When Yes did not mean they understand.

We as educators have all had this. We are working with a student who has expressed that they are having a problem. We run through the question with them giving a more detailed explanation of what we had shown to the class. When we have finished talking while the student stood there silent we look up to the student and ask "Do you understand?" We get the answer that we hope for and expect, "Yes". Great I always think, I am so good at reaching out to these young people and making them understand. Then when I get their homework assignment or mark the test the following week it hits me, they did not understand at all. What went wrong?

I have always approached this in the past as the student must have forgotten what I showed them or is listening to another studnet or is just not applying themselves properly. All of these could be the reason but I am starting to think that there might be something else going on here. There might be another deeper issue at play. The issue may be that of a cultural difference.

Now when I say a cultural issue people jump to all the visible differences and that is not it. In fact, I would think that since there are many people in your city or neighborhood that look different then you do but are also the third or fourth generation in that particular area, you will find that culturally the two of you could be very similar.

This difference is a more rooted inner cultural difference. To me, when I ask a student do they understand I am expecting that when they say yes that it means that they are going to be able to perform that task without any further questions or guidance. When the student answers yes they might mean something totally different. To the student they might be confirming that what I have shown them is correct but they still have no idea on why or how. They could just be from a culture where it is expected that there be no conflict so if they said no this would be a disagreement. What ever the difference I have had to except that when I ask the question and they say yes it does not always mean what I would like to think it means.

So what to do. I have started to change my approach when working with a student who has asked a question. Instead of the "Papa Jeff" approach where I take the note book and pencil and in my hand draw out the solution while explaining it and giving them and reassuring smile, I now question the student. I challenge them to start to think it out. Of course by asking key questions I am leading them through to the solution. In some cases you quickly push them out of their comfort zone and you have to guard against this as you do not want to stop them from asking questions.The key is to then get them at the end to explain it again to you and then turn on Papa Jeff with the reassuring smile and you got it.

This approach has turned out better results, and more confident students. Unfortunately, the students now ask more questions but the best part is that they are asking because they want to learn.

Have a great night.
Jeff

Skills Canada- Trades and Technology in Ontario

I have recently just finished a blog for Skills Canada-Ontario. Instead of actually rewriting the entire blog here I just thought that I would post the link. This is a new Blog for Skills Canada - Ontario and they are going to be asking different members of the Academic Trades and Technology world to share their views. My idea, so I got to go first. Please enjoy my blog and maybe book mark it as well since there will be a wide varity of views on education in Technology and Trades expressed here.

http://ontskilledtrades.wordpress.com/


Jeff