Ramesh Mudgal writes on moulding well-rounded individuals with the power of modern education
FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Abrar went to the chemistry teacher the other day to discuss his difficulty understanding the reversibility of chemical reactions. Merely chalking out different equations on the board and introducing references from the book would not have helped him comprehend the topic on a fundamental level. So, the teacher heads to the laboratory with Abrar to conduct practical investigations of chemical equations that are reversible.
In the laboratory, the teacher places an ice cube on a dish and after some time, the ice cube melts and turns into water. Then, the teacher pours the same water from the dish back into the ice cube box and puts it in the freezer. The water turns into an ice cube again.
‘What can we say about the water’s physical change from ice to liquid and then again to ice from the liquid?’ the teacher asks.
‘The melted ice cube can be re-frozen. So, we can say that this is a reversible physical change. This means that when magnesium ribbon burns in the presence of oxygen in the air, it becomes magnesium oxide in powder form and cannot go back into this original form. This means it is an irreversible reaction?’ Abrar replies.
Through this practical activity, Abrar was able to solve the difficulty without the necessity of having to read and memorise academic books. Education is not only about putting information in, it is also about drawing out the skills and understanding from the learners that is lying dormant in them. Recent studies reveal that students retain up to 75 per cent of the material when engaged in active, hands-on learning, compared with a mere 5 per cent through traditional lecture-based methods. Educators who seek to increase learning retention should not only focus on delivering the information to students. They must also focus on generating interest in the topic, gaining the learner’s attention and creating innovation in classrooms.
Most people actually remember what they have learnt based on what happens inside their minds. Memory becomes easier based on attention, thinking, and the ability to make connections. Simply put, people will remember what their minds pay attention to and what causes them to think. For decades, there has been evidence that classroom techniques designed to get students to participate in the learning process produce better learning retention.
The right kind of education is one that is not limited to books. Learning beyond books engages students with hands-on experiences in union with what has been learnt in the classroom. When students discover and sort information by collaborating with others, they create solutions to problems based on authentic experience and feedback. When a creative, collaborative and enjoyable approach to problem-solving is applied to education, students can enjoy a more enhanced learning experience. The most effective learning occurs when students are actively involved in the learning process.
Arthur Poropat, a lecturer in psychology at Australia’s Griffith University, conducted the largest-ever review of personality and academic performance. Porporat has found that an individual’s personality traits are better indicators of academic success than a high score on an intelligence test, for students at both high school and college. Specifically, he suggests that students who are conscientious, open and emotionally stable have the best likelihood of succeeding in their studies. As students learn more, they grow and transform internally as well. Personal growth and transformation are essential aspects of childhood development and progress. They involve the continuous process of self-improvement, self-reflection and self-discovery. Modern education that uses the practical use of knowledge learnt in class and real-life experiences offers holistic personal growth and enables individuals to evolve, adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world. It allows students to broaden their horizons, develop their potential, and make meaningful contributions to society.
As the world evolves with each passing year, so must education. Today’s education system does not have to be only well-developed but also flexible to adjust to the ongoing advancements in the fields of technology and human way of life. Academic success, soft skills, extracurricular interests, cultural awareness, among the children, and character development all can be achieved with experimental learning.
Experiential learning is the idea that experiences are generated through ongoing interactions and engagement with the world around us and learning is an inevitable product of experience. This kind of modern-day learning is a life-long interactive process that involves questioning, critical thinking, finding newer meaning in a conventional subject and applying knowledge gained from the challenges faced in every situation.
Against the backdrop of the ever-evolving 21st century, the realm of education extends beyond the traditional confines of textbooks. Under such circumstances, learning beyond books is crucial. This is because it engages learners in practical experiences that apply theoretical knowledge. The approach evolves into a holistic system, transitioning teachers from mere dispensers of information to facilitators of experiential learning. The end result? Well-rounded individuals are ingrained with critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and adaptability.
Published in: Newagebd