Model lessons for high school students

Transcript

The other day I visited a high school, where I conducted two lessons, 50 minutes each. These model lessons were designed to introduce first-year high school students to college classes. I was one of 19 teachers from various universities. Each of us taught a different subject. Each student attended lessons in two subjects.

It's interesting to teach high school students, but it's pretty hard to give them a real university level experience. The students are three years younger than college freshmen, so they don't know as much as college students. Also, their interests are very different. They can't understand materials that college students read, and it's hard to find topics that interest them.

The hardest part of giving model lessons is that the students and I don't know each other. A 50-minute model lesson doesn't give us a chance to establish relationships. I have only a few minutes to introduce myself and teach them something new.

Often I'm pleased by the openness of these young strangers, and I think they learn something useful. But a one-time model lesson cannot convey what it's like to build the kinds of close, trusting relationships we develop in college. In a 50-minute period students cannot begin to experience the richness of a good liberal arts college education.

Although model lessons are really limited, I hope the students can get a little inspiration. Maybe some will even think, That's a cool subject and an interesting professor. Maybe I'll go to that university and study English.