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Modern teaching methods form a part of a mass educational reform, brought on by the advent of technology and the need to not only educate but also inspire and generate curiosity. This has resulted in the need to modify the traditional style of teaching in such a manner that the new teaching methods are demonstrative, explanatory and practical. These new teaching techniques involve a style of teaching that focuses on cognitive thinking and the development of new patterns of learning. In modern education methods, the student is central to curriculum designing and lesson planning. The teacher acts as a facilitator, paving the way for the student to learn, by providing the necessary resources and support. New teaching techniques and modern learning methods have been found effective in schools and on a higher education level as well.
The Need For Modern Teaching
The education sector has consistently evolved and transformed over the decades to adapt to modern-day developments, particularly in the fields of science and technology. Subsequently, changes were also made to the manner in which education is imparted from the grassroots level up. Therefore, the latest teaching methods, with modern learning and teaching strategies, must be both knowledge- and technology-driven. This is important to thrive and progress in society as a whole.
Modern teaching techniques avoid spoon-feeding students and encourage creative thinking and problem-solving. This is done by concentrating on developing application-based skills and learning in a manner that’s relevant to the increasing needs.
With an emphasis on innovation and generating curiosity, new teaching techniques inspire the entrepreneurial spirit, a crucial vehicle in the development of society. The traditional approach of memorizing and reciting, implemented on a mass scale, leads to a stagnated society. Modern teaching methods, on the other hand, foster progression.
The scope of knowledge has increased. We are no longer isolated from one another, and there is a global exchange of information. This has also resulted in an increase in the human potential to adapt to and imbibe global knowledge. This can be done through new strategies and techniques of teaching so that education is more holistic.
Lastly, by emphasizing an exploratory approach, modern learning methods shift focus from parroting to discovering and researching unexplored areas across different fields.
Characteristics Of New Teaching Methods
Known to be a constructivist approach, modern teaching differs from traditional teaching methods. Students aren’t instructed to memorize and recite. Instead, modern teaching methods emphasize that learning objectives be met through classroom interaction, collaboration and active participation in engaging activities. Some characteristics of modern teaching styles are listed below:
- Learner-centric: The curriculum and lessons are created in such a manner that a teacher is simply there to facilitate and support learning, whereas a student is central and predominant in classroom activities and interactions.
- Collaborative Approach: New teaching methods pave the way for students to cooperate and appreciate the work of their peers.
- Integrative: Modern teaching styles result in students gaining knowledge of not just one topic but also those that are relative and supplemental to the main topic.
- Interactive: Modern teaching techniques stress an interactive setting. A student is asked to work in groups as well as individually to promote better decision-making and problem-solving.
- Inclusive: Modern teaching methods focus on identifying the individual skillset of a student while maintaining a collaborative approach, thereby supporting the student to learn at their own pace.
- Active Participation: Modern teaching methods consist of engaging activities and practical learning rather than passive consumption.
Now, let’s explore some modern teaching methods.
Modern Teaching Methods
New teaching techniques impart knowledge in such a manner that it generates curiosity among the students. Technology and global exchange of information have played a vital role in doing so, causing a shift in the conventional classroom dynamic. To account for this shift, teachers make use of some of the following new teaching methods:
- Collaborative Learning: Learning in isolation is a thing of the past. The approach taken via modern teaching is to provide students with a platform to work and learn together to achieve synergy.
- Spaced Learning: To reinforce a particular lesson, a teacher will repeat the lesson multiple times, with 10-minute intervals. This is done to allow the brain to refresh, usually through physical activity or mindfulness techniques.
- Flipped Classroom: In this technique, students are asked to do the preliminary work of a particular lesson at home, such as watching a video tutorial or conducting an online search. The homework (traditionally done at home) is then completed in class to optimize the time and learning experience of the students.
- Self-learning: Modern teaching techniques encourage self-dependency. By planting the seeds of curiosity, students are pushed toward exploring the subjects they find the most interesting in more depth.
- Gamification: Teaching through video games has served as one of the most useful modern teaching strategies, particularly in the elementary and preschool systems. This relatively new teaching technique is an effective modern teaching method in higher education.
- VAK Teaching: Visual, Audio and Kinesthetic (movement) teaching, or VAK teaching, is a latest teaching method where teachers identify the category in which a student falls—that is, whether they are visual learners, audio learners or kinesthetic learners. Upon this categorization, a teacher can better prepare a lesson to cater to their individual abilities.
- Crossover Learning: Crossover learning is a mixture of formal and informal learning. In crossover learning, formal classroom learning is accompanied by the use of the students’ everyday experiences and interactions with their surroundings, which forms the informal part of this method of learning.
Of these latest teaching methods, four modern teaching methods are predominantly used at the preschool and school levels. These are gamification, spaced learning, VAK teaching and collaborative learning. Apart from these, there are certain methodologies that every modern day teacher must integrate into their teaching. These methodologies are slowly but steadily changing the educational environment and have been shown to improve academic performance. A few are given below:
- Project-based Learning: Project-based learning requires a teacher to provide a student with projects that may tackle real-life scenarios instead of relying on theoretical knowledge gathering. Project-based learning also encourages the development of supplemental competencies such as critical thinking and communication.
- Problem-solving Learning: This is a cyclic methodology wherein answering the posited questions leads to further questions, thereby jolting curiosity in a student. The problem-solving technique encourages creative thinking and improves problem-solving abilities.
- Design-thinking: Design thinking as a modern teaching methodology promotes innovative ideas and creative thinking by designing problems that trigger the creative minds of the students.
- Thinking-based Learning: The primary goal of this methodology is to move beyond the conventional method of memorization by converting information to knowledge via contextualization and analysis.
- Competency-based Learning: In this methodology, the students’ core competency is identified and nurtured so that a functional work habit may be established.
These are some of the latest teaching methods that teachers can employ to impart a more holistic education. Out of these, collaborative learning, flipped classroom, self-learning and crossover learning are the four modern teaching methods that are widely used in higher education. Modern teaching methods in schools may vary slightly from modern teaching methods in higher education. For example, gamification or spaced learning techniques may be more effective at school level. On the other hand, self-learning or project-based learning may be better suited as a modern teaching method in higher education.
As a result of the learner-centric and collaborative approach of modern learning and teaching strategies, there’s an increase in cooperation among peers and competition is decreased, resulting in a healthier and more conducive education environment. To understand how to make your modern teaching lesson plan more learner-centric, explore Harappa’s learner-centered teaching methods.
Teachers have the crucial responsibility of shaping the minds of the future generation. To better equip yourself with modern education methods, check out Harappa’s Inspiring Faculty Program to help you upgrade your teaching skills and ensure a well-rounded and fulfilling teaching career.
