“TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION”

Technology has developed over the years in almost every field. With the development of technology, way of education has also moved on from old tools like the abacus, ruler, pencil and paper to PCs, laptops, tablets, iPads, software and apps. Education has become smart. This development has changed the way of teaching, learning, and many more school related activities.

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E-Learning solutions are also an example of technological development. It delivers excellent quality course material. With technological advancement, this has become convenient and simple.

“TECHNOLOGY gives the QUIETEST STUDENT a VOICE.”

There are certain companies involved in e-learning and smart education. Here are 7 such companies:

Must Read:

 9 Ways AI Driven Smart Education Software Benefits Education

Educomp Solutions

Educomp plays a major role in the field of education as it is one of the largest education companies across the world. They are the leader in digital content solutions for the K12 segment. Most innovative initiatives in the field of digital classroom hardware & content are the DTS (Digital Teaching System) and CTS (Class Transformation System).

NIIT

NIIT Limited, established in 1981 is a global leader in Skills and Talent Development. It provides multidisciplinary learning management and training delivery solutions to institutions, firms, and individuals more than 40 countries. It has 3 main lines of business all over the world- Skills and the Careers Group, Corporate Learning Group, and School Learning Group.

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Adobe Systems

Adobe is in the way of changing the world through digital experiences. Their creative solutions allow each and everyone from rising artists to global brands to bring virtual creations to reality and deliver them to the appropriate person at the right time for bringing better results.

They find interesting aspects and work on them till it starts working better. You can see the results everywhere in their award-winning research and hundreds of patents; their “innovation-in-a-box” program which made new product offerings; and the employee check-ins which inspired their people to do their best work.

“EFFECTIVE LEARNING comes from INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY as a LEARNING TOOL.”

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems

If your child is studying in a digital school, then he/she can study anywhere at any time. In these schools, students and teachers communicate with each other both in the classroom and after the school, creating a new educational experience. With this, students and teachers can study and teach in a secure environment.

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N2N Services

N2N services founded in 2004 as a systems integration consultancy servicing the higher end market. With N2N service’s e-learning and smart education platforms, attract, retain and graduate more and more students. They are revamping education by technology. Now, it provides the best in class services to institutions all over North America and also has its own suite of web and mobile platforms to improve student success through technology.

SunGard

K-12 education software of SunGard serves more than 8 million students or 1 out of 6 students across the nation. They provide their services to almost 1400 public, charter & private schools across US.  Most of the staffs of K-12 Education here are former K-12 employees including superintendents, technologists, teachers and other employees.  Their customers can be assured that their investment will not become useless as their investment in our products will be beneficial for their school and students.

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Intel

Intel’s pioneering products & deep expertise in everything from teacher professional development to cloud computing made it strong service provider in improving student success all over the world. Its services are fully featured which support anytime, anywhere learning. You can find the appropriate technology with the help of  Intel® Education Solutions Support Team.

“TECHNOLOGY can become the “WINGS” that will allow the EDUCATION to FLY farther and faster than ever before- if we will allow it.”

“Children should be able to live a life free from bullying and harassment and it is time that we all took a stand against this.” – Katherine Jenkins

Student bullying is one of the most frequently reported discipline problems at schools as well as colleges. According to the report from National Education Association, 21% of elementary schools, 43% of middle schools, and 22% of high schools reported problems with bullying in 2005-06.

Types of bullying may include teasing, leaving someone out on purpose, and taking or breaking someone’s things. Classroom management strategies play a crucial role in preventing bullying. Teachers can make their students read certain anti-bullying books that keep their students stay active and reduce stress.

Here is a list 14 anti-bullying books every child should read.

Must Read: Smart Classroom Management Strategies to Tackle Bad Behaviour/Attitude

1. Chrysanthemum

Written by Kevin Henkes, Chrysanthemum is a school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. The story is about a young girl Chrysanthemum, who is teased for her name at school. Student at her school teases her to be named after a flower, which makes her hate the name. But later students began to accept her after learning that a teacher who they admire also has a long first name and is also named after a flower.

2. Edwardo: The Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World

Edwardo, an ordinary boy is the main character in this book written by John Burningham. Though he is occasionally rough and noisy, he was pointed out as the cruelest boy in the world. But later his actions were considered positively and he was called as the loveliest boy in the world.

