How can innovative teaching be of equivalent with effective learning?
Students’ interests change very drastically due to advancement in technology. Thus, teachers were left with the gigantic task to improve the traditional teaching approaches in order to catch-up with the fast-phasing IT-world. Only through this way, they will be able to win the attention and interest of their students and will be able to bridge the gap between the conventional teaching methods to a more appealing and interactive teaching strategies.
As Niccolo Machiavelli once said “Whoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”
This, indeed, is very true in the field of academe, where teachers were expected to be innovative and up-to-date with contemporary teaching methods in order to encourage students’ active participation and thus, promote effective learning. Teachers’ innovativeness is clearly obvious when they prioritize their awareness to the needs and interests of the students and use innovative practices and materials to appropriately address these requirements and be able to respond well and develop the students’ wellbeing.
Therefore, it can be said that when innovative teaching exists, effective learning take place. But how can we magnify the benefits of innovative teaching?
Solid manifestations of such advantages are apparent through the following outcomes:
1. Innovative teaching is an effective way to motivate students to a lifelong learning because it provides them the opportunity to engage in a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. Students were able to express themselves and relate to the teaching methodology.
2. Through the use of interactive multi-media and presentations instead of the traditional flip charts and white boards in the class discussion, students were able to focus their attention and increase their interest in classroom participation. This is definitely a win-win approach where delivery and summarizing of the course content can be done more efficiently and in a more interesting fashion.
3. It improves learning process because of the increased retention and interests and lesser possibility of monotony in the class. It helps students focus on the fundamental goal of teaching where greater interests are bound towards an effective learning experience.
Innovativeness doesn’t end with merely using the computers or the World Wide Web just to get the attention of the class of just be tagged as a “high-tech” teacher. Teaching per se is a wonderful opportunity to impart with the younger minds the value and significance of life-long learning. To become effective, teachers must display utmost dedication and passion with the mission that she or he was tasked to do.. that is to sow the seeds of knowledge and be able to reap it at the end of the day. And by improving our own selves’ through the use of innovative approaches in order to make education a worthwhile experience, we will be able to say that effective learning is a product of innovative teaching.
By: MARJORIE LESLY T. BERNALTE | Teacher III | Justice Emilio Angeles Gancayco Memorial High School | Orion, Bataan
