21st Century Learning and Teaching

Amazing that someone from Japan thought it would be easier to get a PhD than to become a teacher.  I agree with the author that too much teacher preparation/development is spent on abstract theory.  There needs to be more time spent on research based instructional strategies, classroom management, climate and culture, and all the other things that we need to know immediately upon entering the classroom.  When I face a problem in the field, I don't stop to ponder the relevant theory and draw conclusions about what might work.  I go to the net and look for concrete and practical solutions based on research. 

I chose this article based on the dubious title. I have had the pleasure of working with many intellectually gifted teachers, but I also question the competency of some that I've worked with. Perhaps more rigorous testing should be used to select teacher candidates at schools of teacher education, or maybe the path to certification should be more difficult. However, I will certainly agree that our teacher training sometimes leans too much towards theory and not enough on the practical considerations of managing and presenting effective lessons.