Teacher directed v. Constructivism

Teacher directed instruction versus a constructivist approach to teaching. I think inquiry based instruction not only ties content to real life but also helps to develop critical thinking skills needed in all aspects of a young persons life and can be critical to success in the future of our students. However, here is the dilemma. Teachers feel that they must teach in a behaviorist fashion because of the pressure put on them by local administration and state government. In Alabama teachers are measured by the scores of the students they teach. I am not saying that testing should not be used in assessing students, but it should not be the only thing used to measure achievement. Today teachers are encouraged to use drill and practice methods of teaching and create tests that are aligned with state standards and in so many cases those standards are the only thing taught in the classroom. The days where the teacher is the sage on the stage, the manipulator of the environment, while students are the receptacles of knowledge are no longer effective with today’s students. It has been proven that students learn best when content is tied to real life and students learn best when they work together to solve problems. The problem with this constructivist theory of teaching is that teachers may be reprimanded for not following a mandated pacing guide or curriculum map set forth by their school system. Administrators can not expect the results that can be achieved in a constructivist classroom yet bind teachers to test scores, curriculum maps and state objectives that encourage the methodologies of teacher-directed instruction.