Teaching Methods: To Meet 21st Century Challenges
-Nahian Fyrose Fahim
We are the best creation of Almighty Allah. Every religion inspires to acquire knowledge. Education has always been a major concern of the Muslim peoples. Prophet Muhammad (SWA) who was not only the preacher of our religion and the leader of the all Muslim ummah , but also an effective teacher and an enthusiastic promoter of learning. He is the model person and the guide of all teachers of the world.
Now I am starting with two questions
· What is teaching and what is the role of a teacher?
· How a teacher can teacher can teach effectively?
Teaching is an art of disseminating knowledge and helping the fellow or students by showing the ways of knowledge door. As searching for knowledge is the nature of human being for this reason we feel the necessity of institutional knowledge to be civilized. A teacher is the king of the kingdom of knowledge. There was a time when teaching and learning was only teacher oriented. That time teacher was the controller of the classroom environment. Student had to depend on the teachers lecture and what teacher used to say was the rule. There was little opportunity to explore in the ocean of the knowledge without the help of the teacher. That was the traditional system of teaching. Things are getting changed because of globalization, technological advancement. Learning and teaching is getting student centered. Teachers are creating new strategy gradually to teach the student effectively. Both teacher and students of the 21st century are more updated and smart. The tasks of the teacher in the classroom are changing, as like teacher has to act as a guide, as a facilitator, as a motivator and as a collaborator. To play these entire roles at a time teacher should be divisive, extrovert, skillful and creative.
To be a good and effective teacher as teacher has to follow some methods which will ensure the proper learning of the students. I would like to be a passionate teacher of 21st century, who will be able to adapt all sorts of techniques of modern teaching. Already I have learned some of the following methods:
• Technology-driven classrooms facilities are essential to meet the present challenge of teaching. By using some videos audio clips, slides, and other devices we can be able to teach student more easily.
· Case study, role playing method can help to initiate the brain storming process of the students. Brain storming is process for generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive and freewheeling group discussion. We have to create a platform where student can think according to their own way. There are some subjects which students consider as tough, in this case it will be the teachers responsibility that how he can make these subject easy and understandable for students with his creativity.
· Activity based learning like games, group discussion and workshop are also helpful to ensure student-centered classroom. As for example there is hardly any student in Pharmacy department who loves mathematics. But the reality is, a student has to solve so many mathematical problems during his bachelor education. Question is how a teacher will reduce the fear of math from the students? I do believe answer is simple; we have to change the traditional teaching method. Case study and games can easily introduce in front of the students to make them think. A teacher should emphasis on understanding of concepts.
· Besides these there are some other methods like debate, Field visitor, simulation and lecture method. Teacher will have to choose the method of teaching by understanding the level of students, their capabilities and their need. Again I would like to say, we are living in an era where all the resources, all the references are available in front of the students. The only responsibility of a teacher is to make familiar with these resources and create a situation so that student can think to explore within these knowledge.
Teaching and assessment are quite related with each other. Besides some traditional assessment method like midterm, final examination we can assess our students in the class. These assessments will help us to evaluate the development process and get clear idea about their weakness. We have to keep in mind that tasks should improve skills, not test memory of a student. As the ultimate aim of the knowledge is implementation or converting into skills.
I am talking about tertiary education. Cooperation among teachers and students plays an important role for the development of the teaching and learning because it will help us achieve commonly desired purposes of ourselves. Teaching profession is a noble profession. A teacher is the architect of a student. Research and up gradation of knowledge level is the prerequisite to be an effective teacher.