3. The Recess Queen by Alexis O’neill

Mean Jean is the schoolyard bully, whom every other students are scared of. She is the one who kicks, swings and bounces before anyone else. But this gets changed after a new student Katie Sue arrives. Not aware of the ground rules Katie kicks first and them invites Mean Jean to play together, which changes the situation.

4. The Juice Box Bully

Written by Bob Sornson & Maria Dismondy, the story is more about the unity in a classroom and how Pete, who has a bad behavior, finally decides to give the group’s promise a try.Despite Pete’s rude behavior class treats him kindly which changes the boy.

5. Enemy Pie

This story by Derek Munson is about Jeremy Ross who feels slighted by the new neighbor. Jeremy accepts dad’s offer to prepare a new recipe to get rid of the enemy, which is Enemy Pie. However, the part of this secret recipe is to spend an entire day playing with the enemy. The games turn his best enemy into his best friend.

6. The Hundred Dresses

This childrens’ book by Eleanor Estes centers around Wanda Petronski, a Polish-American girl who is teased by her classmates for wearing the same old faded blue dress every day to school. As she can’t bear the teasing any more she lies that she owns one hundred dresses at home, which makes others bully her mercilessly. Later her father decides that she must leave that school. But later the students who felt kind towards her writes a kind letter to her old address, but she has already moved away.

7. Each Kindness

Written by the Newbery Honor-winning author Jacqueline Woodson. Chloe and her friends dislike Maya, who wears old dress, eats odd food and behaves quite strange. And one day Maya leaves school. It’s when Chloe’s teacher teaches a lesson about kindness, Chloe realizes the value of lost opportunity for friendship.

8. The Invisible Boy

This Trudy Ludwig’s book is the story of young Brian, a quiet boy, who was ignored by other students and even the teacher. It is the new boy Justin, who notices Brian’s kindness and his talent in drawing. Justin turns into Brian’s savior and this provides him a way to shine.

You May Also Like: 4 Essential Parts of Classroom Management Strategies

9. Bully

The book by Patricia Polacco is about cyberbullying and will be a good one to read for increasingly digitally-savvy students. Lyla, who is new at school become friends with another new comer Jamie. By scoring top grade on an essay, Lyla manages to get attention of three popular girls in school. Slowly she leaves Jamie behind. But when she is wrongly accused of stealing a test, she finds herself being bullied on Facebook and online.

10. Wonder

The book written by R.J. Palacio, the story centers on August Pullman (Auggie) who is born with a facial deformity. For the same reason, his parents home-schooled him. But later he’s being sent to a real school in his fifth grade. The story includes certain sentimental situations where some kids use hateful language, and some people suggest that Auggie is mentally deficient.

11. Thirteen Reasons Why

This book by Jay Asher provides positive messages about the importance of treating people with kindness. A mysterious box that Clay Jensen finds while returning home from school includes few cassettes that discusses thirteen reasons that makes a girl in his school commit suicide.

12. Dear Bully

A must-read book for teens written by Dawn Metcalf, it includes 70 heartfelt stories about bullying in this collection. The stories were shared by top young adult authors.

13. Tease

The book by Amanda Maciel includes real-life incidents, where a teenage girl named Sara Wharton faces criminal charges. The charge she faces is for bullying after a classmate Emma Putnam commits suicide. Now she feels guilty as her peers, community and media points out her mistake.

14. Side Effects May Vary

The book by Julie Murphy features the life of the 16 year old Alice, who decides to take revenge of her classmates after being diagnosed with leukemia. Realizing that she won’t leave for more, she hurts people for what they’ve done in the past. But finally she has to face the consequences.

Selecting a learning website is a crucial step for any learner to start their online education. The article provides a list of websites to choose from.

Technology has advanced in such a way that educational resources are now available anytime at anywhere. Several learning websites provide useful resources such as informative video tutorials, lectures, DIY guides, presentations, explanations in animated form which help students gain important skills, updated information and educational programs. Many sites offer free lessons to learn. However, choosing the right educational website is crucial.

Must Read:  Is Smart Education the Future?

Here is a list of learning websites you can use –

1. TED Ed video library

This video library on YouTube includes a wide variety of educational videos designed specifically for learning community. Explanatory tutorials and animations created by educators and teachers cover a given topic. It also includes quiz and discussion questions.

