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Teachers be armed with skills of non-verbal Communication!

July 28, 2022August 12, 2022Subashini Srikumar Leave a comment

Communication is an integral part of the teaching process and teachers are classroom managers. The impact on the learning and the behavior of the students are deliberated over the behavior of the teachers. This could be the motivational message conversion and be keeping the students attentive based on the non-verbal behavior.

The use of non-verbal communication improves the relationship and efficiency of the students with the teachers. The results of most experimental implication show that the non-verbal communication is the best to express the feeling, most preferred for motivation, cognitive development, gaining extensive attention.

What is it all about?

We know communication as a transfer of a message in any form and when it is non-verbal it is mostly unintentional and is done without conscious at most times. It includes the expression, gestures, movements, eye contact and even the attire of the person. Everything speaks and communicates to the observer. This becomes the most stable part and influences better.

At places where the non-verbal communication is neglected, it shows a mundane environment and the social behavior does effect to a wider extent. The communication does not get effective and the right intentions cannot be delivered. So, to answer the question of types of non-verbal communication are facial expressions, the hand gestures, body movement, postures, voice modulations and the overall swiftness of expression. It is the non-verbal communication which develops and creates great interest to the audience and keeps them curious. Studies have concluded that the energy level of the students who attend to the teaching with the non-verbal communication is high and they are proactive. Such manner of communication makes the concepts clearer and would be able to stick to deliver excellence in the examination.

When the success of the students matters the most and so is the value that is enhanced with the teachers who out-perform in non-verbal communication.

This may not be a new strategy but it is a welcoming one in the recent days. The attributes and the attitudes of the teachers are highly influential among the students in this kind of teaching.

Get keen on ‘Why?’

Why don’t we take a moment to think of our verbal classroom teaching, most of us would remember the experience with lack of proper language communication, the missing focus on grammar and the boring lectures? The presence of mind gets absent in this case and would be provoked to end the class and leave them at the earliest. So, was the reason the experts identified the non-verbal communication which is lively and energizing.

The success of the learner can be enhanced in the practical application of this technique. With the advanced teaching methodology, this technique serves the purpose. As the attention of the students is enhanced, the understanding improves, it also improves the students to remember the concept and overall the spirit in the class is noted to be high.

The Practical Application on ‘How?’

A gentle smile, the encouraging behavior, cheerful eyes, enthusiastic gestures are effective for teachers to start their teaching session which proves a wonderful start of non-verbal communication. So, how would you work to create positive signals in teaching and avoid the negative that affects. Here the communication gets natural and cannot be pretended.

Yes, Right! It should be both ways and the teacher should know to accept and be aware of the non-verbal communication of the students. In the next step, he should be able to respond to it with positive signals and reciprocate with behavioral answers good and encouraging.

Body language: This is the Kinetic way of communicating and it leads to the effective way of teaching. It includes the hand or head shaking, gestures and postures as well.

Expressions: Of course, they widely denote the facial expressions and the smile is the most desirable expression which creates warmth between both the teachers and students. Generally, the classroom session would have to show the right, wrong, happy, disappointment, appreciation, that gets sub-consciously expressed in the face.

The eye contact is yet another great means of communication which helps you control the attention of the group on whole.

Gestures and Postures: Another interesting aspect of non-verbal communication is gestures with the movement of the hand and arm, it could be as you appreciate sub-consciously by an applause, show the frustration with the snapping of the arm, patting the shoulders and much more. This also implies for posters which need a stern appearance and steady to win the attention of the students. The lethetic and casual standing shows the less interest in the subject and the happening.

Further, along with these comes the voice and tone modulations which are again a sort of non-verbal communication and that happens unconsciously. The tone of the communicator plays a key role and it adds to the emotional expression of the communicator.

Verdict:

Overall, the non-verbal communication is a skill that needs to be practiced consciously. The teacher should acquire this methodology to succeed in teaching. It is primarily a desirable quality as for example an eye contact grab the attention of the learner to the fullest. To make the learning interesting and effective the teachers should learn to equip and implement this non-verbal expertise.

Content and language Integrated learning (CLIL) Methodology at Schools!

