14. There is every reason to believe that texts were used for several generations before they were replaced. Thus, unlike today, teachers would teach from the same text they learned from. Write a brief essay (1-2 pages) on the benefits that would accrue to both teacher and student from both teaching and/or learning from the same text. (Let us the assume that the text being used from is correct - also unlike today.)
Many of you went to extraordinary efforts to explore this topic comprehensively and in depth. I, the teacher, am very, very impressed.
Note: The responses below are random and typical in content. Please do not feel slighted if your answer is not here.
The use of texts for several generations by the ancient Greeks was sufficient for their time. It most certainly produced highly knowledgeable teachers and saved resources. Today, schools use a text for just a few years. This is the best method for our era. It allows for flexibility in teaching and learning. So, while the pros and cons are obvious for both situations, I think each society eventually comes to the best solution for them.
Another advantage of keeping books for an extended time would be that the text could be examined in detail. Time would be an asset; having the same book for decades would allow one the time to actually look at each part of the book in great detail. Currently, teachers have to hastily read, learn the layout, the problems, and the general set up of a new textbook every few years. Along with all the other responsibilities of a teacher, it is doubtful that there will be time to really explore each problem and proof in detail. However, if a book remains the same for many years, both teachers and students would be able to really look at problems and think of similar problems or perhaps discover completely new problems that could arise from the lesson. Having a textbook for numerous generations would perhaps lead to a more in depth understanding of the material, rather than a glossing over of the topic.
Using the same book one learned from would also mean the teacher could have an absolutely thorough understanding of the entire text. The benefit here could be one of not only increased confidence, but as a result of that, better teaching abilities. After some period of time, as with most things, our confidence increases as we spend more time doing a specific thing. But the sooner and more thoroughly we know any material, the more confident and better prepared we are to pass this knowledge on to others. Now this confidence is not necessarily a must, but it can definitely be a real advantage because explaining things becomes easier. Teachers are better able to answer questions, which allows them to do a better job and thus makes the whole experience more pleasant and rewarding.
A teacher and a student see a text from different angles. Let's examine it
first from the viewpoint of the teacher. The teacher was once a student, struggling
to comprehend the information. A diligent student would spend lots of time with
the text, probably stuck on various concepts. The students will realize which
concepts are confusing. As a teacher later, they would recognize these trouble
spots ahead of time and be able to take more time to explain them. The teacher
would be able to pace the presentation of the material based on their own experience.
The benefits to the student would be numerous. The teacher would be very familiar
with the text so they would be able to explain it better to the student. The
student would benefit from an instructor who was intimately familiar with the
material and presentation. The student could expect the teacher to know of any
inconsistencies in the text ahead of time, instead of discovering them after
hours lost in frustration.
This situation could be beneficial to both student and teacher. As a teacher,
I think it would be interesting to try, although it would require supplementation
to keep the knowledge base up to date, as new things were discovered.
Since it was in Greek civilization that we see the first of signs of reasoning before accepting any judgment, I believe that the teachers would be encouraging their students to have discussions. A discussion can be well guided or moderated by a teacher if the teacher has studied the text (which is the basis of the discussion) well. Knowledge of the text helps in leading students on a path of discovery. Having studied from the text the teachers would be teaching from would give the teachers the opportunity to devise new and better ways of guiding the students through the text. It can also be expected that teachers would comprehend the students problems having been in their shoes earlier while going through the same texts.
Students on the other hand would expect their teachers to understand their problems and difficulties better. They would also trust the judgments of the teachers as there is a clear and apparent basis for their teachers to have come to certain conclusions based on the knowledge from the same text. This builds more confidence in the students regarding the texts. This is a process that passes through generations. Not only were the Teachers taught from the texts but their teachers too would have studied from the same texts. This cycle helps in educating students from the body of knowledge gained over generations
In summary, at least three benefits accrue from having a standard text that is used across generations. One is a clarification of scope. A second is the development of ownership of the material and belong to a group that owns the material. A third is the extension of the second, developing confidence in the material to the extent that one can attempt new applications with enthusiasm. The potential downside is that ownership turns into exclusion, dogmatism, and scholasticism. New ideas are rejected as are their proponents. Confidence transforms into mysticism, attributing powers to the material itself.
This is the final paragraph of one of the essays. You may read it entirely at this link.
