I firmly believe the role of teachers at all levels is one of the most important yet undervalued tasks in our society. Collectively they have the power to direct incoming generations to wherever they please.
Teachers at elementary and high school levels exist primarily to teach students how to learn. Fishing adages are apt here. You don't need a Ph.D to do this: you need charisma, enthusiasm, natural communication skills, a love for life and a love for helping others. I'm sure many more attributes could be appended to this list; but I don't see very high academic ability fitting in there.
Obviously a highly competent understanding of the subject matter is necessary. But the aim isn't to data entry raw bits into the kids' brains - it is to empower them with the ability to learn whatever they choose themselves. It is to motivate them to pursue their interests and to pursue the sort of further learning that will help them in their later lives.
Hence, I fully support child psych tests applied to teachers. In Australia, anyone who may be in an authoritarian position over children needs to pass a suitability test - this includes day care, tuition, etc. I think the rules governing the acceptance of a prospective teacher into a particular position should be very stringent; but stringent with regard to their enthusiasm, communication and motivational skills. Not based on what academic achievements they have gained.
As has been pointed out here already, a learned person does not necessarily make a good teacher. It may help -- but it is certainly not the prime prerequisite.
A pay rise would help, for sure. I've seen a lot of people teaching who just did not want to be there, whether this is because they're not naturally suited to teaching, or because of working conditions / reimbursement -- I don't know. But these people should not be teaching in the manner they are: kids, especially those who lack natural enthusiasm for knowledge expansion (normally as a result of peer pressure, but that's another story altogether..) need to be motivated by their teachers.
If a child is enthusiastic about a subject, a teacher who doesn't know anything about the subject is NOT going to prevent the child from pursuing knowledge pertaining to it.
This could be done in a method that doesn't waste people's time nor increase their download time to an unnecessary extent.
If the upcoming ad were to be preloaded while the viewer is browsing the current page, as soon as a link as clicked on, the ad can be displayed instantly. While the ad is displaying, the next page's content is being preloaded. When the specified viewtime is reached AND the next page has completely loaded, the ad is turned off and the following page loaded.
This would require sites to rethink their content delivery methods, but as most large sites pull everything from a database; preloading isn't awfully difficult. Infact it should be done anyway based on common site traversal trends; but that's another topic altogether:).
The result is for modem users, a full size ad that lasts probably about the same time as it takes to load the next page. Instead of seeing a banner ad and the company's logo, and a page of whitespace while textual content is loaded; they see an ad. I wouldn't have a problem with that. Broadband users will wait for the set viewtime, as traditional TV/Radio advertising employs.
Technically, I can't think of a better way to implement it. Whether it *should* be implemented at all is another issue.
My take is we'll see consumer's expectations driving their stay-time on a site. If they are getting a lot out of the content, enjoying the site, finding it useful: one or two 7-second ads won't hurt. If the site is pretty average and there's a 7-second ad between every single page: they'll leave. Sites which don't employ this advertising technique will be applauded.
Someone mentioned about alternative product awareness techniques: creating informational or portal sites whose primary purpose is NOT to sell the product; but throughout the site branding is utilised. This is very unobtrusive. Think of the cinemas: unless you actively look out for it, branding is quite subtle. Okay, there are some obvious exceptions (Pepsi being the biggest culprit, I think!).. but on the whole it's quite subliminal. I don't mind it at all (but still get a good laugh out of a nice, drawn-out close-up of the actor taking a long swig from their can of drink, holding in a manner which looks awfully uncomfortable but manages to deliver 100% logo frontage;).
Fact is, there are alternatives to intrusive advertising. These should be employed first; intrusive for when a specialised attack is required. And banner advertising still works! As has been said, impression counts for more than click-through. I've never phoned a company because I saw their website. But when I *need* to employ a service which that company covers; I consider them -- I'm aware of their presence and what they offer. Why should we expect web users to be any different?
Infact, I see CPM advertising taking a rise in the near future with CTR dropping below it. People will realise at some stage impression counts more than click-through.
