From classrooms with blackboards to special labs with white screens, from hand-drawn diagrams to 3D projectors projecting images from special high graphic cards — the role of the conventional teacher seems to have undergone a paradigm shift, with the current generation of students becoming increasingly tech-savvy.
While earlier the teacher had to stick to her role of narrating what was in the textbooks, today’s teachers’ methodology has to be more fluid. Today, teachers need to evolve beyond content knowledge, organisation, management skills, and detailed planning, to connecting with the students, parents and linking the curriculum to the larger world in a relevant manner.
On the eve of Teachers’ Day, when Express asks teachers how they adapt to this new role, they say that the profession is all about being flexible. “Teachers are continuous learners and not content learners. We have to keep upgrading ourselves to create a generation of better students and individuals. While the core values remain the same, the medium has undergone a shift over the years,” says Siddeswari, coordinator, Kikani School, Coimbatore.
The most recent trend that has changed the entire method of teaching is the concept of smart classrooms. The teachers seem to enjoy it as much as the students. While it does take extra planning and learning on their part, they seem to appreciate the experience and exposure.
According to S Vijayam, principal of Kikani School, the concept of smart classrooms has completely revamped the medium of education. “We use them for subjects like sciences and the interactive module greatly enthuses the students. We find it far more useful than simply reading out from the books,” she said. “The smart classes are also helpful in reducing our efforts. We do not have to spend hours drawing laborious diagrams, as we used to earlier. Now, one click and the students can enjoy the 3D view and learn from it,” adds Latha Sekar, the vice principal.