Education vs. Training

Today in class we had a discussion about education versus training. Training is a lot more specific than education. It deals with specific tasks, focuses on particular problems and skills, and can be rather repetitive. Whereas education, takes the focus beyond these specific skills and formulas, deals with reflective practice, and gives you the ability to know and understand why you are doing something, not simply what you are doing.

I completely agree with what the professor said. As teachers, we of course need the training otherwise we would be completely blind sided stepping out into the field. We would have no idea how to make a lesson plan, unit plan, how to evaluate and assess, and what the key tools are to being a successful teacher. However, I have had some pretty boring teachers who are definitely what one would call the “technical teacher” who goes by the books. If I really want to go by the books, I would go buy the books and teach myself. Autonomous professionals or reflective practitioners are able to go beyond the books and formulas and use different strategies and methods of teaching that make learning a lot more exciting. I absolutely love when teachers tell personal stories for examples and relate things to real life because it shows that what you are learning actually has some use in the real world.

Another problem with using formulas and not straying from the training you have obtained is nowadays, students with disabilities (whether they be learning, behavioural, physical or any other sort of disability that hinders their ability to learn at the level or pace that you are teaching) are included in the regular classroom. Therefore, the straightforward formulas do not discuss differentiated instruction and how you are going to have to make three different assignments instead of one in order to meet the needs of all of your students. Every student is not going to learn in the same way. You may need to think outside of the box to reach every student and have him or her meet the goals that you desire. You might need to make sure your lesson includes audio as well as visual aids. Whatever the case may be, one must go beyond being a trained professional, and be an educated professional as well.