Dr. McKamey's Case Study

Many educators struggle to be a teacher first and a researcher later. This to me means that; a Teacher can promote great teachings that has been created based off of a study that promotes exponential growth in learning, but doesn’t address the needs of all students and the walks of life within a classroom. Through the education at Rhode Island College I have been through many different forms of teaching strategies. How a classroom is set up, how students responded to the educator, what type of environment will be promoted within the education and will you as a student respect or fear the educator in power. Many of these systems I have endured and found that very few had helped my personal learning progression. Dr. McKamey addresses these issues within her case study. The open classroom system contradicts the system of the “look” and the positioning of the desks in the classroom. The extra connection a teacher has with a student I believe is more than just a “look.” This is described as more of a parent toward a child. I know that students spend almost as much time in school as they do at home, but a teacher should be an adult figure not a parental substitute. A teacher maybe an outlet for students and a person who guides them through difficult obstacles in life, but I don’t agree in the relationship of teacher becoming parent to the student via “the look.” Maybe the sense of being a care giver is more the direction I understand a teacher being. In my experience as a student I had many teachers focus one on one with me as an individual and that was a great influence for my education. I always saw them as an educator and mentor not as a parental figure. An educator was an adult figure that I confided in for educational advice whether it dealt with education or life experiences. Being a “good teacher” is having the extra effort many people in the profession don’t have. The fact that college students can say on a consistent bases that an educator is good or pleasing is all in the character of the educator not in due their professional persona. Being a great educator doesn’t mean that you are a great person. It just categorizes these professionals that care about how their students complete the tasks or goals. An educator that make sure everyone succeeds in their course is the sign of a good educator. An educator that openly states that they will persuade you into the incorrect answer to make sure you know the material isn’t looking to be a good teacher but simple an educator. Being a teacher and educator are two different things I believe. A teacher is one that uses information to a vast diverse community and uses universal learning tools to make sure the community is educated and understands the material. An educator on the other hand uses tools and resources to inform the majority that doesn’t need the extra tools or resources to understand the material provided. Through my experience in education these beliefs have been reinforced time and time again.