INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / MAY 16, 1989

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Inside Profile: Howard Eaton,

Howard Eaton has been teach- ing English at Douglas College for almost 20 years. But six years ago, he changed his method of teaching.

Why the change? Eaton believed students needed more intellectual stimulation. Univer- sity students, he says, live on campus and enjoy companion- ship and the exchange of ideas and concerns with other stu- dents. Community college students, however, are often iso- lated from each other and lack motivation.

“The college student whistles in here, takes his class, and has to hustle off to work or back to the kids,” he says.

Eaton is particularly con- cerned about mature women students - some of whom are single mothers - who receive lit- tle or no support at home.

“Family members and friends say, Homework! What do you mean homework! Let’s go bowl- ing.”

The situation in the classroom does little to alleviate the isola- tion, says Eaton, and grades are poor incentive to create motiva- tion to learn.

“What college instructors have often done is act like we’re

English Instructor

on TV,” he says. “We’re talking heads in the front of the room. That’s largely a waste of time.”

The workshop that changed Eaton’s teaching approach - from a “talking head” to a class- room consultant and technical expert - was given by brothers David and Roger Johnson, authors of Circle of Learning. The Johnsons spoke about their work in co-operative learning.

Since then, Eaton’s interest in co-operative learning principles has grown enormously and he uses the method in his literature and composition classes.

Co-operative learning provides an alternative to the traditional classroom situation where the teacher lectures and

the students listen and take notes.

Students work together in small groups of three to ac- complish shared goals. Each student is responsible for learn- ing the assigned material and helping the other members of the group learn. The instructor is both a consultant who ensures the groups function effectively, and a technical expert on the learning material.

Eaton says co-operative learn- ing requires a great deal of preparation time by instructors and regular homework for stu- dents.

But the work pays off.

continued on page 4

Next year, Douglas College reaches an important milestone - it’s 20th anniversary.

Plans for the “20 Years of Making a Difference” celebra- tion are already underway.

Today, Inside begins the first of a series of profiles on faculty members and administrators who have been with Douglas College since the beginning, September, 1970.

Through their dedication and committment over the past 20 years, this exceptional group of professionals have helped shape and mold Douglas Col- lege into what it is today.