July 27, 2022August 3, 2022Subashini Srikumar Leave a comment

The Content and Language Integrated Learning refers to the overall development of the students. The focus is on both the context and the language and when the subject is specifically in a different language which gets excelled and both the language and the content gets accommodated giving a better and beneficial platform to the students.

Having examined over the concept the dual focus instruction is meant to be a revolutionary change as it develops additional skills in the students. To be clearer on this concept, the classroom teaching is generally implied in the first language of the learners but here it is learning a foreign language. It is not all about learning language but along with the learning of language they work on the content and make sure all the subjects are taught and learnt in the new language. This is the factual reason for the success of the both.

This CLIL (Content and language integrated learning) paves the way to the learning of additional language and not mere sticking to the first language medium of learning. This focus becomes exceedingly accommodative and when the language is being learned with the subject specification it shows great improvements. The recompenses over it are that the language competency been developed. Improves multi-lingual communication skills, the subject gets more interesting to learn it in a different language, advances the students confident level and enriches the motivation. When learning the subject in a different language the ability to think, analyze and reproduce develops right from the beginning.

CLIL develops a welcoming approach!

This concept gradually spread across the globe and many countries internationally adhere this trend to the benefit of the students. This system of education becomes suitable for all grades and in simple the knowledge enhancement is dual in the span of learning one subject. The power of learning a new language comes naturally with no different or dedicated time for it, for the simple reason when the subject must be learned for understanding, learning and reproducing the language must be made familiar and hence the learning process seems to be quick and easy. There are schools which adapt the concept partially and when the school is backed with the right teachers and mentors it is all the simpler.

More specifically the benefits of CLIL is that it prepares the students for the internationalization which is important for higher studies and work life as well, creates and develops a unique interest in the multilingual and henceforth stays motivated. All these ultimately accelerate the school profile and takes pride in the success of each student.

The Role of Teachers and Mentors:

At this point in CLIL concept, the subjects and the curriculum serves as a tool for learning the new language. As the target of teachers been to prepare the teaching in the new language means much of strategies involved and the right side by side exposure is obligatory. The class lesson plan should also be planned way in advance in the target language, to improve the vocabulary, the provide the complete learning skills. To this implementation, the right meaning of the works in different contextual is much more required. In most cases, they then to work on their skills of language reading, writing, speaking and presenting. The cultural enhancements with the interconnectivity are been experienced.

What as Teachers need to understand?

Teachers involved in the CLIL should aim to distinguish their teaching from the conventional methods. It is not about schools or regulations, it works best on passion.

The teachers should understand:

It is not any kind of scheme or rules in CLIL.
It is also not all about language.
CLIL is not about aiming the learner to be fluent in the language.
CLIL is entirely about Dual-focused education as deliberated above.
It works best in Team Efforts.
CLIL is not something impossible.
CLIL can do wonders when applied innovatively.

The Challenges:

Primarily English is the extensively chosen medium and the instruction methodology is been existing for years while the new era system CLIL getting popular would be difficult in meeting the possibilities and the parameters. The language teacher would not be strong in the context subjects while the subject teachers will not be efficient enough in the language. So, this method calls for the integration and the blend of both the subject and the language teachers to make it successful. Still, the adoption of English the universal language teaching cannot be forgone and needs to be in practice as the new language teaching being in many socio, cultural issues.

Another controversy experienced is that the certified subject teachers, when handled the CLIL methodology, does not reach the expectations as they are not skilled in the language meticulously and the vice versa also face the efficiency issue. The teacher’s skill enhancement becomes primary while adopting the CLIL methodology.

How Schools Practice CLIL!

CLIL is effectively practiced in Germany, Italy and they show the professional development in everyday teaching and learning. As this concept was promoted by the European Union with the inspiration of introducing innovative teaching with a foreign language together with the effective content learning.

Schools need to implement the 4C’s – the Content, the Communication, the Cognitive ability and the Culture.

The content is the depth of the subjects to learn like History, Geography, Science, Math’s, etc.

The communication involves the familiarity and the use of language in both the oral and written form.

The cognitive ability is the mental aptitude where the students are trained to think and respond in other language.

