MODULE 1- INTRODUCTION TO INNOVATIVE TEACHING

Module 1- Introduction To Innovative Teaching

Duration: 1.5 hours
Structure: Self-guided learning including recorded webinar (online seminar) and extra reading

  • When I hear, I forget
  • When I hear and see, I remember a little.
  • When I hear, see, and ask questions about it or discuss it, I begin to understand
  • When I hear, see, discuss, and do, I acquire knowledge and skill.

(Silberman, 1996)

Why Innovative Teaching?

Innovation is the process of making lives better while Innovative Teaching is the process of making teaching and learning experiences better. There are many reasons why Innovative Teaching is required today – some of these are:

  • Our society today needs people who are flexible, creative, and proactive – people who can solve problems, make decisions, think critically, communicate ideas effectively and work efficiently within teams and groups
  • Technological and pedagogical advances are changing the way we learn and consume knowledge

In the context of the project, there are a few key areas of Innovative Teaching that particularly interesting:

  • The trend for course to incorporate more social learning, more active learning, and more real-world assessments
  • The collaboration angle on all fronts from faculty members working with colleagues and instructional designers to develop courses collaboratively to learners utilising the power of peer connections
  • The shift towards optimized class time – which is seeing an increasing percent of formal instruction now taking place online with a view to web-enhanced and blended classes soon expected to become the norm.

Innovative Teaching and the  Teacher

Traditionally, the teacher or trainer was seen as a figure of authority. Their knowledge and experience was respected, was way their standardised approach to promoting learning of written exercises and formal tests to instruct their learners.

Today though the role of the teacher or trainer has very much evolved into one more concerned with facilitation and support. Teachers and trainers work on supporting learners as they learn and develop skills in, for example, assessing evidence, negotiation, making informed decisions, solving problems, working independently and working with others. In the classroom and elearning spaces, learner participation and active involvement in their is essential.

Tutor-centred Model vs Learner-centred Approach

Teacher-centred Model

  • Teacher-centred classroom
  • Product-centred learning
  • Teacher as a ‘transmitter of knowledge’
  • Teacher as a ‘doer’ for children
  • Subject-specific focus

Learner-centred Approach

  • Learner-centred classroom
  • Process-centred learning
  • Teacher as an organiser of knowledge
  • Teachers as an ‘enabler’, facilitating pupils in their learning

Learners in the Classroom

FROM

  • Being passive recipients of knowledge
  • Focus on answering questions
  • Being ‘spoon fed’
  • Competing with one another
  • Wanting to have their own say
  • Learners of individual subjects

TO

  • Active and participatory learners
  • Asking questions
  • Taking responsibility for their learning (reflective learners)
  • Collaborating in their learning
  • Actively listening to opinions of others
  • Connecting their learning

Some innovative Teaching Methods

  • Technology-driven classrooms/ Digitisation in teaching, learning assessment and feedback/ BYOD – Bring your own device
  • Flipped classroom
  • Inquiry-based & problem-based learning
  • Linking curriculum with life – emphasis on skill building, life skills/values and understanding of concepts
  • Collaborative learning
  • Differential learning – Differentiated instruction
  • Activity-based learning and learning labs
  • Interdisciplinary learning
  • Integrative and social responsibility and civic engagement

Innovative Teaching and Delivery of this Module – What is a Webinar?

Short for Web-based seminar, a webinar is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Internet using video conferencing software. A key feature of a Webinar is its interactive elements: the ability to give, receive and discuss information in real-time.

Using Webinar software participants can share audio, documents and applications with webinar attendees. This is useful when the webinar host is conducting an lecture or information session. While the presenter is speaking they can share desktop applications and documents.

Module Delivery Tool: Adobe Connect

Benefits of Webinars as a learning delivery tool:

  • Webinars create a sense of event around your ideas, value and information
  • The build up to your webinar attracts attention, traffic and positive awareness
  • Webinars have a sense of being “live” and newsworthy, but also the viral impact of people sharing their intention to attend
  • When you present your information live and interactive, the audience can question, clarify and drill down the parts that interest them most.
  • Rather than guess at what your audience most wants, allow them to ask you! This means teaching is deeper and accelerated in comparison to other forms of presenting content online.
  • You are creating products in real-time but recordings you make can be repurposed and redelivered in the form of video, audio, slides and transcripts (as we have done here)
  • Because your audience gets to hear you and interact with you, your credibility and connection to your audience builds faster and deeper
  • It’s the next best thing to meeting you in person, but with the advantage that webinars scale to allow you to present in front of hundreds and even thousands of people all at once without any travel involved.

Why view watch our Recorded Webinar?

  • Learn more about the concept of Innovative Teaching and its context to Digital wellbeing educators Project
  • Learn about Innovative Teaching in Practice:
    Wordpress as Learning Management Tool
    Facebook Groups for Peer ConnectionsDropbox as a Collaboration Tool
  • Gain a deeper learning by reviewing learners’ questions from the webinar