D-D, S-B, S-C, S-E, K- E: I believe that eduction is the most important tool to anyone in their life. Everyone, regardless of profession later in life was at one point a student. From the president of the United States to the worker in your local McDonald's restaurant was at one point a student. It is therefore for this reason that there is no more important profession in the world than that of a teacher.
Certain steps, however, should be taken to guarantee the best of all possible education for the children in our society. Competent lessons, competent teachers, competent governments should be afforded to all students in the educational facilities of the world. These competencies require certain important facets of life.
First, lessons presented in classrooms by teachers should allow students the best opportunity to use their varied intelligences. Second, teachers should prove their competence by being able to perform both simple and difficult educational and classroom duties. Finally, the government should guarantee an education to all students in their schools systems.
These three facets can be easily described, and can be related to one another. Firstly, teachers should know how to work with students and utilize their varied intelligences. In order to accomplish this, the classroom teacher must have a knowledge of many sound teaching techniques and a knowledge of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences.
Secondly, a good teacher will know and use the best techniques to run a successful learning environment, including the ability to assess children in both practical and alternative ways.
Finally, the government of a local area, or the federal government can offer assistance to the professional teacher and to the student by providing ways to use alternative instruction, including, but not limited to, computer equipment, ability to perform Information Technology based lesson (by providing, if not a collection of computers for classroom use, a single computer and a multimedia projector, or a television set with the appropriate VHS or DVD capabilities), up-to-date textbooks that cover relevant material, and most importantly, a friendly environment conducive to life-long learning.
The second of these facets, specifically that of alternative methods of assessment is very important to me. As a theatre teacher, firstly, it will not always be feasible to test students in traditional ways, and alternative methods of testing (portfolios, performance, critiques, etc.) become quite necessary. But in a more general sense, alternative testing techniques can help in the desire to work towards students' multiple intelligences. Just because a student does not test well does not mean that he or she is not learning.
The idea of alternative assessment can not only invite those students leary of traditional assessment to become more active in the class because they can now be assessed in ways that make them comfortable, but alternative assessment can also offer those students who do test well a chance to break the mundane routine of "regular, boring tests."
In today's society, where students are tested using traditional methods at every chance available, giving the student the chance to demonstrate what they have learned in more creative ways can only prove beneficial.
I know from personal experience that alternative means of assessment can work. While in high school, I attended many classes in which there was no final examination, but rather portfolio work, or a presentation of some kind. There were stark differences between the assessment in my science classes and my English classes.
However, the well-rounded teacher must not solely rely on one of these methods of assessment. While there will be students very open to the idea of formal examinations, there will be students whom, given the choice, would opt for alternative methods. And while some students might be open to the idea of presenting something on the book they have read, or what they have learned, rather than take an essay exam, other students might feel more comfortable with the traditional method.
A good teacher can alternate between these two methods and present the students with a well- rounded classroom which will only lead to a well-rounded and complete education.