"Guru-Diksha: A Journey towards Hybrid Class and Blended Learning for Sainik School Teachers"
The Indian Institute of Teacher Education in Gandhinagar, Gujarat recently conducted a faculty development programme named Guru-Diksha, which was specifically designed for teachers of Sainik Schools across India. As a trainer, I was given the responsibility of making teachers proficient in live demonstrations and collaborative tools for blended learning, along with the hybrid class concept.
The programme was conducted over 9 batches throughout the year 2022, with each batch inviting a group of 80-100 teachers from different states of India. The objective was to provide teachers with the latest knowledge and skills in blended learning and hybrid class, so that they could impart quality education to their students.
The experience of serving as a trainer in Guru-Diksha was an enriching one, as I got to interact with teachers from all over India. The programme provided a platform for exchanging ideas, learning from each other, and coming up with innovative teaching strategies.
In conclusion, Guru-Diksha was a successful initiative aimed at empowering Sainik School teachers through blended learning and hybrid class. The training sessions helped to create a more interactive and engaging learning environment for students and paved the way for a bright future in education.
Session: Hybrid Class: Live Demo & Blended Learning: Collaborative Tools
Resource Person: Dilip Barad, Prof. and Head, Dept. of English, M K Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar
In these sessions, a presentation was made on the integration of technology in education, specifically in the digital era. The session covered the importance of technology integration in education and the outcome of a survey on being a teacher in the digital era, which included the necessary tools in a teacher's tool kit. The presentation also highlighted the concept of Hybrid Classroom, Blended Learning, and their demonstration with the required technology and tools. Furthermore, the pedagogical outcomes of hybrid class and blended learning were discussed. The concept of "digital native" and the readiness of teachers for the 21st century academic scene was also touched upon, along with the tools and techniques used in digital pedagogy such as LMS/CMS, digital communication links, online assessment, and digital portfolio. The presentation concluded with the demonstration of hybrid class and blended learning with the use of various tools and technology.
Finally, the need for a digital portfolio as a learning outcome in the digital era was also emphasized in the presentation. The digital portfolio was seen as the ultimate assessment of continuous internal evaluation and term-end examinations, playing a crucial role in the pedagogical outcome of hybrid class and blended learning. The use of technology and digital tools in education was demonstrated to help students showcase their learning journey and progress in a more interactive and engaging manner. The digital portfolio was emphasized as a crucial aspect of digital pedagogy and necessary for 21st-century learners and teachers.
Explanation of the chart:
The data shows that only a small proportion of the 618 teachers surveyed have established their own digital content sharing platforms. Only 59 teachers have a personal YouTube channel, 14 have a blog, and 7 have a website. This low adoption of digital tools suggests that many teachers may not fully understand the importance and benefits of using technology in their teaching practices.
The limited number of teachers with personal digital content sharing platforms implies that there is a need for increased professional development opportunities for teachers to develop their knowledge and skills in using technology for educational purposes. Such professional development could help teachers to create their own digital content and share it with their students in a more effective and engaging way.
In conclusion, the data highlights a significant gap in the use of digital tools by teachers. To ensure that teachers are able to effectively integrate technology into their teaching, it is crucial to provide them with opportunities to learn about the use of digital tools in pedagogy.