I feel, regardless of terminology, the concept that a student (or anyone for that matter) can build on and grow their skills is vitally important. I reject the “empty vessel” model of teaching wherein instructors “pour” knowledge into a student. I also feel that it is unfair (and potentially discriminatory) to assume that there is a limit to…[Read more]

Thank you for bringing up Friere; I took a pedagogy course at the Grad Center with Ira Shor and he introduced me to Friere’s wonderful theories about teaching!

I feel like I already responded to this quote, but apparently not! In any case, I agree that people may learn from their failures but I don’t want to “buy into” a mentality that poses failure as “necessary” in some way. I honestly believe that students live up or down to our expectations as educators, and if we see failure in a class as a…[Read more]

I agree.  I’ve often heard/read the statement that “some students need to fail to learn” and I am still not 100% sure if that is true and/or helpful.  I teach at BMCC and for my students, like yours, the stakes can be very high when it comes to failing a class or multiple classes.  I assign very few failing grades but I inevitably do land up gi…[Read more]

I feel that the purpose of higher education goes well beyond simple job training.  It also gives students the tools to become critical thinkers, which is an invaluable skill no matter what field the student eventually enters.  Without taking a political stance (I promse!) we can all see how the lack of critical thinking has affected the US in r…[Read more]

I agree to some extent; however, I also believe that it is a mistake to “set students up” for failure, which I worry this mindset does. It has been my experience that students will live up (or down) to the expectations that an instructor sets for them.