Spring Break
History of teaching examined
Kyle Hansen
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
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While not much has changed in the way teachers work during the last 150 years, the future looks much different, according to the day's speakers.
Historian Jim Walsh began the day with a 45-minute talk on the history of education at SJSU. The event then moved towards the present with a panel discussion of teaching methods according to two retired teachers and two student teachers. The concluding hour was a look at the future, with a discussion of how technology is changing teaching and learning.
"If we really look at our 150 years, for 140 of them, things didn't change and the students didn't change," said Stephen Kay, an assistant professor in the educational leadership department. "But now in the last decade, we've seen some major changes with the things that are going on with our students."
Those changes include the use of electronic devices and the Internet in the classroom, according to Kay and his co-presenter Corey Gin from eCampus, the university's Web site for online classes.
"There is a lot of technology involved," Gin said. "But when it comes down to it, it really is about teaching and learning, and focusing on teaching and learning."
Kay said that the future of education is not being changed as much by the way teachers function, but because students expect their teachers to know and use the latest information and technology.
However, most classrooms use the same format used 150 years ago, Kay said, with the teachers standing in front with a chalkboard and students sitting in rows.
"Rip Van Winkle, if he woke up today and he went out and surveyed the world, he would see some amazing things… ," Kay said, mentioning iPods, pacemakers and hand-held devices. "If he walked into my classroom, what would he say? 'Blackboard! Been there, done that, understand. I'll sit right here and be happy.'
"It is a new world though and it's changed so rapidly. So how does technology influence teaching and learning? It should make a great difference."
While the teaching and learning is rapidly changing, International and Extended Studies Dean Mark Novak said it is still important to look back and reflect on where the university came from.
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