Effective Strategies for Educators to

Achieve Better Educational Goals

(சிறந்த கல்வி இலக்குகளை அளையகல்வியாைர்களுக்கு பயனுள்ை உத்திகள்)

By Dr. Subha Bhaskaran

October 30, 2020

Topics

Quotes

Experiences/Observations

As a Student

As a Teacher

My Teaching Goals

Strategies that I use in Face-to-Face and Virtual Classrooms

Teaching a Science course – Example

Science vs. Language Teaching

Teaching a Language course – Example

Summary

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குறள் 400: கேடில் விழுச்செல்வம் ேல்வி ச ொருவற்கு மொடல்ல மற்றை றவ

(Interpretation: “The wealth that never declines is learning/education. All others are not riches”)

Quotes திருக்குறள் அதிகாரம் 40 – கல்வி(புலவர் திருவள்ளுவர்)3

உண்றம ொன ஆெிரி ர்ேள் நம்றம நொகம ெிந்திக்ே உதவுேிைொர்ேள்

(Interpretation: “True teachers are those who help us/students think for ourselves/themselves”)

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Experiences/observations as a student

Communication with the Instructors/Teachers

Choices/opportunities

Application-oriented teaching

Critical thinking skills

Assessment methods

Practical training

Teacher’s command over the material

Strong education foundation (India)

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Video: Professor Teaching a Class5

Experiences/Observations as a Teacher

Passionate about the subject and show

enthusiasm

Creativity – to promote student engagement

Variety of Methods

Use of Technology

Resources

Memorization vs. Conceptual Learning

Make the students become an expert in

critical aspects of the subject rather than

bombarding them with lots of material

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Students:

Motivation/interest

More inclined towards hands-on activities

Like when the lecture is more application-

oriented

Instant gratification (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram – likes)

Setting an expectation ahead of time

Students’ sensitivity level

Emotional set-back

Peer pressure

Difficulty handling failure

Could lead to depression

Test our patience!!

Experiences/Observations as a Teacher

(continued)7

Video: Classroom Scenarios8

Strategies that I use in Face-to-Face and

Virtual Classrooms

Hand outs

Small group discussions

Interactive Games

Case study analyses

Skill improvement activities

Survey/Feedback (mid-way as well at the end)

Inclusion of interesting facts/history

Inclusion of videos/animations

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Teaching a Science course – Example:

Body Temperature:

Maintained at 37 degree Celsius

Subject to fluctuation

Terminologies:

Vasoconstriction and Vasodilation

Sensory pathway ( From the Sensors)

Control center

Motor pathway (To the Effectors)

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Bloom's taxonomy is used to classify

educational learning objectives into levels

of complexity and specificity.

What are the physiological mechanisms that the human body

undertakes when the body temperature decreases?

Using “Hand Out” after lecture

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____ Body Temperature (less than 37 degree Celsius)

Very cold day

____ Sensor (Temperature Sensor) Activity

____ Control Center Activity

____ Vasoconstriction of

skin blood vessels in

the extremities

____ Shivering

Use or as appropriate

____ Curling up

Restores Optimum Body Temperature

(37 degree Celsius)

Science vs. Language: Teaching

Students:

First language (mother tongue) may be different

Can be raised in a multi-lingual environment

May not get much help at home

Their peers/friends speak a different language

May not have a great motivation

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Teaching a Language course – Example 1

Jeopardy-style game played with the students during Virtual Tamil School (Summer 2020)

Motive of the game: Learning Tamil is Fun

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Teaching a Language course – Example 2

Hands-on activities; Skill-improvement activities; Interactive games

Student Work (Nanditha)

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Speaking Skill Activity (Student: Atharva)

Summary

Motivating the kids to learn is critical to the learning

process

Enthusiastic and passionate about the subject

Having specific goals

Speaking skills, Writing skills, Critical thinking skills etc.

Using technology to use creative methods for content

delivery

Compassionate yet maintain the integrity of the

class/course

At times, it can be challenging for teachers as much as it

would be for the students:

Getting help as needed, especially when teaching online

Ready to learn new things

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வாழ்க தமிழ்வாழ்க பாரதம்

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