专访IVY学术校长| 让学生通过实验和探究获得知识

John Hamill，毕业于纽卡斯尔大学，获得医学微生物学和免疫学的学士学位，后又获得教育学硕士学位。曾在杭州某国际学校任教并担任学术主任多年，这段经历点燃了John对教学和科学的热情。来到常春藤国际学校以后，John教授生物学的同时担任学术校长，此间John多次发表学术研究，并成立了Eco-Rep Club，带领学生进行江豚解剖、有机化肥制作等课外实践活动，帮助学生提升学术背景，同时也提高了学校办学质量。

01

问：您是怎么走上教育行业的？

John:  I had from a young age, always taken pleasure in sharing my knowledge with people and had been told that I have both the patience and ability to explain difficult concepts when people are struggling. As such, my career advisor suggested to me during my own high school education that I consider teaching in the future. However, at the time I did not take his advice. Instead, I followed my love for biology, and worked for a few years in the Clinical Diagnostics industry only to find my passion lay elsewhere. As such, in 2012 I decided to move my life to China and finally begin my teaching career.

我从小就喜欢和别人分享我的知识，大家认为我是一个有耐心且乐于助人的人。因此，在我还上高中时，我的职业顾问就建议我考虑将来教书。然而，当时我并没有采纳他的建议。而是追随了自己对生物学的热爱，在临床诊断学行业工作了几年后，却发现自己的兴趣在生物教学上。2012年，我决定将我的生活转移到中国，并最终开始我的教学生涯。

02

问：您在常春藤国际学校工作的心路历程是什么？

John: After working in Hangzhou for 5 years, honing my teaching skills and developing managerial experience, I made the move to Shandong, Weihai and IVY school in January 2017. I began my service in IVY as the biology teacher for students taking the A-level course. At that time, there wasn’t an  IGCSE course and I was keen to get one started. By the beginning of September 2017, we had established 3 new Biology classes, MS9, IG and AS-Level. After a year of service, I was given the honour of representing the school in a new position as Deputy Principal. I am now currently serving as the Academic Principal.

最初我在杭州的一所国际学校工作了5年，在此期间提高了自己的教学技能并积累了管理经验。2017年1月，我移居到了山东省威海常春藤国际学校，从学校的生物老师做起，为选修A-level课程的学生授课。当时没有IGCSE课程，我希望学校开设此课程体系。到目前为止我们已经建立了MS9、IG和AS-Level三个新的生物课程体系，我也有幸担任学校学术校长一职。目前我是常春藤的学术负责人。

03

问：您认为一个优秀的教师应当具备哪些能力和素质？

John: A good teacher can inspire hope and interest in their students for their subject and the extra curricular activities that they lead in the school. A good teacher is always prepared to go the extra mile, to present content in such as way that is relevant and engaging for students. When thinking about the qualities of a good teacher, I am reminded of the quote by William Arthur Ward,“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

一个好的老师可以激发学生对所学学科和课外活动的渴望与兴趣。优秀的教师总是准备做更多的工作，以最适合学生的方式去呈现教授内容。正如威廉·阿瑟·沃德的那句话：好的教师去解释，优秀的教师去示范，而伟大的教师去鼓舞人心。

04

问：如何看待教师与学生的关系？

John: The relationship between student and teacher is a complex one, so I will only mention three aspects of the teacher-student relationship. Teachers on one level represent the parent figure. By spending a large proportion of time with the students throughout their academic career, teachers provide advice and moral guidance that helps to shape the students outlook and personalities for life. Teachers also represent social justice. How a teacher implements their behavior management in the classroom instills values; a sense of fairness or inequality in their students - this aspect of teaching presents the biggest challenge for many teachers. Teachers also represent the friend figure. Teachers and students become close, sharing many experiences together through each semester, sharing highs and lows, solving problems together and learning from each other.

学生与教师的关系是一个复杂的关系，这里我只会提到师生关系三个层面的内容。第一层面，教师代表了父母的形象，在学生的整个学术生涯中，教师花费大量的时间与学生在一起，为学生提供建议和道德指导，帮助学生形成正确的人生观和世界观；第二层面，教师代表了社会正义，教师要在课堂上进行管理，为学生传授正确的价值观念，树立学生的公平感，这方面的教学对许多教师来说也是最大的挑战；第三层面，教师也代表着朋友的形象，通过分享各种好的和坏的学习与生活经验，一起解决问题并互相学习，可以让师生关系变得更加亲密。

05

问：请您从国际教育的角度谈谈常春藤的教学和管理特色？

John: At IVY, we endeavor to provide a healthy emphasis on not simply a sequential presentation of ideas and concepts, rather provide an active and continual constructive process to education. We adopt a student centric pedagogical approach to promote higher-order thinking skills and foster collaborative learning. Engaging learners in experimental learning, they have a personal stake in the process enabling them to connect to the material and thus become truly educated. From a management perspective, the faculty also embodies the ideals of the prominent scholar John Dewey “Education is life itself”, by engaging not only with instruction but also through continual professional development and collaboration.

