‘INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS’ From Head to Heart –An emotional sojourn
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."
-Henry Adams.
True to the eternal spirit of teaching, as a teacher I believe that I can make an impact on hundreds of students day after day, year after year with the teaching- learning process. We, teachers have had a paradigm shift from being teachers to educators; more so facilitators in the twenty- first century.
Personalized attention, differentiated instruction, honing of existential intelligence of students, catering to multiple intelligences of heterogeneous learners, the SWART analysis of students thereby streamlining their strengths and working on their weaknesses, democratic and unbiased opinions are the major tools to establish a good rapport with students. Teachers shape minds and mould hearts.
The twentyfirst century learning methodologies have brought a structural change in the field of education. The teacher centric curriculum is now replaced with a learner centric curriculum. The change has come about with the changing needs and demands of the Gen X learners. Knowledge and facts are available by browsing with the click of a mouse in contrast to reading and burying in books. The challenge a twenty first century facilitator has to meet with; is to keep abreast with the latest updates on theoretical knowledge, facts and state of the art technical knowhow. Students prefer updated educators to outdated teachers.
Teaching supplemented with technology is a welcome change in the face of education. Programmed lessons with wonderful audio - visual supplements are installed in classrooms of most schools in India. These aids reinforce the learning process in schools. Reinforcement Worksheets are also available on the screens, where students can take up quick revision of what they have learnt. Teachers are trained to use technology to supplement their teaching. Nevertheless technology cannot score a point over a teacher. The teacher’s pervading presence in the
classroom is essential in the process of teaching-learning and it is the onus of the teacher to endorse it in the class.
Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember. Involve me, I understand.
-Chinese proverb
His/ Her presence is fortified with activities which appeal to students and trigger their imagination. One such endeavour, as an English teacher I venture is an Open Mind activity. This activity is a starter - a pre reading activity which takes only 10 minutes of my teaching time every period. Students are asked to draw their ideas in the form of symbols, pictures, and images to depict their idea on a concept, poem or a prose piece that is going to be taught in class.
The symbols and images are explicitly written in complete sentences down the picture. Students are asked to present their work before the class. This activity caters to multiple intelligences of learners. Speaking skills is a culmination of the activity. Open Mind sets the mood of the lesson and empowers students to concentrate more while the lesson is taught. This activity leads to involvement by students and an overwhelming group discussion as a post reading activity.
Substantiating the aforesaid statements on this activity, I conducted an:
‘Open Mind Activity’ as a pre reading task in ‘Small Pain in My Chest.’- a poem by Michael Mack (ICSE syllabus) for the students of std 9. It was an exciting prelude to the theme of the poem. The poem is based on the physical agony and psychological trauma a soldier undergoes during war, the aftermaths of war and while dying. Students expressed their ideas of war through the activity using drawing, writing slogans and creative statements as their tools. They were able to explicate their ideas in a simplistic manner in their presentations. Prior knowledge and information on war sought wings to their imagination. The lines of the poem were understood in depth due to the pre reading activity.
The higher order questions on romanticizing war by the narrator and the impact of war on the conscience of humanity were answered elaborately by students. The Open Mind activity created a conducive setting for the comprehension of the poem.
The teaching- learning process cannot be segregated into watertight compartments. Learning is interdisciplinary. A wholesome learning comprises pedagogic and integrated approach of all disciplines. I used integrated approach of three disciplines. The collaborative teaching method was incorporated as a while reading activity. The poem has a reference to the Vietnam War. A history teacher was invited to my class to discuss the Vietnam War and the historically famous wars of the world, with my students. The Geography teacher gave her inputs of the geographical location of Vietnam.
The music teacher created musical notes for the poem. Newspaper articles were used to reiterate the futility of war. The outcome of this method was successful as my students have become thorough with the study and analysis of the poem. I strongly opine: Interdisciplinary approach to education creates deep rooted learning and students never forget what they learn through this methodology.
The culmination of the poem was a Cinquain activity –a post reading task which was conducted to enhance the writing skills of students. Cinquain is a poetry format that can be used to write a poem about a person, place or issue. The activity brought forth the powerful feelings of students as a reinforcement of learning. The activity also sought to test the syntax of students.
As a facilitator I have attempted in creating a perfect blend of apathy for war, sympathy for the young soldier and empathy for the protectors of the world through the activities. Open Mind, Cinquain writing and collaborative teaching have touched the heads and hearts of learners.
As a facilitator of the twenty first century I hope to unravel the nuances in education and employ innovative methods to make teaching- learning interesting and intriguing. I aspire to continue my voyage of teaching and learning as long as life lasts. I endorse Leonardo da Vinci’s words:
Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.
(1000 words)
-Mrs. Vinoda Harikrishna Rao
Vice Principal
The Brigade School, Malleswaram
Bengaluru.
