Sunday, April 1, 2012

Metaphors for Teaching

  • Teacher as Boss: Student-workers are supervised by teacher-managers, who cajole students to 'get back to work' or 'do your homework' or 'finish your seatwork'. 
  • Teacher as Nurturer: The teacher cares for the students, protecting them and fostering their learning. The images of caretaking, affection, love and warmth are stimulated by this metaphor.
  • Teacher as Captain of the Ship: No mutinies allowed here. The teacher barks out orders and the students jump to comply.
  • Teacher as Experts: The purpose of the teacher is to be an information source. Teaching, in this context is telling others. The 'others' (students) are passive receiver of the knowledge.
  • Teacher as Doctor: The teacher diagnoses the learning needs of the students and prescribes appropriate interventions for them.
  • Teacher as Coach: Students are novices who must practice skills in order to develop expertise. The teacher models the desired skills, structures practice time and events, and encourages student achievement.
  • Teacher as Performer: The teacher must capture the interests of the students by acting in an entertaining way.
  • Teacher as Traffic Cop: Many avenues of learning are open to students, but the teacher as traffic cop helps prevent collisions, introduce order and ensure safety.
  • Teacher as Judge: The teacher sets the standards for learning and assesses students against this standard.
  • Teacher as Co-Learner: The teacher is no longer the expert, but a seeker of knowledge who works with the students. The 'right' answer to questions is not known but must be researched or created through reasoning and problem-solving activities.
(Adapted from: Metaphors We Live By (1980))


Cerah hati kami, kau semai nilai yang suci.

Tegak panji Ilahi, bangkit generasi Rabbani.


:: mencari spirit yang hilang ::

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