Tag: teaching

The Importance of Learning New Skills

Daily writing prompt
Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.
View all responses

By Dr. Kavita Dehalwar

In an increasingly complex and dynamic world, the ability to acquire new skills is essential for both personal and professional growth. Lifelong learning not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development but also competitiveness and employability (European Commission, 2020).

Photo by Antoni Shkraba on Pexels.com

Adaptability and Career Advancement

The modern workforce is characterized by rapid technological changes and an evolving job market. As routine tasks become automated, there is a growing demand for skills that are uniquely human, such as emotional intelligence, creativity, and strategic thinking (World Economic Forum, 2020). Learning new skills enables individuals to stay relevant and competitive in their careers. For instance, a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research highlights that continuous skill development is critical in adapting to new technologies and work processes (Autor, D., 2015).

Cognitive Benefits and Personal Development

Engaging in the learning process has significant cognitive benefits. According to research published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, learning new skills can enhance brain function, improve memory, and decrease the risk of dementia (Smith, J., 2017). Additionally, setting and achieving learning goals contributes to higher self-esteem and well-being (Zimmerman, B. J., 2000).

Social Impact and Connectivity

Learning new skills often involves social interactions, which can strengthen community ties and enhance social networks. Educational psychologist John Dewey argued that education and learning are fundamentally social and interactive processes that build community and foster relationships (Dewey, J., 1938).

Economic Impact

On an economic level, a skilled workforce is crucial for the growth and competitiveness of economies. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) asserts that countries with higher levels of skill proficiency among their populations tend to have higher rates of economic growth (OECD, 2019).

In conclusion, the importance of learning new skills cannot be overstated. It is a powerful tool for personal empowerment, career development, cognitive health, and social connectivity. As such, individuals, educators, and policymakers must prioritize and facilitate continuous learning opportunities.

References

European Commission. (2020). Skills for a digital world. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu

World Economic Forum. (2020). The Future of Jobs Report 2020. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org

Autor, D. (2015). Why are there still so many jobs? The history and future of workplace automation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(3), 3-30.

Smith, J. (2017). Enhancing brain functions: Learning a new skill strengthens brain networks. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 29(5), 1022-1034.

Zimmerman, B. J. (2000). Self-efficacy: An essential motive to learn. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 82-91.

Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and Education. New York: Touchstone.

OECD. (2019). Skills matter: Additional results from the survey of adult skills. OECD Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org

The Unsung Heroes: The Influence of an Inspirational Teacher

Daily writing prompt
Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
View all responses

By Shashikant Nishant Sharma

Teachers are the unsung heroes of society, shaping the minds of future generations and leaving a lasting impact on their students’ lives. Among these educators, there are some whose influence transcends the classroom, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of their students. These influential teachers possess qualities that go beyond imparting knowledge—they inspire, mentor, and guide their students, instilling in them the confidence and skills needed to succeed in life.

Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

The Role of an Influential Teacher: An influential teacher is not merely someone who imparts academic knowledge but serves as a mentor and guide, nurturing the holistic development of their students. They create a supportive and engaging learning environment where students feel valued, respected, and motivated to excel. These teachers have a genuine passion for teaching and a deep commitment to the well-being and success of their students.

Qualities of an Influential Teacher:

  1. Passion and Dedication: Influential teachers are passionate about their subject matter and dedicated to their students’ growth and success. They go above and beyond to ensure that each student reaches their full potential.
  2. Empathy and Understanding: They understand the individual needs and challenges of each student, showing empathy and providing personalized support and guidance.
  3. Inspiring and Motivating: Influential teachers inspire and motivate their students to set high goals and work hard to achieve them. They believe in their students’ abilities and encourage them to believe in themselves.
  4. Effective Communication: They communicate effectively, fostering open dialogue and creating a safe space for students to express themselves and share their thoughts and ideas.
  5. Mentorship and Guidance: Influential teachers serve as mentors and role models, offering guidance and support to help students navigate academic and personal challenges.
  6. Lifelong Learning: They are lifelong learners themselves, continuously seeking to improve their teaching skills and staying updated on the latest educational trends and practices.

Impact of an Influential Teacher: The impact of an influential teacher extends far beyond the classroom. Their guidance and mentorship shape the character, values, and aspirations of their students, influencing their choices and decisions long after they leave school. Many successful individuals attribute their achievements to the encouragement and inspiration they received from a particular teacher who believed in them when others didn’t.

