Enhancing Learning Effectiveness: Actionable Recommendations for Teachers and Students

As a professional engineer with over 50 years of experience, including managing new hires, and as a substitute teacher in a variety of educational settings, I have observed a gap in the current educational approach. Students require a more robust set of skills to ensure they not only understand but also retain and apply the information they learn. Here, we present actionable recommendations to improve the learning experience for both teachers and students.

Improving Student Learning Skills

One of the primary issues is that students often lack essential learning skills.

According to educational studies, students typically enter school with very basic learning capabilities. Overemphasis has been placed on teacher training and educational degrees, while the development of fundamental learning skills remains neglected. To address this, students need to develop the ability to continuously progress, feeling brilliant, enthusiastic, and fully engaged with the material they are learning. This concept, which I refer to as "Doing Well," signifies that students should have the self-awareness and skills to maintain a state of optimal learning without unnecessary stress.

The Importance of a Personal Dictionary and Grammar Course

Another critical component in enhancing learning is the use of a personal dictionary. Many students do not know how to effectively utilize a dictionary, which can hinder their ability to learn and understand complex concepts. Therefore, it is vital to introduce a course on dictionary usage, enabling students to independently access and use appropriate vocabulary.

Additionally, enhancing grammatical understanding is essential for effective communication and comprehension. Students should be provided with a simplified yet comprehensive grammar course that teaches the basics of language structure, which will aid in their overall academic and professional development.

Mastering Study Techniques

Holding study as a primary subject is crucial, and this is a concept that appears to be unknown to many students, teachers, schools, and even states. Effective study techniques come before reading, writing, and arithmetic. Therefore, every student should be taught the essentials of study, including how to approach reading, note-taking, summarizing, and applying concepts to real-world scenarios.

Teaching students how to study without stress and strain is paramount. They should understand methods to instantly apply what they have learned and how to correct any inaccuracies or memory lapses. This involves developing mental strategies and practical techniques, such as spaced repetition, active recall, and self-explanation, which are key components of effective study.

Enhancing Teacher Competence

Teachers must also possess the skills to teach any subject to their students at the appropriate grade level. This necessitates a clear and binding commitment from both teachers and schools. Such a commitment can be formalized through teacher contracts that outline specific performance expectations and penalties for failing to meet these standards.

Teacher Contracts could include clauses such as:

I promise to teach each child placed in my care to grade level in my subject by the end of the school year, or to personally hire a tutor to do this before the beginning of the next school year. I promise to teach each child in my care in such a way that they will continue to be able to learn and not become 'unable to learn' in this subject. This will be checked continuously throughout the school year. I will personally hire a tutor to return any student found to have become unable to learn in my class to the ability to learn by the start of the next school year. I promise to teach each of my students in such a way that they are 'Doing Well' continuously throughout the school year. If I cannot do this, I will personally hire a tutor to return me to the ability to do this by the beginning of the next school year.

The effectiveness of teachers and schools should be measured by the continuous success of their students in 'Doing Well' throughout the year and at the end of the year.

Conclusion

Improving learning effectiveness is not just a matter of improving teacher training or subject knowledge; it is about instilling a set of fundamental learning skills in students and empowering teachers to ensure every student can learn and thrive. By focusing on these key areas, we can significantly enhance the educational journey for our future generations.

References:

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books. Halpern, D. F. (2003). Teaching Thinking Skills: A Guide for University Teachers. W.H. Freeman and Co. Roediger, H. L., Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-Enhanced Learning: Taking Memories for a Walk. Psychological Science.