For many generations educators (including me and most of the teachers I have known over the 40 years I have been an educator) have worked to help students learn by being taught. It seems to me that this generation of young people are not interested in being taught. They want to immerse themselves in learning and develop their own understanding. The job market they will be facing in the future is looking for people who can think outside the box and can work collaboratively. The traditional classroom, where the teacher is the “sage on the stage”, is no longer appropriate for educating this type of thinker.
Unfortunately, most instructors were trained to be that sage. A few are learning to move to the side and act as a coach or facilitator.
"We did this project last year and it was really fun and successful. Many of the students chose to continue communication afterwards via email (which they had put on their Postcards).
Our English Program was looking for classes around the world that were interested in a one time postcard swap with classes in Thailand. They would send us a postcard and receive one from us. We had four Grade Five (10 and 11 years old) classes, each with 25 students. The Postcard Exchange is part of one of their English Units.
The students learned in an in Immersion English Program(English, Maths, Science, PE, Health, Computers in English – other subjects in Thai) so their level of English is excellent.
Your class writes a set of postcards to the other school telling them about your country and school, then they would reply to your cards.
I thought I would share.
Best Wishes,
Melanie"
