Learning theory

Values

Totally prepared and a full effort in the classroom

Being polite, jovial yet firm to gain the attention and respect

Setting realistic goals about my expectations from the students

Teaching concepts using real life examples scenarios and applications

Beliefs

Learning being a two way process. Something to the effect of willing buyer willing seller.

I do not know everything!! Hence strive to learn more.

The just reward of learning is knowledge not a grade.

Metaphor

Teaching is like tossing a salad.

All the veggies in the salad have their own identity and although they will retain their shape and size they must acquire some of the taste that the dressing, seasoning and condiments have to offer.

I need to make sure the dressing smears all the cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and even the hard-to-completely-smear lettuce.

As per Pareto’s principle 20% of my effort tosses 80% of my salad but I should put in the rest of the effort in to make sure it all gets tossed evenly.

My most memorable learning experience

I studied a semester, as an exchange student, at Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. The time spent there counts as my most unforgettable learning experience.

Reasons, you ask??

Well for starters the whole idea of studying overseas was just too awesome. Having fellow students from all over the world and the urge to prove my mettle amongst this group really made me work hard.

Secondly, the “modus operandi” of the university in general and the professors in particular was very conducive for self study and it let the students find the potential, rather than the “run of the mill” method of teaching used at my university in SA.

My fellow students and I used our weekends to do a lot of sightseeing, initially around Germany and later into neighbouring countries. These trips made us trust and help each other in sticky situations. This camaraderie also found its way in our studies too where we would help each other with lots of group studying taking place.

And lastly the amount of fun I had with all these newly found friends was just overwhelming. I helped me to loosen up and take things in my stride. I had been a very nervous student all my life but during those few months I learned how to relax and spent my energy in the right path.

Nostalgia is killing me....................