Blog Post 10

Do You Teach or Do You Educate

What is the difference between teaching and educating? In the video Do You Teach or Do You Educate the words are defined as follows:
- to teach: show or explain how to do something, encourage someone to accept as a fact or principle, give information about or instruction in, cause someone to learn or understand something
- to educate: illuminate, enlighten, inspire
To be an educator is to also be a mentor and a guide. You can teach someone something without actually caring if they understand it and follow through with what you taught. But as an educator you encourage them to make the right decisions and guide them to the right choices. You don't turn your back just because you already taught the lesson. There is more to teaching then just lecturing and providing students with information.

As a teacher I plan to be a mentor and a guide for my students. I believe that students need to see the passion a teacher has to teach. Our students need to know they can depend on us and that we are there because we want to be not just because we need a paycheck. I hope my students learn to trust me and know no matter what I will be there to help them.

Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home

To understand this blog post I had to reread it several times as well as read other posts and other comments. I had a feeling Mr. Spencer was referring to computers instead of pencils, but I wasn't completely sure. Once my suspicion was confirmed I read the post once more and it made complete sense. The academic specialist of the school told the teacher that he could not send the students home with pencil and paper (referring to computers) because a study showed that students who took pencil and paper home would score lower on their tests. The teacher disagreed and said that the test isn't accurate. The academic specialist argued that there was no accountability of the use of the pencil and paper in the home and that most students would use them for entertainment. Mr. Tom said he does not hold the students accountable for the work at home instead he tries to find work that will keep therm interested. Mr. Tom states that he is trying to change the idea that computers can only be used for entertainment. He is teaching his students how to use them for education purposes.

It is sad to think about how many educators will look at the results of one study and change the way they teach. Mr. Tom did not. He had a plan that he believed in and he was willing to try it and willing to go the extra mile to help his students learn. I agree with the actions of Mr. Tom. Just because the results of one study say something should be changed, doesn't mean that our classroom can't be the exception. Teachers need to have a passion to teach their students and do what they feel is right not just say okay and listen to everyone else.