Innovation in teaching_An essay by Babita Sarangi
1.
Introduction
Education is the systematic process of facilitating
learning or acquisition of knowledge, skill, and understanding about anything
at school, college, university or other educational institutes which gives us
an enlightening experience. Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training,
and directed research.
Education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, but learners
may also educate themselves. Education can take place
in formal or informal settings and
any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks,
feels, or acts may be considered educational. Better education is necessary for all to
go ahead in the life and get success. It develops confidence and helps building
personality of a person. School education plays a great role in everyone’s
life. The whole education has been divided into three divisions such as the
primary education, secondary education and higher secondary education. All the
divisions of education have their own importance and benefits. Primary
education prepares the base which helps throughout the life, secondary
education prepares the path for further study and higher secondary education
prepares the ultimate path of the future and whole life. Our good or bad
education decides that which type of person we would in the future.
Home is the first place of education and
parents are first teacher in everyone’s life. In our childhood, we get first
impression of education from our home especially form our mother. Our parents
let us know the importance of good education in the life. When we become three
or four years old, we go to the school for the proper, regular and sequential
study where we have to give many exams and then we get a pass certificate for
one class. Slowly we go ahead by passing our one by one class until we get
passed successfully till 12thstandard. Then
start preparations for getting admission to the technical or professional
degree which is called as higher study. Higher study is very necessary for all
to get good and technical job in the life. We become a well educated person in life
by the efforts of our parents and teachers. They are real well wishers of us
who helps us in leading our life towards success. Now-a-days, many governmental
programmes have been implemented to enhance the education system so that
everyone may get access to the proper education. Lots of advertisements are
shown on the TV and news to make people aware of the advantages and importance
of education especially in the rural areas as people in backward or rural areas
do not want to study because of poorness and improper understating towards the
education.
2. Importance of education
Islam
attaches such great importance to knowledge and education. When the Qur'an
began to be revealed, the first word of its first verse was 'Iqra' that is,
read. Education is thus the starting point of every human activity. A scholar
(alim) is accorded great respect in the hadith. According to a hadith the ink
of the pen of a scholar is more precious than the blood of a martyr. The reason
being that martyr is engaged in defense work while an alim (scholar) builds
individuals and nations along positive lines. In this way he bestows a real
life to the world.
“Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man” – (Swami Vivekananda)
Education is a light that shows the mankind
the right direction to surge. If education fails to inculcate self-discipline
and commitment to achieve in the minds of student, it is not their fault. We
have to convert education into a sport and learning process has to generate
interest in the students and motivate them to stay back in the institution than
to run away from it. Education should become a fun and thrill to them rather
than burden and boredom. It is an integral part of their growth and helps them become
good citizens.
One wise man said “destroying any nation does not need the
use of atomic bombs or missiles...it only requires the quality of education”.
Education is an engine for the growth and
progress of any society. It not only imparts knowledge, skills and inculcates
values, but is also responsible for building human capital which breeds, drives
and sets technological innovation and economic growth. The Education Commission (1964-66) has emphatically opined that
“The quality and competence and character of teachers to be the most significant factor influencing the quality of education and its contribution to National development.”
In
today’s era, information and knowledge stand out as very important and critical
input for growth and survival. Rather than looking at education simply as a
means of achieving social upliftment, the society must view education also as
an engine of advancement in an information era propelled by its wheels of
knowledge and research leading to development. Effective education is a
learning experience. Education brings about an inherent and
permanent change in a person's thinking and capacity to do things. Education is the most powerful weapon which you
can use to change the world.
Many people have a
superficial concept of education; equating it with doing a particular
course or obtaining a particular qualification. Qualifications and courses
however do not always equate with effective education. There's no escaping the
fact that good learning takes time. Reading a book and understanding what you
read, does not mean that you have been educated, if you don't integrate what
you read into your attitudes and memory. Similarly, attending a course and
hearing a lecture doesn't mean you have changed or been educated. Real
education is very different to just having access to (or being exposed to)
information about something. Real education embeds things into one's brain, and
anyone who understands learning will understand that this comes from repeated
exposure and use of information or skills. Sadly, in today's world, people want to
fast track everything: but learning is something that cannot usually be fast
tracked. Shorter courses simply mean that less is learnt.
