Teaching and learning are the two faces of the same coin. These methods have stayed the same since the beginning of education. Education was accessible only to certain privileged groups of people in the past. Only recently, after the universal popularity and equality in education, did education become accessible to all. Education has become a basic necessity for humanity. As a result, younger generations are becoming more interested in pursuing higher education.
The massive changes in educational structures due to globalisation and internet-based learning have made education subject to experimentation. As a result, many countries, educational institutions, and EdTech companies have experimented with new teaching and learning methods. Through trial and error, a multitude of teaching and learning methods have emerged that are productive in their own ways. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Still, a combination of these modern methods is being used by educationalists for maximum output. In this article, we will discuss some of the popular modern teaching and learning methods from around the world.
Teaching and learning methods are largely categorised into four major categories. They are based on the core elements of the education method, like the teacher, learners, content, and interaction. Among these, there are several more teaching and learning methods that are popular among educationists across the world.
1. Teacher-centered methods
In teacher-centred teaching and learning methods, an instructor or educator makes all the primary decisions. The qualifications, experience, and teaching skills of the teaching staff are the advantages of these methods. With age-old pedagogy, strict classroom settings, and competitive environments, teacher-centred learning can be a good thing in the modern world. In most educational institutions, these are the primary teaching methods for learners. Here are some of the teacher-centred methods in teaching and learning.
Direct instruction
This is the age-old teaching technique used by most, if not all, educational institutions. Here, tutors use their teaching skills to explain the syllabus or proactively teach skills. Although it has been here since time immemorial, when combined with modern teaching and learning methods, it forms the backbone of modern education. Online educational institutions use direct instruction to varying degrees, along with other teaching methods to cater to the needs of their learners. Videos, lectures, tutorials, and workshops are all considered direct instructions.
Personalised learning
Direct instruction will not be productive for all learners. In the case of physically and mentally challenged learners, direct instruction will not be practical. Even among general learners, slow learners find it hard to keep up with the pace of teaching. Some teaching methods might not be productive for elderly learners. For these learners, a more personalised approach to education is necessary. Here, teachers personally teach, oversee, and encourage the learners to help them achieve their academic goals.
Spaced learning
This type of learning is often integrated with physical activities like play or exercise. It is mostly used for educating children. In space learning, teachers repeat the same topic multiple times until the learners grasp the topic. The teacher repeats the course with two 10-minute intervals or spaces in-between the lessons. This helps learners to inherit the knowledge and connect it with their previous learning. As physical activities are also a part of this method, the overall development can be easier for educationalists.
VAK learning
VAK stands for Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic learning. It was introduced in the 1920s to help educate children who were suffering from dyslexia. However, due to its usefulness, it has become a popular teaching technique. Here, educators divide the learners into groups according to the learner's preference for productive learning. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic teaching are used separately or in combination to educate these groups. By altering the teaching style and making slight word modifications, this method can give amazing results. Audio, visuals, projects, workshops, and online lectures can all be used in this method to better teach the learners.
Competency-Based Learning
This method works closely with personalised learning. Here, no learner is left behind until he/she gains mastery of the specific topic that is taught to the learner group. It focuses on a deep understanding of the topic rather than on memorization. With the help of hands-on learning and special attention to slow learners, it facilitates equity in the classroom.
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2. Learner-centered methods
In these methods, learners take the primary active role in their education. Teaching staff create questions, guidelines, or projects and let the learners understand and solve the problems themselves. Here, the independent skill development of the learners is considered a higher priority. Some popular learner-centred teaching and learning methods are as follows.
Flipped classroom
Flipped classrooms are a new teaching and learning method in the education industry. As the name suggests, the roles of the educational institutions and those of the learners' homes are inverted. As a result, learners do what they usually do in educational institutions in their homes and vice versa. Learners research and study a topic at their homes and do their homework in educational establishments. They study new academic materials on their own in the comfort of their homes, watch online videos and lectures, and grasp the topic on their own.
Sometimes, tutors share the content to minimise the research time and help grasp the topic without further difficulty. At the end of the topic, the given assignments need to be completed at the educational institutions themselves. This allows the learners to understand the topic thoroughly by using critical thinking and analytical skills. They get more time at home to understand the topic, compared to direct instructions where there are only minutes to grasp the subject in the flow of teaching. At the educational institutions, there will be plenty of room for discussion, clarification, and preparation of the assignments. With the help of tutors, writing one will not be as difficult as it would be at home.
Project-based learning
It is a learner-centred teaching method. Here, the learners are encouraged to learn through real-world projects like writing a case study for a company or planning a corporate event. These can be either learner-based teaching or participative methods that are shared between a group of learners. Educationists prepare projects according to the skill levels of the learners and share the requirements among the learners. They might even give instructions, sources, and additional references. Completing the project forces the learner to manage their time effectively. It makes them research-oriented and sharpens their resourcefulness. In a group setting, it facilitates communication and teamwork among peers. It also teaches team and resource management to more mature learners.
