Active learning strategies - Think Pair Share (Carol and Nikita)

This strategy helps to collect information on the topic. Different concepts can be explained through this strategy mostly on life skills, work skills mostly on career path, various training's can also include this strategy. It is like a brainstorm exercise where in thinking process is given importance.

This strategy enables to understand how each student perceive and understand different from each other. It also brings many ideas and views even which a trainer is unaware. It triggers each learner's mindset to think and brings out to express their understanding. This strategy builds learner's relationship with their classmates, accept each other's views and also it makes them easy to express their opinion. This discovers that each learner is unique.

They can evaluate which ideas they think are the best, most creative and most unique.
They also become confident while sharing their views with peers.
It is also called as Turn and Talk.
It also develops their communication skills especially to articulate their opinions.
It brings about collaborative learning as well as positive changes in students especially confidence and self esteem and respect each other's ideas.
It also allows the students to share their learning as well as give and receive feedback.
It provides an opportunity for learner's to share their views comfortably as it is pair sharing.
This can be used mostly to recap and close the session in order to know whether the concepts taught were clear.

It can be avoided when new topics are introduced.

Video on Student Centered Learning

Video on Student Centered Learning 

This video has been extracted from a critically acclaimed movie - "To Sir, With Love".

The whole movie is about how the students who due to their upbringing, considered as rouges and rowdies transform themselves because of a dedicated teacher who is passionately interested in their growth (both academically and personally).

This particular video clipping clearly evinces, the interest in which the teacher is trying to bring some discipline in the class by clearly sharing the road map of 'Change'.

When the student comes late to the class without asking the teacher's permission, the way he deals with it and corrects her demonstrates Student centered Learning.

Another clipping from the movie "Tare Sameen Par" where a dyslexic child is been given a great importance by bringing out the best in him through painting is really edifying.

The education is all about the extracting the best within oneself. And it is proved in the below mentioned clippings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh8VBBLNhRQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbYHyWGLyrg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3h4LmkX4lw

Methods used in Classroom

Hello!

In my classroom I use different methods of teaching like

• Teacher centered learning - Introducing the topic/session
• Role plays
• Group discussion
• Activities like Pick and speak, Pick and act.
• Debate
• Videos
• Ppt
• Arts/craft

Objectives:

• To give clarity on the topic and involve learner' attention
• To engage learner in class and develop their confidence
• To provide opportunity to learners to raise their voice, express their views, ideas as well as to bring out their creativity.
• It also enables them to observe, listen, analyse and come with different opinions and solutions
• It also instigates them to think beyond and thought process never ends. 
• To help them develop their skills and learn by doing, and help their peers when they are stuck with some process of learning.
• To create positive learning environment so as to build positive attitude.

According to my experience involving different methods in a classroom is a good thing but there should be a systematic way in using different methods. There should be some meaning and drawing connections between each method is also necessary. As there are learners coming from different places with different learning styles, it is very much required to use multiple methods as it will create interest, bring out creativity, own the learning process, to build and develop their skills and create a positive learning environment.

Learners have responded creatively with lot of energy, enthusiasm, and i also observed the peer learning where each one was helping the other. There was effective participation which boosted my energy to do more and more. 

Understanding facilitation

Communication is a process of exchange of information,ideas,feelings,thoughts  etc. where in there is a sender and a receiver.

Facilitation is to ease a process and making learning process interesting.

In facilitative approach,  communication plays an effective role as it is the only way to get maximum participation from everyone.

There are two types of communication. They are verbal and Nonverbal communication. Facilitator needs to be very active in observation as well as listening. Especially when learners do not speak, a facilitator’s role is to observe those learner’s and probe to respond. 

Both trainer and learner play an equal right in facilitation. Facilitator guides the process, motivates and encourages learners, identifies learner's potential and brings out the hidden talents. 

