectives of the different countries we work with on a daily basis.
I have engaged two coworkers who will help me in the course. Kati Teer (Kati.teer@emerson.com) who is the director of all training for Emerson in Europe and Devendra Dixit (Devendra.dixit@emerson.com).
These two individuals will help me with video clips we will use during the training. They will discuss some of the customs of their areas but especially the culture of the regions when considering time, authority, negotiations, company politics, work habits, respect, independence, and other aspects that will be help our US employees understand better how to work with them.
Stephen Brookfield in his book, The Skillful Teacher, refers to the concept of teachers teaching from their experiences. I have grown in my international experiences through the years. However, I cannot deem myself as an expert. By utilizing these individuals in the class and playing their comments and their observations, we will have those with experiences on site.
One of the challenges of our company is to remind our American employees of the fact that we are global. Our US employees need to take time to understand the cultures of the other countries and with that understanding to develop a respect for them.
I will develop a one day (eight hour course) called Global Cultures. The purpose of the course will be to introduce the employees to the cultures and perspectives of the different countries we work with on a daily basis.
I have engaged two coworkers who will help me in the course. Kati Teer (Kati.teer@emerson.com) who is the director of all training for Emerson in Europe and Devendra Dixit (Devendra.dixit@emerson.com).
These two individuals will help me with video clips we will use during the training. They will discuss some of the customs of their areas but especially the culture of the regions when considering time, authority, negotiations, company politics, work habits, respect, independence, and other aspects that will be help our US employees understand better how to work with them.
Stephen Brookfield in his book, The Skillful Teacher, refers to the concept of teachers teaching from their experiences. I have grown in my international experiences through the years. However, I cannot deem myself as an expert. By utilizing these individuals in the class and playing their comments and their observations, we will have those with experiences on site.
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