Conclusion: In conclusion, influential teachers play a crucial role in shaping the future of society by nurturing and empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Their passion, dedication, and commitment to their students leave an enduring legacy that transcends academic achievement. As we celebrate the profound impact of these unsung heroes, let us recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of influential teachers in shaping the minds and hearts of generations to come.

References

Bargh, J. A., & Schul, Y. (1980). On the cognitive benefits of teaching. Journal of Educational Psychology, 72(5), 593.

Cheon, S. H., Reeve, J., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2020). When teachers learn how to provide classroom structure in an autonomy-supportive way: Benefits to teachers and their students. Teaching and teacher education, 90, 103004.

Dehalwar, K., & Sharma, S. N. (2024). Exploring the Distinctions between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods. Think India Journal, 27(1), 7-15.

Dehalwar, K., & Sharma, S. N. (2023). Fundamentals of Research Writing and Uses of Research Methodologies. Edupedia Publications Pvt Ltd.

Shah, M. (2012). The importance and benefits of teacher collegiality in schools–A literature review. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 1242-1246.

Sharma, S. N. Experiences in Self-Determined Learning: Moving from Education 1.0 Through Education 2.0 Towards Education 3.0.

Sharma, S. N. How to Write a Grant Proposal in an Effective Manner to get Projects.

Wheatley, K. F. (2002). The potential benefits of teacher efficacy doubts for educational reform. Teaching and teacher education, 18(1), 5-22.

Increasing Institutional effectiveness in Higher Education Institutions: Meaning Perspectives Vs Transformative strategies 

By Chengalroyen N.

MSc, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Summary/Abstract

Those who are interested in educational pedagogy are most likely familiar with the term “Transformative learning”, it is a widely accepted approach to adult education. But what does it really mean? And how do we get past the jargon and theory to put into practice? Let’s explore it a bit more and consider practical applications for individuals, institutions and learning environments. The speaker will outline how transformative learning pairs with an educational theory (how does teaching fit into a student’s world view) and will explore concrete ways to address transformative learning strategies: 1) problem-solving; 2) training and education; 

  • Institutional culture; 4) personal development; and 5) leadership) directly correlated to student performance in line with organizational goals.

Lets firstly understand the term Institutional Effectiveness ?

Acc to  The Society for College and University Planning(SCUP):

Is a Higher Education Institutions effort to organize assessment, evaluation and improvement initiatives so that the institution can determine how well it is fulfilling its mission and achieving its goals.

Vision                         Mission                                  Objectives                           Goals

What are Meaning Perspectives: How is this aligned with an Educational Theory

Is an overarching term that describes a collection of theories that explain the application, interpretation and purpose of learning(Acc to Mezirow: 2023).It pairs a Constructivist learning perspective- the idea that meaning is constructed from experience and internal understanding- with the importance of communication and reflection.

So….

As educators, How do we put this in practice?

We develop a “TEACHING PHILOSOPHY”(TP)-which is a “Believe Statement” in which we use theoretical concepts that help to explain the learning processes we wish to utilise and this will have the potential to inform educational approaches, curricula and assessments.

What must the TP should state….?

Must motivate the teacher to learn about the subject matter?

What are the expected outcomes of your teaching?

Teacher – student relationship you hope to achieve?

How do you measure if your lessons are successful?

What values do you impart on your students?

What code of ethics guides you?

What themes pervades your teaching?

What are the 3 types of TP that Educators can utilize to increase Institutional effectiveness?

Acc to the teaching Academy..

  1. Perennialism

Values knowledge that transcends time.This is a subject -centered philosophy.The goal of a perennialis educator is to teach students to think rationlly and develop minds that can think critically.

  • Progressivism

Progressivists believe that individuality,progress and change are fundamental to one education.They believe that students learn best from what they consider most relevant to their lives, centre their curricula on the needs,experiences, interests and abilities of students

  • Essentialism

Is also subject-centered aimed at teaching basic skills.This philosophy advocates training the mind focussing on transmiitting a series of progressively difficult topics and promotion of students to the next level.

So….

How does this then add value to “Transformational Learning”?

The Educator must then align his/her Teaching Philosophy to that of transfomational teaching and learning approaches expained bt the following Model Strategies.

A Transformative Model of Strategies?: Approach to teaching and learning that can increase Institutional Effectiveness

  • Problem Solving:

Do an initial brainstorm.

Be open to making mistakes.

Challenge personal assumptions about the “right way” of doing things.

Look for novel solutions from other sources, especially those outside of the field/culture.

Reflect on what worked , what didn’t  and why?

