<HTML>In support of the bkiut-independent study at Ramaz, I relate a
conversation with Rabbi Chaim Brovender who is noted for having developed
a "methodology" for teaching Gemara to beginners. He noted that the only
real way to learn Gemara was by learning large amounts of it. This
discussion and R. Brovender's comments remind me of the volumes written on
teaching reading in elementary school. So much of the research points to
the relative lack of effectiveness of all of the various reading
curriculum when compared to having kids just read, and read alot. The
more a kid reads, the better he learns to read. Translation into Gemara
curriculum: the more Gemara a kid covers, the more Gemara he/she learns.
This does not necessarily argue against organized curriculum, terminology
explanation, sugya analysis, but it does suggest that these be secondary
to just covering ground. Another point supported by the Ramaz
experience: the need adolescents have for independence, for being
given meaningful responsibility for their growth, learning, and
performance. This is often neglected in the name of efficient
transmission of information, from fully informed teacher to tabula rasa
student.</HTML>
