Blog #61 – LETTING STUDENTS ASSUME THE ROLE OF TEACHER
When someone asks a teacher if they have ever allowed their students to assume their role, most would probably think of allowing students to go in front of the class and work a problem or give a report. In my case, there were times that I let my students assume the role of a teacher for an entire week. Students were given an opportunity to experience what it was like being a teacher.
While reviewing for final exams in a Calculus class, I assigned each student several concepts that I wanted them to teach. Each was told that they were to do several things. The first was that they were required to provide me with a lesson plan. Secondly, they were to provide me the sample problems they were going to introduce during their 15-minute lesson. Thirdly, they were to provide 3 independent study problems. Finally, they were to provide a question for an assessment. Three to four students were required to make a presentation each day. After finishing their presentation they assigned homework. The day following their presentation they were required to grade the homework. The grade that they received for the project counted as 2 test grades.
In general, the work done by the students was excellent. I provided a detailed evaluation of their work. The students that were not teaching behaved exactly like regular students. They were inquisitive and asked the presenter numerous questions. After all students had completed their work, we discussed what they had learned about teaching. I was pleased that there was an increased awareness of how much work a teacher had to do on a daily basis and an appreciation for what they do. I was pleased that years later, several of the students that had assumed the role of a teacher as a class project, had actually decided to become teachers. Several told me that the opportunity to assume the role of a teacher had played a significant role in their decision.
I would encourage teachers of any content area to allow students to assume the role of a teacher. In my case, I used it at the end of the school year. In a time of the year that students are more focused on summer vacations, my students became more engaged in their schoolwork than in previous years. I recommend that a project similar to mine could be undertaken toward the end of semesters. The fact that they were reviewing meant that the students had already seen how I presented the respective lessons during the school year. Although I was an evaluator during the presentation, I made sure that I asked “leading” questions when I felt that a presenter was losing focus. Letting students assume the role of a teacher is the greatest example of allowing students to be an active participant in what they learn.