Building a learning community project - Essay Example

ing at an age where plans for the future must be charted, the students’ perspectives for a fulfilling career are usually influenced by their interests and experiences. Hence, teachers must be knowledgeable in balancing teacher-directed learning and student-centred learning. A constructivist philosophy in the teaching-learning process is proposed. Ideally, career planning should begin early in a student’s life. As early as third or fourth grade, an Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP) should be started.

This is a student notebook or portfolio containing information about their career interests including education and training opportunities and even exploration experiences (Hoerner, 1994). They are free to design their ICDP as they please because the more it is individualized to their preference, the more responsibility they will take in planning their lives, so they should be encouraged to carry their ICDP to all their classes, to take it home and share with parents, family and friends for feedback.

Beginning a career plan in elementary school will help children have a focus around which they can relate their studies and extra-curricular activities. It is also important for teachers to nurture not only knowledge acquisition but also to include knowledge application. They need to think beyond the classroom and learn about possible careers their students may pursue when they go out into the world (Hoerner, 1994) Encouraging students to come up with their own ideas may be in the ambit of the teachers within the school premises.

However, a bigger problem may lie outside school, specifically when the students go back to the community. The school, then, in envisioning success for such learner-centred learning must engage the community, most specifically the students’ parents and family members in supporting the students’ activities. Teachers must inculcate in the parents the significance of their cooperation and support if they indeed want their