TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

August 31, 2001

 

Elementary/Secondary Tactics

(1)         If Only Macbeth had TOC, Frances Moll

(2)       Can You Work and Have Fun Too?, Roslina bt. Ismail

Quote

  (3)   Christa McAuliffe

Editor’s Notes    

   (4)       Cheryl A. Edwards

 

ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY TACTICS

For this issue of TACTics we have selected two articles from The International Anthology of TOC for Education Case Studies compiled by Kathy Suerken.  The first is from a high school English literature class and the second is from an elementary class.  Both show the use of the TOC Thinking Tool, the Evaporating Cloud, in teaching content. 

 

(1)       If Only Macbeth had TOC

By Frances Moll, Republic of South Africa

 

I teach Shakespeare to Grade 12 students as part of their English course.  We are under time pressure because South African students have to do writing, speaking, language and literature all in one course.

 

I found the following cloud a very quick and useful method to introduce the topic of Macbeth’s motivation.

A:      Have a successful life.

B:       Satisfy ambition.

D:      Kill the king.

B:       Satisfy conscience.

D’:      Do not kill the king.

 

It is clear from one’s knowledge of the play that Macbeth does not resolve this dilemma.  The cloud led to a fruitful discussion on an essential element of the play.  What I found interesting was that the cloud very neatly points to the tragic nature of the play because Macbeth does not meet his need for satisfying conscience.  Macbeth was doomed because he could not break this cloud (if only he had studied TOC!).

Naturally the same type of cloud could be used for Hamlet, King Lear, Othello

 

(2)       Can You Work and Have Fun Too?

By Mrs. Roslina bt. Ismail, Malaysia

 

The teacher tells her class the story of the Ant and the Grasshopper.  The children then go to the school compound where the outline of the Cloud has been drawn on the tarmac.  The children take the roles of the lazy grasshopper and hardworking ant.  The ants and grasshoppers act out their parts.  The ants are working hard and the grasshoppers laugh and play as they hop from the cloud at D to B and D’ to C.  As they move to their positions, they think about their characters needs and wants.

 

A:      A happy life

Ant

B;       Feel secure for the future

D:      Work hard

Grasshopper

C:       Enjoy

D’:      Not work hard

 

The teacher asks the ants and grasshoppers to think about what they wanted to do and why they needed to do it.

B/D Assumption:    Work hard because this will ensure the ant will be safe for the future.

C/D’ Assumption:    The grasshopper can only enjoy himself if he doesn’t work hard.   

·        Can you feel safe for the future and still enjoy yourself?

·        Can you work hard as well as enjoy yourself so that you have a happy life? 

 

Then the teacher asks for suggestions on how a person can feel safe for the future and still enjoy their lives …a WIN/WIN solution.  This helps to motivate the children to think meaningfully on such an abstract idea by learning it through a story and working out the conflict in a Cloud.  At the same time, the teacher is able to help them comprehend that certain values in life, such as being hard working, should be upheld and that at the same time, be able to enjoy themselves.  The ideas that come from the children themselves are acceptable because they feel the “ownership’” over them.

 

WIN-WIN Suggestions by the children:

·        The grasshopper can work hard in the morning and play in the afternoon.

·        The grasshopper can make a timetable.

 

Finally, the teacher asks children to think based on their lives:  “Can YOU work hard and have fun too?”

 

QUOTE

(3)      “I touch the future.  I teach.” —Christa McAuliffe

 

EDITOR’S NOTES

(4)      Cheryl A. Edwards

 

Are we having fun now?  Would you agree that using the TOC Thinking Tools with students is fun for the teacher as well as the student?  That is certainly my experience.  We hope these examples of using TOC in the classroom will serve as a spark to your imagination as you develop lessons for your students.  As you develop these lessons won’t you share them with our TACTics readers?  Send by mail to Cheryl A. Edwards, 2253 S. Hill Island Rd., Cedarville, MI 49719, USA.  Or, you can send hyperlink to redwards@sault.com or bucknek@earthlink.net.

 

Interested in your own copy of the International Anthology?  Contact Cheryl Edwards.

 

To view TACTics in its intended formatting and to read previous issues, visit the TOCFE website at: www.tocforeducation.com