Modern bards: To listen or not to listen?
In every class, there’s always one child -hunkering and sucking a stub of pencil -wondering whether to listen or not to listen to that monotonous teacher who refuses to change and adapt… Unfortunately that’s indeed the hovering truth! Are children really listening when we teach? Are they bored of our never changing, inflexible teaching pedagogies? The answer some where lies within. All it needs is a thought towards mindful teaching.
The journey of a butterfly is a metamorphosis. Likewise, kids are constantly changing and excitingly getting better. Every concept or learning objective has its own parameters to contain. All we need to do is align our learning objectives in terms of our learners. When we put our students at the receiving end, we think that we have a method. Now, in every class, in every forum, teachers claim that since we have tested many, many sessions conducted the same way, my students learn very well using this technique. LET’S BE HONEST HERE OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT! Are we in a position of testing the achievement of any concept just on the grounds of a lame, repetitive teaching strategy? I think the issue is not getting false positive results.
So, what do we do now? This is the beginning of metamorphosis of edu-tronics. When we are actually planning to teach any objective in a class, we need to first understand our learners inside -out even much before the actual teaching begins. Learner’s SWAT analysis is –genuinely- the beginning of every planning phase. This can be done by simple yet interesting methods like playing group games, hosting a pot lunch party, pickle some tickles in form of jokes or just take a round along the campus together. How will this work?
This will help you identify your learners and their learning styles. Understanding the class demographics is vital. This process of identification is a process of revelation. Conduct a preliminary- easy to do assignment which will help us to gauge the class range. The assignments should be byte sized and quick to complete, yet focused. If we design customized and learner specific tasks the success ratio is quite high.
We are still on the outskirts! Now, after understanding the target audience, defining the teaching purpose is crucial. What do I want my students to master? How am I going to do that? Is every child going to master a particular concept in a similar manner?
Friends time to canvas our class!
Quick pegs: name of the student and his hobby? An open minded lesson plan is what edu- tronics is all about. Sort your learners on several strength parameters keeping multiple intelligence prism in mind. Identify who will love to make graphical organisers? Who can type or make a power point for this concept? Can I get some volunteers to paint the class [glass] panes for animal cells? Would you mold this piece of clay to make your friend understand the number of protons and electrons in this atom? Can a team help me collect different types of rocks in the school campus? How about some rhythm to this verse? Beatles or Harry Belafonte? Ask. Inquire. Collaborate. Synthesize. Review. Compile. Correct. Present.
If this sounds fun, then your class is listening. In fact, craving to listen to you. Children love to participate and take the onus of their learning. You are actually talking the way they would love to listen!
Teach children the way they want to learn. Teaching is an intrinsic process. We should always find opportunities everywhere to make our learners learn in a proactive manner. Creating real life experiences and not reel life experiences will make our students strong willed, compassionate, enthusiastic and happy. Students grow to become responsible, proactive, reflexive and engaged.
Learning brings humility, humility develops capability, capability brings wealth and wealth and righteousness bring happiness – Subhashita.