3. Teaching
The role and responsibilities of a teacher is very complex.
Teachers are responsible for making sure their learners acquire the knowledge
they need, but also achieve their qualification by the end of the course in a
safe learning environment, so they have the skills and experience they need to
start their careers. To achieve that goal a teacher must be creative,
professional, flexible and knowledgeable enough to deal with daily challenges
and find different ways to help their learner’s needs. Establishing a safe and
stimulating environment for learners, creating mutual respect and set goals
that stretch and challenge learners of all backgrounds and abilities. The
biggest challenge for any teacher is capturing each student’s attention, and
conveying ideas effectively enough to create a lasting impression. The
methodology of teaching is called pedagogy. Teaching isn’t an easy job. It
necessitates a lot of effort for standing up and speaking loudly which can take
toll on one’s physical and mental health.
“The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but
don’t tell you what to see”-(Alexander
K. Trenfor)
Seven principles for good teaching practice
Ø Good Practice encourages student-teacher contact in
and out of class.
Ø Good Practice encourages cooperation among students: Learning is
enhanced when it is more like a team effort than a solo race.
Ø Good Practice encourages active learning: The students must talk about
what they are learning, write about it, relate it to past experience, and apply
it to their lives.
Ø Good Practice gives prompt feedback: The students should assess them –
what they have learned, what they still need to know and how to assess
themselves.
Ø Good Practice emphasizes time on task: Learning to use one’s time well
is critical for students and professionals alike.
Ø Good Practice communicates high expectations: Expect more and you will
get. High expectations are important for everyone.
Ø Good Practice respects diverse talents and ways of learning: Many roads
to learning.
4.
Conventional teaching
Conventional
teaching or traditional teaching refers to a teaching method involving
instructors and the students interacting in a face-to-face manner in the
classroom. These instructors initiate discussions in the classroom, and focus
exclusively on knowing content in textbooks and notes. Students receive the
information passively and reiterate the information memorized in the exams.
Technology in education is not something new in today’s classrooms, but many
education systems are still limited by conventional teaching and learning
methods. Many teachers are still teaching their students in the same manner as
how they were taught and how their own teachers were taught, not much of
progress in terms of the teaching perspectives. Transformation to less
conventional methods of teaching results in fear and reluctance from teachers,
who find the change hard and risky. Many lecturers are still using conventional
teaching and have noted that in conventional teaching classrooms, while the
lecturer is explaining and writing on the board, students will be copying the
same thing onto their notes, some day-dreaming and some sleeping. It would be
difficult to stop students from copying the notes from the board and at the
same time ensured that every student was paying attention in the class because
the lecturer was too busy explaining the lecture. Conventional teaching is also
limiting the room for more creative thinking and also seldom considering
individual differences.
Ø
Teaching in classroom using chalk and talk
is “one way flow” of information.
Ø Teachers
often continuously talk for an hour without knowing students response and
feedback.
Ø The
material presented is only based on lecturer notes and textbooks.
Ø Teaching
and learning are concentrated on “plug and play” method rather than practical
aspects.
Ø The
handwriting of the lecturer decides the fate of the subject.
Ø There
is insufficient interaction with students in classroom.
Ø More
emphasis has been given on theory without any practical and real life time
situations.
Ø Learning
from memorization but not understanding.
Ø
Marks rather than result oriented.
It is necessary to realize these limitations
in conventional teaching and take a step to move forward.
Teacher
|
Students
|
Conventional
Method- A One Way Flow
5. Innovative teaching strategies
Innovative teaching strategies
encourage students to use their imagination to dig deep when engaging with the
content of the lesson. The students are actively involved with the learning and
can work with their peers in collaborative groups to showcase their learning. Many of these strategies take
students to levels of learning they never thought possible. The students
actively seek knowledge and don’t just sit and receive the knowledge from a
lecture or worksheet. Any
method using computers or modifying the existing conventional chalk-talk method
are innovative if they ultimately serve the attainment of core objective of
teaching.