2. Explania

This web platform provides animated explanations in videos and interactive infographics. A great resource for teachers and students, the videos cover topics including geography, biology and more. Users can also share these videos.

3. HowStuffWorks

It offers interesting and useful details on a wide variety of topics ranging from finance to electronics. For instance, even you can check how the car engine works in this site. It is commonly referred to as an edutainment website.

4. Coursera

One of the top online do-it-yourself learning websites, Coursera offers free learning courses from leading U.S. universities and is open to anyone. Upon completion, learners can get a completion certificate.

5. PhraseMix

The site helps students to learn English phrases in a new way. This helps students to improve their English reading and writing skills.

6.Poetry.RapGenius.com

Very useful for English literature students, the site includes poetry and literature from scholars. By clicking on a line in any given song, users can also see a user generated interpretation of the text.

7. Wikipedia.org

Although tutors do not recommend Wikipedia as a reference source in assignments, this popular online encyclopedia is a very useful tool for research in classroom assignments or project.

8. Time4Learning

A reliable website for homeschoolers, the website helps students from pre-classes through high school with teaching resources in diverse subjects including mathematics, language arts, social studies, and science.

9. Standard Deviants Accelerate

The site offers e-learning programs for middle and high school students. With resources such as video tutorials, it follows teach and re-teach system to help students learn, progress, and master a subject.

10. ShillerMath – Montessori Math at Home

Unlike other math programs, the site follows a Montessori approach. It offers three kits for Pre-K to Pre-Algebra and the lesson books are used as texts for teaching more than as workbooks.

11. FortunaPixs

The site‘s 3D digital education content including Life to Learning (L2L) videos and learning objects are helpful for global middle and high school sciences.

12. Science4Us.com

With over 350 online animated lessons, the website is ideal for K-2nd Grade. Well-organized and easy to navigate content with separate tabs for four areas of science, makes the website easy to use.

13. Learni.st

Accessible all the time, users can save resources into a media-rich board and even re-visit them without spending time for searching. This reliable platform is also included in TIME magazine’s best websites in 2012.

14. HowToLearn.com

This top learning site comes with clear information on how to learn and solve learning as well as reading problems. Users can also benefit from the FREE Learning Styles Quiz, tips, and resources for faster learning in all subjects.

15. Reading Eggs

Developed by experienced teachers, writers, animators and developers, the program is intended for kids aging 4 to 8. It teaches them how to read.

You May also Like: 25 Free Educational Websites You Shouldn’t Miss

16. TutorZ.com

This is an online tutoring referral service can help students and parents to find a private tutor. The site helps to easily find quality tutors at an affordable and better price.

17. Fascinating Education

This site can easily teach science including Biology, Chemistry and Physics using an audio-visual technique. The teaching approach uses brain’s ability to capture images than reading text.

18. The Happy Scientist

The site offers informative videos covering diverse topics including earth, space, physical science and more.

19. Read Naturally, Inc.

The website’s reading intervention strategy combines methods such as teacher-modeling, repeated reading and progress monitoring. Users can also choose sample lessons and other better reading resources.

20. Time4Writing

Time4Writing offers free online writing courses and resources for 2 to12th Grade. Students can improve their writing skills at all levels.

21. VocabularySpellingCity

Through engaging activities, the site allows learners to build their skills in vocabulary and spelling. Spelling games make it easy for the students to learn words better.

22. Openeducationsource.weebly.com

For home schooling, this free site offers educational resources for subjects including math, science, social studies, English and more.

23. ABCya!

Developed by expert teachers, this website provides free educational games for K-5 grades. With level lessons focused on math and language arts, it also helps to improve basic computer skills.

24. Freedom Project Education

Following a classical curriculum, this online school offers a complete education for students in Kindergarten to High School.

25. Open Culture

Ranging from science and art to math and economics, this site offers about 400 free online courses from leading universities such as Stanford, Columbia and Oxford University.

26. Drawspace

With interactive lessons, it provides techniques to improve drawing skills. PDF tutorials with step by step instructions are also useful.

27. Better Explained

Highly beneficial for high school and college students, the site offers visual explanations for math topics. Topics include calculus, natural logarithm, statistics and algebra.

