Are you a teacher who teaches children in 2015 using chalkboards? “What are those?” you quip.
Yes! Traditional teaching methods are gradually losing their sheen today. It may be added that as a teacher, you may or may not feel comfortable in the outdated techniques of yesteryears when it comes to teaching, as newer trends and tools are fast evolving and becoming usable too gradually.
Some of the fastest and best methods of teaching are through online tutoring. These include blogging, online forums and podcasts. Technology is fast reshaping the traditional classroom and as users of this technology, teachers must also venture into exploring newer horizons.
Engagement is at an all-time high with the use of technology- believe tech gurus- who think online tutoring is slowly but surely changing the learning environment. There are Web 2.0 tools, social networking sites, training modules, web video conferences that are raising the interactive quotient between the learner and the learned. There are I Tunes lectures, You Tube videos and mobile apps instead of books that are fast becoming the main source of information.
Here are 5 sure shot techniques for teachers to maximize output through digital teaching:
- Newer learning management systems such as open education resources or OERs and massive open online courses or MOOCs are fast changing the landscapefor teachers. Online learning is mutually beneficial for teachers and students alike.
- Blended learning is fast gaining ground as well and as a teacher you should make use of it. In this the entire course is presented online and the use of a “flipped” classroom may enable the professor to record his or her lecture and also provide a link to the video later. Students can go back home and then listen to the lecture in details. Such a teaching model is different from the traditional teaching model and recalibrates technological capacity with traditional teaching
- Use of the multimedia tools and animations, rich graphics, simulation and open course wares are fast changing the learning landscape. This enables teachers to replace books with concepts that are visually shared and experienced by students. Learning becomes retentive and very visual.
- There are many learning analytics that are being developed with the making of digital activities more scalable and accountable. Feedback is shared with the student continuously rather than once after an exam.
- Learning also becomes non formal and is self-directed and not coerced. Teaching is not one way rather a two way process. Also, slide shares, weekly web modules, text narration and online timed tests that display instant results are fast gaining ground. Each lesson is divided into units and lectures recorded with a comments and query section.
Teachers can now teach non-coercively without being too forceful on results and grades. Students feel motivated and interested when technology is infused. They feel less burdened. Also, when they see their teachers imbibing new methods to teach they feel driven too.
