Old Days - New Ways

In this lesson I have learnt a number of new things some of which include; how to operate and adopt the emerging trends, how to utilize the low density labs, and how to handle one-device classrooms. Even then, I still need to master the details before I can say I am comfortable with all this.  Being able to adjust to the New ways goes back to how prepared the teacher is, how the teacher manages the classroom, the ability to keep the learners focused on the important aspects of the tasks, and being able to achieve the objectives of the curriculum.

As far as learning spaces are concerned, my earlier views were that learners had to study in well organized classrooms with all desks facing the front, and the teacher at the front and the center of the learning process, there had to be a blackboard / whiteboard at the front and this was to be used by the teacher for instruction purposes. Right now to me, learning spaces embraces arrangements that oppose the traditional arrangements of a traditional classroom. Ways in which the classroom can be rearranged to create a comfortable learning environment for the learners without them feeling suffocated by the four walls.  Arrangements that allow for the learners sharing of information without the teacher being the center of all knowledge.

In the literature lessons it is easy to get the learners into groups and assigning them tasks that would require them to sit in comfortable formations so as to be able to share information. I am doing this with a number of my classes. Some of them like the Senior Five class, I take them to the computer lab where they sit in pairs or in threesome to research and share their findings about a particular task. The intensity with which they research, share knowledge and accomplish tasks has propelled me to allocate one of my weekly lessons to engaging them in such an exercise. And to tell the truth, I see the difference. There are positive results. As far as the other methods and technology is concerned, I still have a  long way to go since the focus is not on technology but on curriculum outcome. And also the unavailability of a technology rich environment.