Activity-based learning popular in Mumbai colleges

MUMBAI: Colleges across Mumbai have been g radually choosing activity-based learning methods, instead of the chalk-and-board method. Unique styles of teaching are also gaining popularity with students at Indian Institute of Technology- Bombay (IIT-B).

Teaching techniques like fl i pped classrooms, think-pair-share and theatrics, which attract active participation from students, are becoming more common at the institute. In the flipped classroom method, students are required to watch a 10-minute video before the class.

So, when the student attends the lecture, he or she already has some basic knowledge of the topic and can even question the teacher on it.

Deepak Dilipkumar, a thirdyear mechanical engineering student, said, “This method improves student-teacher interactions and leads to participation from each student.”

In think-pair-share, the problem is first presented in class, then students are given time to find possible solutions. They are allowed to discuss with their classmates and arrive at an answer, which they then share with the class.

Aditi Kothiyal, research scholar, educational technology programme, IIT-B, along with fellow research scholar Rwitajit Majumdar, conducted a study on this method. They surveyed 336 students, of which around 58% said they learned more because of the think-pair-share activity.

The method was initiated by Sridhar Iyer, professor, IITB. “Think-pair-share helps retain a student’s attention by eliminating boredom in classrooms,” Kothiyal said. Rucha Walawalkar, a second-year metallurgical engineering student, said, “What’s interesting is that in a class of 240, often four or five different solutions crop up.”

RB Sunoj, professor, department of chemistry, said, “Teaching in large classrooms is like a stage performance. If you do not perform well, you will not attract the crowd. To keep 100 students engaged, theatrics is a must.”

Recently, students of civil engineering had an exam on railways, in which the questions were framed around the mechanisms and processes used by the railways. Professors created questions based on the observa- tions made by the students.

Chirag Chadha, fourth year mechanical engineering student, said, “Classroom discussions are no longer boring. We get into the habit of discussing problems with fellow students and often find multiple solutions.”