A. Inquiry-based learning
Inquiry-based learning is one of the
most powerful teaching strategies in the classroom because research tells us
that students learn best when they construct their own meaning. Inquiry-based
learning triggers student curiosity. Teachers act as facilitators during the
inquiry-based learning process. There are four steps in the process:
1. Students develop questions that they
are hungry to answer
2. Students research the topic using
time in class
3. Students present what they’ve
learned
4. Students reflect on what worked
about the process and what didn’t
In
a classroom where students research a topic then present their findings,
inquiry-based learning allows students to "learn deeper and wider than
ever before". In traditional teaching, students are less likely to ask
questions and are expected to listen and answer questions posed by the teacher.
Inquiry-based learning allows students to pose the questions and research and
convert the information into useful knowledge, thus ramping up the level of
student engagement.
B. QR Codes
QR (Quick Response) codes are easy
to create and have multiple uses in classrooms at all grade levels. QR codes
can lead students to information just by scanning the code on a student’s
digital device. In the classroom, students can use QR codes to
·
Check
their answers
·
Vote
on answers during class discussions
·
Extend
information found in textbooks
·
Get
survey information for math units on data
·
Participate
in scavenger hunts
·
Access
video tutorials on the material being tough
·
Link
students directly to Google maps
QR codes allow students to access
information without leaving their seat. Students can even generate QR codes to
showcase their learning with peers and parents.
C. Project-Based Learning
Research confirms that project-based
learning (PBL) is an effective and enjoyable way to learn. PBL also develops
deeper learning competencies required for success in college, career, and civic
life. Project-based learning uses real-world scenarios, challenges, and
problems to engage students in critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork,
and self-management. Once students solve the problem or challenge, they present
their solutions. The problems students solve can be presented to community
leaders to solve problems in their own community. PBL uses collaboration,
digital tools, and problem solving skills to come up with a solution to the
problem presented.
·PBL makes school more engaging for students
·PBL improves learning
·PBL provides opportunities for students to use technology
·PBL makes teaching more enjoyable and rewarding
·PBL connects students and schools with communities and the
real world.
D. Wisely Managed Classroom
Technology
Many schools have become one-to-one
schools, i.e., each student has his or her own technology item (typically a
tablet or computer) to work with each day. In some districts, students can take
the technology home to complete their homework. There is a delicate balance
with technology use in the classroom. Teachers must use technology in a wisely
managed way and with a variety of activities. Several activities that lead to
student engagement are Google Docs, YouTube videos, Quizlet, Kahoot!, and the
Remind app. These innovative apps and websites can help teachers engage their
students, remind them about upcoming assignments and homework, provide visual
learning through videos, organize student learning, provide group
collaboration, and provide check-ups on learning through games and online
quizzes.
E. Jigsaw
The jigsaw technique is a
"tried and true" cooperative learning strategy that helps students
creates their own learning. Students are arranged in groups and assigned a
different piece of information. In their groups, students learn the piece of
information well enough to be able to teach it to another group of students. By
using this technique, students become experts on the learning as they teach
their peers. Once all groups have learned their information, they are placed
into new groups with members from each of the small groups. Each group member
shares the knowledge they gained in their informational group. This technique
brings lessons to life and challenges students to create their own learning.
This challenge engages students and encourages them to share their learning
with others.
F.
Technology in education
The
use of technology in education is necessary because students are known as
digital natives. Students now-a-days are highly connected with technology in
their daily lives. They use Internet to search for information to assist their
learning. They also experience various ways of collaboration and communication
with their peers and teachers through social networking tools and also chatting
software. It has been a norm to see how frequently students use technology in
their learning. Therefore, it is necessary to use technology in education to
enhance students learning experiences. Although technology can be positively
influenced learning, there are teachers who do not have confidence to include
them in their teaching. Due to lack of guidelines provided to teachers and
education institutions on how they can transform from conventional teaching to
learner-centered teaching, many times technology is used for the sake of using
it.
The
traditional classroom teaching is transformed into different setting where
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and multimedia technologies are
involved in the process. ICT is playing an active role now in education where
it can promote learning through the interactivity feature exists in it.
Technology serves as the mediator to form interactive learning with students’
participation. Students like to see lecturers to develop the teaching materials
in presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint where the multimedia
elements (graphics, animation, sound, video and text) can be used to attract
the students’ attention.
G.
