I got this from Atiku Abubakar’s twitter page @atiku when he was trying to share his views on how he got interested in learning.
“Let me tell you about my education. I started in the standard school, where teachers told us what to do, it didn’t work.
When we didn’t understand the lessons, the teachers beat it into us. I didn’t like school then, till I met American teachers.
The American Peace Corps teachers engaged with us students, asked questions and encouraged thinking. That’s when I loved school.
I learned more under the US system, where teachers engaged and asked questions. This is why I also ask questions”
There are important points in the above tweets that I will like to shed light on.
His interest in school and learning started when his teachers engaged him, encourage him to ask questions and encouraged thinking.
“When we didn’t understand the lessons, the teachers beat it into us” Plato said “Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their mind” Teachers should know that the mind of a child is not a bucket to fill, but fire to ignite. This means students must be caused to learn by igniting their interest.
Engaging students
Benjamin Franklin said “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. Students learn better when they are engaged by their students; this is the moment when what you have taught them becomes real to them and their understanding is quickened.
Questions are encouraged
A good teacher will create an atmosphere where questions can be asked. It is pathetic that in some of our schools in this country teachers don’t give room for students to ask questions. Is either they bully students or create fear in them. And if questions are not asked, there is no way you can know if you have effectively taught your students.
Thinking are encouraged
Independent thinking should be encouraged in our schools. Students must be asked questions that will cause them to think extensively.
Somebody made a valid point when she said” You know it’s mostly theory in Nigerian schools and if the educators could relate our daily activities to what they teach, it’ll make the students have better understanding of most subjects” This statement was made after some researchers said “Boys are better at physics because they learn about ‘projection’ while going to the toilet”
I believe if the point above can get into the heart of our educational system, students will love schooling and also will love to learn.
