Our school is currently implementing a whole new approach to course counselling for years 9-11. As a year 11 homegroup teacher, I am actively involved in the process and it has been an interesting exercise where my knowledge has improved greatly.
My peronal slant on this whole thing is to consider how it is we end up with so many in Design and Tech where many of them do not do well. We do get many of our students mainly because there are no prerequisites and that creates a whole set of issues. I am constantly promoting the idea that because a subject is practical and hands on, it doesn't necessarily follow that boys in particular will be successful in it.
Would love to hear from others about this.
4 comments:
Is part of the problem that the boys think tech subjects are less demanding or less "academic" Colin?
Or is it that when they get into them, they find they don't have the manual skills they need? or is it a motivation problem?
There appears to be a significant hangover from times when boys naturally gravitated to practical type courses. The idea that if they are using their hands, they will be engaged and motivated persists with little evidence supporting this notion. My personal experience is that they are there as a soft option that requires little writing and thinking when in reality, Design and Technology is being taken in a direction where students need to think and problem solve. This is to satisfy employers needs for young people to be able to think and solve over just being able to make things. Motivation is also a major issue with few students having any real appreciation of the incredible opportunities that await them should they choose to put in a bit of effort.
I agree with Kerrie. I also think they may choose subjects where they do not need to communicate in quite the same way as they do in more 'verbal' subjects. I have an 18 year old son who has hated school from the very start and has never really found a teacher who has really engaged with him. I think it's a real tragedy & one that's likely to have a long term effect on his 'career'.
A problem for many boys today, especially in their later years of schooling is the changing focus to an emphasis on thinking rather than doing. That is obviously going to be a problem for many boys who actively resist all efforts to have them acquire those skills to help them in this process. As for the communication, I have found my lessons to be a great opportunity to develop a rapport with my students however, there is always that peer element that constantly threatens to take away any gains made.
I am still amazed at the lack of knowledge my students come into my lessons with. This is also true for the basic skills I might expect like the ability to add or use formulas. In defence of my students, I did come from another planet having had 30 years a a tradesman in the metal industry so my expectations and standards are often at odds with what commonly is done in schools.
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