Topic
: Educational Innovation
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I. Discussion
Educational innovation is simply a change in approach,
methodology and/or style in teaching to ensure an effective learning
experience.
Innovations like any other changes are not just created instantly.
Some innovations may be a product of a conflict that the school
recently faced. Other changes in the system come from suggestions
of students and/or parents from conducted dialogues with them and
the faculty. There are also changes that are rooted from results of
class assessments which made the teacher rethink ways to better
engage students in their respective classes.
Times are changing and so are the phenomena that factors in the
mindset of children when it comes to learning. This is why there is a
need for teachers and professors to constantly innovate their
teaching methodology.
A good example for this is how teaching changed during the COVID19 pandemic. Given the nature of infection of COVID which is mainly
reliant on close contacts, schools were forced to temporarily shift to
virtual classes through teleconferencing apps.
From chalkboards, teachers now use padlet, Menti, Zoom features
such as reactions, chats and polls for recitation and interactive
discussions. Class records aside from that stored in school file
libraries, are now mainly reliant on apps like Edmodo, Google
Classroom, Discord and Facebook group pages and chats.
In order to be an effective teacher, one must know their students
well and from there identify how these children can be taught
effectively. That can only be done through constant dialogues and
observation with all concerned parties, most especially the students.
II. Insights
For me, innovations are essential to ensure a healthy and
productive learning environment for the students.
Every generation is different. Circumstances that shape each child
are unique. This is why constant innovation on teaching approaches
should keep up with the demands of the times.
The first thing teachers must always keep up to is technology. Every
now and then, apps and gadgets are invented to help us do tasks
easier. Our struggles today might no longer pose an inconvenience
tomorrow. This is why schools and teachers must be up to date with
the latest technology to see what they can use to make teaching
effective and engaging.
The next thing teachers must know is their students. They must
know them not just by name, but also their characters and
backgrounds. Who will need more patience and attention? Who
needs to be disciplined? Who is the smartest? Who can be a potential
point person in class? Who needs some financial help to continue
school? These are the questions they need to answer to really know
their students and what they need to truly excel at school.
III. Conclusion:
Schools can be quite stressful for children especially those who
already have major problems at their own homes. This is why
teachers need to innovate and let go of traditional and toxic
education method. Innovations will allow the schools not only to be a
fun place to learn but also a safe haven for students where they
know they can learn and express themselves without fear of
judgment or abuse.