Schools,
colleges and higher centers of learning are synonyms of the industries to
produce individuals with positive traits, - positive interdependent and worth
to contribute to the economy of not only of her/his country but the globe.
Schools
especially elementary level and the universities play the most substantial role
in educating the students. These two are the two exterior ends in education
system. Elementary education catering to the educational needs of quite a big
population of the students. Unaware of all enrolled children will continue
perusing education or not, elementary teachers lay down the foundation of
Reading, Writing and Arithmetic; They encourage the tiny-tots to open their
eyes wide to observe and identify things and phenomenon happening around them;
They are suppose to identify the potential of the individuals and sow the seeds
to be an artist, scientist, poet, philosopher and so on.
On the other
end, universities provide conducive learning environment to elite group of
students having potentials to be the innovators, research scholars,
professionals and the brains that contribute towards the development of
ecology, economy and benevolence across the globe. We are bound to produce the
global citizens to be fitted in the megatrend of the world to communicate and work well with others
within the full range of social situations involving fluid social structure,
human diversity and interdependence. Mentors are to sensitize the students
towards the global issues and to find the ways to make this earth a better
place to live in.
Unfortunately, today, schools, educational
institutes and we knowledge workers unknowingly contribute heavily to socialize
our future generation towards a less caring and a more competitive social
orientation. Apparently, the youth is easily carried out towards the strikes,
bands, destruction, negative race relations, intolerance etc. whereas the youth
should be engaged in activities to innovate, explore and experiment the means
and resources to take the nation towards the growth and development. Rather we
find most of them unsatisfied with the system. Some of them are a social
character ill-equipped to meet the demands of an increasingly interdependent
social and economic world. This is a severe crisis in education.
To combat the
situation, there is a demand to shift the paradigm from our conventional educational
practices radically. The mindset of the teachers is barricading the new
pedagogical approaches. They are not ready to come out of the competitive and
individualistic learning structure as the classroom practices. Today, time is
changing very fast. Teachers have to incorporate the strategies which foster the
students’ experience. They have to
create such a learning situation in
which it is adaptive to help each other rather than hindering or heading to
competitive socialization.
Though, we talk
a lot about the latest pedagogy, methodology or innovative practices on common
forums like seminars, workshops or training programs but the irony is, most of
the teaching faculties are not able to come out of the traditional competitive
class room practices.
Our mind set
is hindering to switch over the paradigm from:
o
Traditional Teaching to Collaborative and
Cooperative Learning
o Traditional
Teaching to Problem Based Learning
o Traditional
Teaching to Projects Based Learning
o Traditional
teaching to technology based learning
o Traditional
Teaching to Garden Based Learning
o Or
Traditional teaching to any innovative practices of teaching and learning which
provides the students autonomy engaging in learning activities by self.
We are not ready
to play our roles as facilitators or mentors but to remain teachers forever. For
instance, technology has brought drastic changes in the world and touched our
life immensely. It has influence the literacy and pedagogy. Illiterate folks
are even use technology efficiently.
But… are the teaching faculties ready to come out of the shell of
conventional teaching? Though, technology is made available investing heavily
in the classrooms of some of the prestigious institutes, the optimum use of it is not ensured. Sometimes
it is found that these are not installed properly or well equipped classrooms,
due to one or the other reasons do not
operated them regularly. Hence, it is evident that students are not
being benefitted optimum out of technological infra-structure which is their
cup of tea. Introspection reveals that the story of many institutions alike.
To achieve the desired success, all
educational entities should be adaptive for the teaching and learning as per
the needs and demand of present generation. Still the traditional classroom
practices unanimously reflect -
o
Teacher dominated structure
o
Passive obedience among pupils
o
Exclusive use of autocratic
o
Models autocratic decision making
o
Unprepared for the democratic society
o
Socialization void
o
No opportunity of interaction among students
o
Produces students unprepared for the real world
After being
graduated, a student finds it very difficult to fit into the real world. By and
large, the knowledge gained in colleges and universities are not useful to
implement in the jobs or employment in reality. Field works demand a different
type of approach and skill which is not developed and sharpened by the mentors during
student life.
Therefore, there
is a need for restructure of the classrooms activities. Cooperative and
collaborative learning incorporating the technology aided classroom structure
may serve the demands of todays learners from the very beginning of the educational
life. The school teachers should incorporate activity based group work to
engaging children learn concepts, finding the facts by themselves. Children are not a clean slate as thought in
previous days. They are getting exposure form the very early age of life
through media, televisions, films, travelling and tours with their parents.
They are very confident in taking decisions and full of potentials of
leadership.
Only one
ignition is required - the teachers’ inspiration. It opens the avenues of real
learning ensuring the reflection of the learning in
real life.
If they are
really not wasting the water and energy at home, the teaching of the Energy
Conservation lesson is successful; If they are not contributing to the
pollution by throwing garbage in the open, learning pollution lesson is efficacious;
If they are coming to school and doing all their assignments in time, the
discipline lesson has meaning. It is very simple that the knowledge gained from
the books should be evident in day to day life and behavior of the students.
The innovative means
of energy conservation, sustainable development to environment protection,
remedies for global warming, determination to protect young women, dedication
to remove poverty from the earth, initiation to combat ignorance and spread
education, adoption of indigenous way should be the ultimate focus of the Universities’
Scholars. Only completing the syllabus and conducting the exams and tests
should go to back foot. GROW – Gaining knowledge, reaching out to different
people, opening the world of experience and implementing the knowledge to gain Wisdom
should be the fore front.
Therefore, let’s
all we knowledge workers from schools to universities come together to switch
over the new pedagogical practices providing students opportunities to critical
thinking, creativity, developing with cross cultural understanding, sheer
ability in communication and being self-reliance. Our Education must prepare
them for suitable jobs and help them to be productive citizens of the humanity.
Let us all be accountable!!!
