Having Ideas Heard Means People Must Listen

In order for ideas to be heard, people must listen. This seems so simple, but in reality, for many people this connection between listening, hearing, and speaking is quite complicated. We might hear people talk, but are we really listening? Speak, Listen, and Hear are all verbs or actions. So what is the difference between hearing and listening.

Speak

spēk VERB

 

1. say something in order to convey information, an opinion, or a feeling

Hear

hir VERB

 

1. perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something).

Listen

ˈlis(ə)n/ VERB

 

1.

give one's attention to a sound.

 

 

Hearing is simply perceiving a sound, but to truly listen means paying attention to these sounds. Kate Simmonds "I'm Seventeen" and Angela Maiers "You Matter" TED Talks both relate to this idea of effective communication. Simmonds conveyed that even though she is "just 17" she still has ideas that are worthy of attention. Maiers discussed the importance of not only noticing others, but telling them that you noticed it and that they MATTER. We might hear our students, but do we truly listen to them. Are we seriously contemplating their statements, and discerning their opinions and thoughts. Simmonds ended her video by stating "Students, you need to believe in your voices, and adults, you need to listen." I was floored by this statement. Speak out, and truly listen too. How true!!!

 

Maiers conveyed the importance of noticing students, and then telling them YOU MATTER. This seems so simple, but a genuine "You matter" can make all the different. Maiers, who is an educator herself, said "You can change a culture just by noticing people," and she tells her students "You are a genius and the world needs your contributions." WOW... what would you do if someone said that to you! This personalization is exactly what the education system needs according to Dr. Tae who states one of the biggest problems in education is "Depersonalization 101 in large universities." Simmonds echoed something similar by saying (paraphrase) "students are expected to raise their hands to use the restroom in 12th grade, and then choose a career as a freshman in college." Is this logical? Is this helping the student.

 

So questions I garnered from the readings and videos for this week are:

1) How do we demonstrate to students that they matter?

2) How can we foster an environment where students feel respected and like they have a voice?

3) What are ways that we (as one teacher) can help improve the education system?

 

These are big questions... big questions indeed.

 

Another big question I have is regarding agriculture education and how we are preparing students for careers. For an upcoming national twitter chat (date TBD) my group and I are considering talking about career preparation for students. This might look like asking industry professionals: Are our students ready? What skills do they need? Asking teachers, what tools do you use, or what additional resources do you need? What percentage of your students go into careers relating to agriculture etc. Asking FFA advisors about Career Development Events, etc.

 

So... Any advice for the twitter chat? I promise to read your responses, and truly LISTEN to what you are saying (well writing) instead of just "hearing" it!

 

Thanks all,

-Sb