在常春藤，我们努力为学生提供积极且持续的具有建设性过程的教育，而不仅仅是一系列简单的想法和概念的介绍。我们采用以学生为中心的教学方法来促进其高阶思维能力并鼓励合作学习，倡导他们在实验学习过程中获得个人认知，并在体验中收获真正的教育。从管理的角度来看，教师也体现了著名学者约翰·杜威(John Dewey)“教育即生活”的理念，不仅要参与到教学实践中，而且进行持续专业的发展与合作。

06

问：常春藤学生有很多被知名的海外高校录取，您认为学校是如何做到这一点的？

John: The international experience and expertise provided by our teaching staff provide a plethora of knowledge and teaching methods for IVY students. The benefits of having teachers from varied locations around the world expose our students to different perspectives and points of view, enabling the development of a rich 21st century objectivity to the world, necessary to foster the leaders of tomorrow. Up to date teaching methodologies such as fostering a ‘culture of error’ in the classroom; students are encouraged to voice an opinion, even if it is wrong. Strong academic instruction through CAIE programs; extra curricular activities promoting engagement in the scientific method and personal development culminating in ASDAN, INTEL ISEF and STEAM competitions - students become strong, independent individuals with a sharp and informed opinion on the world around them. Additional guidance throughout the application process provided by our College Councilors ensures full and professional personal statements and university applications. The result, competitive students attaining placements at top universities.

常春藤的教学人员所具备的国际经验和专业知识为学生提供了丰富的知识和学习方法。来自世界各地的教师的不同视野和观点让我们的学生受益匪浅，使学生对21世纪的世界有了更为丰富而客观的了解，这对培养未来的领导者是必要的。我们采用最新的教学方法，例如在课堂上培养一种“错误文化”，即鼓励学生发表自己的观点，即使这个观点是错误的。我们也会通过CAIE课程对学生着重进行学术指导，在课外活动（如ASDAN、INTEL ISEF和STEAM比赛等）中让学生运用科学方法并实现个人的发展，最终使学生成为强大、独立的个体，形成一个敏锐并有见地的世界观。在整个申请大学过程中，我们的升学指导顾问为学生进行升学指导，以确保学生具备完整和专业的个人陈述进行大学申请。最终，常春藤很多学生被世界顶尖大学录取。

07

问：在常春藤有什么让您难忘的事？

John: My fondest memories at IVY have to be those surrounding the founding of the ECO-REP club and the dolphin dissection. It is heartwarming to see students so engaged, so motivated to take action surrounding the issue of environmental protection and conservation. The world has many problems; economic, political, ethical, racial – but the environment truly unites us all. I truly hope that this next generation can learn from our mistakes and take better care of the earth, so as their children can enjoy a safe, clean, healthy and productive world, into the future.

我在常春藤最美好的记忆就是关于环保俱乐部和海豚解剖课题的建立。看到学生们如此投入，并积极地围绕环境保护问题展开行动，这令人感动。世界上存在着很多问题，比如经济、政治、伦理、种族问题等等，但环境保护确实将我们所有人团结在一起。我真诚地希望下一代能从我们的错误中吸取教训，更好地保护地球，让子孙后代能够在未来享受一个安全、清洁、健康和生产力发达的世界。

08

问：谈一谈对威海这座城市的感受？

John: I enjoy living in Weihai very much. Regarding the previous question, I love how Weihai represents that clean, and safe environment I mentioned. The location of our school is of particular delight for me. Arriving on campus each day to blue skies, white clouds and the beautiful coastline and sea never gets old. I appreciate it every day.

我非常喜欢住在威海。如前面提到的，我喜欢威海，因为这个城市干净又安全。我特别喜欢常春藤的地理环境，可以每天在校园里看到蓝天、白云、美丽的海岸线和永恒的大海。对此我每天都心存感激。

09

问：对学生的寄语

John: To the students, I would like to say this: Find out what you enjoy in life. Get involved in the extra curricular activities and events taking place on campus. Get some hobbies. Studying can seem monotonous at times, I agree. But when you decide to enroll at university and come out with a major that can get you a job in a sector that you have a passion for, going to work does not feel like going to work. That’s why it is important that you find your passion. Be proactive. When you leave high school, no one will be forcing you to do your homework or engage with your peers. Education really is life itself, and you should grab the opportunities presented to you with both hands and leap forward into your future with pride and energy. I know that you all have special interests and talents inside of you, you just need to find and unleash your potential – and then, nothing can stand in your way.

我想对学生们说，一定要找到你喜欢的生活。积极参与校内的课外活动，找到自己的兴趣爱好。尽管学习有时似乎很单调，但当你决定上大学，且毕业后能选择一个让你感兴趣的领域并努力工作，你就不会感到枯燥无味了。这就是为什么找到你的兴趣很重要。当你高中毕业以后，没有人会强迫你做作业或者和你的同龄人交往。教育其实就是生活本身，你应该紧紧抓住你面前的机会，信心满满地跨进你的未来。我知道你们每个人都有特殊的兴趣和天赋，你们只需要找到并释放你们的潜力，这样就没有什么能阻挡你们的道路。