Through Student's Eyes: Examining Urban School Experiences and Teacher Qualities - Essay Example

Introduction

The discussions about the quality of schools and teachers have become common in the United States. The subjects of heated debates are how teachers are licensed and assessed. Most concepts focus on the subject area proficiency of teachers and the performance of students on high-stakes evaluation. Zenkov(2009) studied the perspectives of students on schools and teachers using photographic methods and revealed the qualities of teachers and schools committed to serving city students.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Zenkov’s Research Questions and Methods

Zenkov (2009) used photography-based methods to study the perspectives of students on school and teachers. These methods relied on the project known as ''Through Student's Eyes'' (TSE) that asked young adults to document what they thought were the purposes of the school, the support to their success in school, and the challenges to their achievements in school. TSE also provided each participant with a simple camera and a small stipend. The students took numerous pictures and reflected upon them to determine what they needed in their teachers and schools. They responded to three research questions: - (1) what are the purposes of schools? (2) What helps you to succeed in school? (3) What gets in the way of your school and success?

According to Zenkov (2009), research using photographic methods has helped engage teachers and students in the deconstruction of repressive classroom realities. Zenkov (2009) posited that the use of photography in collecting data might help urban youth identify the significant components of teacher practices and school programs. Zenkov (2009) conducted the TSE project with 93 middle-school and high-school students from the most diverse neighborhoods of his Midwestern City. Participants came from various racial classes, including whites, blacks, Latinos, and Asian Americans. They took at least 50 images bi-weekly and met every two weeks at a local library, library, or one of their schools to view, discuss, and write about their photos (Zenkov, 2009).

Apart from photography, a person might research to answer these research questions using semi-structured interviews and surveys. Through interviews and surveys, the researcher can determine the useful components of school programs and practices of teachers in urban schools. Participants could be asked to explain what they believe are the purposes of schools. They could also be asked to identify the factors that contribute to their success in school. Additionally, they could be asked to state the problems that prevent them from attaining success in school. These methods can be useful because the researcher gets first-hand information from the participants to know precisely the pedagogies, practices, and programs needed by urban students to achieve success in schools.

Descriptions of Urban Student’s Experiences and Concerns

The descriptions of urban students’ experiences and concerns are similar to my expectations in the sense that they both reveal the qualities of teachers and schools committed to serving city students. Zenkov (2009) found that the TSE project disclosed much about what students believe constitutes effective teacher's roles, pedagogies, and school structures. Urban teachers cannot start engaging students with school until they see the perspectives of adolescents on school and the conditions of youth's lives as well as the purpose of school and the efforts of teachers (Zenkov, 2009). It is essential to engage students in discussions about their goals, but remain cautious when interpreting their effects and rejections of pedagogies and schools. I expect teachers committed to challenging the inequalities inherent in urban schools to approach students with blind faith and judgment-free opinions. The features of quality teachers highlighted by Zenkov may suggest the strategies and programs engage students and teachers towards academic achievement.

Conclusion

Zenkov’s research was based on the use of photography to study the perspectives of students on school and teachers. Participants were asked to state their beliefs about the purposes of the school, the support to their success in school, and the challenges to their achievements. The research questions used included: - (1) what are the purposes of schools? (2) What helps you to succeed in school? (3) What gets in the way of your school and success? Interviews and surveys are other methods that could be used to research and answer these questions.

Reference

Zenkov, K. (2009). Seeing the pedagogies, practices, and programs urban students want. Theory Into Practice, 48 (3), 168-175. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00405840902997253