E-Book Overview
The Teacher's role must be redefined to meet the needs and demands of today's culture and the Edutainer is the paradigm shift needed for education to be relevant, applicable, and effective in the 21st Century.This book describes an educational approach that provides teachers with core operational and interpersonal skills including communication, organization, management, planning, and building authentic relationships based upon respect and personal responsibility to be an effective educator in the twenty-first century. The authors present a unique perspective that the educator should be fluid and adapting to our current culture, while employing sound academic principles.The edutainer concept is derived from the principles that we believe make for an effective educator and entertainer. First edutainers are visionaries, who understand that a change in culture requires a change in methods and presentation. These edutainers make their material relevant to present culture. Preparation is also vital to these performers. They organize and plan their material long before they get on stage or their performance would fail. Finally, the effective educator and entertainer have to deliver a stellar performance that is relatable to the audience. The Edutainer offers strategies and ideas to build and nurture authentic relationships with students, parents, and colleagues to build a dynamic educational community.
E-Book Content
The Edutainer Connecting the Art and Science of Teaching Brad Johnson and Tammy Maxson McElroy ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD EDUCATION A division of ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC. Lanham • New York • Toronto • Plymouth, UK Published by Rowman & Littlefield Education A division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. A wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. 4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706 http://www.rowmaneducation.com Estover Road, Plymouth PL6 7PY, United Kingdom Copyright © 2010 by Brad Johnson and Tammy Maxson McElroy All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Johnson, Brad, 1969– The edutainer : connecting the art and science of teaching / Brad Johnson and Tammy Maxson McElroy. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-60709-612-2 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-60709-613-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-60709-592-7 (electronic) 1. Effective teaching. 2. Communication in education. I. McElroy, Tammy Maxson, 1963– II. Title. LB1025.3.J58 2010 371.102—dc22 2009048756 ⬁ ™ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992. Printed in the United States of America. Brad: I would like to thank my mother, Carolyn, for her encouragement and support. I would also like to thank my immediate family, especially my nephews Jeremy, Zach, and Josh for reminding me to enjoy life fully and to keep everything in balance. I love you all. Tammy: I would like to thank my husband, Brian, for always believing in me. To my son Colin, for always striving to do and be your best. To Connor, for always being so supportive and enthusiastic. I love you all. f Contents Edutainer Program Acknowledgments vii Foreword ix Introduction 3 Act I: The Vision Scene 1: Connecting Education with the Twenty-First Century Scene 2: Director’s Chair 9 25 Intermission 1: Guest Stars and Performers 47