Quality Versus Quantity

IN today’s academic scenario, a lot of teachers are guilty of sprint cover a page or book method. They are driven by the calendar and what they are supposed to be teaching by a certain date. Teachers, in their desire to cover competencies expected of them to cover for the grading period, pace lessons rapidly regardless of whether or not learners have mastered the concept.

This so- called frenetic pace of teaching is ineffective and counter- productive. Quality should come paramount over quantity. Cramming it down takes the joy out of learning. It doesn’t make students remember exactly what was taught to them. It is not right that the students know the material just enough to get through the test and move on. It is important that students remember the lessons weeks or months or even years later.

Truth is that days are hectic and stressful for teachers be- cause they are no longer taking the time to really think, explore and discover with the kids. Teachers have a lot of fun activities and projects they never have the chance to have because it was important to keep moving. It certainly is better to go a mile deep than go a mile wide in terms of learning. It would become easier for students to obtain information on their own the moment they have mastered the skill of going more in- depth on fewer topics as op- posed to simply brushing the surface of many.

It is high time most educators take a serious look at the frenetic pace of teaching and learning. Educators need to refocus on what’s really more important between quality or quantity. Remember, students who enjoy learning make progress and achieve. Education is not a race and is not entirely all about outcomes. It is essential to see it as an experience in itself-an experience we need to enjoy and be proud of. Olivia D. Calao-it