Module 5 (Week 1)

The Reality TV show “What Not to Wear” or WNTW has several interesting concepts. The two main components seem to be “evaluation” and “transformation.” There are various similarities to the elements found in WNTW and teaching. Let’s face it, teaching is not just about instruction. It’s also about evaluation. Teachers evaluate the process of their students in a variety of ways. They use tests, surveys, and general assessments. But like the folks of WNTW, teachers also evaluate themselves. But thankfully, most of the time it isn’t as painful or anxiety filled as the subjects in WNTW. It is however similar in the fact that it is a deeply personal experience. Like the hosts, Stacy and Clinton, teachers want the person being evaluated to ultimately be significantly and thoroughly improved.

It’s somewhat ironic that WNTW starts off with a meticulous evaluation of a problem. Stacy and Clinton’s job is to focus on fashion. On the other hand, during the evaluation process teachers need to focus on the subject matter they are teaching. Just like in WNTW, teachers must take a holistic look at what and how they teach their subject matter. Part of the process often involves asking questions like “Is the subject matter up to date” and “Is it being taught in the most appropriate format?” Just like with clothes, subject matter sometimes becomes outdated and needs to be traded in for something new. And just like Stacy and Clinton routinely do on the show, teachers often go shopping for new ideas and information to make their class more relevant. On WNTW, the person who is involved in the makeover has to try on new clothes to get a feel for what works for them and what doesn’t. Teachers do the same thing because they try out new teaching ideas in the classroom to get a feel for what works for them and what doesn’t.

All of the previously mentioned things lead up to transformation process. On WNTW it is a big reveal or a showcase of the solution(s). For teachers, there is not as much fanfare but it can evoke a high level of excitement. There is also another notable element within this segment of the process. Teachers are able to “wear” or reuse their upgraded subject matter for a considerable amount of time and like with clothes, they can accessorize by adding components that compliment what they are teaching. And just like in WNTW, these changes can be personally rewarding.