Today’s world is undergoing rapid changes and the implication of these changes on education and educationalists is great.
Education today requires one to mould a child into an individual capable of contributing effectively to society and to the world community at large. Children in today’s world must be taught to think and not merely to remember. A sense of responsibility has to be developed for knowledge. Without responsibility, learning without wisdom can be a dangerous thing.
The “drive to learn” in children must be aroused. They must enjoy the adventure of planning, feel the thrill of accomplishment and yet be able to cope with the necessary drudgery, which is part of all work.
The art of teaching, like the art of healing consists in discovering the make-up of each child. The teacher has to discover what keeps pupils active. Be able to understand and candidly answer: Why children don’t go to school with the same interest and enthusiasm as they go to play? Or, why they want to throw away books on nature and birds and yet run after butterflies in the garden.
A great deal of the teaching / learning process today is done outside the school. Much information about the world and other human beings is learnt by pupil day after day from various sources. But it is the schools, colleges and the universities, which help integrate these bits of information into wholesome education.
Any satisfactory formal education should achieve at least three minimum objectives -
i) Education should provide the student with the fundamental knowledge and basic skills that he or she will require as a working member of the community.
ii) Secondly, there is the social objective. Education should aim at integrating the student with the society in which he will work and establish the ethical and moral standards that will guide his decisions and give him a sense of social responsibility.
iii) Thirdly, there is the cultural objective. Education should help the student as in individual to be more self sufficient, to develop his or her inner resources and to lead a rich and rewarding life.
By: Sheena Verghis Joshy
Posts Tagged ‘Pupil’
Pros And Cons Of Distance Education
February 7th, 2010
Previously, it was possible to practice distance learning only through the mail. However, in recent times, with the help of technological advancements, these programs are also available online. Distance learning is beneficial to those students who not only wish to complete higher studies but also need to earn a living at the same time. It is also ideal for those who can study only part-time, as they may be busy with other activities. Distance learning programs are offered for education at any level, but are more popular with university studies.
Distance education, as the name suggests, is a method of implementing education to students living in distant places and cannot access further education. Using this approach, the student is not required to attend classes like in a regular school or college. Education is imparted through correspondence and communication between the institution and the pupil.
Procedure
In order to gain knowledge and complete higher studies, a student does not have to attend regular educational institutions. Distance learning makes the task of achieving the desired course of education easier while sitting in the comfort of your home. In distance learning, you do not have the advantage of receiving personal attention and guidance of a teacher or a professor as in a regular school. Instead you need to study on your own.
The educational institution supplies all the required educational material, resources and references. This correspondence will help you to stay in touch and move in pace with the activities and course of studies of other students attending regular schools and colleges. The institution usually provides an entire range of books, audio and visual aids such as tapes and CDs where you have enrolled.
Requirements
In order to implement distance-learning programs effectively, you need to correspond and communicate with the instructors regularly. To enable efficient and quick communication, it may be necessary for you to install a computer. To clear your doubts and answer your queries, you may also have to download certain programs and suggested websites or interact with the professor through videoconferences.
Advantages
Distance learning provides you the convenience of studying in the comfort of your home and saves you from the daily grind of commuting. You have the liberty of performing other chores and completing studies at the same time. These programs offer immense flexibility of pace, especially to those who are involved in other occupational activities.
Disadvantages
You will be entirely by yourself and can receive help only through the resources supplied by the institution. If you are not good at grasping and learning without the supervision and guidance of an instructor, the program may prove to be quite a challenging task. If you cannot adhere to deadlines and have a habit of procrastinating, distance learning is not a very good idea.
A simple guide to make the task of distance learning easier is to follow basic rules and management techniques. Prepare a timetable and allocate appropriate hours to studies and other activities. Dedicate the required time and attention to learning. Stay in regular contact with your teachers and other students so that you don’t lag behind. Do not hesitate to ask questions and clear your doubts. Put in all the hard work and effort as you would in a regular school.
Before you finally decide to enroll as a student of distance education, remember to consider the positive and negative aspects so that the program proves to be beneficial.
By: Tony Jacowski
