source: www.youthwork-practice.com | 2000 Games, Devotions, Themes, Ideas and more for Youth Work
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"You cannot teach a man, you can only help him"
[Galileo Galilei]
Encourage motivation and curiosity
The student deals with what he has heard, tries to understand and
"store" the contents and connections.
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Learning is not a Nuremberg funnel principle, neither can you transfer knowledge via USB stick or Bluetooth to another hard drive. However, there are situations, where you can do nothing else, but get it into your head any way possible. Most of you though will know it from their own experience, the knowledge you can call upon, even years after, you have acquired through experience and curiosity.
That's what Galileo Galilei is all about. Moreover, that is the secret recipe for learning for every teacher. If the teacher can motivate the student, he will start to learn independently. He would want to discover his skills and apply himself. In this case, the teacher has accomplished a thousand times more than any curriculum.
What can schooling contribute to learning?
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The teacher can arouse curiosity about a topic (learning material). The teacher can achieve that through a structured approach and presentation.
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The student deals with what he has heard, tries to understand and "store" the contents and connections.
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In the theory of learning one calls that "constructivist learning". The student creates his own understanding and connects that with the info. His prior knowledge, his previous experience of life and his attitude, therefore, creates an individual memory of what he has heard.
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Moreover, when a student realises that learning is not for the teacher or the parent, then much can be gained. That there is a "sense of achievement" in learning, combined with the appropriate dedication, perseverance and interest in knowledge.
The youth leader gives help and encouragement so that the
adolescent dares to try new things and is encouraged to go his own way.
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Youth work: the youth leader as "development worker."
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Youth work does not just teach any "knowledgeable topics" or "learning materials". In youth work, there are many practical topics to discover.
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Social interaction, community, consideration, and commitment to the group. In every community, there are very different people, different strengths and weaknesses.
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If the youth leader succeeds that the young person can see himself with all his strengths and weaknesses and learns how to apply himself and contributes to the community by taking responsibility, then this young person will grow into a pillar or the community.
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The youth leader gives help and encouragement so that the adolescent dares to try new things and is encouraged to go his own way.
Life and self-discovery
Ultimately, life is about learning to take responsibility for oneself, show interest in new things and learning from them, while at the same time discovering one’s own strengths, talents and abilities, so that one day he can find his own way.
Self-discovery is closely related to learning and understanding self; to understand your feelings and fears as well as the symptoms and causes of your moods. What does hold the young person back from discovering himself?
As a youth leader, you have an important role to play. You can help – not teach – the young person to discover and understand himself. However, this requires sufficient empathy, interest and a rapport on the part of the youth leader.
More articles which fits
- Discouraged children - The (lack of) courage to change
- Encouragement of children
- Empathy/Sensitivity
- Refusing schooling (Truancy)
- Fear of humiliation, making a mistake and failing
- Relationship skills
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