How+to+give+an+A-+Benjamin+Zander

In the following talk Benjamin Zander discusses how he overcomes what he sees as a negative way of approaching education. Watch the video and see if you can identify an argument of proposal. Before you start, with a partner look back at the previous example of an argument of proposal, and write down the three stages. Then watch and take notes.

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Benjamin Zander __argues__ that education too often becomes a negative experience for students. For __example__, they are always trying to achieve expectations, but never quite get to the level that they aspire to. For this __reason__ students __seem__ to often be unsuccessful, resulting in much stress and students developing negative images of themselves as learners and people. He believes that this negates the aims of __education__, which is to enrich students’ lives.

The __answer__ to this problem requires education systems to reorganize themselves in a way that focuses on the positives, and the possibilities in each student. His __suggestion__ is to change the way we view education to emphasize what students can accomplish, as opposed to what they cannot do.

Zander puts forward three __suggestions__ for achieving this goal. The first strategy is to take away the stress associated with grades. He does this by giving each student an A grade and asking them to write a letter explaining why they deserve this grade as if they had already finished the course. This idea seems extreme to most __teachers__ who are used to the idea that good students should get higher grades. But as Zander points out, since grades are an invention anyway, educators may as well invent a grade that makes students feel positive about their learning. This strategy also changes the whole approach of students to their work, engaging them in the learning process in a much more meaningful way. In response to someone who might argue against this idea, Zander also __suggests__ that any student can get an A grade if the teaching and learning environment is changed. What he proposes is a model of teaching in line with knowledge age learning practice where the teacher acts as a guide working together with students to achieve what students on their own could not (Trilling & Hood, 2001).

The second __suggestion__ that Zander makes for making learning a positive experience is to celebrate mistakes. He points out that in education mistakes are seen in a negative light. __However__, he suggests that since meaningful learning is based on making mistakes, they are therefore an important part of the learning process, and need to be seen in a more positive light. Mistakes need to be viewed as possibilities for deeper learning to occur, not negative reflections on what students don’t know.

The final __way__ of ensuring that education becomes a more positive experience for all, is for educators to not take themselves so seriously. He appears to be suggesting that educators are obsessed with academic standards and measurement of this, at the expense of real learning. The result of teachers not paying as much attention to these standards would be increased engagement in real learning, resulting in more learning opportunities for students.

Education can be a more positive experience than at present for most students. However, in order for this to become reality educators need to emphasis learning over grades, celebrate failures as well as successes, and remember that the emphasis of education needs to be on learning not teaching.


 * References **

Trilling, B., & Hood, P. (2001). Learning, technology, and education reform in the Knowledge Age or 'We're wired, webbed, and windowed, now what?'. In C. Paechter, R. Edwards, R. Harrison, & P. Twining, Learning, Space and Identity. London: Sage Publications Inc.