E-learning
A learning system based on formalized teaching but with the
help of electronic resources is known as E-learning. While teaching can be
based in or out of the classrooms, the use of computers and the Internet forms
the major component of E-learning. E-learning can also be termed as a network enabled
transfer of skills and knowledge, and the delivery of education is made to a
large number of recipients at the same or different times. Learning is
facilitated conveniently in web-based environment. One common tool students
like to use is Internet, and followed by another form which is E-learning. The
students find learning using the technology is helpful to their study as well
besides the conventional teaching environment because this new way of learning
is not boring, they still can interact with the computer or the learning
application. Therefore, it is also considered as interactive learning.
The
use of technology in the classroom has not increased much on the learner-centered
practices. It is also noted that when tradition education involves technology,
it does not mean education reformation will take place automatically. It is
important for education institutions to understand students’ learning needs and
not focusing to have technology alone. Therefore, technology is to be treated
as part of the learning process but not the process itself.
H. Multimedia learning process
I hear and I forget.
I see and I believe.
I do and I understand. -
Confucius
Multimedia,
is the combination of various digital media types such as text, images, audio
and video, into an integrated multi-sensory interactive application or presentation
to convey information to an audience. Traditional educational approaches have
resulted in a mismatch between what is taught to the students and what the
industry needs. As such, many institutions are moving towards problem based learning
as a solution to producing graduates who are creative; think critically and
analytically, to solve problems.
Multimedia
technology can attract students’ attention easily. Once students are attracted
to the multimedia presentation, they are motivated in a way to continue exploring
the presentation. When this process goes on, the students are engaged in the
learning process. Hence, the multimedia technology is able to create some
initiatives for the students to keep learning. Advantages of instructional multimedia include
Ø Increased availability and repetition of
instructional content,
Ø Improved ability of students to learn at their own
pace,
Ø Increased student control of material,
Ø less demand
on instructor time, and the provision of an alternative approach to describe
complex topics or three-dimensional relationships
Ø Improve
the students learning outcome.
Student
|
Multimedia
|
Teacher
|
Multimedia Learning- An
Interactive Learning Process
I. Brainstorm
Brainstorming sessions are a great way to get
the creative juices flowing. When you have multiple brains focusing on one
single idea, you are sure to get numerous ideas and will also involve everyone
into the discussion. These sessions will be a great platform for students to
voice their thoughts without having to worry about right or wrong. Set some
ground rules before you start. You can go for simple brainstorming or group
brainstorming or paired brainstorming.
6. Conclusion
All the innovative teaching methods use
strategies in which students’ question, research, use technology, and create
meaning from provided materials. These techniques also allow students to solve
problems, challenge themselves, and present their findings to others. Student
engagement builds on curiosity, interest, passion, and attention. All of the techniques
incorporate several of these needed items for student engagement. But, the
conduct of education in this 21st century has been witnessed with a paradigm
shift from face-to-face teaching environment to a more technology-based
learning environment. The advancement of ICT has influenced the development of
education. Across the world, information technology is
dramatically altering the way students; faculty and staff learn and work.
Internet-ready phones, handheld computers, digital cameras, and MP3 players are
revolutionizing the college life. As the demand for technology continues to
rise, colleges and universities are moving all sorts of student services, from
laundry monitoring to snack delivery online. ICT has made many innovations in
the field of teaching and also made a drastic change from the old paradigm of
teaching and learning. In the new paradigm of learning, the role of student is more
important than teachers. The concepts of paperless and penless classroom are
emerging as an alternative to the old teaching learning method. Nowadays there
is democratization of knowledge and the role of the teacher is changing to that
of facilitator. We need to have interactive teaching and this changing role of
education is inevitable with the introduction of multimedia technology and the
spawning of a technologically-savvy generation of youths. With these innovative strategies
and learning platform, students are exposed to a more student-centered learning
experience.
It is believed that the human brain can easily remember and
relate to what is seen and heard via moving pictures or videos. It has also
been found that visuals, apart from holding the attention of the student, are
also retained by the brain for longer periods. Various sectors, including
agriculture, medicine, education, services, business, and government setups are
adapting to the concept of E-learning which helps in the progress of a nation.
“The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation”
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