Inquiry-based learning
In this type of teaching, tutors ask open-ended questions that arouse the curiosity of learners. It leads them to find answers using their own critical thinking skills and independent analysis. This kind of teaching sharpens the learner's reasoning and understanding of the subject. It forces them to reach a conclusion using their problem-solving skills.
Thinking-Based Learning (TBL)
Converting information into knowledge is one of the toughest problems for learners. Learning through memorization and learning without understanding the topic defeats the scope of education. This is why numerous teaching and learning methods try to make the learner relate, argue, discuss, and understand the topic repeatedly. Thinking-based learning approaches this problem from the point of view of thinking. It focuses on sharpening the learner's thinking capacity rather than memorising the subject.
Self-learning
Self-learning is used by most, if not all, learners at present. Stupid learning has become popular on the internet. It can be simply a Google search for an answer to entire Masters Degree programs and MBA programs as with SNATIKA. Self-learning requires curiosity, passion, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Here, the learner is silent and responsible for his/her learning outcome and improvements. Luckily, the internet has countless websites, blogs, and apps to help self-learners. Here you can learn virtually anything on your own, from music and language to self-defence and degrees.
3. Content-focused methods
Due to the rise in popularity of the internet, educational content has become plentiful. New EdTech startups are experimenting with audiovisual content that engages the imaginative powers of the learner's brain. Here, academic content plays a major role in educating the learner group. Most EdTech startups rely on high-quality educational content apart from instructors.
Gamification
Gamification is primarily aimed at children but can be used for other age groups of learners as well, depending on the relevance of the game. This method was developed and popularised through the internet and EdTech. Quizzes, puzzles, and brain games are some examples of this. As gaming is enjoyed by learners, especially children, learning while playing games becomes subconscious and registers deeper into the memory.
Assignment-based teaching and learning
Assignment-based learning is popular in countries like the UK. Here, learners are given an assignment question, which they need to research and write about with integrity. It develops critical thinking, logical reasoning, and technical writing skills among learners. As it is suitable for all age groups, it is popularised by EdTech startups like SNATIKA in our prestigious Masters and MBA programs.
Problem-based learning (PBL)
It is a cyclic learning process with multiple stages. Here, educators start by asking questions. As the learners find out the answers, it leads to more questions. This question and answer become a complex cycle in which learners will gain a deep understanding of the topic through thinking, reasoning, researching, and understanding. It can boost learners' creativity and help them look for knowledge in challenging situations. For competitive learners, each successful stage gives motivation and learning momentum.
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4. Participatory/interactive methods
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In interactive teaching methods, learners engage with peer groups to understand the topic. Communication skills play a major role in this type of teaching method. Such methods build relationships between learners and use teamwork to arrive at conclusions.
Collaborative learning
Here, learners are grouped to solve the same problem. Everyone's input will further the cause of the team. This method can teach teamwork and cooperation among team members. Every group member contributes to solving the problem, which teaches a multitude of skills, including communication, leadership, and management skills.
Discussion-based learning
In this type of teaching, educators put communication skills to the test. Discussions and debates can bring out the best in learners when they are engaged. It teaches how to hold a respectable debate and refines reasoning, critical thinking, and communication skills. As the tutor-given problem is solved through talking, multiple perceptions and angles of the problem can be unfolded.
Internships
This is mostly used by professional colleges, trade schools, and business schools. Here, the learners are encouraged to participate in real-world problems and use their skills and knowledge to solve problems. Community service and volunteering can also come under this category as they teach the necessary social skills to the learners.
Social-emotional learning
It is a new teaching and learning method in which learners develop their knowledge base, personal wellbeing, and self-awareness to become emotionally competent in education. A healthy social life can improve the emotional health of the learners. It can also indirectly affect their academics. Social and emotional skills can enhance the academic skills of learners. This is the basis of social-emotional learning. Journaling, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and brain breaks are all examples of social-emotional learning.
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Conclusion
Teaching and learning methods are constantly being refined by governments, educational institutions, and expert educationists. Currently, education is making strides in moving away from memorization techniques toward a deep understanding of the subject. Internet and EdTech firms have helped to popularise many previously unknown teaching and learning methods. The current teaching and learning methods revolve around teachers, learners, content, and peer groups. All the education systems use one or more of these methods to make learning efficient and to the point.
Due to research, experimentation, and teaching autonomy in many countries, many educators are developing new pedagogies by refining these methods. As a result, we can be sure to hear more about teaching and learning methods in the near future.
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