Classrooms are changing

Teaching is getting more hands-on

A grade two classroom in an international school resembles an electronic goods service centre. In the midst of a dismantled rice cooker, cooler, central processing unit and DVD players, some seven and eight-year-olds are trying to understand the concepts behind these appliances.

In another school, students in science classes are encouraged to grow plants to understand the process of germination.

In yet another school, students conduct interviews and collate information on their favourite sport and plot the same on bar graphs to get a better idea of bar graphs. Inviting its young students to be creators, a school near Sarjapura is planning to earmark a 2,500 sq ft in its premises called ‘Maker’s Space’ where they can create whatever they want using textiles, paper, hardware and metals.

Trying new things

As teaching concepts have been evolving, several schools are trying out different things with teaching getting more hands-on and teachers playing the role of facilitators. Restricted to schools teaching IB curriculum where the syllabus is decided by the teacher based on the broader curriculum, these concepts have been adapted by other schools too to make classroom learning exciting and also interesting.

For children whose parents intend to move abroad, such classrooms help, said the representative of an international school.

How it helps

Speaking on the importance of changing trends in classrooms, Shannon McMahon, Primary Year Programme Coordinator at Stonehill International School, says, “It is important that students have the chance to construct and apply their understanding and knowledge to real-life situations. This needs to go beyond paper and pencil knowledge, instead addressing concepts, situations and scenarios that students will encounter throughout their lives.”

Mr. McMahon moved to Bengaluru from Australia two years ago.

With the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system put in place by both State and CBSE schools becoming widely popular, the traditional method of teaching and rote learning has given way to practical learning.

The changes, however, are not being brought into classrooms randomly. Teachers are taking online courses offered by various universities in the West to understand tech integration and bring in the spirit of enquiry in young minds.

Fresh outlook

Several schools in India are investing on human resources by hiring teachers and principals of different nationalities.

In this context, Bengaluru, which has several international schools where a number of expats are enrolled, has emerged as an important destination.

Such teachers have brought along with them successful teaching concepts from their countries, influencing the way classes are conducted here.

Simon McCloskey from United Kingdom says, “Many of us look at international teaching as an opportunity to enrich our experience after coming into contact with several cultures. From our end, we add value to the culture (host country).”

Mr. McCloskey is the principal of the primary section of Stonehill International School. In his 18-year career, India is the sixth country he is teaching in.

Source  | http://www.thehindu.com