Fostering a classroom of thinkers

By Frances Haman-Prewitt

Using technology as a tool, Paulson works hard to make sure that his fourth-grade students at Thrasher Elementary learn to think for themselves.

Jeff Paulson is a thinker.

When asked about his motivations and strategies as an educator, Paulson cites Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) and George Orwell (1984) and their predictions about the effects of technology on our society. He leans towards Huxley, who feared that people would become so entertained, so overwhelmed by information, that we would stop thinking for ourselves.

So, using technology as a tool, Paulson works hard to make sure that his fourth-grade students at Thrasher Elementary learn to think for themselves. His students create PowerPoint presentations and reports that they place on a Wikispace page that he has prepared just for them. They do research and write plays based on what they have learned, videotape themselves acting out the lessons, and post those videos on the class wiki page.

This has created so much excitement, motivation and engagement for students that other teachers are venturing into the world of technology, too. Paulson generously shares his knowledge and ideas, and in his role as one of two lead teachers at Thrasher, he has half the day to work with other teachers, demonstrating these and additional strategies for other classrooms at Thrasher.

“This works both ways,” Paulson quickly points out. “Many of the teachers at Thrasher have been here longer than I have. They have generously mentored me over the years, and I am constantly picking up great ideas from each of them. Collaboration is everywhere at Thrasher.”

Visit Jeff Paulson’s fourth-grade classroom at Thrasher at PEFChattanooga.org/ExcellentTeachers. You can see a brief demonstration of his classroom’s wiki page and tune in to a longer, very thoughtful interview with Jeff Paulson as he describes his philosophy of teaching. We also have left space for you to tell us your own story of an excellent teacher.

We were very impressed by our visit to Thrasher Elementary, and we know you will be, too.