VOICE VERSUS NOISE
This is just to discuss with the teaching community, not a didactic piece. Nothing to do with any one school in particular; the discussion hosts all schools, all teachers.
Prologue:
Classroom is one of the most frequently used words in our midst. Meaningful. Class and room. Where 'class' is there, 'room' is natural; where there is 'room', there is 'class' as well.
Greek?
Chorus:
Class is excellence. Room is scope. When there is scope for excellence, the room is classy.
But is the classroom, a venue for an endless 'voice parade' of the teacher?
Scene I
The best 'voice parade' of the teacher invites 'virtual roaming in silent mode'. The worst invites, a 'noisy guard of honour'.
The voice bath on the one side and the virtual roaming, noisy ritual or noise spree on the other, happen side by side.
Scene II
Whose voice matters more in the class? Who has learning ownership?
Scene III
Voice of students may create noise in the beginning. It is risky. But it is a risk worth taking. Without taking the risk, progress is impossible. Gradually, the students take learning ownership. All habits take time to form, specially good habits.
Scene IV
Do I try to discretely transfer learning ownership to students? Not really, because I do not want my class to be noisy.
Scene V
Catch 22. Can I take the risk? I think I should.
Scene VI
Teacher's voice is a good 'starter; to invite the 'main course'. Who serves the main course? Main course can be collaborative, with the involvement of the teacher and students and even with cross-disciplinary learning.
Scene VII
Today, peer learning is increasingly being accepted as one the best ways of learning. In every class, there is at least one student each, with exceptional teaching skills in at least one subject. I have noticed that the majority of the students appreciate peer teaching. When students teach, it helps construction of knowledge whereas traditional teaching is just instruction.
Scene VIII
All text books need some anti-aging creme. Media is the best anti-aging creme available. The easiest to use in the class is a student newspaper like The Hindu student edition. It fits into most of the subject texts at several touch points of the syllabii. What is a genuine text book. The one that facilitates the right context for learning. But, in reality, is that the case?
Scene IX
When all class room roads lead to pre-cooked questions & answers, all answers taste stale. We need questions that capture the imagination of the students. Then the question bank deals in creativity. Otherwise, it becomes a 'questionable' bank. The writing on the wall reads things like ASL, PSA and OTBA. More will come, for sure. All aimed at learning ownership of students.
Scene X
Well, the syllabus. Prescribed text. Portion. Time. Ok...... What about CBSE classes upto VIII? Plenty of legroom for constructive changes.
Epilogue:
Charity begins at home; home is the question paper. Shall we?
Rest is restlessness.
