Struggling to Learn: A Journey Worth Remembering
Introduction:
Dave Largent, a CS professor at Ball State University, reminds us that both students and teachers face struggles in learning. As teachers, we often forget our own challenges and fail to empathize with students. Largent’s experience in Europe also highlights the importance of considering students’ diverse backgrounds. He encourages teachers to embrace the value of struggling to learn and to model lifelong learning. Most importantly, we need to be patient and supportive of our students’ struggles.
Full Article: Struggling to Learn: A Journey Worth Remembering
Teachers Need to Struggle to Learn
A Valuable Lesson from Dave Largent
In a thought-provoking blog post, Dave Largent, a computer science professor at Ball State University, reminds us of an important truth – students often face struggles while learning. As an educator, Largent emphasizes the significance of empathy in teaching, especially within the domain of computer science. He believes that teachers, armed with vast content knowledge, sometimes forget their own struggles, hindering their ability to relate to students who are grappling with new concepts.
A Journey through Europe
Largent’s European trip served as a personal reminder of the challenges presented by different languages and customs. This realization prompted him to reflect on the fact that many students come from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Largent highlights the importance of acknowledging and understanding students’ unique perspectives, as American cultural references and English-centric examples can inadvertently intensify the learning curve. Recognizing students’ backgrounds becomes a crucial aspect of effective teaching.
The Struggles of a Computer Science Professor
Largent candidly shares his own story of struggling through his first computer class. He vividly recalls the difficulties he encountered and how he heavily relied on the assistance of his peers and teaching assistants to complete initial projects. Over time, with perseverance and a solid foundation in programming (he has been programming for over 51 years now), Largent found that most new topics became easier to grasp. Nonetheless, he admits that encountering occasional challenges is integral to character development and cultivating empathy for others.
Seeking Valuable Learning Experiences
Largent advocates for teachers, and everyone else, to actively seek out learning experiences that do not come easily. He believes that immersing ourselves in challenging situations fosters personal growth and imparts an invaluable lesson – the importance of lifelong learning. Through our own struggles, we become role models for our students and exemplify the value of resilience.
Patience and Support for Struggling Students
Largent’s poignant reminder urges educators to remember that their students face their own set of challenges and difficulties. As teachers, it is crucial to exercise patience and provide unwavering support. By doing so, educators can create a nurturing and empowering learning environment. Largent concludes his blog post with a warm wish for a great school year, filled with understanding and growth.
Summary: Struggling to Learn: A Journey Worth Remembering
Dave Largent, a CS professor, reminds us that students and teachers struggle to learn new things, especially in computer science. He shares his own experience of learning different languages and customs while traveling in Europe, emphasizing the importance of understanding students’ diverse backgrounds. Largent believes that struggling to learn is character-building and encourages everyone, including teachers, to seek out challenging learning experiences to continuously grow. Ultimately, he reminds us to be patient and supportive of students as they navigate their own learning journeys.
Frequently Asked Questions – Do You Remember Struggling to Learn?
How can I improve my learning abilities?
- Set clear goals and prioritize your tasks.
- Break down complex subjects or tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.
- Practice active learning techniques like summarizing or teaching the material to someone else.
- Take regular breaks during study sessions to prevent mental fatigue.
- Find a study method that works best for you (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.).
- Seek help or tutoring if you’re facing difficulties in specific subjects.
How do I overcome learning struggles?
- Identify and understand your areas of weakness.
- Break down the learning material into smaller, more manageable portions.
- Try different learning techniques such as mnemonics or visual aids.
- Take advantage of available resources like online tutorials, study groups, or educational apps.
- Seek guidance from a teacher, mentor, or tutor who can provide personalized assistance.
- Stay persistent and motivated, reminding yourself of your progress and achievements.
Can you suggest effective memory techniques?
- Use mnemonic devices, like acronyms or visualization, to associate information with familiar cues.
- Create and review flashcards to reinforce your memory of key concepts or terms.
- Practice active recall by periodically testing your own knowledge without referring to notes.
- Connect new information to existing knowledge or experiences to establish stronger neural connections.
- Utilize spaced repetition, where you review information at gradually increasing intervals.
- Engage multiple senses during learning, such as reading aloud, writing, or drawing.
