Teaching Engagement

Much is being written and talked about how our education system needs to be improved. There is no doubt that education in America does need impoving. If our country is going to regain its international dominance in such fundamental areas as science and math, then we are definitely going to have to start implementing comprehensive adjustments. But as my primary focus in this blog is communication, I want to zero in on how improving the communication skills of students can and should be addressed at all levels of education, beginning in kindergarten. It boils down to one word: engagement.

Presently, education revolves around two concepts: passing along facts and then teaching students how to use or apply those facts in other classes and, ultimately, the so-called real world. A third leg to this stool needs to be added. Students should be taught how to share those facts with others. We live in a society where our ability to communicate with others is not nearly as strong as it should be. As I have written countless times before, there is too much "talking at" and not enough "talking with" that occurs. One key reason for this is that people are not as competent in the act of interaction as they should be. Consequently, they do not do it very well or often.

This can be addressed. Via creative classroom exercises and even tests, students can learn how to engage in interactions with others in ways that are non-threatening or argumentative. Teaching the art of respectful conversation may seem trivial, but given the reality of our day-to-day lives as we grow into adulthood, such a skill very much has a real-life application. This skill can be taught and reinforced throughout a student's entire education, including college.  Further, the good news is this can be applied to any subject matter, not just English class. More of us need to be able to communicate better. After all, we are dealing with so many of the same issues.