"F. George McDuffee" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:32:39 -0500, "Ed Huntress"
wrote:
snip
Your experience probably agrees with that I've heard from many teachers,
that a physical example of what's being taught is a tremendous help both
in
explaining the lesson, and, even more importantly, cementing it in the
students' memories.
snip

Although minimal attention is paid to this fact, this has been
known at least as far back as Comenius (and most likely much
earlier).
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/...-Amos-Comenius

This was rediscovered by John Dewey in the U.S. and applied with
considerable success. {IMNSHO where Dewey got wrapped around the
axle was his attempt to both modify the educational process and
champion "progressive" socio-political reforms at the same time.}
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/au...ohn_dewey.html
http://wilderdom.com/experiential/Ex...tialDewey.html

His findings and the U.S. vocational/hands-on education credo can
be encapsulated as:

I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.

Extensive work has been done on "learning styles" in both the
U.S. and Europe, and the traditional sage-on-a stage lecture mode
has been found to be optimal for 10 per cent or less of the
population, although over time most people can more-or-less adapt
to it.

The EEC has instituted "Project Comenius" with hands on
activities and student participation for exactly this reason.
http://project-comenius.eu/
[google on Project Comenius for c. 34.5 k hits]
also see
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelo...e/doc82_en.htm
This has been expanded by "Project Leonardo" with even more
emphasis on vocational/hands-on
http://www.leonardo.org.uk/
http://ec.europa.eu/education/progra...onardo_en.html

{For the traditional learners and the educational traditionalists
they have developed "Project Erasmus"
[google on Project Erasmus for c. 41.9 k hits]}
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelo...e/doc80_en.htm

Note that even Project Erasmus is gradually shifting to "hands
on" for the less academic subjects.
http://www.cmepius.si/files/cmepius/...ijavitelje.pdf

The sage-on-the-stage lecture mode remains dominant for several
reasons, a few of which a
(1) We all tend to teach the way we were taught.
(2) It is one of the most efficient methods of instruction in
terms of students per instructor. [How effective it is open to
question.]
(3) It is clean and neat, and no messes are created.
(4) "Objective" pencil and paper tests are much easier/quicker to
grade than student projects or performances.
(5) There is much less chance for a student to be injured setting
and listening to someone drone on than when actively engaged in
an activity. Injuries lead to lawsuits.
(6) Desks and blackboards are general purpose, low maintenance
and low cost. Materials/equipment for hands-on learning tend to
be special purpose, high maintenance, and high cost.

Note that this only covers *HOW* things should be taught. *WHAT*
should be taught is another, perhaps even bigger "can of worms,"

For what Europe is doing as we continue to squabble about "no
child left behind" see http://ec.europa.eu/education/index_en.htm


Unka' George [George McDuffee]

Very interesting stuff, George. I'll try to go through the rest of it
tonight.

--
Ed Huntress