Communication is not only giving lecture and giving instructions but more of extracting information from learner's and collating facilitator's and learners' thoughts together in order to make learning creative and produce something out of their thoughts. It is making use of resources within and get something productive out of it. Therefore facilitator needs to be an effective listener and observant. Also understanding the learners is very important.

Know Your Teaching Style.

after filling the Grasha - Riechmann teaching style survey...
i knew my teaching style..
i get more score in facilitator.
who
Emphasizes personal nature of teaching-learning relationship; asks questions, explores options with learners; focuses on learner responsibility, independence, and initiative..

Personal flexibility; Focus on learner needs and goals; openness to alternatives and options.
But sometime it.
Time consuming; sometimes more direct approach is needed; can make learner uncomfortable.
still i am ok with that..

i get some good points in other also..
in Expert,Formal Authority,Personal Model, Delegator.
those are my different teaching style...

TEACHING APPROACHES - ELEMENTS OF TEACHING

Scenario 1: Cook by the book
What did Bhavna think about the people who are going to eat this dal?
She assumes that everyone would like it as she has cooked based on the recipe and it is her perception that all will like it. Here the focus is on the recipe.

Scenario 2: This is how I like it.
What did Amitav think about the recipe?
He thought of doing something of his own which can be more delicious, innovative and feels that his friends would surely like it. He has experience of cooking.

Scenario 2: What are we cooking today?
What do you have to say about the cooking process?
Initially she had planned to cook Dal but later on it was changed to Sambar as her friends wanted something different. Based on the ingredients and vegetables that were available at home they cooked on their own which was tasty. Exploring new recipe. She was flexible and she gave interest in listening to her friends' suggestions.

Why do learners come to your centres?

Learners come to the centre to learn something new, better communication especially to speak english, learn computer skills, practice what they learn, build knowledge, to prepare for the workplace, to explore different career paths and choose the one which is best for him/her based on their interests, skills area of expertise. They also feel that this space is flexible so as to they can learn different aspects like life skills as well as work skill in a very interactive and enthusiastic way which enables them to explore their potentials and bring creativity out of them. Some also come to get better jobs as they have many obligations towards their family, financial problems and to well equip with different skills and potentials.

Learners who come to the centre think that they are able to learn what they are really needed. To develop communication skills, to explore their hidden potentials, explore the possible career paths and choose the best for them.

Every Kid needs a Champion!

This video is really impressive where in Ms. Rita Pierson has articulated her thoughts clearly and was based on her personal experience. It is an inspiring video as it made me see the video again and again.

Every concept and sentence in the video has stayed with me but the most effective one's for me was:
1. Understand the learner and building relationship
2. Kids don't learn from the people who don't like
3. 'I am somebody, I was somebody and I will be better somebody when I leave' This particular sentence inspired me.

Its really an important essence that relationship needs to be built and there must be meaningful and healthy relationship between the students and the facilitator.

An example that caught my attention was the teacher apologized for teaching wrong and the immediate reaction of students. This shows the understanding and relationship between the trainer and students.

This video is apt before beginning this module and it has inspired me to go forward with this module. The purpose of watching this video is to show that a facilitator can change the lives of learners and be a good role model provided there is an understanding and good relationship with the learners. 

Man with a Bag - Trigger video

Hello everyone, 

This particular video was very interesting and it made me realize how I make opinions just by the physical appearance/looks.

Reflection Question 1: The woman was staring at the man as she was suspecting that he has done some mischievous/criminal activity because he of his looks - long beard and a big bag; the way he was looking and walking. Even the police were running towards him.

Reflection Question 2: According to me both men were walking with the bag but the physical appearance and also the second man was walking behind the first man changed my thought. It all depends on each individual's perception.

Reflection Question 3: I thought the police officials would catch hold of the second man and lock him up.

After seeing the complete video, I realized that how easily we make opinions/judgement about another person without even giving a second thought. It is very important to spend time with learners, build rapport and understand them without being judgmental.