Odyssey
Academics
How Students Learn
SEEN AND HEARD IN ENGLISH CLASS
ALL PHOTOS BY CARRIE BECHER EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
New themes abound in today’s English classroom where students enact sword fights, record video essays, and build board games. Traditional novels persist alongside more diverse readings and broader cultural applications, and written essays often complement a multifaceted project. Teachers incorporate technology at varying degrees, but all put a heavy emphasis on student input and engagement. “Education has changed,” said Robert Hutchison, AP English teacher. “Not to say that technology is the end-all be-all, but just the amount of information that’s out there … the teacher is no longer the center of knowledge. We’re starting to help students use technology correctly and be more efficient. And the big pedagogical shift that is happening is that the teacher’s role is much more varied.” The foundational English curriculum may look similar to 50 years ago, but today’s classroom activity revs at high energy, and the resulting student work is largely characterized by a personal connection to the material.
Above: “There’s a 20-minute time limit, then the fog comes in fully crazy,” said Bennett Mueller ‘22 (at center) with Will Teepe ‘22 (at left) and Devin Jones-Ransom ‘22 as they demonstrated their handmade board game for Best Novels senior English class. Right: (from left) Harris King ‘22 and Gabe Lasek ’22 identify areas on the redlined map of St. Louis made by Bailey Mathews ‘22 for AP English.
6 Odyssey
WINTER 2022
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The big pedagogical shift that is happening is that the teacher’s role is much more varied.
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