“It is not the quantity of the meat, but the cheerfulness of the guests, which makes the feast” Edward Hyde.
Over the past week I have been weighing the importance of quality and quantity with regards to education in Trinidad and Tobago. This came as a result of my having to attend classes in the midst of what is supposed to be holidays a rest period after having worked during the last term. Because I like so many of my colleagues am tired I am left to wonder about the quality that I am taking in and by extension the quality that I am giving out.
It seems to me that for this institution, like so many others in this hemisphere, quantity takes precedence over quality and this can be seen in such overwhelming expectations as too many written assignments re. essays, blogs, portfolios etc (find creative ways to assess) and too many hours of classes crammed into the afternoons and teachers vacation period. Quantity or the more the merrier seems to be their mode of operating. Leading me to wonder if this course is tailored for us or are we being squeezed into a makeshift program?
The quote with which I opened seemed very apt as I am left many times with the feeling that the quantity of the information that I am being fed is way too much, giving me not enough time to chew, savour, share/feed others, cover down and go back to munch on later. Because I am rushed and stuffed with a large quantity I am really not cheerful (not given enough time to be cheerful about what I am fed). Is there something that can be done to make it less stressful? Because right now all I can say about this situation is ...
Sorry people, “This Med Reading feast is not enjoyable as I would have wanted or expected it to be.”
Edlin, I cannot but help agree with you and I believe it may have something to do with the fact that we are guinea pigs in the sense that there is no track record on how things are supposed to be done. I feel so overwhelmed. I pause here to publicly confess that one morning in the vacation quite recently as I awoke I started to cry.Mind you there as no apparent reason why. I put it down to anxiety.I thought that this would be a sail through time because it was one ICT course. However it was so packed, I thought that it was three courses all tied into one. Not to mention overloading us with this new cousre that has started so early.There was no indication that this would happen. So because we are receiving this masters as a scholarship does it mean that our needs are not to be considered?And what about those of us who are not so ICT proficient?We had to proceed at the same pace as you all. Talk about fair!
ReplyDeleteEdlin, I am sure your views are shared by all. I looked forward to this ICT course, only to be frustrated by the pace by which I am expected to assimilate the information. I so wanted to spend time creating a fantastic eBook, but my final product was rushed and substandard . What is even more frustrating is it does not have to be like this. As educators we sometimes forget the most basic principles of learning. Is a Masters program a case of survival of the fittest? Are we not supposed to take time to understand and reflect? We are being taught new information in a medium that is new and somewhat intimidating for many of us. Are we really being prepared to become specialists, or are we being put through the education grinder?
ReplyDeleteHmmmmh fodder for thought!
ReplyDelete