KARACHI, PAKISTAN:
Over the years, knowledge has gained a primary position in society. The knowledge economy is critical in today’s economic development. Individuals need to be able to handle the information flowing in and flowing out to ensure that society survives. This is only possible with a sound knowledge of information technology (IT) and competency in IT skills.
Educators can play a significant role in achieving the goal of survival. Different approaches can be adopted to teach IT skills. These include traditional lecture delivery and demonstrations where learners’ engagement level needs to be higher. However, with the modernisation of instructive methodologies, the insufficiencies associated with conventional approaches can be mended. One such approach is inquiry-based learning (IBL) in which teachers engage the students by questioning their knowledge. With IBL, deep thinking and analytical abilities can be incorporated into the students.
Another approach is problem-based learning (PBL), which emphasises coordinated and self-directed learning. Students collaborate in teams to decide what information is needed to resolve a problem. The concept of PBL is old but has been more effective in online learning recently. Considering that the Sindh government is striving to improve the academic environment, it should involve academics, researchers, and trainers in these efforts to improve the outcomes. Teachers at all levels should be introduced to student-centred approaches and trained to apply both IBL and PBL to learning.
Dr Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2023.
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