Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Context vs. Content

Robert McCormick's picture

Back to my blog 

Try these two illustrations for examples of Context vs. Content.

Of all of the memories you have as a student, what ones are your favorite ones? Is it something that a teacher or school administrator said or did that boasted your motivation and self-dignity?

 

 

Of all of the memories you have a student, what is one of your worst ones, something that a teacher or school administrator said or did that lessened your motivation and self-dignity?

 

As you reflect upon both your positive and negative memories of school, what did you learn from both and do you use these memories as a guide what you are doing with your students today? Thanks to Robert Brooks for this example.

 

Another example.

 

Thing back to your first test involving solving quadratic equations.

Two questions.  Presently, do you remember how to solve quadratic equations or do you still remember the feeling you had when you realized that your mind had gone totally blank and forgot everything?

If you are like me, no, you still do not know how to solve quadratic equations but vividly recall the panic that you had when your mind went blank.