Hey Everyone.
I am starting this series to share my thoughts on the Educational System. Do read it and share your thoughts, too. I have already published these articles in my blog post, but those are in my native language Gujarati.
In the 2nd part of this series, we talked about the difference between online and offline education. In this part, we will talk about the methodology of education.
The methodology should provide a wide range of tools to deal with different kinds of students as every student has a different level of aptitude. The only thing that should be common is to let them think on their foot instead of spoon-feeding all the concepts to them.
The main aim of education is to provide them some time to understand the concept. Our system mainly concentrates on course completion. Curiosity can wait until they go home from the exhausting session.
Today, we used to teach them concepts directly.
A youtube channel Varitasiume did an experiment about the effect of teaching methods on students. They took a group of students and divide the group into two parts. They presented a video on Newton’s three laws to the first group. In that video, they explained the laws directly. Like a piece of information. After the session, 1st group of students was confident about their understanding of Newton’s three laws.
The 2nd batch of students has given the same content with a different methodology. The methodology is called a trial-and-error-based approach.
Instead of spoon-feeding the concept, they teach in a certain way, in which they have to think before coming to any conclusion. Students corrected themselves by learning the wrong idea of the concept. Even Newton didn’t find these laws in his first attempt. Lolz. The exam was conducted to check the learning outcomes of both groups.
Results came, and the 1st group find it difficult to answer some of the questions. They have already accepted the three laws in their mind without thinking about it. The 2nd group did well in the exams.
The difference is simple. Learning should be in the form of trial and error. You understand something then you check that thing out. If it is correct then good. Otherwise, you try again. We need to give them time to understand the laws of physics. Education is not only about passing on information. Education aims to ignite the interest of the student in the subject.
I would like to share the words of Mahatma Gandhi’s public meeting at Wardha, Maharashtra in 1937. The agenda of the meeting was a Basic Scheme of Education. He said and I quote,
“Education must set a rhythm between one’s mind, body, and heart. (the word heart is in the context of passion)
Why do children get an education?
So they can use their mind and body efficiently.
Gandhiji also added the heart to the mind and body. People in the village use their bodies in a mechanized manner, they never use their minds. On the opposite, the students who passed out from school aren’t able to do physical labor. They can use their mind but not in synchronization with their body.
Here, Gandhiji explains with an example. Students should do farming. Through physical activity, their physical strength can be increased. By that time provide them with tools for farming. They can use and learn their importance in farming. While working in the field they should be given the knowledge of mathematics and science, which can help them to improvise the tools of farming to get more productivity. Gandhiji’s idea of education is to emphasize students. To solve problems faced by them in their routine life. While farming they can easily find the scope of improvement in the tools because they used them many times.
The glimpse of meeting shared by Parth Dave (Journalist)
This system can bring the rhythm between mind, body, and heart.”
Anviksiki 