Are old methods of teaching preferred to new methods?
The technological boom has found its place in every field of our lives in the past decade. From scientists to marketers, people of every profession have realized the need for technology in their work routine. It has now made its way into classrooms in educational institutions. However, while the modern teaching methods emerging from the adaption of technology have various advantages, they have certain disadvantages as well.
View:
“Technology will not replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational.” – George Couros.
Ms. Nirmala from St. Patrick’s School is of the opinion that if she were given facilities like projectors, smart boards and other digital tools to assist her in her teaching, she would be able to effectively impact students in the class room.
The students of this school come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, with parents who may not have had the same educational opportunities and privileges that their children do, now. She feels that her students would benefit greatly from the advancements in technology in the field of education.
The reason Ms. Nirmala prefers modern technological teaching methods to traditional ones may be attributed to the general observation that children today have smaller attention spans and take time to process and understand new ideas and concepts. She also adds that children need to be taught the same concepts over and over again so that they understand them thoroughly. With tools like projectors and smart boards in every classroom, the teachers would be able to grab the attention of students effectively, widen their comprehension, improve their learning experience and help them grasp new information at a faster rate. Audio and visual tools would create a lasting impact on their memory and make the teaching effective. Further, the students’ slow grasping capacity prevents teachers from carrying out frequent field trips because of having a lengthy syllabus to complete. The students are thus losing out on an opportunity to grow, owing to the absence of appropriate tools.
Aside from academic value, these modern facilities will reduce learning hours in schools, giving the children a chance to engage in sports and cultural activities as well. For the past 2 years, the school has stopped all recreational, sports and cultural activities due to low funding and a rather conservative opinion that such activities are a mere waste of time. It is this mindset that hinders the students’ growth.
The teachers at the school are currently equipped with only maps, globes, text books, chalks and a black board. They have access to one AV room that is rarely used, due to a set of complex protocols that have to be followed to gain permission. The current facilities provided to the teachers allow them to merely scrape through the surface of the syllabus and promote students to a higher grade without proper evaluation. There are 45 students in the classroom and grabbing their attention with the current facilities is harder than it seems, especially in a theoretical class. Ms. Nirmala believes that with an upgrade in their teaching equipment, she would be able to enhance her teaching methods, making them more interesting and relevant to students.
When asked if modern facilities would be a strain on the teachers or reduce their personal touch with students, Ms. Nirmala’s response was unwavering. She believes that these facilities would supplement the chalk board, have a positive impact on students while lowering the strain on teachers when preparing for their lessons each day. At present, the teachers take on a lengthy process to prepare for each lesson. They purchase their own stationery and facilities like graphs and maps, prepare charts and try their best to capture the attention of the students by utilizing their own and the schools’ resources. In her opinion, using modern facilities would definitely make teaching effectual.
Counter View:
In a world that has progressed through monumental discoveries, have we forgotten that not all parts of society can afford to adapt to these changes? Through a research-based interview, it has been understood that each student is different and therefore teachers cannot expect a 100% improvement from each one of them. Old school methods of teaching such as using black boards and textbooks can prove quite effective especially amidst situations of budget cuts.
Ms. Preemal, a respected Accounts and Taxation teacher from SJCC holds the opinion that practical subjects should be taught by the ‘chalk and board method’ in order to enable students to learn effectively and grasp concepts more strongly and deeply. This method also allows teachers to integrate a personal touch in all their classes.
Technological advancements can be time consuming as they require a certain amount of set up. Modern facilities of teaching can create errors and cause misunderstandings considering the fact that not every system or machine works faultlessly all the time.
Giving students the freedom to use their phones in a classroom setting can distract them and cause disruption. Though convenient online facilities are available, Ms. Preemal believes that students must learn by observation and action. It is the old school teaching methods that have made the world what it is today. Hence, dismissing these methods due to the approach of a digital future can cause an imbalance in the growth and development of a student.
Written by:
Jade Prabhakar
Rebecca Desouza
