Edumacation: I am terrible at rote learning

How I wish history class had been conducted

iMorpheus
iMorpheus
Jul 25, 2017 · 2 min read
Ruin Found in No Man’s Sky

Teacher: We are going to make a game.
Students: YAH!
Teacher: In this game, you are going to fight to save your friends, your family and your neighbors.
Students: YAH! ← I hope.
Teacher: You will need some information about your foe.
Students: Foe?
Teacher: Yes, your enemy. The person coming to do harm.
Student G: The bad guy?
Teacher: Yes, the bad guy.
Student C: Who are the ba….who is our foe?
Teacher: Very good, student C. Our foe is…

NARRATOR: Lights dim. Curtains shut. Projector starts.

Teacher: …Genghis Khan! Everyone, take notes. We need to know everything about our foe.
Students: :0

NARRATOR: Film plays. Most kids take notes: including yours truly. Some kids fall asleep. Others daydream of vanquishing their foe. Lots of stuff. Lots of different people.

FILM ENDS

Teacher: Okay, everyone get together and check your information against this Fact Sheet.

STUDENTS COMPLY.

Teacher: Okay, we need six groups of five.

AFTER MUCH SHUFFLING ABOUT STUDENTS SETTLE DOWN

Teacher: Here is information about your group: size, strength, location, resources, blah-blah. You must prepare your group for Khan’s attack. Good luck.

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

Teacher: Okay, let’s hear your plans.

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. PRAISE.

Teacher: Right, here is what really happened.

NARRATOR: Film.

Students: :0
Teacher: Oh, there is more. How far do you think Khan’s empire stretched? What happened after his death? More questions.
Students: Blah, blah.
Teacher: Read this section to find the answers.

I would have retained a lot more from history class.

iMorpheus

Written by

iMorpheus

Instructor, podcaster/creator & streamer - https://imorpheus.carrd.co. Currently producing Tokyo Storytellers @ https://anchor.fm/tokyostorytellers/

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade