Saturday, April 08, 2006
The struggle of expectations
"So as not to suffer from depression, lower your expectations." Do you agree? Explain your answer.
I think adjusting our expectations is necessary when you consider the calibre of the students, or the nature of the tasks, or even our own abilities. But it's important to not undermine the basic standard. Or we will be producing substandard results and not spurring ourselves or the students on to achieving their full potential.
Where do you draw the line for the limit of their capabilities? How do you know when your expectations of them are within their capabilities or beyond them? I think it's important for us to set a relatively high standard for the kids first. But to be prepared for them to fall below it. Then we work out the factors why they failed to achieve that standard, and possibly adjust our expectations accordingly. Cos if we set relatively high expectations, at least if they fall short of it, they still have room to work and improve on. And if they exceed it, so be it! Great! But of course we need to take care in not placing ridiculous expectations on them. We need to understand them, by interacting with them, by finding out more about them, by building a relationship with them... so much so that we have a common understanding of what the expectations are... and hopefully work towards it hand-in-hand. Cos I personally think that it's impossible for us to achieve those expectations alone.
Consider setting the expectations together. At least they have ownership.
Be contented.
I think adjusting our expectations is necessary when you consider the calibre of the students, or the nature of the tasks, or even our own abilities. But it's important to not undermine the basic standard. Or we will be producing substandard results and not spurring ourselves or the students on to achieving their full potential.
Where do you draw the line for the limit of their capabilities? How do you know when your expectations of them are within their capabilities or beyond them? I think it's important for us to set a relatively high standard for the kids first. But to be prepared for them to fall below it. Then we work out the factors why they failed to achieve that standard, and possibly adjust our expectations accordingly. Cos if we set relatively high expectations, at least if they fall short of it, they still have room to work and improve on. And if they exceed it, so be it! Great! But of course we need to take care in not placing ridiculous expectations on them. We need to understand them, by interacting with them, by finding out more about them, by building a relationship with them... so much so that we have a common understanding of what the expectations are... and hopefully work towards it hand-in-hand. Cos I personally think that it's impossible for us to achieve those expectations alone.
Consider setting the expectations together. At least they have ownership.
Be contented.
# posted by Banana Saviour @ 1:30 PM 