Know sooner, Act faster approach.

Address administrative challenges promptly(trigger events).

Provide tools/opportunities for discussion and debate.

  • Institutional Culture

Create mentoring and job shadowing programs.

Enhance commitment for the development of synergetic actions.

Encourage collaboration across teams to broaden perspectives.

Encourage individuals and teams to take risks: treat failure as progress and growth.

Engage employees in activities that challenge the status quo such as thought provoking documentaries, annual field trips  and experiential learning games.

Provide safe spaces for employees to voice their say but must be done democratically.

Transformative re-design of educational curriculums into community engagement.

Integrating student development into academic activities.

Interconnected technology systems.

  • Personal development

Be open to changing your personal perspectives.

Push your personal boundaries through travel, trying new activities, meeting new people.

Keep up to date with new evidence-based practices

Keep a journal for ideas and reflection.

Growth of leadership skills.

Strengthening emotional intelligence.

  • Leadership and Governance

Strengthen gaps in policies.

Advance best practices.

Promote transdisciplinary approaches .

Embrace team efforts.

Collaborate with different groups with a diverse set of peers to share and brainstorm ideas.

Advocate professional development opportunities.

Attend skills development opportunities.

Adopt practices that force you to rethink your methods and beliefs on a regular basis.

  • Training and Education

Ask students to share their initial thoughts on the subject(pre knowledge).

Use engaging activities and /or rich media to further connect with students.

Ask students to reflect on the activities and discussion and how those may have impacted their thoughts on the topic.

Conclusion

This pendulum represents a balance, and to have harmony, one side must not out way the other.Therefore, to maintain constant Institutional Effectiveness in Higher Education there must be a balance by what the educator believe statement meets effective teaching and learning approaches. 

References

  1. Mezirow, J. 2023: Transformative learning: Theory to Practice; New directions for adult and Continuing Education; No 74(11): 5-6.

Teach yourself anything

“It is better to know how to learn than to know.” – Dr Seuss

False Beliefs About Self-Education

Despite having easy access to information, few people take full advantage of the opportunity we have for self-directed learning.
We still believe that to learn something, we need to be formally educated on it, when in fact we’re able to educate ourselves.

Self-Education In The 21st Century

Self-education is the core skill for the 21st century.
Our ability to respond to changes in the landscape of work and technology will be dictated by how skilled self-educators we are, how well we can take full advantage of the information available to us to grow our skillset.

Learning In The Real World

For 12 years, you’ve been trained to apply information that’s pre-packaged for you.
But if you want to do anything independently (entrepreneurship, creative work, etc.) then you have to be able to figure things out without being handed the knowledge beforehand.

The Sandbox Method for Self-Education

This is an ongoing process of self-development and learning, that recognizes that we don’t need to memorize facts, formulas, instead, we need to develop an intuitive understanding of our skills, expose ourselves to different information about the skill, and constantly push ourselves to improve.

Steps of the Sandbox Method
  • Build an area where you can freely play around with the skill you’re trying to learn – Your Sandbox. It should be: low-cost or free, low stakes and public.
  • Research: Resources exist, you just have to figure out what’s worth reading, watching, or listening to (books, blogs, MOOCs etc).
  • Implement and practise purposefully.
  • Get feedback.
What Practicing the Sandbox Method Means
  • Honestly assessing your limits to figure out where you need to improve.
  • Setting a goal just beyond your current ability to motivate yourself to stretch beyond your comfort zone.
  • Practising with intense focus.
  • Get feedback, in whatever way you can, and incorporate that feedback into your practice.
reference

https://medium.com/the-mission/self-education-teach-yourself-anything-with-the-sandbox-method-a4edfc5e1f8e

REMEDIAL TEACHING

Remedial Teaching is a kind of teaching method or instructional work carried out to provide remedial measure to students. The word “ remedy” means “to rectify” or “to improve” something. So, Remedial teaching is carried out to provide remedial measures to get rid of common or specific weakness of students. The major objective of remedial teaching is to provide learning support and additional help to pupils who are not good as their peers in performance. Students with learning difficulties have some psychological needs. Some have less ability to comprehend abstract ideas and concepts. Others may have poor memory. So it is integral in remedial teaching to identify the specific weakness of pupils.