The culture is the exploration of the other languages and their experience.

Schools essential is to support and train teachers to learn strategies, they need to approach using ICT, teachers should be provided with the guidance of partnering for teaching.

Inference:

Constant motivation and encouragement make CLIL implementation a success and an overall progress is experienced with all the stack holders-the school, teachers, and the students. Criticism must be eliminated if the schools wish to globalize and perform distinguished.

STEM Education, The learning Revolution – An Explanation with Examples!

June 27, 2022ShriHariRam G Leave a comment

STEM-based education or curriculum is popular and gaining momentum among the education and academic communities across the globe in the recent years. So let us explore what is special about them, and are they new in the education communities and systems?

Well, the answer is yes and no, if we look closely at the acronym of STEM, we get Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. We define STEM, as a way of educating and creating exposure in children to the world of STEM-related fields (Science, Technology, Engineering) with real-world problem-solution scenarios, and not just by the conventional theory-and-experiment education followed in schools worldwide.

If we see the existence of the STEM, the answer will be, it is one of a kind. Something new that is dictated by the time and era we live in. If we look closely at the education, it is used as a means of educating and creating exposure to the student to a more sustaining education.

Where the science and technology are at its height, innovation pops up every second, by this way the student gets ample exposure and abundant opportunity to explore the various fields in STEM and are likely motivated to pursue the STEM-based profession.

Inevitability of STEM Education

The main necessity for the STEM education is preparing the student for a sustaining career, with respect to time and current trend. As mentioned earlier STEM education is one of the kinds which is dictated by time and era.

If we look at the Renaissance era, the importance is given to art and literature, where the printing press first emerged, here the growth of the art and architecture excelled. When we consider the era of 40’s and end of 50’s we could see the development of system/curriculum for education framed, and here the Knitting for girls and the carpentry for the boys existed.

Then followed by workshop classes, focusing on mechanical skills, this followed by the computer era, where the home-brew computers emerged. Here the computer literacy co-existed, which it is the basic for a sustaining career then and now, in due course, it became a part of the curriculum since computers are playing a crucial part in our lives.

How to Incorporate STEM

As the recent study and analysis of researchers showed the best method of incorporating STEM education into current curriculum should be done at the elementary level. It is always best to introduce them as generic as possible, rather than as separate STEM concepts. In this process, their creativity of examining, exploring things and finding solutions are seeded in their minds.

Again, if we take a closer look at introducing STEM, it is suggested that best time to introduce is at a preschool level, where they would be learning the skill of exploring things. Much like Hands-on Attractive Exploration! Where the mere imagination and hands are put to the labor in order to stack pebbles, will form a basic masonry craftsmanship.

Understanding the Scenarios

Fundamentally, the scenarios involved in STEM are in the first hand the problem needs to be identified and then the solution to be sorted out from the available possibilities. The solution must be thought of based on the economy, time-critical dependency, build challenge.

The execution will be the end process of the result that will mostly be of physical computing related solution in the academic community, since it helps in the exploring and interacting visually and will be easy to grasp.

Physical computing is a type of computing where the interactions performed by the computers are brought to reality, rather than being hypothetical. The sensing or the input are fed through buttons or sensor, then the actuator/output is in the form of interaction, such as articulation through light or sound or automation or computer/remote server input or the combination of all. The physical computing involves the use of some form of task-specific computer, like the micro-controller (Arduino/ NodeMCU) which are limited in processing power, or microprocessors (Beagle Bone/Raspberry Pi/Orange Pi) having dedicated processor and higher memory and capable of multitasking. The cost and the usability vary, based on the performance and speed.

Example 1: Automated Pedal Bin

Situation: The pedal bin is a type of dustbin, with a normally closed lid. And has a pedal at the front bottom, which should be pressed to pivot the closed lid at the top. The encountered problem is that the opening and closing of the lid should be automated.

Solution: Investigation is conducted on the working of the pedal bin as a first step. The student studies the mechanical structure first and tries to come up with a semi-permanent solution. The students would then seek a mechanical actuator which is controlled by electronics. The electronics can be replaced by single chip computers since they are designed for doing a single task and in order to avoid the complexity of circuit design. With this, the working of the pedal bin is been semi-automated.

