The Book Group Begins

Starting in March, 2011, the ISZL Book Group will meet on a monthly basis so that teachers can share their thinking about stimulating texts connected with the school goal. It is our intention to share and extend our discussions with teachers across all divisions at ISZL via this blog.

If you would like to be a part of future book group meetings at ISZL, please contact philip.bruce@iszl.ch. Alternatively, you can take part right now by responding to any of the blog entries.

Book. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 19 Mar 2012.http://quest.eb.com/images/132_1250855

Theories of Learning and 'The Case Against Grades'
The book group began by reading an overview of theories of learning found at this link http://gsi.berkeley.edu/teachingguide/theories/index.html. We also read an article by Alfie Kohn published in Educational Leadership (ASCD, November, 2011). A slightly expanded version of this article can be found here http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/tcag.htm.


While enjoying a quiet drink in the Sky Lounge, we broke into smaller groups to discuss a host of different questions related to these texts. The original prompts were:

• Which theories of learning connect with my daily experiences?
• To what extent do my actions reflect a behaviourist or a constructivist approach to teaching and learning?
• What surprised me about Kohn's article?
• To what extent does Kohn provide a balanced argument? Does he intend to? Is he convincing?
• What has the article made me think more about?

These prompts soon provoked further conversations about intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the nature of grades and the learning theories that underpin our daily practices.

Highlights from some of the group discussions include the following:

• What happens beyond formal 'education'? Are grades even truly necessary if a student is not university-bound? Are they necessary, even if they are?
• What is it that motivates people to learn? 
• How do you balance preparing students for the future versus the pragmatic reality of the here and now?
• To what extent does our institution practice a behavioural or constructivist approach? Do we attempt to use behavioural structures in order to facilitate a constructivist learning environment? Do we succeed?

If you have a connection to make, or insights to offer, post a comment and get involved in the debates. 

And Another Thing - Dan Pink's Drive

For another connected point of view on motivation, check out this animated TED talk by Daniel Pink about some of the findings explored in his book Drive. For those of you familiar with Kohn's work, you may want to consider which aspects of Kohn's theories this talk supports and which aspects it contradicts.

http://www.thersa.org/events/video/animate/rsa-animate-drive.

Next time...

In the next book group get-together on Monday 23rd April, we will read 'Part One' of Kohn's Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes. 

Until the next post...