What are the best teaching methods for the children of our times? The answer to this question depends on what we think is worth learning for our children in the 21st century. There is so much knowledge out there, which children will have to learn as they grow up.
Let’s find out what is worth learning for the children of today; only then we will be able to choose the best teaching methods for them. We live in a digital age, where knowledge keeps doubling every few months. But there are only certain numbers of hours children can spend learning. That makes selecting content relevant for them to learn a daunting task.
What if we teach them skills so they can become life-long learners, acquiring all the required knowledge that comes their way? There are four core skills we need to teach children if we stick to this paradigm of education. Let’s see what these four necessary life skills are in more detail and what makes them so essential to learn.
What makes Observation so important?
The use of our senses to collect information is called Observation. It includes all kinds of information. From feelings to colors, we need to help children use their eyes to see and observe. What exactly is Observation? According to the Oxford online dictionary, “observation is the action or process of observing something or someone to gain information.” Observation helps collect data and form opinions around an object, place, person, or idea.
Our five senses help us collect this information. One big difference between seeing and observing is time. We spend more time when we are observing. Children need to develop patience when observing. Sensing things with the hand is also a form of Observation. Smelling things is a necessary but much-ignored form of Observation.
Why listening to others is the foundation of all human interactions?
According to mind tools, listening is one of the most important skills you can have. How well you listen has a significant impact on your job effectiveness and the quality of your relationships with others.
Instead of talking, listening is what promotes the human relationship. Listening skill is understanding others through what they speak and what they express through their bodies. That’s even true in eastern cultures where people, especially females, are not very expressive. You have to catch the intentions of their words (what they mean, not what they say). You have to observe how they react to certain verbal and non-verbal clues.
Listening to others makes us more humble and informed. It develops patience in us. What we learn from others leads us to more informed decision-making.
What are the two pillars of thinking?
The castle of thinking sits on two pillars:
*Critical and Creative*
We need both types of thinking to work together to produce results. Creative thinking helps us come up with new ideas. Critical thinking helps us evaluate our innovative ideas and then fine-tune those ideas. We need creative thinking to appreciate new ideas. Critical thinking is required to test or check the knowledge we acquire.
There is a clear difference between critical thinking and creative thinking. Creative thinking tries to create something new, while critical thinking seeks to assess the worth or validity of something that already exists. Creative thinking is generative, while critical thinking is analytical. Creative thinking is divergent, while critical thinking is convergent.
How do we learn?
We learn by learning how to learn. We need to know some of the new knowledge to survive and some to be successful in life.
We have to new learn new skills all the time. Learning is a life-long process now. That’s what keeps us progressing. Some experts consider this one skill to be the most important 21st century. New skills can be as simple as trying a new egg cooking recipe. It can be as complicated as building a robot, so how can we teach children these four core skills? Let’s discuss some useful strategies.
How to teach observation?
Teach children mindfulness. It will make them more alert and ‘present’. You can learn mindfulness here. Allow children to hold and explore things, using all their senses.
Discuss Color, texture, smell, size, weight, height, possible uses, and age.
Make observation a habit.
Involve parents, highlight the importance of observation to them.
Introduce the use of measuring devices, such as scales, measuring tapes, and venire caliper.
Make use of cameras and audio recorders.
How to develop listening skills?
- Help students prepare presentations for other students.
- Ask questions.
- Do storytelling frequently at home and school.
- Listen to music.
- Sing poems.
- Learn to play a musical instrument.
- Developing two types of thinking.
- For Creative thinking.
- Art, art, and more art.
- Promote creative writing.
- Involve students in drama and theater.
- Make students predict using existing information.
- Let children describe a picture.
- Critical thinking.
- Start by helping students ask 5W questions, do it every day.
- Every subject we use should involve analysis.
- Make it a habit to search for opposing views.
- Think of the utility of every idea.
- Learn to keep ideas separate from persona liking.
How to learn?
- Learn a new language.
- Set targets for learning.
- Break learning into small manageable skills.
- Seek a mentor or a trainer.
- Practice regularly.
- Remain focused and persistent.
The world has changed dramatically. Post covid19 world will bring many changes that we haven’t realized yet. Learning and how we learn it will adjust accordingly. The teaching methods will change accordingly. Now the big question: our teaching methods are for the old 20th-century world. Will you be able to switch to the new teaching methods?
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