Teaching Realities

A couple of decades ago, there was only one place to watch a movie: Film theater or talkies. You have to wait until the release of movie usually on Friday, go to the theater  buy ticket and watch the movie. Theaters had fixed and regular times for shows.

About a decade or so ago, things started changing. Introduction of CD allowed people to watch movies at places and times of their convenience such as at home and in the evening- provided they can afford CD player. Some time later Cd rental opened up movie watch opportunities ti many more on weekdays- in office- in functions and in bus during travels or in hotels during stay. In other words theater gradually lost the primary position as the place for watching movies.

Something similar has happened or happening to class room teaching and learning. While I was studying in school during 1970's, it was classroom where most or even all learning and teaching happened. if someone missed class for whatever reason, there was not second chance or any other resources to reply upon except a friendly classmate's notes or help. Things started changing slowly in late 1980's and rapidly in 90's. Learning was never confined to classroom only. Alternatives became available: tuition classes, guides, notes, coaching classes, summer coaching centers and so on. The appeal and popularity of these and other avenues for learning alternatives so much so that most students practically forced to avail or subscribe one and many time more of such services. My daughter who is appearing for X standard exam this year has many resources including exam recokner.

Because of these classroom proceedings today are so boring for students that they hate it.
With such kind of learning environment for well over 12 years or so, today students enter professional courses such as engineering or medicine or management. They find it hard to orient themselves for classroom learning.

Comments

  1. Dear Sir,
    what you have expressed are realy the change phases of the day, but however i have littel reservations for these, like the online (Not virtual) are fasr better as you can clear the doubts through the horse mouth and it will be lively.
    Who knows one day we may even become obselete (I am also a teacher in an Engineering college) in case the students like virtual class rooms only!!!!!!

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  2. Dear Mr.Ravindra Dastikopp,
    You have drawn a very interesting parallel between 'Entertainment' and 'Learning' in these fast-changing times! Both have been subjected to the Tides of Change and both have served their purpose well. In fact, the changes you mention are products of Innovation in their respective fields and have added to the Service Offerings in both the Learning and Entertainment fields. Both have offered their 'Customers' an alternative Service Delivery Channel, so to say and today's consumer (The Public which seeks Entertainment or The Student who seeks Enlightenment) has more alternative and better options to satiate their thirst.
    I do not fully agree with Sunilkumar's opinion that in the days to come Teachers would become extinct with the mushrooming growth of Virtual Classrooms. My personal take is that all forms of Service Delivery Channels would continue to co-exist and thereby continue to make the Options to the Customer more varied and attractive.
    Arun Chandrasekhar
    TCS Limited,
    Hyderabad
    5th January 2009

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is true that with the technology teaching and learning is changing. This was the case from long time. Eklavya's teacher was a statue. So I think it just the medium is changing.

    If you see the MIT Video most of the teacher teach experiments in the classroom. Though amount information which you get in classroom is way beyond what you will get through listening to that lectures online but it is still better than most of our school where teacher are not dedicated.

    At the end it boils down to teacher and student relation

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  4. I read the blog entitled "Teaching realities" by Professor Ravindra Dastikop with considerable interest. It is a fact that pre-university and high school students are attracted towards private tuitions, online tutorials and to a small extent, educational web-sites. Private tuition has become a fashion (fad) for both parents and students, catering superficial knowledge, only from the examination point of view. However, in the official class room and laboratory, a longer duration of time (several months) is involved, which is necessary for proper teaching-learning process. A regular teacher is always required, irrespective of developments in web-based coaching. An average student may not persevere in his pursuit of knowledge in the absence of a guru or teacher.

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  5. This topic can be debated for long. For starters, I do not believe that classroom learning will lose its significance in the wake of online education and virtual classrooms. The experience of sitting in a classroom and learning, interacting with your peers cannot be matched. Thats the best way to learn.
    Today the significance of coaching classes is rising because there is such fierce competition and pressure on students to perform. Yes, coaching classes CAN give you an edge, but at the same time the students lose interest in attending regular classes, which is a bad trend.
    Having said that, it is also important for lecturers and teachers to make the class interesting. Incompetent teachers might not be able to hold a student's attention. Its basically a two way thing, where in the teacher gives his best in the classroom and the student supports him by offering him his complete attention and interest.

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  6. Dear Sir,
    I do not believe that classroom teaching has lost its importance.There is no alternative for classroom teaching. Tuitions,guides are helpful,but none of them are as effective as a lecture in a class. But a student's attending a class depends as much on the teacher as on the student. If the lecturer is good enough then no student will look for any other alternative. Ultimately, a teachers teaching and the students ability to understand it are the only things that come into consideration.

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  7. In my opinion classrooms cannot be replaced. There is specific category of people who might find it boring. Boring depends on the lecturer, subject, student, session duration, interaction etc. There is small percentage of students who may like to study things on their own. But there is larger section of students who get the seriousness only in classrooms.
    Pros of classroom:
    One is more serious about study in classrooms. Progressive sessions ensure continuity and completion. You can interact with the staff for questions. You can learn from others questions. Classrooms are more real.

    ReplyDelete

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