Modern Day Classrooms – Expectations And Realities. 

It is a pity that even though we got independence 70 years ago, our educational system has not improved much from the days of the British rule here. We still practise the old talk and chalk method of teaching in congested classrooms with just a blackboard and some pieces of chalk and a few benches and desks for the students. The classrooms are crowded, not properly ventilated’ and most classrooms do not have lights and fans. Sitting in the classrooms becomes a boring affair and the atmosphere there is not at all conducive to learning.

These things have to change. We have to improve our classrooms to international standards. Then only the teaching and learning process will become efficient and enjoyable. Teaching and learning should become an enjoyable activity by the teachers as well as the students. To motivate them we should ensure that the classroom offer a conducive atmosphere.

To improve the teaching-learning process, we need smart classrooms. Smart Classrooms are technology enhanced classrooms that foster opportunities for teaching and learning by integrating learning technology, such as computers, specialized software, audience response technology, assistive listening devices, networking, and audio/visual capabilities. Such classrooms will help the students to feel fully engaged in the lessons and understand them better. Science and technology are growing at mind-boggling speed and this growth should be reflected in our classrooms.

Then we have to improve the student-teacher ratio. In some of our classrooms there are often more than 60 students. How can a teacher teach 60 or more students efficiently? He can’t give individual attention to the students. All students are not equally intelligent or motivated. So the student teacher ratio should be such that all students can get individual attention.

Another thing is changing our teaching methods. We do not have proper laboratories. Even chemistry, and physic and biology are taught in ordinary classrooms through the lecture method. Students learn things by doing, especially in science subjects. But we still teach by saying “Suppose this is a test tube. Suppose I am pouring some sulphuric acid into it. Suppose I put some ………” and it goes on like that. Students hardly, learn by such suppositions. Let the students see the things and practically carry out the experiments. And then they will learn. Practice makes perfect.

For teaching language efficiently, language laboratories are essential. Languages may have different phonemes. In English, for example, we have 44 phonemes, of which 24 are consonant, 12 vowels and 8 diphthongs. Some of these phonemes do not exist in Malayalam. So they ought to be taught very carefully. In English /v/ and /w/ are two different phones. So are /s/ and /z/. But we Malayalees pronounce them as if there is no difference. For us ‘veil’ and ‘wail’ have no difference in pronunciation. So are ‘vine’ and ‘wine’. So students should be taught to articulate /v/ and /w/ properly. M is a labiodental sound where was /w/ is a bilabial. The confusion between /s/ and Izl also should be corrected. For that we need a language lab. The problem is more when it comes to certain vowels in English.

Smart classrooms are a necessity of the times. Well lit, properly ventilated classrooms with enough space for each student are essential for learning. In such classrooms, teaching and learning become a pleasant and efficient affair.