To make it fully automated, a sensor is required to sense the environment and based on the reading by the sensor, the computer makes the decision to activate the actuator or not. The sensor can range from cheap IR sensor to full-scale industrial precision sensor. Now, the usage of such sensors is planned based on the economy and complexity and lastly precision.

Example 2: Plant Watering System

Situation: Now we hop into a little more complex problem of ‘Automated Plant Watering System’. Here the problem is plant growing medium require manual watering which should be automated.

Solution: The setup is focused on simplicity and academic viewpoint. Here the first thing to know is the soil moisture. The soil moisture should be the determinant of the level of water content. The precision is based on the cost and processing power. For the academic purpose, we stick to moisture resistance sensor, where the output is given as voltage. Here the student is made to take field tests on soil moisture at which the coded logic for the automatic watering unit should be activated. The soil moisture gives output in terms of voltage, the 5V output for the presence high moisture content followed by 0v for low moisture content.

So, it is gets simplified as the computer is programmed to listen for input from the moisture sensor and when certain moisture data condition is met, it activates the dc motor pump which waters the plant up to certain time as the constraints are met.

The real and practical exposure is encouraged in the STEM learning and proves to be the best curriculum for the overall development of the child.

Interviews with successful mentors, the common attributes exhibited!

May 30, 2022PPE DESK 1 Comment

We have perceived and known many popular mentors, the many whom we see in our lives. We determine the success of each of them to honour and associate. Glowing, the most successful mentors worldwide in the present-day scenario to name a few Anderson Cooper, Warren Buffett, Kathy Ireland and much more. Researchers have studied about them and the many whom we see in our daily life. They are proved to partake some attributes in common. Experts and mentors from different industries tend to suggest the reality and much over the experienced facts that keep them exceedingly efficacious. These recommendations are much applicable to the education industry and such experience of the mentors can awaken the students to bring in a realization to work towards success and achievements.

The common attributes as denoted can vary from few to many and however, it cannot be listed as the general form of listing. One must actually get profoundly involved with their experience and attempt to relate to their situations to get the best of the study.

Here are the words of a famous mentor in the business for years who clearly states that understanding the competence is the foremost kind to succeed. It is pretty obvious that one cannot excel in all the situations and perform marvelously well always there are segments which are good to go with and few fall back situations where assistance is required. Just think, those are practical situations which one has to effectively analyze in one’s own pace and situation. This would certainly strengthen and benefit you to transform successfully.

“Your passion needs to be the purpose to make great accomplishments” indeed, you are here now to work out on passion. One another great mentor interviewed stalwartly indicates about driving your life purpose with the passion and that would make their paycheck for life.

This is sure sounds complicated as the most of the life purpose may not be in the passion and that they would not work as good as you desire. I would not say it cannot be achieved but it is hard to show up and the one which you integrate your passion to the purpose you are to have a cake-walk success. The truth is that massive success comes from the blend of passion and integrity. So, aim to make your passion the paycheck for life. It evidently shows that the common attributes of the successful people are that they have chosen to live up to their passion.

Still again, when discussed to few top mentors of the metropolitan schools and institutions we got a cross-platform information, they were robust enough to mention creating own opportunities leads to success which contradicts the idea of exploring new opportunities. Each of these statements had its own justification.

As the former, the situations may be hard enough that you would not be able to demonstrate or get a chance to prove in the desired field. There is no point in waiting for the door to be unlocked but jumping into decisions to take an own move to prove the skills is identified as the successful decision. Risks and probability of success may be low but as the desire is strong would reflect the quality of work and will make your pitch through the success platform. In the latter case where one door is closed look for the others that are opened, this may sound to compromise your passion lookouts, keeping the career places fluid is not always a great idea but many successful personalities declares that their strong and decisive mindset has let them not miss out on opportunities rather found better ones than that desired.

Coming to something that is continually known among all successful personality is the ability to innovate, they are not people to get easily convinced and carry on the tasks as dictated or followed. All the flaws of the conventional methods are identified and they innovatively bring in more ideas which keep their thought pondering over the new and updated stuff. They are interesting and much aware of the trends. It adds up to their ability to do things differently and in a way, their consistent ability to ask for more questions paves the way to more innovation.