28. Stanford Online

Stanford Online provides free online courses for lifelong learners around the world. Courses are for a wide array of topics such as human rights, language, economics, physics, engineering, software, and more.

29. University of the People

One among the top online learning websites, it provides university level education. Courses are tuition-free and small fee is required for certified degree exams.

30. Khan Academy

The academy provides opportunity for students to learn about any subject of their desire. The site can be easily handled, even for a school child.

31. W3 Schools

Designed for web design courses, this free e-Learning website teaches several programming languages including HTML, PHP, SQL and Jquery. A final test will help students to check their mastery in the learned course.

32. Codecademy

Enhanced accessibility to coding, is what the site aims at. This online interactive platform offers free coding classes for different languages such as Java, PHP and CSS.

33. ABCMouse

Suitable for home preschool concept, this online educational website for preschool and Kindergarten provides a complete curriculum for kids to improve their learning.

34. Sesame Street

The site includes video clips and play games for younger children that help them easily learn letters, rhymes, sounds, colors and more and more.

35. Make Me Genius

Aiming to make the student a genius, this online platform comes with kid-friendly videos that cover a wide variety of subjects, including photosynthesis, the nervous system, solar system and electricity.

“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.”- Wess Stafford

While schools strive to elevate children’s learning experience to the next level by EYFS syllabus, what are the contributions to children with special needs?

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Each child is unique, so are their requirements. EYFS syllabus that instills love for learning in students is not enough for children with special needs. They deserve something more. It’s not that they lack potential but requires special care to shine.

If you are a parent or teacher of a child with special needs, you cannot afford to teach them with limited resources. Special education needs better research.  Discover the potential of your students with the right support. The tool you might need to polish their intellect is here.

Here are some great special education websites:

  1. About.com

About.com is the perfect destination for a wide-range of topics. It’s easy for both parents and teachers to find what they need. This website can help you stay updated about special education information. Articles by expert Jerry Webster is of great use for parents and teachers. You can easily find lessons, activities and general information about special needs education in About.com.

  1. Cast

Cast consists of everything related to special education. It is a non-profit education research and development organization. Cast aims at expanding learning opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning.  It consists of 40 talented employees who include world-class educators, learning scientists, instructional designers, literacy experts, policy analysts, and graphic designers, software engineers, along with a first-rate administrative and executive staff.

  1. ADDitude

ADDitude is a magazine founded in 1998 by Ellen Kingsley, an award-winning journalist. The printed material in the magazine is also available in a fabulous website. The site is every inch useful for those living with ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and parents of children with ADHD. The site provides clear, accurate and user-friendly techniques from experts.

  1. Understood

Understood has got partnership with 15 leading non-profit organizations like Common Sense Media, CAST, the National Center for Learning Disabilities and more. The site provides great articles with practice tips. The effective Parenting Toolkit in the site includes personalized advice and resources, a simulation tool to understand things from your child’s perspective, a tech finder, and a parenting coach tool. All you need is under one roof.

  1. LD Online

LD online is yet another website which contains articles, multimedia, columns by noted experts, first person essays, children’s writing and artwork, a comprehensive resource guide, community forums, and a referral directory of professionals, schools, and products. The site provides resources for teenagers transitioning between high school and college. This material rich website can be used by people belonging to all age groups.

  1. Do2Learn

Just like the name suggests, the Do2Learn website consists of numerous activities that can easily stimulate social skills and behavioural regulation in children. The site has to its credit, thousands of free pages which provide guidance, communication cards, academic material, and transition guides for employment and life skills.

  1. BookShare

Knowledge can never go out of trend. Its mainly reading that enables knowledge. For people with print disabilities, BookShare has gifted world’s largest accessible online library. People with print disabilities due to visual impairments, physical impairments, and learning disabilities can depend on BookShare for books with digital formats.

  1. Bridging Apps

Bridging Apps is an effective site started by two parents and therapists of special needs children. It provides searchable database for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. The app is available anywhere and anytime. Bridging Apps provides the best resource for those living with disabilities and helps their parents to teach better.

  1. Apps for Children with Special Needs

Apps for Children with Special Needs concentrate on providing support for parents and teachers of special need children.  The app is developed by the parent of a special need child. This site appears to focus only on iOS apps. Apps for Children with Special Needs consist of videos along with relevant information and advice from source you can trust. This site encourages you to buy sensibly.

