MasterSoft Higher Educational Conclave on Learning Pedagogies
11 May 2021
MasterSoft had conducted a higher educational conclave wherein, Dr. Meenakshi Arya, from SRM University, Delhi NCR, gave a brief explanation about the learning pedagogies which could be employed by the teachers.
To provide a value-based learning experience for both the students and the teachers, Mr. Gurudev Somani, the director of MasterSoft, arranged an interactive session.
The session began with warm greetings & Dr. Arya began to enlighten everyone with a brief introduction to the pedagogies.
Let’s understand the concepts explained by Dr. Meenakshi.
What is Pedagogy?
Pedagogy is a term that indicates the different methodologies of how the teachers teach theoretically and practically. The experiences of an instructor or teacher add to the technique of the teaching and ultimately serves to refine the pedagogy.
The beliefs of the educator contribute largely to the way he/she teaches or wants to teach. Should theory be taught first or is it better to do practical while simultaneously doing the theory, this is a choice that is to be made by the educator. The interplay between culture and the varied ways to learn is an important attribute to take note of.
Dr. Arya emphasized that
“The more you experience the more your teaching method/ pedagogy refines or changes, and you can always contribute to bringing innovation to teaching."
She further goes on to explain that
"It all comes down to the educator’s beliefs. Do I believe that it is essential for a child to first know a theory and then move on to the practical? Or do I feel that while doing the practical, this child can know the theory also and it concerns the interplay between culture and different ways to learn also?’’
What are the Forms of Pedagogy?
There are four different forms of pedagogy or forms of teaching.
- Social
- Culturally responsive
- Critical
- Socratic
Social Pedagogy
Social pedagogy is about providing education through a more holistic approach. It is about creating opportunities for learning through different activities for the students. Along the way promoting relationships and co-operation amongst the students. Organizing activities that involve field trips or museum visits could be an interesting way of showing the real scenario.
Dr. Arya Pointed out that,
“We identify which are the kinds of social activities we can take on. You will see a lot of teachers who will involve their students in such activities. Social pedagogy is the kind of pedagogy where teachers focus more on various social activities to drive a point.’’
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
This pedagogical approach is directed at making the teaching process less homogenous. This is particularly a “student-centric approach”, wherein the teacher needs to find out the cultural strength of the students. Each pupil is unique in their own way, the task is to identify the strengths and nurture them so that they can gain confidence in their own selves. In order to execute this task successfully it is imperative to have an understanding of the particular student's culture, stature and treat him without any prejudice.
Critical Pedagogy
According to this pedagogy, learning should not be a one-way approach, it should be interactive and as opposed to the standardized teaching methodology, countering statements to raise a question is not an offensive act.
Since learning is democratic, the students should have the freedom to express their viewpoints without a lingering fear of being shouted at or punished.
Socratic Pedagogy
The antiquated ways of teaching discourage meaningful learning and overall disincentivizes the education. Hence to retain the interests of the students it is important to develop critical thinking in them.
In order to do that, trying to engage them in open dialogue can be helpful, discussions, debates, and counter views should be entertained.
All the students in the classroom do not possess the same grasping power, instead of putting them down, you can encourage creative or critical thinking in them. The individualistic thought process indicated via the assignments or projects should be rewarded with words of praise. It is important to foster inquisitiveness and curiosity in the students for them to think out of the box.
How to Create a Pedagogy?
Pedagogy differs from person to person, it completely depends on the teacher how he/she frames the teaching methodology. Before creating any pedagogy it is important to remember what Dr. Arya says in the educational conclave that “you should have your philosophy.’’
Step #1: Device a Personal Philosophy
Personal philosophies are self-reflective and constitute the belief system that the teacher follows based on the stipulated period of experience.
Mai handle karu kya system wait haa please
Step #2: Purposeful Conversation
Make the teaching process a culturally inclusive one. For instance, if a particular student's linguistic identity differs from the majority of the class, instead of projecting discrimination against him, support him, this will encourage him to learn the standardized language and the widely accepted ways of conducting oneself in a given scenario.
Step #4: Design Activities
Activities are aimed at making the learning process a fun and exciting one, you should inculcate activities that enrich the thought processes of the students.
Pedagogical Approaches
There are four to five pedagogical approaches which are all directed to develop information, communication skills, as well as life and career skills.
Behaviorism
As per this approach, the aim is to promote and modify the behavior of the students.
Constructivism
Constructivism is a theory that postulates that children learn by constructing new understandings and learnings. In order to facilitate quality learning, the teacher must inculcate activities.
Social constructivism
Social constructivism is an approach that emphasizes the learning process to be a more interactive one. Social interaction plays an important role in the assimilation of new knowledge with the old one; this is in stark contrast to the passive learning process. The students are encouraged to engage in communication amongst themselves based on their interests.
Liberationism
As the name suggests, this pedagogy is about liberating the students through education by taking a different approach and not following the traditional behavior-based pedagogies. Liberationism pedagogy centers around the democratization of classroom learning, wherein the roles of the teacher and student is given a new reassessment.
As per this, the traditional classroom structure is broken down and the students are given the freedom to choose their education and teachers have the leeway to engage in meaningful conversations rather than maintaining a strict role of sole authority.
At the end of the higher education conclave, Mr. Gurudev Somani, the director of MasterSoft extended his vote of thanks to Dr. Arya on the behalf of the entire Team of MasterSoft & the educationalists who attended the live session. The session was indeed very interesting and surely benefited the audience.