Teaching from the same text you learned from would be beneficial in several
ways: a certain level of comfort would be there, a feeling of familiarity and
certainty would accompany the lessons, and being familiar with the material
from the onset provides you time to explore supplemental material as well as
extensions on the learning. When a teacher has to learn the text first, there
usually isn't time for a great deal of exploring new options as far as teaching
the material goes. After you have used a textbook for a couple of years and
become familiar with it, then the teacher begins to branch out.
There is, however, one drawback in using the same text for several generations.
When new material comes along, teachers have no choice but to supplement the
text they are using. This is a good thing, however, with the amount of material
we are expected to teach in a school year, it becomes very difficult. It was
not all that long ago that textbooks contained no information about fractal
geometry, for example. Information that is not in a textbook, many times goes
overlooked by teachers.
The teachers and student would basically have the same understanding of the subject matter since they are using the same material to learn. The learning approach would be the same and as the teacher teaches using the same text over and over again, he becomes a "master' of the text and can easily address any concerns the students might have on the text. They also know the shortcomings of the book and are able to better prepare to make up for these shortcomings by preparing extra materials in advance.
Students get the benefit of having someone who knows the text inside out and
can provide answers to their questions. Also, they are approaching the topics
the same way their teachers did, so they tend to think the same way and the
teachers can use the experience to guide them every step of the way.
Both student and teacher have the advantage of specializing in the same body
of work and can share knowledge easily and effectively.
In modern times, a school will change textbooks for a course every five to
ten years. Content is updated, new items are added as technology improves and
old material is removed as it becomes outdated. In contrast, Greek instructors
would teach from the same materials they learned as students. One text could
be used for several generations of learners. While there are advantages to this
approach, some disadvantages are also present.
A wealth of knowledge passes from teacher to student when the teacher learned
the subject in the same way the students are learning it. However, when the
same text is used for many generations, new material and ideas cannot be easily
introduced to students. The students learn exactly what the teacher learned
years before. New discoveries or new methods of solving problems may not be
taught to students until many years after they come about. What students are
learning almost becomes stagnant. This can be good when students are learning
basic skills such as arithmetic, but as more advancement is made, students need
to have access to new information. Textbooks that are from a previous generation
will not allow that to happen. In addition to students not gaining new information,
teachers are not learning anything new either. It is expected that effective
teachers know more about the subject than students do. This higher insight allows
teacher to better teach students. If the teacher only knows what is in the book
that the students are using to learn, there is no higher knowledge for the teacher
to draw upon while teaching.
Another advantage for the teacher is the ease of planning the lessons. Since different books teach topics in varying orders, the teacher much arrange her notes to compensate for these changes. In teaching from the same book, the necessity of changing the lesson plans will not be necessary, unless the teacher wants to update a topic.
This thorough understanding of the teacher is also incredibly beneficial to the students. Although most students will not know the difference if the teacher uses one book one year and a completely different one the next, they will still feel the effects of the changes. A teacher can teach material more efficiently if they have a thorough understanding of the structure and the concepts. The students can sense if the teacher is uncomfortable with the material. Also, since the book is the one that the teacher learned from, he/she is likely to remember what her though processes were when the material was first taught. In turn the teacher can explain these though processes to the students to aide in their learning.
In general, it appears that using the same book is of a greater benefit to
the teacher and the students are only affected by the teacher's knowledge. However,
consider the students that do not pass the class the first time through and
must retake the course. If the book changes, the student will have to learn
from a new text. So a student who is already having difficulty with a subject
must now learn it again, but from a completely different book which may have
contradictions to what the student has already learned. This will just cause
more confusion for the student. On the other hand, if the book remains the same,
the student will be relearning the exact same material and will be able to fill
in the "blank spots" that were missed the first time. This will give
them a higher chance of grasping the material.
A teacher and a student see a text from different angles. Let's examine it
first from the viewpoint of the teacher. The teacher was once a student, struggling
to comprehend the information. A diligent student would spend lots of time with
the text, probably stuck on various concepts. The students will realize which
concepts are confusing. As a teacher later, they would recognize these trouble
spots ahead of time and be able to take more time to explain them. The teacher
would be able to pace the presentation of the material based on their own experience.
The benefits to the student would be numerous. The teacher would be very familiar
with the text so they would be able to explain it better to the student. The
student would benefit from an instructor who was intimately familiar with the
material and presentation. The student could expect the teacher to know of any
inconsistencies in the text ahead of time, instead of discovering them after
hours lost in frustration.