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  1. Graphite.org

Graphite.org is used for finding materials of special education. The site is maintained by the largest and independent non-profit organization – Common Sense Education. The site was built by teachers for teachers. Collections of apps are produced by Graphite on various topics including special needs.

 

EYFS has made student activities compulsory in schools. As a teacher, it’s your responsibility to come up with fresh ideas. Due to their busy schedule, it can be hard for teachers to innovate new ideas. Don’t worry. Internet is here to support you in every possible way.

Since it’s a digital era, students will love to get introduced to new techniques, compared to the passive classroom learning process. Teachers know where to search for that perfect material they want.

Check out some of the fascinating websites that can help you:

1.ReadWrite Think

This site is extremely useful when you have got only specific time to invest on activities. 5-minutes time range ideas are available at the site. Calender activity section is available that allows to tie your reading and writing lessons to seasons, notable people, and multicultural holidays.

2.Reading Rocket

Find well researched answers, if you have got any question about teaching, reading and writing. Professional development videos of education experts, book lists, author interviews, and lesson ideas are available at Reading Rocket. Tips are available at the site that helps teachers to serve children with disabilities and English language learners better.

3.Scholastic

Browsing lesson plans by grade level and subject is possible with Scholastic. There is close relationship between reading, language, art lessons and other subjects. The Book Wizard is a tool for finding the titles of hard-to-please readers and for students who are above or below grade level. It is a top teaching blog that consists of fresh ideas from teachers.

4.School Library Journal

School Library Journal is the very best resource for teachers with readers who are difficult to reach. Kid-friendly comic books and interview with student’s favourite author is available with the site. School Library Journal also provides news about education research, policy, and more.

5.Illuminations

The site belongs to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. It consists of lesson plans, online games, and brainteasers. Common Core standards, assessments, and links to related lessons are included in the lesson plans, making it easy for teachers to search. It’s easy to share your story of success with other people.

6.Inside Mathematics

Want to think deeply about mathematics? Inside mathematics is one such site that allots “problems of the month”, a section that allows students to think deeply about math problems. Common core standards are available with assessments for second through fifth grades. Example videos of successful classroom lessons are available in the site along with offers teaching support.

7.K-5 Mathematics

Hundreds of math games and activities are at your service ready to be printed in the site. K-5 Mathematics shows different ways in which you can integrate math in classroom. Sections such as math journals, math centers and mental math are available in the website.

8.Soft Schools

It’s easy to find material of all core subjects including maths website. There is a comprehensive section for maths including worksheets. Worksheets are arranged according to topics, and can be printed. There are games too, which can be played by students, without requiring registration.

9.Discovery Education

Fresh ideas as well as free lesson plans in every core subject are available in this website. An activity, evaluation tools, a list of English vocabulary, and links to academic standards are also involved in the plan. By signing up virtual trips, allow students to see new places and hear expert speakers via video.

10.PSB learning Media

There are dozens of education shows on PSB.  On this website, you can find clips from the show and share it with students. The site is loaded with activities and links to academic standards. It’s possible to search by grade and subject matter.

11.Smithsonian Education

If you are a teacher looking for a site where you can dig deeply into a subject, Smithsonian Education is the best. Lesson plans along with historical documents and photographs are available for your core subject. Field Trips tab in the site display ways to enrich off-campus journeys.

12.ArtsEdge

 ArtsEdge is associated with The Kennedy Center. The site shows how art, music, dance, and history can be incorporated in classroom lessons. Lesson plans with links to videos are available in the site.

13.teAchnology

teAchnology is a simple website that consists of all that you are looking for. It has lesson plans, worksheets along with other resources on subjects like music, physical education, art, and drama. Everything under one roof. Teachers can depend on Technology for the better management of classroom.

 

Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) aims at providing quality education to students, thus contributing to the development of UAE. To fulfil the demands of a highly efficient education system, ADEC is looking forward to hire qualified, talented and multi-skilled employees. ADEC has joined hands with various recruiting agencies to recruit skilled teachers as part of the ADEC Licenced Teacher Program, who are passionate about bringing a difference in education.

