Experts discuss concept, importance of vibrant classrooms

Speakers at a KU seminar talk about teachers' role in making classrooms a learning place


Ppi April 29, 2019
PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: Teachers and students should have a vibrant and interactive relationship in classrooms as it would help in delivering best results. Students must have the liberty to ask questions in classrooms and it is equally necessary that the teachers or course instructors acknowledges the students' contribution in making classrooms a learning place.

These views were expressed by experts during a seminar on 'Classroom: Freedom and Discipline' organised by the Department of Education at the University of Karachi (KU).

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The speakers mentioned that teachers' self-discipline attitude, relaxation and freedom in the class and what kind of activities are taking place besides teaching shows a lot about the relationship between teacher and his pupils.

If a teacher is energetic and motivated then that will reflect in the lectures as well as in students' moods and behaviours. On the other hand, if a teacher is still following old-fashioned methods and does not believe in a strong interactive relationship with his students then it will never produce fruitful results.

The speakers at the seminar also expressed that a good teacher-student relationship was essential because teachers who fostered positive relationships with their students created classroom environments that were more conducive to learning and met students' developmental, emotional and academic needs easily as compared to conventional methods of teaching.

It was also mentioned that a good teacher would always like to enhance the skills and talents of his students rather than imposing his teaching on them. Some teachers do not like their students questioning them and often take it personally.

Dr Maroof Bin Rauf of Department of Education, KU, said that pin-drop silence and discipline are two different things. This is so unfortunate that we misunderstand the meaning and utilisation of discipline. In many classrooms, pin-drop silence is still considered as discipline.

"A classroom cannot be silenced. To make a classroom more lively and interactive, we must have management skills and ability to read the minds of our students."

The New Earth School System Principal Saqiba Wahid, Montessori Directors and Centre of Excellence for the Deaf (CED) Parental Trainer Sameera Ali, Society for Children with Autism and Learning Difficulties General Secretary Eliya Batool Haideri, Blind Institute for National Awareness and Empowerment President Saleem Elahi, Ahsan Umer from The News Tribe, Department of Education in-charge Dr Safia Urooj and the Assistant Professor and seminar organiser Dr Maroof Bin Rauf shared their experiences with the students. Later, the students also presented National Anthem in sign-language.

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