Traditional methods of teaching have been the order of the day in the Indian education system and the primary aim of the education system has been to teach in teacher centred classes, memorizing classes and getting marks. However, with the passage of time it has been witnessed that through this system students creativity, critical and practical knowledge could not be groomed in a full way. The current generation must be trained in more than receiving information but in experience and engagement as well. In this light, there has been an emergence of an Activity-Based Learning which enables the students to be the active members of the classroom and also equates them to real life situations.
Flipped Classroom: Reversing the Direction of Learning
The flipped classroom is a teaching model in which students learn the subject before the class through study material such as videos, articles or podcasts. When they come to class, instead of giving lectures, the teacher uses the time for discussions, group activities, Q&A and problem solving. This not only improves the preparation of students but also leads to greater participation. This model makes them self-reliant and helps them understand learning more deeply.
Peer Teaching: When Students Become Teachers
Peer teaching refers to a method in which pupils are taught by their fellow pupils. This will improve not only the student teaching in his or her knowledge but also establish a different way of acquiring knowledge in terms of the student listening. This method makes the students open up and build confidence in the Indian context, where students are mostly slow in communicating. As students acquire their knowledge through the peer, they learn to become leaders and responsible in their own selves too.
Inquiry-based learning: Learning by asking and discovery Inquiry learning: Learning by asking and discovery Inquiry learning (Inquiry-based learning)
Inquiry-based learning has the advantage of asking questions, seeking problems, and seeking solutions instead of sticking information in the students. This approach enables the students to make a scientific approach, think and analyze. This can be explained, say in science class, when the students actualize a theory by conducting an experiment rather than just memorizing the theory; the information becomes entrenched in their minds.
Active learning: Continuous involvement in learning
Purpose of active learning, through this method students become active members, and not listeners of the classroom. It involves some kind of activities such as thinking, group sharing of ideas, role playing and imitating various scenarios. When students have a chance to experience or be an owner of a subject, then such knowledge is concrete, and becomes more useful to them. It trains their creativity, self-expression and communication skills, as well.
Personalized learning: Teaching method suited to every student
Every student has a different learning pace, understanding ability and interests. In such a situation, the same type of education cannot be effective for everyone. Personalized learning understands this difference and prepares activities according to the students. This gives all students an opportunity to learn according to their abilities. Some students learn quickly from practical activities, while others understand from pictures or stories – and this diversity is the strength of ABL.
Real life connection: Making education relevant
By making students know how what they are learning will relate to their lives, the students learn with greater interest and seriousness. Basing the events in the real life adds value to making education come to life. To illustrate, when the math problems are linked to shopping at the market or the family budget, the students will get a clear concept of its usefulness. On the same note, in social science, one can relate the historical occurrence to current circumstances as a way of enhancing them.
Group Work: Developing Participation and Collaboration
Working in groups gives students a chance to learn social skills which are vital: collaboration, leadership, responsibility and communication skills. Students get to know more through working together on a project, they share the ideas, learn and understand the spirit of team work. Group work can also be an effective tool in Indian schools where the spirit of competition rules the roost, as this will help the students in developing a sense of participation.
Reflection and Feedback: Assessing and Improving Learning
Students also need to be allowed to reflect after any learning process in order to understand what they have learned, how they have learnt it and where they need to improve. It also allows them time to reflect and as a result of that they become confident. Additionally, positive feedback by the teacher will provide the students with more guidelines and serve as the impetus towards performing better. This is also a very significant aspect of ABL that makes learning not superficial.
Incorporating Technology: The Power of Teaching in the Digital Age
Today’s generation is well versed with technology. In such a situation, the inclusion of technology in teaching can prove to be even more effective for students. Education can be made interesting and interactive by using various educational apps, digital quizzes, videos, animations and online resources. This increases the interest of students in the learning process and also makes it easier for the teacher to explain complex concepts.
Use of activity based learning in subjects
In subjects like mathematics, ABL can be used through activities related to beads, blocks, calculation games or shopping. In science, making students do experiments, making models or activities related to nature makes the subject alive for them. In language subject, story writing, drama or dialogue based activities develop the expression power of students. In social science, experiences like re-enactment of historical events, mock debate or museum visit connect students with reality.
Preparations required for implementation
In order to make ABL work, the teachers must have a well laid-out plan beforehand. It is extremely crucial to make sure that the students take part in the process by connecting all the activities with the learning objective, deciding on the optimal timing, and informing the students. Besides this, it also becomes important to issue clear instructions to the students prior to the activity, make certain resources available and make use of suitable tools to analyze the outcomes.
Conclusion: Towards positive change in the Indian education system
Learning that is based on activities not only makes teaching interesting also instills life skills, self-confidence and the feeling of responsibility in students. When considered and executed smartly and strategically within the Indian schools, then it could be the process to get the education system out of the trance and guide it into a more engaging, democratic and student-driven process. It is capable of transforming education not only as a process of getting marks, but life building.