The ADEC Licenced Teacher Program provides excellent self development opportunities to teachers. Continuous training will be provided to the teachers as part of workforce development activities by ADEC. Also, the hired employees will receive salary free of any taxes, with additional benefits and pension schemes for UAE Nationals.

The ADEC New School Model

It was proposed as part of the ADEC Licenced Teacher Program. There are 296 schools where ADEC plans to implement the ADEC Licenced Teacher Program.

According to the ADEC New School Model, the hired teachers will be placed in one of the three areas, which include Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain or Al Gharbia (the Western Region). Majority of the students will be local Emirati children whom the teachers will teach along with other Western teachers, Emirati teachers and Arab expatriate teachers.

The schools are divided into:

Kindergarten level (Early Years)

Cycle 1 (primary)

Cycle 2 (Middle School)

Cycle 3 (Secondary/High School)

Some campuses have Kindergarten and Cycle 1 schools together while other schools have their own campuses, depending on the size and location of the schools.

Generally, a class will have 15 to 30 students.

Teaching levels

Subjects taught by teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program and the responsibility of a classroom differs at each level of school.

Kindergarten level– Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will teach English, Maths and Science along with other essential subjects. They will be co-teaching with a local Arabic teacher.

Cycle 1– Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will teach English, Maths and Science. They will be in charge of their own classroom.

Cycle 2- Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will be teaching English, Maths or Science and they will be in charge of their own classroom.

Cycle 3– Teachers hired using ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will teach only English. They will be in charge of their own classroom.

Pay scale and other benefits

The salary scale of teachers, fixed by ADEC, depends on the qualifications of the teachers and their teaching experience. The salary amount ranges from 12,300AED – 20,400AED per month.

The teachers will also be provided with the following benefits:

  • Air fare– ADEC covers yearly air fare for teachers, their spouses and up to 3 dependents
  • Health Insurance-for teacher, spouse and up to 3 dependents
  • Accommodation-ADEC provides accommodation to the teachers and it will vary depending on family status, with an additional 20,000AED for furniture. Extra allowance will be provided if it is unfurnished.

The teachers will have to work from Sunday to Thursday, with 35-40 working hours per week. The summer break will be from mid-July to late August. There will also be a break in December, April and for national holidays. The duration of contract will be two years.

Criteria

The candidates applying for a job under ADEC Licenced Teacher Program will have to fulfil the following criteria:

  • Fluency in English
  • At least a Bachelor’s Degree/PGCE or the equivalent
  • Teaching Qualifications (should be licenced/certified to teach in home state/country)
  • At least 2 years of teaching experience

“Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students”- Solomon Ortiz

How to know whether students are achieving specific learning goals of their course? Class tests and assignments can give a glimpse of teaching effects and student satisfaction. But, it doesn’t help you know how much the students are learning.

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Teaching effectiveness can be improved by changing the way student learning is assessed. Time table management system helps teachers to schedule their year better. Likewise, better assessment of students helps in better effectiveness in teaching.

The traditional method of evaluating a student’s knowledge is by conducting tests at the middle and at the end of each semester. Some teachers might think that giving home works and assignments can help students gain more subject knowledge. Students who perform well in school home works and assignments might not perform impressively in the exam.

Knowledge is much more than grades. Only an effective learning process can enhance students to be more than mere grades. It is possible that students might get confused between two closely related ideas. Better assessment clears all the confusion.

Ways of Assessing Student Learning During Class;

These assessment techniques are increases the effectiveness of the teaching and the quality of the learning.

  • Brainstorming

Brainstorming is the process of generating new ideas through group discussion. Every participant is expected to think and present their opinion loudly with confidence. When the evaluation session begins, analysis, criticism and discussion of the presented ideas are allowed.

Steps of Brainstorming

1. Teachers must present an open-ended question for students to discuss or solve.

2. Students are free to work individually, in pairs or in small groups

3. After students have shared ideas with class, notes must be made on the board

4. At the end of each session, children can express the opposite views to the ideas presented.

Importance of the activity: Brainstorming promotes critical, creative thinking, imagination and confidence.

  • Concept Map

Concept mapping is an innovative technique of presenting knowledge through graphs. It is a network of concepts. Concept mapping begins with a main idea or concept and then extended to branches. The maps simple shows how the main ideas can be divided in to fragments.

