Never opt for the profession of teaching— especially in the field of school education — if you are devoid of the treasure of patience; a key for effective teaching/learning. In this field, a teacher climbs upto the top of the performance ladder and progress on the back of understanding and a heart full of patience. The end result is students learning level jumps to betterment.
A majority of school teachers prefer physical / verbal punishment for the students not living upto their expectations; often both punishments are meted out. This approach works at times and is seen as the most effective means to foster learning among pupils. But nine out of ten times, it backfires: neither the students learn nor do they gain inspiration to love their studies.
Effective teaching is an endless endeavor which yields rich dividends without the use of corporal punishment. A tonic of motivation, although seldom provided, along with a teacher’s efficient skills and command over the content— make teaching-learning a sweet experience. Motivating students is an inseparable part of student-centered teaching. Undeniably, demotivated pupils reduce the tempo of learning and all the hardwork ends in smoke.
A teacher may make students do any educational activity without making them understand why they should do it. This method makes learning painful and purposeless and creates unthinking individuals. When you know why you are doing something, you work better. Knowing that the medicine will treat his/her ailment, a patient takes it as advised.
Obviously, telling the students the reason (s) for learning something makes them curious to know how it will help them. This hunger to know the benefit of doing something acts as a driving force to make them hard workers, keen observers and disciplined. Then it is needless to give them verbal or physical punishment for bad performance.
From that it follows that the students will always be in a learning mode, making the job enjoyable for them and the teacher. Now every time, you plan your lesson or topic, you must keep your students in mind and never forget that they are active, curious and thinking beings. They look upon you as a facilitator, helper and patient listener. You can well ensure that their notes/ reading materials are clear and definite to learn easily.
In this pleasant atmosphere, a teacher can encourage students to ask questions and teach them ‘when and how’ they should ask questions. The teacher can also ask them his/her own questions. And should a student come up with a wrong answer, the teacher must never rebuke or insult him/her. But reward the student with positive words for having at least stood up to answer. That appeals to the student’s sense of pride and encourages him/her more to answer or question. A competition sets in among them to score more than others. That will make the class room the happiest and the most beneficial place to work in.
Trying to know what is going on in the minds of your students, you may, sometimes, find it difficult to discover anything about them. Instead, you learn that they are very active mentally and just need a window to express themselves. Just give the window and watch them at their best. How easy teaching becomes then! Yes, they, sometimes, are not able to give right answers or think creatively. But most of the time, their responses are quick and correct. Needed here is a dose of encouragement.
As a teacher, one must respect and recognize the individuality of one’s students. And show great care and confidence when they talk, act or read. Make no mistake if students are ignored, they feel nervous, rejected and dejected. Or if only a student of more intelligence is paid attention, others feel jealous and inferior. These are negative emotions and affect the learner’s studies and health.
And in this day and age, teachers must support their teaching with activities to make learning effective and easier. Gone are the days when the traditional ways of teaching-learning were useful; even acceptable. Now times have changed; so have the minds of our children. That we teachers must recognize.
Most importantly, this author has discovered that students are gifted with a sea of talent to face the various challenges of life. A class room should have a vast scope to explore, and express those capabilities. In such academic climate, pupils feel confidence, self-belief and a positive self-image. They like their studies and feel that learning any subject is not a mountain to climb.
The good news is that we as teachers can certainly make teaching-learning an enjoyable, easy and fruitful exercise. For that we have to use newer and attractive teaching methods. All we need is to take more pains, motivate our students, respect them, value them and give them opportunities to express themselves. That way, we will see them on road to academic excellence.
Let us pledge that we teachers, at any level in the field of education, make the noblest job of teaching-learning easier for students. They learn the best in a school environment which respects and recognizes their talents.
(Author is RK columnist and teacher by profession. He can be reached on: [email protected])