The learning difficulties in students are various. They may include poor memory, weak in problem solving power, short attention span, lack of learning motivation, lack of self confidence and self expectation, difficulty in understanding new or abstract concepts. So assessment is the first step in remedial teaching. Assessment is also the important factor, because through this the teacher gets a knowledge about the skills and weaknesses of a student. The capacity of students should be assessed by the teacher through survey testing. This will help the teacher to find the present level of achievement and difficult areas of a student. This will also aid the teacher in preparing suitable individual teaching materials. The survey testing reveals the strength and weakness of the class as a whole and the levels of discrepancies in the various basic skills of each student. So the test will help in classifying the students into groups for works like reading, spelling etc.

Teachers use various methods in remedial teaching. There must be diverse learning activities with the same teaching objective to develop abilities and skills of students. Quizzing is the most common method used in remedial teaching. Analyzing the progress of students will help in regrouping them if necessary. Designing meaningful learning situation is important. Suitable language environment is very important in second language classes. Games and activities also stimulate the interest and initiative in learning. Different teaching methods should be adapted by the teacher to improve the learning capacity of students. For example, the teacher should give valuable examples before proceeding to abstract concepts, which will help in easy understanding. Providing clear instructions is also important for students who are less competent in understanding written language. There must be short and clear instruction to avoid confusion among students. Summarising main points is another method which enhances the audio visual memories. Teachers can also guide the students to link up classroom knowledge with life experiences. This will enhance effectiveness of learning. Enhancing learning interest is important in remedial teaching. Teachers can design interesting activities coupled with reward scheme to stimulate the interest of students, for example role play, debate, narrating incidents and games related to language learning initiate learning. Remedial teaching should enhance the active participation of students to enhance their self confidence. Concern for individual performance is important. If individualized remedial teaching is necessary it should be done before or after the class, so the students can remove learning obstacles as soon as possible. Teachers should also note common errors made by these students

Thus remedial teaching is a very significant method . This provides correct foundation to rectify mistakes and for future learning. It hastens the process of learning. Underachievers are promoted to update learning and other students are promoted to expand learning. Remedial teaching also creates confidence in students and it help them to realize their full potential.

Impact of Online Learning

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted all the sectors of society, most importantly, the educational institutions. Schools and colleges are closed in most parts of the country and the government has been encouraging online learning as a method to smoothly continue the education of all students. High-end schools and colleges have managed to conduct this transition from offline to online learning very efficiently. However, for many schools and colleges in our country, this still remains a herculean task.

The challenges of online learning are multifaceted. It’s time for the people to understand all the aspects of this new educational change; the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Online learning helps students go beyond the content taught in class, and help access content on all global platforms and learn the niche of the field they are pursuing. This helps students learn at their own pace, time and schedule. Students can learn from the comfort of their homes, and hence no travel issues are faced.

Students also gain access to recorded lectures, which helps them clear their doubts, as they can always re-watch the videos whenever they want. For some others, who find learning in a large classroom intimidating, this helps them to learn in a relaxed manner. However, when online learning goes from being optional to being the standard form all throughout the nation, which is when it becomes a problem.

The bad

For students reading this article, answer this question. How many of you all keep your videos on during the lectures? I am certain that the numbers will be really less. This is one of the major obstacles faced during online learning. No face to face interaction,

The teacher finds it very hard to conduct their lectures, if they are not able to interact and talk to the students. Sometimes, teachers struggle with the technical aspects of online teaching and are not able to teach as well as they could have, if lectures were taking place in the institution itself. The students’ attention span is limited, and they can’t focus for hours on the laptop/phone, listening to the teachers.

Also the fun aspect of education i.e. educational field trips, experiments, interaction with friends, canteen and lunch breaks and basically all school memories cannot be experienced with online learning. Hence, this inhibits the holistic and overall development of the child, and limits the creativity and imagination of the students.

The Ugly

Students have to connect with the teachers through electric devices i.e. phones and laptops. However, this poses as a problem in rural areas where many people don’t own any devices as such.

While India enjoys a wide geographic and cultural diversity, it also suffers from a huge socio-economic divide. Only a small part of the Indian population has access to online education right now. Interrupted power supply, weak or non-existent internet connectivity, and unaffordability to buy necessary devices are major concerns. ​

That is not all. With limitations of livelihood in a family, the first ones to receive a blow are often girls. In a recent survey of 733 students studying in government schools in Bihar, only 28% of the girls had smartphones in their homes, in contrast to 36% of the boys. These smartphones almost always belonged to male adults, often being lesser accessible to girls than boys, and half of these families could not afford internet data packages.

Hence, immediate measures should be taken to ensure that online learning can be accessed by every single student to ensure that the pandemic does not disrupt the education of the youth.