Being strong and buoyant are another common attribute where it shows that most of the highly successful people would have experienced many challenges and might have failed many times. Only by establishing a strong sense of achievement and by creating a high resistance towards coming back and trying many times will make you successful.

Success can be compared to the game of life and the continued overcoming of the hardships and along with the above discussed common attributes, one could figure out their forthcoming success. This would definitely drive in the minds of the enthusiast and all the intermingling concepts will demonstrate them to show up success.

Recommendations to Teachers: An approach on the first day of academic year

May 27, 2022PPE DESK 1 Comment

Academic year may run either for 9 months or 10 months of the year and imagine how important and obvious the first day should be. It is the primary and foremost responsibility of the school and the teachers to transmit an intense growth mindset in students. This may be done with a discussion, a story session or with live examples of the successful students who had made the achievement. You could also call it Brainology which would foster the growth mindset where in the teachers teach the students to observe the lectures, take notes, study, think innovatively, practice and be attentive always.

Beyond the traditional schooling and the conventional advice over the discipline, manners, scores, organizing, managing, friendship, sports, entertainment are few things which are usually as a teacher tend to impart to their students. In the current scenario, it needs to be much more concentrated over the soft skills and the techniques to handle the situations, the right and supportive manner for the overall academic excellence. This is all about the teachers addressing to the students on the day-1 of the academic year to help them successfully perform each day and mark their overall excellence.

Here we go,

The sociable approach… and this need not be emphasized as you being in years of experience would certainly give your best to introduce the system, the personal introduction, discipline and rather a great ice-breaking session. Apart from these, the first day to the aspiring students should be strong enough that keeps them tight with their targets and aspirations. Here go the recommendations that make the teacher provide better and build the best possible aims and aspirations in each of the students.

Provide tips to be motivated

As a teacher, you should be providing the right solutions to students to stay motivated always. Even the most successful and ambitious student find it difficult to stay motivated at all times. This challenge persists in all our lives and the understanding the techniques to deal with the needs to come with plenty of guidance and practice.

Show them the methods to deal with the motivation level and it has to be at high level, work up repetitively to build and boost the motivation. The tips you could share on motivation can be the following.

Surround with the most capable and high performing students which substantially improve your score.

Music is a great addition to instantly boost up and keeps your mind alert and attentive.

Enhance the spirit of optimism, show them ways to keep the minds stimulated and triggered each moment.

Get to know their dreams

Students dreams would certainly be ambitious enough which would strongly relate to their academics. Talk it out to understand their mission which and make them feel energized which would add to their motivation. Keep them infused over the reminders of the mission which will get them back to watch out for their performance and keep them moving on the right path.

Discuss to set them a routine

Among the many students, the mindset and the mental frame for even the bright student may lead them to distractions and deviations. They would certainly find it difficult to get back to the right mode of concentration. It would certainly be of much benefit to the student to set them back to the productive form. Suggest them to set the routines as good and smart it can be, like starting from the routine of sliding into the running shoes till the day draws to end. Once the schedules are fixed and catching up back to back will gain them much advantage over excellence in academics all through the year.

Educate to Plan the rewards

As students, it would be a constant requirement to keep looking for new additions to the personal gadgets, stationery, general books, novels and outdoor entertainment. Teach them to plan the reward for their prominence in the hard work, once they learn to relish the fruits of the real hard work, it becomes easy and throughout the year the workouts turn successful.

Teach to focus on high achievements

Students should be motivated to aim higher and it is true persuasion towards high goals bring it to reality. Teach them that no mountains are high being beyond reach and no distance are far that cannot be traveled. Let them aspire with a vision that is really high.

It is rather important to make the students the high aspirants of the year and imagine the complete class strength of yours performs extraordinarily well, would it not be a great go for the teacher as a performer.

Keep on track with all the motivational points right from the day one and every student would rather be grateful to have you as their teacher. No lessons can be fast practiced, no place can be reached swift all it takes is sincere efforts to make it happen.