My friend Mariana posted a very interesting article on FB from Knowledge@Wharton. The article, 'The Objective of Education Is Learning, Not Teaching', talks about how teaching may be the best way to learn, in contrast with the traditional teacher-centric dictatorial model. The article also points out that if you are a great learner it will not necessarily make you a great teacher (evidence-all those macroeconomics professors).
A fact from neuroscience also sheds some light on this subject of teaching and learning. The brain develops the ability to teach at 2 years old but does not develop the ability to read until 5 years old. Humans are the only animals that can teach; we are naturally predisposed to teach. Therefore, if teaching is an effective means for the teacher to learn, why do we not have young children teaching subjects instead of listening to boring lectures. A new variation on student-centric learning :)
Here is an idea that I have been considering for awhile for my undergraduate entrepreneurship class at FIU. Have the students do the lecturing and I will serve as mentor and commentator. Each class a group of students would have to present an assigned subject in the manner they find most effective. I would continue to teach the cases and do the blog discussions but the students would have to learn the material and then present. Feedback in the comments or email welcome.
