What Teachers Want

In the 2003 book Creating Significant Learning Experiences, L. Dee Fink described conversations with faculty that were focused by the question, “In your deepest, fondest dreams, what kind of impact would you most like to have on your students?” Faculty answers to this question did not mention remembering information. Faculty’s answers did include what they hoped students would do with their new knowledge, how they would solve problems, how they would interact with others, and how they would contribute to society. They also described changes in the individual’s outlook on themselves and the world. “The joy of learning” was even mentioned as a goal that teachers have for students. Perhaps the “I taught it, but they didn’t learn it” phenomenon arises because the teaching was not aligned with the learning that was the deep purpose of the course.