Brian Robins 3260 Blog

  What makes a good teacher great? For this weeks blog I went looking for a Ted Talk to reflect on.  I came across " What makes a good teacher great?" by Azul Terronez from TEDxSantoDomingo.  There was lots to digest after watching this Ted Talk.  As you progress through the video, you hear actual quotes from young students which explain what makes a teacher one to remember.  I found myself really starting to dissect each individual quote in the hopes that I could glean some wisdom from it.  By the end of the video, Azul summed up the over-arching theme beautifully.  A good teacher can become a great teacher by being a good listener. Sounds simple. All I need to do is listen and I will be amazing.   Not so fast.   Listening is a finely tuned skill.  There can be so much information gathered from a conversation if you are truly attentive.  Going beyond the tangible words that are spoken, we need to listen for tone, inflection, ...

So for this week, the topic covered was understanding a students resistance to learning.  It was a pretty interesting topic as far as I was concerned.  I have been a part of  some classes or courses where it was clear from the outset that some of the participants were not willing to learn the moment they stepped foot through the door.  Delving into some of the topics covered this week was incredible just to have some new insight; both as a student and as the instructor.   A parallel that I found (for me anyway) was that a students resistance to learning could be linked to Malcolm Knowles principles of the adult learner.  I know that if I feel my time is being wasted, for various reasons or explanations, I too can be resistant to learning.  I was taking a very informal training session for a new piece of test equipment at work.  I walked out of the session after 7 hours.  After the 6th hour, I went rogue and grabbed the equipment manual myself...

So for week #4 I chose to read about racism and how it can affect teaching.  I chose to post on racism due to the current environment that we live in today.  As I started reading, I began to feel a little apprehensive about the topic of racism and teaching.  Having to post a blog related to a subject that is obviously indefensible, but yet very polarizing is a little nerve-wracking.  Having an opinion in today's climate can be terrifying, but here we go..... When I read Brookfield's "The Skillful Teacher - Chapter Nine" I was very uncomfortable.  I was left with the impression that even if I am not racist, I am still unconsciously racist.  I was struggling with this idea for quite some time.  I can see the logic that if you grew up around racism or segregation that it may unknowingly seep into your behaviors even if those behaviors are not outwardly racist. In taking some training around racism and sexism, it has allowed me to ...

For week #3 of 3260, the task for this blog was to read and comment on Brookfield's The Skillful Teacher: Chapter 2.  The topic of chapter two is "The Core Assumptions of Skillful Teaching."  I thought it best to state the 4 assumptions and then interpret them in my own words.  In my mind, perhaps I would be an interesting exercise to revisit this blog after progressing through this PIDP module and see if my interpretations change. #1 - Skillful Teaching is Whatever Helps Students Learn How intelligent or experienced you are with a subject or skill is not the be all and end all.  What's important is that as a skillful teacher, you can create an environment that allows your students to learn.  You can be Einstein, but if your students are being put to sleep I th ink you have missed the mark.  Sometimes taking a step back as an instructor so your students can take a step forward is just what the doctor ordered. #2 - Skill Teachers Adopt a Critically Refl...

So here starts my foray into 3260. So as my Blog would indicate, my name is Brian. At the time I write this I am 35 years old. I have been married to my wife Megan for 8 years. We have two children, Liam (5) and Penny (2). We live in Maple Ridge, BC with a plethora of animals. My wife has been an involved equestrain her entire life. She grew up on acreage with horses in the backyard so I knew that when I married my wife, I would end up with a farm of my own. I enjoy the lifestyle immensely. I am also very thankful that my children have the chance to grow up around all the animals the we have. As far as my career is concerned, I currently work as a Foreman Electrician in Coquitlam for BC Hydro. I have had the opportunity to move around and experience different roles within BC Hydro over the last few years. That movement is what lead me to the PIDP in the first place. BC Hydro has its own training facility in Surrey. The facility offers technical, safety, leadership and pro...