The conventional classroom has seen significant evolution over the years, with a shift from the strict one-way teacher-to-student format to a more dynamic environment with chances for a variety of teacher-to-student and student-to-student interaction, facilitated and supported by technology. Many modern teaching methods in schools around the world are gaining attention for their potential to enrich classroom learning.
A Physical Change
In China, the concept of group learning where students are encouraged to demonstrate their abilities to their classmates, such as by solving problems on the board in front of the class, has been gaining ground in other parts of the globe. This practice has been shown to carry on to university, where students were observed to instigate group work and discussion outside of the classroom, due to the blurring of the traditional system where you only learn from the teacher.
Meanwhile, in Finland, students are not streamed, so the educational gap between students is reputed to be ‘the smallest in the world’. The efficacy of this practice is backed by the excellent track record Nordic schools have long harboured for producing outstanding students. Increasingly, it seems that the way forward is to allow for increased peer-to-peer learning and the diffusion of information as a multidirectional process without segregation of students based on their evaluated ability.
Role of ICTs, AI and Robotics
The role that technology has on modern teaching methods has become undeniable. Beyond the direct use of computers to facilitate online learning during the pandemic, having technology such as tablets in schools has shown promising results. The Netherlands trialled a program in several schools where all physical teaching material was replaced by digital resources on iPads. Though this program was stopped due to financial limitations, the benefits of this approach included being able to cater to a larger variety of learners and more comprehensive tracking of educational progress.
There is also an increasing presence of robotics and AI in all aspects of our life, including education. In 2016, Singapore introduced robots as teaching aids at several preschools. Though there were battery life and sensory perception limitations, the robots did encourage interest in attending school and helped several students develop more extroverted behaviour and communicative skills. As technology grows more sophisticated, there are clear applications of ICT and robotics in the classroom that benefit the students as they learn to navigate an increasingly digital world.
Contact Coba Education Now
The work of an educator in imparting knowledge on the next generation will continue ad infinitum, but the form it takes is under constant change. Consequently, it's the teacher’s responsibility to keep an eye on the trends of modern teaching methods in education and modify their teaching style accordingly. As a supply teacher agency, Coba Education is dedicated to this mission; schools in the vicinity of Bedford and Northamptonshire can contact us for resources and trusted personnel.
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