Track: Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

Magicians know that to be successful, they must do more than just magic tricks. They realize the importance of each aspect of a presentation—planning, performing, acting, and telling stories. Magicians are trained to make their every word and motion lead the trusting audience into the inescapable trap of illusion. Wise magicians also know the importance of audience participation, so they always ask volunteers to examine a trick closely or function as assistants. And so it is with teaching. Professors, too, must prepare every detail. We, too, must plan, perform, act, and tell stories—all to get the audience involved. The magic of this discussion will help us all do at least some of these things if not all. Teaching is both a science and a performing art. In addition to having mastery of the content, college professors must know how to create a need-fulfilling environment for all in the classroom. In addition, teachers need to be skillful in planning and preparing, using differentiated instructional strategies, checking for student understanding, and making necessary adaptations and accommodations to reach/teach them all. The focus will be on the tenets of andragogy, including its linkages to pedagogy, transformative education, and pedagogy as being on the same continuum in teaching and learning. Attention will also be paid to the skills of infusing critical thinking, creative thinking, craftsmanship, flexibility, individual accountability, and positive interdependence in the classroom.

Keywords

Telling stories, Tricks, andragogy, pedagogy