Throughout high school, the main method of learning is reading. We learn content by reading-based activities at school, then go home to reinforce and expand on what we learned with more assigned reading and notes.
Theoretically, this idea sounds fine; it allows for students to learn at an individual pace while providing as much or as little detail as the teacher wants. But after gaining some experience with the reading-based teaching style, would all of us students truthfully agree that it is, indeed, the best way for us to learn?
While the answer to this question obviously varies from person to person, for me, the answer is no; being forced to read a textbook is simply ineffective at conveying information.
For example, consider social studies classes, most of which are based on assigned student reading. A typical assignment on a social studies class calendar might look like, “Read pages 143-158.” The teacher’s goal in assigning textbook readings is obviously for the student to learn the content in those pages. Speaking from experience, I can say that assigned textbook pages are not as effective as teachers seem to think.
As a solution, perhaps, teachers may consider modifying assignments from a set of 15 pages to a single subject, therefore allowing the student to make the choice of either using the textbook or not.
Such a mindset of learning about a subject, instead of reading a range of pages, can act as an aid for students who do not grasp information easily. To explain, if a teacher assigns a concept for homework instead of a reading, students can truly immerse themselves in the subject by using resources such as YouTube videos, online university lectures, TED Talks, or if the student truly does enjoy reading, then textbooks. The point is that students could rationalize a concept, instead of skimming through a meaningless set of facts clustered together in a textbook’s range of pages.
The system of learning a concept rather than simply “doing homework” because the teacher assigned it is already evident in some Ladue classes. For example, AP Biology students complete labs and listen to lessons in class. Then, given resources such as online video lectures, a textbook and experiment summaries, students are expected to master a concept individually.
As subjects of this class system, students can find real interest in content. By using resources that appeal specifically to them, learning becomes more concrete and rational. Thus, our teachers and staff should heavily consider making this change to our current system of administering an education.
