EYE OF THE EDITORS: Classroom management
In light of data collected by The Bull’s Eye staff on the use of class time, it is apparent that classwork at Diamond Bar High School is being substituted for teacher lectures.
December 13, 2017
Traditionally, students come to school with the expectation of learning through the guidance of their teachers. However, it has become apparent that teachers rely more on student-based learning than offering lectures and going through the textbook.
For a week, the Bull’s Eye staff recorded time spent in class in order to analyze how students are spending their school day.
The survey found that of the five core subjects, foreign language, English, social studies, math and science, four of them spent more time on classwork than on lectures and notes. This highlights the growing emphasis on student-based teaching to replace the traditional lecture model that dominated classrooms for decades.
Although classwork can be viewed as a way to reinforce the lessons learned in class, when it surpasses the time spent on lectures and notes, it seems disproportionate. Worksheets or posters don’t match the firsthand instructions. When unnecessary assignments begin to substitute a teacher’s role in the classroom, the burden falls onto the students to learn the curriculum on their own time.
This is often translated into expensive tutoring centers or sleepless nights attempting to understand what the teacher failed to cover during school hours.
Additionally, many DBHS students take Advanced Placement classes. Considering that they are college level courses and, therefore, require more time, high school students are at a disadvantage due to the compounding effect of shorter periods and lack of guidance from the teacher.
Moreover, the Bull’s Eye findings illustrate that across all subjects, more time was wasted in the “nothing” category than in reviewing homework. On average, a student spends 44 minutes a day with no clear instructions from the teacher. It’s unacceptable for students to come to school and spend time meant for instructional purposes just sitting in class and doing nothing.
As depicted by the data, many teachers should reconsider the structure of their daily planning to find a more effective use of class time. By taking advantage of every minute, students will benefit greatly, instead of viewing the class as a waste of time and resorting to alternative resources.