Concept Mapping and its purposes

  1. Ideas can be easily generated
  2. Simple design for complex ideas
  3. Students can be asked to create impressive Concept Maps and the very best can be given prize
  4. Concept Maps can be either created individually or in groups

Advantage of the activity: Complex ideas can be communicated easily.

  • Decision Making

Providing students with a situation that they need to work on can increase their thinking capability and quick problem solving ability.

Steps of Decision Making;

  1. Give students the responsibility of solving some important issue
  2. Students can either make effective plans individually or can form a group to develop an effective plan
  3. Students should announce the plan and the ideas behind it to the class
  4. Each student or group can react to the proposal put forth

Advantages of Making Decision: Critical and creative thinking within the given time span.

  • Minute Paper

Minute Paper is a segment that can be arranged after every lecture. The activity makes students concentrate more in class.

Steps for Minute Paper:

  1. After every lecture students have to spend 5 minutes writing the summary of the lecture
  2. Randomly picked student must share what he /she has written
  3. Key points of the day can be written
  4. Students can also share the feedback and suggestions also, if any.
  • Multiple-Choice Survey

Another innovative technique is Multiple-Choice Survey. It can be used after the lecture.

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Steps of Multiple-Choice Survey;

  1. Teacher should write questions based on a lecture, preferably conceptual in nature on the board. The questions should contain four multiple choices
  2. Students can answer the questions raising there hands
  3. Students can form groups and after discussion conclude to a answer for which they should give convincing explanation later
  4. Teachers must clarify the misconceptions before proceeding

Contribution of Multiple-Choice Survey: critical thinking of the students and reflection of students understanding can be obtained.

Mrs. Leela is a teacher loved alike by students, teachers and parents at her school. But, unfortunately, the school management had a different opinion about her. They termed her as “greedy” and “selfish”, which forced her to resign.  I tried to find out what exactly caused Mrs. Leela to quit her job, for she loved her students and enjoyed teaching them.  

The reason I discovered was not entirely surprising, but it was unexpected. 

Despite her immense contribution to her school for over a decade, Mrs.Leela was being paid a meagre amount for her services. The school management has not bothered to hike her salary one bit and Mrs. Leela, being a single mother, was finding it difficult to make ends meet and to pay the fees for her children’s college.

This is not just the story of Mrs. Leela but also of several other teachers around the world.

Teaching is a highly respected job, since no one else can mould the best generation for future than teachers. Teachers have largely influenced the lives of people right from ancient times.

They are responsible for building a civilised society, introducing you to the world of knowledge and preparing you to face the world.

Most teachers have chosen the career path due to their love for children and the joy they find while imparting education. But, for all the efforts they put,  do they really earn what they are worth? No one bothers to ask.

Let’s have a fact check:

Teacher Salaries: Are You Earning What You’re Worth? infographics

If you are a teacher, you may agree how the figures given above are true, even if you teach in a private school or a government-run school. Job satisfaction alone won’t feed the teachers’ families; for that, they have to be paid better. Also, for the teachers to stay committed to their job, they should be paid what they are worth.

Now, when people who are equally qualified  get paid better, why are teachers still underpaid? The answer is simple!

Their efforts go unnoticed

The average school hours may be from 9 to 5. But it is a fact that teachers work beyond those hours, which often goes unnoticed. Most teachers take their work such as notebook correction and evaluation of answer papers home. Also, they spend many hours at home, preparing the lessons to be taught the next day, or pondering over innovative teaching methods. And, it’s not just teaching that the teachers do, but any job that can be advantageous for the school. In most schools, teachers are also involved in encouraging the students to participate in various cultural events and making the school proud by winning laurels. But they are never acknowledged for their efforts.  If it is a corporate job, you may get paid for even every moment you think of work. But for teachers, they are paid with 1 question:

What big work have you done after all?

It’s time that school managements recognize the efforts put by the teachers for the betterment of the school, adding to its reputation and pay them deservingly.

There are various software such as the Work force Management System by Edsys where teachers can enter their daily activities, that helps the school managements to understand their efforts and pay them better!

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As for school managements, better paid teachers would be happier and more productive. The staff retention rate would also be high. At a time when getting quality teachers are getting harder, it would make sense to retain existing talent.