As the title of this blog implies, the job of an Ag teacher is never done! Not only should Ag teachers aim to teach content, but they also should incorporate life skills into their lessons as well. One of the most significant life skills that can be taught in any type of classroom is independence; a skill that is essential in the personal, professional and academic lives of students. Perhaps one of the best ways to promote student independence is to include individualized teaching techniques into lessons.
Individualized teaching techniques encourage students to learn, by seeking and applying information. These techniques make students responsible for their own learning, ultimately promoting self-reliance and creating an atmosphere that moves away from teacher-centered learning. There are four main individualized teaching techniques, including; supervised study, independent study, experiments, student notebooks and information/assignment/ skill sheets. Each of these, if utilized correctly, can create a more student-centered classroom, where independence thrives.
Personally, I really love the idea of individualized teaching techniques. I think that making the students responsible for their own learning a great idea, as I believe it is important to incorporate student-centered learning into a classroom. While it is essential that the teacher plans these techniques very carefully and supervises the learning that is occurring, it is also important that the students feel a sense of ownership. If a student 'owns' a lesson, they are more likely to be interested in and remember the content.
Perhaps my favorite technique is supervised study. I think that it is a great avenue to encourage students to solve a problem. Again, supervised study will promote this sense of 'ownership' in the lesson, but will also help students come to a conclusion that will ultimately teach content. I think that it is a genius combination!
Another thing that I really like about supervised study is the opportunity it provides for alteration. I think that it is nice that this technique gives you the option to have students work alone, or in groups. You can have students pull information from the same resources, or from different ones. It is completely up to you! It also gives you the chance to work one-on-one with students. You can provide more individualized assistance, and can help those students who may have learning disabilities in a discrete manner.
I can definitely see myself utilizing the supervised study technique in a managerial lesson plan in the near future! I am excited to create a lesson that encourages students to think critically to solve a problem. It is my hope that incorporating this technique will promote this sense of ownership, ultimately creating a student-centered classroom and an atmosphere that radiates independence!
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