The rate of progress
in the 21st century demands a significant shift in educational values and
strategies. If this shift is not achieved in time, educators believe the young
minds of tomorrow will be ill-equipped to deal with the challenges to come and
be at a loss when expected to keep pace with innovation.
The biggest element
of this shift is the attention being focused on the needs of today’s pupil. The
traditional teacher-centric instruction to students and the standard mode of
dissemination of knowledge is increasingly being viewed as a dispensable
practice. Today’s classrooms demand a revised approach towards pupils with the
use of a strategy often referred to as student-centred learning. And, occupying
pole position in this transition is the role of technology that is aiding as
well as changing the methodology of teaching and learning.
There is a global
movement towards helping children develop 21st-century skills, including the
ability to create and maintain positive interpersonal relationships,
adaptability, creativity and technological know-how, but none of these are
possible if teachers do not work with the pupils in a way that allows them to
guide their pace and style of learning, today, the teacher only steers children
[in the right direction] as they develop self-confidence and learn social
values and etiquette. I believe that pupils today have access to more
information than ever.
Traditional
methods of teaching that are still being adhered to in the schools:
• Teacher-centric classrooms
• Teachers in the mode of knowledge dispensers
rather than facilitators
• Chalk and talk methods
• Regimented classrooms
• Lack of collaboration and group learning
• More emphasis on examinations and results
rather than understanding of concepts
• Improper alignment between objectives,
activities and assessments
Modern methods in use in education
• Technology-driven
classrooms
• Continuous
comprehensive evaluation (extensive reports)
• Cross-curricular connections
• Inquiry-based
learning
• Emphasis on
understanding of concepts
• Linking curriculum
with life making relevant and interesting for the student.
• Emphasis on skill
building, life skills and values
• Smart interactive
boards
• BYOD – Bring your
own device
• Collaborative
learning
• Differential
learning
• Activity-based
learning and learning labs
• Interdisciplinary
learning
• Integrative and
social responsibility and civic engagement
• Digitisation in
teaching, learning assessment and feedback
• Collaborative
learning
• Differentiated
instruction
• Flipped classroom
• Problem-based
learning
