Source: Training and Upskilling
The education industry is booming and we have witnessed a profound change in the field of education. Rapid development and skill enhancement for teachers are the need of the hour. Chalkboards have transformed into whiteboards and PowerPoint presentations. Access to new tools and technology has made education convenient across all the platforms. Hence, students have a plethora of material at the tip of their fingers. To provide quality education, students require a guide, and this is where the professional teacher comes into the picture. Teaching is an evolving skill because a good teacher needs to keep on upskilling herself to be able to engage the students productively in the class and ensure the intended outcome in our learners.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted education creating a huge learning gap among students and many teachers. Teachers had to adopt the latest technology and methods to teach online. It was difficult for them to connect with each student emotionally online and understand their problems. Nevertheless, all the teachers acted as saviours during the tough times and guided students adequately. Few initiatives that demonstrate effective teaching in the classroom which will lead to the overall development of Teachers and Students are:
Induction and Orientation Program
It is important to organize induction and orientation sessions for new and existing teaching faculty. The training is provided with an aim to upskill all teachers with the academic year’s priorities. Few key sessions to be included such as;
Continuous Learning Program
It is one of the pivotal parts of the teaching-learning process. Workshop emphasis on updating them with the latest research in the education field. Teachers should be given opportunities to develop their ways of teaching and learning throughout the year. Orientation programs are just a kick-start to this process. Under this, one can conduct various programs mentioned below;
The shortage of skilled and qualified teachers is a major problem that has plagued the education system. Skilled teachers are vital to ensure quality education, promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and prepare students for a dynamic future. Nowadays, kid-to-professional learners have become smart and hence educators need to be one step ahead. Also, this will further help teachers come up with various teaching methods through the adoption of correct procedures to gain students’ confidence and help them to learn more effectively.
Teaching and learning go hand in hand
Great teachers identify students’ talent and encourage them for a better future. It enhances confidence and skills in the students for engaging with the teachers regularly. Providing workshops and inclusive training will make teachers more productive and give them more time to focus on the student instead of paperwork. Many teachers spend most of their time on student evaluations, curriculum development, and other paperwork in addition to the hours spent on classroom preparation.
Subject Enhancement & Management
Teachers should implement the latest developments related to their subject in their classrooms. For example, a math teacher can use upcoming technology to make learning fun in the classroom such as Globatoria, geometry pad, math playground, dragon box, etc. Tools make it easier for teachers to plan their lessons according to the sessions.
Source: Education
An independent education system would comprise of those schools that can design their own curriculum and assessments and do not come under the purview of direct government regulations. Such institutions would offer choice based curriculum that covers a vast range of learning areas suited to 21st century learning requirements; the pedagogy would have a variety of teaching tools and techniques that does justice to the curriculum. These independent institutions need not necessarily be for profit though.
Before we envision an independent education system, let us pause and think about where the education system is right now. There is a lot of buzz about changes to the present system, with NEP around the corner. In that context, let us first process the rudimentary causes as to why there is a desperate need for change.
Curriculum: India has been following the same pattern of education since independence. Does our current curriculum cater to the present needs of the society, country, world and of course! Employment sector. No! Subjects like history and geography need to be taught by making connections to the present. Otherwise, students do not understand the relevance of learning about the past.
Math needs to show us how scientific discoveries & inventions and commercial trade and commerce necessitated conceptualization of new Math concepts. Science subjects ought to make us wonder "How was this discovered/invented? Can I do the same?" Curriculum also needs to be linked to the interests of the students and the skills needed for 21st century jobs. We never knew that aspiring to become a doctor would mean spending a good number of years writing exams on subjects that weren't related to "medicine", and spending another five years in order to become a doctor. How about giving students (middle school onwards) a choice of subjects from which to choose? Students can pick those subjects that excite them and those that will contribute to their career ahead.
Apart from content knowledge, the skills that will help one succeed in 21st century jobs are creative thinking, problem solving and quick decision making. Does the education system focus on these skills?
