lenses of learning

The article on lenses of learning demonstrates how effective teachers are able to remove themselves from their individual teaching style and context to achieve a greater quality in the classroom. It is clear that many teachers have different approaches to education and the variety can give one the impression that you have to pick the one that works for you and defend it exclusively. While there is truth in this statement Lenses of Learning offers the anecdote of Billy to explain how different teachers can interpret different experiences in the classroom, and how having an understanding of how you arrived at your choice and the reasoning of other teachers can make the difference between a perfunctory style of teaching at children verses one that is dynamic and holistic and self correcting through assessment reflection and development. The Lenses in Learning model of teaching represents another reason why a community of professionals with a common taxonomy of the different methods and institutions that provide and advocate for professional development is so important. In this fashion the teacher can be effective in celebrating the differences of teaching styles while fostering an environment of learning.