Keeping up with the times

Updated on: Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Opting for refresher courses, using powerpoint presentations to explain lessons, learning computer skills from their own kids — teachers these days are spending quality time to keep abreast with the latest methodologies in teaching.

Gone are the days when teachers stuck to textbook material to impart lessons. With students being bombarded with information on the net, teachers too are doing their bit to keep up with the youngsters and make their lectures more interesting.

Adelaide Vaz, principal of Xavier’s Institute of Education, Churchgate, said that students these days keep teachers on their toes. “Students have access to information from several sources. They are being brought up in the world of internet and technological gadgets. Their grasping power has increased tremendously and teachers are finding it difficult to hold their attention in classrooms. Several teachers have started taking this as a challenge and are innovating,” said Vaz.

Vaz takes workshops for teachers from several schools in south Mumbai. She is also working on a project on digital teaching, in which cellphones will be used in the teaching process. “Making use of cellphones to teach concepts is the best way to hold the students’ attention,” she said.

Most schools have their own teacher training cells to train educators in the latest innovations in the field of education. Shahina Momin, primary year programme (PYP) co-ordinator from Podar International School, said: “Our school organises IT workshops for teachers every week based on the availability of the resource person and most of us make use of these sessions.” According to her, teachers guide students on what links to use for their studies, as not all the information available on the net is accurate. Also, if teachers come across an interesting application on their iPads (some teachers are provided with iPads by the school), they inform the students about it.

According to Vatsala Pai, head of the philosophy department at Ruia College, Matunga, “Senior teachers take help from their grown-up children to create powerpoint presentations and include it in their lectures to make them more interesting. Students also help us in searching for lecture material online if we ask them to. They are well-versed with computers and we are not, so there is nothing wrong in seeking their help. We make use of more audio-visual elements in our classroom instead of just coming and speaking in class.”

D Y Patil International School in Worli subscribes to several international science journals. “If we are teaching a topic in economics, we try to make the lesson contemporary by including the current economic scenario in the US. We are also planning to invite an investment banker to explain the impact of recession on various sectors,” said Husein Burhani, head of senior school.

Keeping up with the times

More Education news