Slashdot Mirror
I firmly believe the role of teachers at all levels is one of the most important yet undervalued tasks in our society. Collectively they have the power to direct incoming generations to wherever they please.
Teachers at elementary and high school levels exist primarily to teach students how to learn. Fishing adages are apt here. You don't need a Ph.D to do this: you need charisma, enthusiasm, natural communication skills, a love for life and a love for helping others. I'm sure many more attributes could be appended to this list; but I don't see very high academic ability fitting in there.
Obviously a highly competent understanding of the subject matter is necessary. But the aim isn't to data entry raw bits into the kids' brains - it is to empower them with the ability to learn whatever they choose themselves. It is to motivate them to pursue their interests and to pursue the sort of further learning that will help them in their later lives.
Hence, I fully support child psych tests applied to teachers. In Australia, anyone who may be in an authoritarian position over children needs to pass a suitability test - this includes day care, tuition, etc. I think the rules governing the acceptance of a prospective teacher into a particular position should be very stringent; but stringent with regard to their enthusiasm, communication and motivational skills. Not based on what academic achievements they have gained.
As has been pointed out here already, a learned person does not necessarily make a good teacher. It may help -- but it is certainly not the prime prerequisite.
A pay rise would help, for sure. I've seen a lot of people teaching who just did not want to be there, whether this is because they're not naturally suited to teaching, or because of working conditions / reimbursement -- I don't know. But these people should not be teaching in the manner they are: kids, especially those who lack natural enthusiasm for knowledge expansion (normally as a result of peer pressure, but that's another story altogether..) need to be motivated by their teachers.
If a child is enthusiastic about a subject, a teacher who doesn't know anything about the subject is NOT going to prevent the child from pursuing knowledge pertaining to it.
Warmest regards,
Kaj.
This could be done in a method that doesn't waste people's time nor increase their download time to an unnecessary extent.
:).
;).
If the upcoming ad were to be preloaded while the viewer is browsing the current page, as soon as a link as clicked on, the ad can be displayed instantly. While the ad is displaying, the next page's content is being preloaded. When the specified viewtime is reached AND the next page has completely loaded, the ad is turned off and the following page loaded.
This would require sites to rethink their content delivery methods, but as most large sites pull everything from a database; preloading isn't awfully difficult. Infact it should be done anyway based on common site traversal trends; but that's another topic altogether
The result is for modem users, a full size ad that lasts probably about the same time as it takes to load the next page. Instead of seeing a banner ad and the company's logo, and a page of whitespace while textual content is loaded; they see an ad. I wouldn't have a problem with that. Broadband users will wait for the set viewtime, as traditional TV/Radio advertising employs.
Technically, I can't think of a better way to implement it. Whether it *should* be implemented at all is another issue.
My take is we'll see consumer's expectations driving their stay-time on a site. If they are getting a lot out of the content, enjoying the site, finding it useful: one or two 7-second ads won't hurt. If the site is pretty average and there's a 7-second ad between every single page: they'll leave. Sites which don't employ this advertising technique will be applauded.
Someone mentioned about alternative product awareness techniques: creating informational or portal sites whose primary purpose is NOT to sell the product; but throughout the site branding is utilised. This is very unobtrusive. Think of the cinemas: unless you actively look out for it, branding is quite subtle. Okay, there are some obvious exceptions (Pepsi being the biggest culprit, I think!).. but on the whole it's quite subliminal. I don't mind it at all (but still get a good laugh out of a nice, drawn-out close-up of the actor taking a long swig from their can of drink, holding in a manner which looks awfully uncomfortable but manages to deliver 100% logo frontage
Fact is, there are alternatives to intrusive advertising. These should be employed first; intrusive for when a specialised attack is required. And banner advertising still works! As has been said, impression counts for more than click-through. I've never phoned a company because I saw their website. But when I *need* to employ a service which that company covers; I consider them -- I'm aware of their presence and what they offer. Why should we expect web users to be any different?
Infact, I see CPM advertising taking a rise in the near future with CTR dropping below it. People will realise at some stage impression counts more than click-through.
Anyway, I'm rambling again..
- Kaj Haffenden
Web Developer, PDIS