The Progressive School Vol 01 Issue 04

as per the individual need of the learner.
Similarly, it gives a child flexibility to
submit assignments on the basis of their
learning type. For example, a project on
pollution can be submitted by the student
in form of presentation, write up (typed
or handwritten), song, project (made on
computer or handwritten).
To address the differentiated learners,
the teacher can give clear and short
instructions, be creative in lessons, using
bright visuals but also keeping it simple.
For example, putting entire multiplication
table when you are really working on the
table of 5 can be overwhelming.
The teacher can empower the child
with homework, reminders, planners
and to-do-list. This will help the child
to be more organised and will help
getting parents involved in the homework
responsibility.
‘Smart teachers’: a must in
smart environment…
A smart class room would involve
using a smart board or white board
instead of the traditional blackboard
with its chalk and talk. Whiteboards
allow many different forms of media such
as photos, illustrations, maps, graphs,
games, and video, to be displayed.
With smart boards, the teachers
would have to familiarize themselves
with all these resources such as
knowledge databases, online video and
news items to reinforce their lessons
and be constantly online to ensure that
they are up to date. All teachers cannot
use smart technology for teaching. The
teachers have to be trained before they
can start teaching in a smart classroom.
The teachers are to be trained to use the
technology in an effective manner. They
are also to be trained to handle faults
in the gadgets. If the teachers are not
properly trained, the technology would
become a disturbing factor rather than
becoming helpful.
All the electronic devices are prone to
faults. If the equipments do not work one
day, the day is considered as a waste. They
require a lot of time to come back to their
proper functioning state. No teaching
can be done on that day. In this case, the
teacher should always be ready for an
alternative methodology for teaching that
is, using the blackboard. But this would
be very dull experience for the teachers
as well as the students who are regularly
participating in smart classrooms. The
workload of the teachers is also increased
as they have to prepare the topic as per
two different methodologies of teaching.
A smart class is equipped with many
gadgets. Inspite of ample training, the
teacher might not be able to use its
benefits to the fullest. Lack of technical
expertise to maneuver these challenges
may cause teachers to become frustrated
and underutilized techniques.
Some teachers might not be efficient
enough to catch up with the constant
change in technology. It also becomes
difficult to convince the teacher who
has been following the routine method of
teaching for years. Teachers would have
to keep track of online learning software,
e learning tutorials, online multimedia
lessons, educational websites, online
training, online two way conversation,
online video chatting, high speed internet
speed etc. It is an endless process.
As soon as one masters one, another
appears. They have to be well updated
with the latest technology and its usage.
Today’s generation is that of explorers,
therefore the teacher will have to become
the explorer too so that he /she can deliver
with confidence and cope up with current
challenges.
8 THE PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL jul-AUG-SEP 2017