Love the Lao Tzu quote! It’s a fascinating tension that you identify. On one hand, we need to learn information. On the other hand, we are far more receptive to that information when we encounter it in the context of doing things we actually want to do. Maybe it’s one of those tensions that doesn’t totally go away, but to identify it is an important step in finding those balances. Thanks for writing
The tension definitely never leaves my teaching or my classroom. I am finding that the more time I spend identifying the cornerstone pieces of information that my students absolutely need to master, the tighter my lectures become. That leads to higher engagement and more time for my students to apply that information in ways they think are cool. I had a principal tell me the one thing she looks for when hiring teachers is a practice of reflection. Simply reflecting on this tension should help any teacher find better balance.
Love the Lao Tzu quote! It’s a fascinating tension that you identify. On one hand, we need to learn information. On the other hand, we are far more receptive to that information when we encounter it in the context of doing things we actually want to do. Maybe it’s one of those tensions that doesn’t totally go away, but to identify it is an important step in finding those balances. Thanks for writing
The tension definitely never leaves my teaching or my classroom. I am finding that the more time I spend identifying the cornerstone pieces of information that my students absolutely need to master, the tighter my lectures become. That leads to higher engagement and more time for my students to apply that information in ways they think are cool. I had a principal tell me the one thing she looks for when hiring teachers is a practice of reflection. Simply reflecting on this tension should help any teacher find better balance.