Unconventional student learning has been gaining a lot of attention in recent times. Due to technological advancements, students are now able to learn at a faster pace. Moms are witnessing better results from children by enrolling them into schools, colleges and tuition centers that are complimenting traditional teaching lessons with unconventional and alternative methods.
According to a report published in 2011 by CompTIA, 78% of teachers and administrators teaching K-12 believe that overall results have been improved with the introduction of unconventional methods. By creating an engaging learning environment, student productivity and involvement has increased.
Good teachers keep an open mind, and they are quick to adapt flexible learning methods to make sure the students acquire the skills for complex learning. Teachers have tried over the years to retain the attention of students, and majority those who have been successful have employed alternative, unconventional methods.
The iPad made way for Apple to be introduced in classrooms. It has been a great learning utility for students at different levels. A study conducted at Notre Dame in 2011 revealed majority of the students thought the iPad made the lecture more interesting. They were able to manage the time better, and use tools and functions that were not possible on conventional textbooks.
The iPad has been a great tool for teachers as well. A number of educational apps have been released for this tablet. The device even becomes a whiteboard with the installation of an application known as ‘Educreations’. It helps teachers to record lessons and help out the students with any queries.
Another unconventional strategy that is being used by the teachers is the use of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc. Teachers who believe in such methods have discovered strategies to use the sites for greater learning. For example, some teachers are using discussion forums for student participation.
Skype has also been a great tool for teachers. Teachers have been calling in professors from other universities who are experts on the topic being conveyed in class. This means students are able to receive world-class knowledge from experts anywhere in the world. Skype quickly recognized where this was going, and launched ‘Skype in the classroom’ in 2011.
Teachers have also been able to use Skype to communicate with moms on the progress of their children. This has been much more convenient on both sides as moms are able to call the teachers on the assigned time and don’t have to wait for their turn as in school meetings.
Video games, yes video games, are also being used to engage students in critical thinking. CEO of Project Tomorrow Julia Evans informs students love to direct their own decisions and enjoy the ability to change outcomes by playing educational games in class. Simulation games have introduced learning activities such as problem solving and learning by doing. The emphasis is placed on individual learning, and students are given feedback quickly. Teachers have been less reluctant to introduce video games into the curriculum.
The efficiency of learning is increased through video games. Your child would not be willing to do homework, but he/she would be filling to fail many times before getting it right when playing a video game. A similar motivation is required in a school lecture.
An example of educational games is Dimenxian algebra game for middle school students. These games allow students to play in teams and compete against students of their own school, or students from other schools with access to the game. Students are also able to compare their scores.
Moms would be glad to know video games geared towards learning are not violent. They provide new educational information in the form of graphics and text. It also leads to good memorization among the students as they remember how to clear certain levels.
Online gaming has also gained attention. Online games that mimic real-life scenarios can increase the skills of students, and by being involved in a virtual environment trying to overcome an obstacle, they are able to create strategies. Strategy creation requires critical thinking and the ability to make quick decisions.
Apart from enhancing their skills, students are geared towards online learning as they know how to use the technology. The introduction of social media has increased the familiarity of using online technologies among students of different age groups.
Schools themselves are providing teachers with the tools of using technology in the class room. Students are being encouraged by teachers to sign up for notifications about their homework and reminders about assignments and projects. Most students check upon these notifications, and the result is they react well.
The book publishers, who used to rely on printed text books, have also jumped on the bandwagon. Amazon Kindle Fire is a good example. It’s not only for kids, but also available provides digital books for parents.
Prior to the trend, teachers used to think it would be a challenge to choose the technology that delivers the lesson in the most efficient way. However, they’ve found the job easier by incorporating technology that engages students in different ways they enjoy and are familiar with.
Moms may be worried about the learning that goes into these unconventional methods. In fact, many parents worry about their children spending time on gadgets, computers and video games. However, they miss out the part where children are actually learning.
Yes, you can enroll your child in a school where there are strict rules and traditional teaching methods using textbooks etc., but the child will always be drawn to places where they actually learn, such as computers and video games.
Rather than banning these devices on the children, moms should understand their positive uses, and how they can develop the skills of children. If games start coming out on school curriculums, students are going to learn at a much faster pace.
New unconventional and alternative methods of learning and teaching will continue to be discovered, and the best thing to do is try to understand how these teaching methods enhance the learning ability of children.
