COE Exchange

Since the birth of the movie industry, the arrival of radio and the emergence of television as a powerful force in society, educators have struggled with incorporating these medium into the class curriculum. British Schools Secretary Ed Balls commissioned a study by Sir Alan Steer into how to make learning more interesting in order to improve student behavior. According to the report submitted by Sir Alan Steer teachers should liven up their lessons by bringing in game shows like “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” or use games such as bingo or Taboo as part of their teaching strategies.

There is no doubt Sir Alan Steer does not wish to water down the curriculum and is searching for innovative teaching strategies. The issue may not be the strategy itself, but the content being taught using the strategy. Many outstanding teachers draw upon various teaching strategies, but they never forget the strategy is a means, not the goal. Unfortunately, too many teachers will confuse strategy with goals of the content.