Teachers should take up the challenge

TODAY’s school children are different.

Our students have changed dramatically in terms of slang, styles and clothes.

One of the reasons is the rapid dissemination of technology in the 21st century. They grow up with technology and are surrounded by smart phones, computer devices, high speed Internet, Twitter, Instagram, e-mail, telegram, and WhatsApp.

They are so called ‘digital natives’. These students get bored if the teachers conduct the lessons without any computer devices. Digital natives are used to receiving information really fast. They opt for graphics rather than text. They work effectively by networking. So much so, they yearn for gratification and reward.

They want games like work which make them alive all the time. They are the native speakers of the technology.

Those who were born earlier and adopted technology at a later part of their lives, can be called digital immigrants. Today’s digital immigrants learned things in a different manner.

They still believe strongly that learning should be done through intense practice. Digital natives learn through YouTube, hypertext and instant messaging and they have no time for long lectures,.

The digital natives like multi-tasking and learn things in fun ways. They take notes using I think maps, graphic organisers or mind maps, which they find easier to analyse than long winded text.

Let’s face it. These are the children that we teach in today’s classroom.

My question is should the digital immigrant teachers learn the new way of teaching the current students or should the digital natives learn the old ways?

As educators, we have to adopt and adapt the materials and methodologies to cater to the needs of the current students. The 21st century teaching and learning emphasises the 4 Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. These are Cs that we should integrate in the lesson and make the teaching livelier.

Gone are the days when we use the chalk and talk method even though some studies still show it is one of the best methods.

Nevertheless, the current students are looking for something to challenge their answers. I have students who come and clarify the answers. They think in different ways so the answers for a question may vary. Teachers have bigger roles to play in today’s classroom. Relying heavily on the old methods will not yield any positive outcome in the classroom. The pace of change in our world is indeed accelerating and designing classroom instruction with 20th century methods no longer prepare students for future challenges.

The current batch of students must be prompted to ask questions, seek knowledge, engage in group discussions and apply knowledge rather than regurgitate the facts and answers for exam questions.

Alvin Toffler, an American writer said: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

The current digital native students are eager to produce something and not be spoon fed by the teachers. They control their learning with a sense of responsibility without being told what to do. Curiosity in seeking the truth, the best approach to solve problems, making connections to the curriculum and handling situations are some of the key areas that they like to embrace.

In a nutshell, they want to be independent learners. They don’t want to be told but they want to learn at their own pace. They have the opportunity to exercise higher order thinking skill too. Education has changed gradually; teachers should take up the challenge too.