Learn innovative teaching method

In today’s world, Communication is the most important skill ruling the professional world. It has become obvious to associate Communication skills with English. English is becoming a dominant language for students to survive in School/ College and in work place. As the skill is required, it becomes necessary for everyone to learn the same.

People often have a misconception about learning or improving communication skills. They assume that the learning part of communication skills is a boring process. The assumption is made true numerous times. Process of learning can be fun only if the facilitator is knowledgeable person with true understanding of the knowledge.

From times immemorial, there has been a set of teaching methods followed by facilitators in the field. Often, I get to hear from teachers and lectures that the attention span of their students is going down day by day. And they also say that, their students are not really learning anything in the class. If we deeply analyse the problem, it becomes evident that the problem usually lies in the one who is teaching.

Students are to be attracted with what a facilitator has in his/her store of knowledge. ‘Learning is a continuous process and is a never ending one’, with this understanding, making the idea of learning and knowledge gaining fun oriented solves the problem. Here making learning a fun-oriented process doesn’t mean anything negative, but instead, focuses upon how innovative methods, techniques and creativity can make the process of learning from boring to interesting.

How can learning become fun and retainable?

Human beings are quite peculiar and are full of surprises. When learning is associated with human interaction and visual media, there begins the quest of gaining knowledge. Building the interest in the minds of the students is to be a primary goal.

This can be done by talking with them frequently to know their interests, likes and so on, and by doing so, framing our lectures on the mentioned grounds will make the process easy. Knowing the likes and dislikes of a young group will allow us to improve our lifestyle and will help us get along with them by matching with their mindset.

Involving films, television programs, Ted Talks and so on is a creative dynamic of learning. Students will show interest towards any kind of visual media. Sorting of videos based on the syllabus and delivering them with numerous discussions and live examples would help them retain the subject forever.

Involving technology is another aspect which helps learning get better. There are a number of online tools and applications which makes learning smooth, fun and retainable for students of this generation.

An amalgamation of different exercise, videos and discussion is the key to innovative teaching in building confidence, eliminating stage fear, improvement in communication skills and so on. This generation students are digital natives and are well versed with the technological advances. Inculcating the same technology in learning, makes it more effective.

As we all know, ‘Interaction is the key to communication’, talking with them and discussing about happenings around the globe is another aspect which help them build their concentration and attention span.

For any facilitator, knowing the level of their students is important, and tuning their mind according to their students’ level solves many problems a facilitator might face in a class. Facilitators facilitate learning, we in deed show the students a path and bring the gift of knowledge to their door steps, but, the success lies in the path a facilitator chooses to walk by to deliver the gift.

Presentation skills, language enhancement, writing- creative, technical, formal and informal letter writing- are the age old but yet very important elements in communication. Now, if I had to do the job, doing it the usual way will give same old dead dry results. I choose to do it my way, the fun-oriented way, and the results were as expected, very impressive and satisfactory.

Building the perspective of ‘learning from surroundings’ with an eye to observe and mind to process, one can start learning from surroundings. More than enough skills can be acquired by observing others and learning from surroundings, and in this case, the facilitator should help the students in developing the perspective with background information and subject basics.

-The article is authored by Kalyan Raygalla, Educationalist

By Kalyan Raygalla