Have you ever wondered about the power of visuals when it comes to effective teaching? As the saying goes, a picture says a thousand words. If we talk about the visuals, the possibilities become endless. Imagine how uninteresting our presentations or classroom lectures would become if there were no visuals. The graphs, pictures, videos, and sound effects are elements that keep our attention intact.
Now, compare it with the conventional ways of teaching, and you will well understand the difference. A book, be it a traditional one or an e-book, fails to catch the reader’s eye if it’s too text-heavy. To teach such a book to the students is further challenging as it does not have the appeal.
It is also the way you teach that makes a difference. If you have a story-telling style of teaching, you will likely compel them to listen with interest. It is not just because of the method but also because of the fast pace of life and shorter attention span.
The third aspect of effective teaching is related to the type of academic program. A specific program can indeed be more interesting than others. For instance, students have a more profound interest in a program related to space science or robotics. So, a teacher in one of the said fields may find the students more attentive comparatively. The youth take such courses with passion and enthusiasm.
Moreover, the integration of values with any given field makes all the difference. For instance, in a civil engineering program, students learn about the quality of life and ecological values. An aspirant studying in the field also gets the training to implement these concepts in real-life situations. The aspects are all combined in civil engineering in the form of an MSCE degree program.
To dive deeper into the topic, let us discuss some better teaching methods than any conventional ones. Let’s begin.
- Flipped Classroom
One can be effective in teaching in today’s era if one can think outside the box and reverse a few things. That’s what flipping a classroom exactly means. We don’t mean that you have to turnaround a class. However, you will need to change the traditional ways of teaching to implement this method.
This method’s simple idea is to ask the students to study at home and review their work at the school. It essentially flips the conventional homework-schoolwork concept and allows the students to achieve their optimal potential. So, if you’re a teacher, you might want to try it.
- Collaborate & Learn
We always hear about the need to collaborate for achieving success in an organization. Why not replicate the same in a classroom? The additional benefit is when the students will enter a career, they will already possess teamwork skills and experience.
The use of this method in a classroom is quite simple too. You may apply it by asking the students to form certain groups. You will have to delegate a specific role to each member and team in the class. Students, using this method, learn about interactive learning and achieving the goals in unison.
- Project Learning
Learning always comes in steps, and it has the role of a backbone in the teaching process. Students need to focus on their objectives, and that’s what project-based learning is all about. This method aims to assign a project to the students after defining all the key parameters.
Using the method, students develop interest from the beginning, given its challenging and task-driven nature. The outcome is a critically thinking mind of a youth, coupled with effective communication, the ability to solve problems, and collaboration.
- Gaming Method
This method is self-explanatory as it aims to capture the student’s attention through what they like the most; games. Using this method, a teacher can use various exciting devices and games to keep the students’ attention intact. The question is, what skill do the students develop?
Using this method, a student learns not just about the subject but also some other functions. One of such functions involves reflexes, meaning how spontaneous a person can react in a real-life situation. Then, a student using the technique becomes an expert at the use of mechanics.
- Design Method
Innovation is the key to modern-day research and advancement. It is the innovation that allows a young mind to bring ideas to light and benefit themselves and society. That is the basis for the design method to make its way to the well-known techniques of teaching.
By using this method, a person becomes capable of thinking in terms of industrial application. A student learns to satisfy a client by designing a project in line with their aspirations. Over time, the students learn about working with accuracy to achieve specific objectives in life.
- Thought-based
Plenty of times, teachers emphasize and stress memorization in a classroom setting, but there is a lot more to teaching. Thought-based learning lets students use their cognitive skills to reach a milestone. It brings numerous benefits for the learners in the long-term. What are the benefits?
Well, a person who indulges in this technique learns to become active thinkers. They then know how to conceptualize ideas, do thorough analyses, draw a relation between ideas, and execute them. A student who learns the method learns about thinking critically in all sorts of circumstances.
Final Thoughts
Teaching is an art, and the present age has turned it into an altogether different, superlative learning. A person who aspires to excel in the field should consider the use of all the contemporary methods. They also need to compare them with the conventional means to know and realize the difference.
The ideas towards effective teaching and learning can be many, but it is all about their execution. Also, it’s essential to keep in mind that a teacher should apply a method based on the class’s needs. Irrespective, the use of the new techniques to get the students involved is vital. So, if you are a teacher, executing some of the discussed ideas will prove beneficial.