Assessments, marks and grades: Right now, the education in India is highly "marks" oriented. Sure, we started off as kids who were taught that learning is fun and ought to be driven by curiosity. But with periodic exams & tests and emphasis on "marks", soon enough, the only reason a student studies anymore is to get good grades. There is a constant pressure to perform, leading to stress, mental health problems and anxiety. Exams were meant to be a means to suggest where the student stands and where he / she needs to go, but scores and marks soon became an end in themselves. Moreover, half of these tests/exams test memory rather than actual understanding. This results in students developing a disinterest towards learning.
A child's full potential can never be unlocked if the curriculum and assessments are not tapping into the same. In the same context, I do not see the purpose behind Board exams and personally, I think they could be replaced with alternate assessment mechanisms. If a student seeks admission to a higher educational institution, entrance exams and personality tests could be sufficient criteria.
Amidst all this, NEP is a ray of hope inching towards these changes.
While the above are long term policy changes that are undoubtedly needed, the current pandemic situation has surely rattled the way education is imparted. Technology enabled online learning is the new trend, necessitated by the need for social distancing. This online mode of learning has gone down really well with me. I have always wanted to try homeschooling. Now that I've got a taste, well a spoonful really, (It's been more than a year!) it's something that I'm enjoying. The E- mode of learning seems to be here to stay post the pandemic as well. As much as students enjoy writing down pages of notes, and teachers, the smell of chalk, this extended period of online schooling paves the way for technology-enabled learning.
In all, there are many perspectives to the system of education in India. It's a developing system; the government, education administrative agencies and institutions have all been accommodating the basic changes for coping up with the dynamic 21st century environment, but I hope we soon see drastic changes for the better.
Source: Experiential Learning
To enable students to find meaning through experiential learning, CBSE is promoting art integrated education to make learning joyful.
Joseph Immanuel, director, Academics, CBSE, says “Art integrated education is a pedagogical practice. For example, through Bharatanatyam, teachers can help students understand angles and degrees. These pedagogies make children connect learning with real life. It makes learning joyful and interesting. Art integrated education is not about perfection in art but how to use art to teach a subject.”
End goal
Syed Aliya, Narayana e- Techno School, Chennai, says that Art can be integrated with education in several ways, such as using Art to teach Math concepts or using it to teach about a certain period in History. Art integrated education can be beneficial for both students and teachers, as it can help engage students and make the teaching material more relatable.
Art integrated education is different from art education, adds Aliya. Art is a tool to teach other subjects. In the case of art integrated education, the end goal is to provide new ways of visualising and articulating the concepts. It can develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, teamwork and better communication, she adds.
Holistic approach
“Using different art forms enables teaching abstract concepts with much ease and interest. Art integration learning helps in the quicker understanding of the topic and also increases the retention capacity of the students. Learning through arts caters to different students possessing different skills of intelligence --naturalistic, spatial, visual, musical, kinesthetic, etc. This will drive a holistic approach and the overall development of students,” says Deepa Rani, head of school, Ekya School BTM Layout, Bengaluru.
Art Education enables students to develop an appreciation of art. “Art education is generally the process of encouraging sensorial explorations involving artistic and creative expression, such as music, drawing, painting, singing, theatre, etc. This can be either scholastic or co-scholastic. It enables students to work with their ideas, and materials in a non-verbal form. In art integration, the various art forms become the centre of the curriculum. It breaks the monotony of teaching, and makes the class interactive and conducive to learning,” says Rani.
She adds that as the learning is more demonstrative in nature, it creates an eagerness to learn, enables students to become more independent and develops 21st-century skills such as expression, creativity, critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving and collaboration, etc. It leads to the development of leadership, teamwork and competency skills in students allowing them to relate to real-world problems or situations.
“It provides an equitable learning environment for all learners. Every child may not be able to express themselves in the way we want. They can use art in their learning. Every occupation we pursue has the application of art as well as core subject concepts. Be it designing, technical drawing or architecture, marketing and advertisement, or even entrepreneurship, arts experiences boost critical thinking. So it’s time children are given the freedom to learn in the best way that suits them,” says Kavita Nagpal, Principal, Orchids The International School, Masjid Bunder, Mumbai.
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