The Scenario Today
Today the child is a smart viz. Systematic, Meticulous, Active, Realistic and Tactful to involve himself in the learning process within the classroom only when with the condition that he is give something to know what he did not know earlier. It is at majority of the time that he is told the same things what has been already shared with him by their parents/ friends or at the online tutorial option through the various search engines, primarily, the GOOGLE. We encapsulate the very nature of learning but with a little intelligence otherwise they come up to us (probably if not, will with the march of time and tide), I quote, “Sir/ Madam, It is already in the book. Please tell us something new”. Do we have a reply to them?
Let us be so true to the teachers’ point of view with an immediate requirement for being a Netizen, the Citizen of the NET with more of just having an Email ID and knowing how to access the Internet otherwise. The following are the add on requirements for all the teachers to be “Of Demand as Per the Requirements of the 21st Century students otherwise”, viz.
- Have a Website.
- Have at least 200 links on the Internet “About the Teacher”.
- Share websites with the children.
- Explore learning through 24/7 availability.
- Be a Facilitator by walk not only by the talk.
- Activate self and open to LEARNING rather than TEACHING.
- Respect the Knowledge of Students whatever they know already.
- Criticize in PRIVATE and PRAISE in PUBLIC.
- Explore the best the first time Every time.
Above all, the requirement is the Teacher has to have an online presence and be:
- Socially Networked
- Must have Blogs
- Must possess a website
- Must have published documents
- Must possess Google Links
- Must share Youtube videos
He must share the sites as notes online. We the educators must applicate learning as a module rather than a classroom based theory or standards.
This would certainly generate fun in learning with mounting interest of children in the classroom oration and teaching sessions. The ultimate is to make them learn not just sit and pass the time and depend on their machines and laptops back home for the needful response to their assignments. It is indeed a proven fact that Today’s world is a full of technology. In each and every field, we find new technology.
For education, chalk and board is not enough for the teaching system. What is required is a smile, an opportunity to the students to create, involve and explore through ICT, the novel ways of understanding the subject further.
Teacher, the Educator should use technology. It will make the teaching/ learning process easy, interesting and result oriented. In the 21st century, a teacher must make efforts for digital learning as technology is not going to replace teachers, but those who don’t use technology will be replaced by those do.
The use of technology not only makes the entire process of learning interesting but more impactful as well. The education sector has, unfortunately, always held a reputation of being a laggard as far as technology adoption goes. There has to be a mindset towards the Think Tank and decision making must take place. I do recall the circular No. 57, dt. 01.09.2010 by the Central Board of Secondary Education, to all the heads of institutions affiliated to the board, which says that the 21st century is characterized with the emergence of knowledge based society wherein Information and Communication Technology plays a pivotal role. The convergence of Computer, communication and content technologies, being known as ICT, have attracted attention of academia, business, government and communities to use it for innovating profitable propositions. ICT has permeated in every walk of life affecting the fields such as launching satellites, managing business across the globe and also enabling social networking. Year by year it is becoming simpler to use devices such as desktop palm top, iPod, iPad etc. The truth of the matter is that, Students are closer to the Technology than we are, especially the hand held devices or the ubiquitous resources, their comprehension of these resources is exponentially, which you will discover only as you get close to them.
Let us all explore the fun with learning and vice-versa as to develop the taste of learning and involvement as the only means to avoid “Distractions in the classroom” in particular. The 21st Century Learner is a smart learner, an autodidact more as a trainer and tactful at art to finish strong. What is required is another CCE: Creative Cumulative Evaluation of the Teachers ! !
With the utility segments available to the trio, the teachers, parents and students in the form of Next Education products, there is a certain belief of low cost information and communication technology tools are empowering the way of change. As a result new skills and innovative abilities are required of students and workers in their learning, livelihood and life. As a matter of fact, for a meaningful and purposeful education, there is an urgent need for the schools to function as a learning hub for the entire community and to be equipped with all the facilities as per the need of the community. Similarly, the community has to extend their cooperation to the schools for the holistic development of the child. Hence, there is an urgent need to not only cooperate but to collaborate between all stake holders of the society. The school makes the society and the country there by. The National Policy on ICT in School Education by MHRD Govt. of India, states, “The ICT policy in School Education aims at preparing youth to participate creatively in the establishment, sustenance and growth of a knowledge society leading to all around social economic development of the nation and global competitiveness”. Here is the solution, a must for all schools to practice Quality Education with a flare of interest generating learning environment in the classrooms.