Tag: Student Boredom

Why My Class Did Not Go as Planned?

Creating Successful Lesson Plans for Online Classes Requires More Than the Pedagogical and Technological Strategies

So, my class went really bad, and the students hardly participated in the planned activities. The thing that irritates me is not why students didn’t engage with the planned activities. Instead, this catastrophe happened now after spending more than a year teaching online classes. While reflecting on this class, at least clarifies one thing that a successful lesson plan, especially for online classes, requires more than the pedagogical and technological strategies that include a consistent course design that enables students to engage and make meaning out of the taught content. Continue reading “Why My Class Did Not Go as Planned?”

Why Do Kids Need to Be Encouraged to Become Original Thinkers?

Researchers Believe That Originality Turns Out to Be Essential for The Kids in All Fields of Life, especially in a Time of Distress

Last week, a student waited for me after the class just to ask one thing ‘Do I have a unique mind?’ The question was spontaneous, which made me pause for a moment before replying to her question. I gently asked, ‘Dear, what made you ask this question?’ She replied, ‘Sir, I think I am a good student,” she explains thoughtfully, rolling her eyes, ‘but do I have the kind of mind where I can come up with a new and unique thought? Maybe I’m intended to be one of those people who spend their lives listening to what other creative people say.’ I smiled and replied, ‘Not need to worry, dear. Everybody feels that way. Even I sometimes feel that my thoughts are the copied ones, and that is okay. It doesn’t mean that I have a lesser value than any other human being on this earth.’ She smiled back convincingly, and after a bit of talk, we left our Zoom meeting. But this conversation left me with a question, does originality really matter when valuing ourselves or others? Continue reading “Why Do Kids Need to Be Encouraged to Become Original Thinkers?”

Do We Need to Re-examine Our Teaching Philosophy During This Pandemic?

Many Teachers Are Now Thinking That Their Teaching Philosophies Are No Longer Matching Their Work. Is Simplifying Teaching the New Normal for Future Teachers?

Yesterday, I had an engaging dialogue with one of my former colleagues on how our teaching philosophies are now shaping in a virtual learning environment. Interestingly, she shared some of her critical classroom incidents where students unwilling to open their cameras, keep themselves muted throughout the class and even does not appear in later classes. Most of the time, she felt there is no one in the class as most students keep themselves muted, only a handful of students shared and participates in the lesson. She confessed that sometimes she was discouraged. Although she knew where she needed to go, but she couldn’t see how to get there. Listening to my colleague’s concerns gives me a sense of what kind of stress teachers are going through globally to facilitate students’ learning during this devastating situation. However, this conversation also makes me reflect, are we still following the same pre-covid teaching philosophy in planning our lessons? Continue reading “Do We Need to Re-examine Our Teaching Philosophy During This Pandemic?”

Corona Closure: How Parents Can Cope Children During Quarantine

Corona Closure: How Parents Can Cope Children During Quarantine

It’s been two weeks since the closure of schools and educational institutes resulting teachers to work from home and teaching students virtually. So far, the commencement of educational institutes is not certain and we also have been advised to stay at home to stop spreading the virus. Schools and teachers are scrambling to get their courses online so that students can continue their education without interruption. However, where teachers are struggling to keep the dice rolling virtually with their students, the parents, on the other hand, are burdened with their sudden responsibility of their kid’s homeschooling. Especially those parents who are also working from home, it becomes challenging for them to minimise the boredom of their kids while completing their office tasks on a daily basis. Last week, even some parents texted me sharing their concerns on how to cope with their kids’ boredom at home without disrupting their daily routine.

Whether you are a parent whose job is letting you work remotely, or you’re missing work entirely and have to look after your kids, the pandemic is likely disrupting your routine and leaving you with a young scholar to watch after and guide. However, situations vary as some kids would no doubt be more than happy to spend the entire day playing PUBG or CS: Go and watching TikTok dance challenges. And then some kids give a tough time to their parents asking questions which are difficult for parents to answer. Moreover, parents whose kids are spending the whole day in front of a computer screen are also concern about their health and routine. Continue reading “Corona Closure: How Parents Can Cope Children During Quarantine”

Why Do Students Want to Be Perfect in Everything?

Why Do Students Want to Be Perfect in Everything?
By Ahmad Amirali

“Sir, I meet my subject tutor today and he told me that achieving 95% in mathematics and science I, not a big deal and overall 85% is an average grade for a student like you….my parents appear to have a similar kind of thoughts… I feel so much pressure, what if I lost or unable to achieve these grades….”

This is one of the common concerns or what can I say a ‘trauma’ shared by many students, but differently, since I started my teaching career. Each year, several students graduated and happily embark upon their career journey. Some reach out their goals and successfully achieve whatever they’ve planned for their future. However, some teenagers try to pursue whatever their parents, teachers, friends or relatives think are best for them and in that pursuit all they do is simply sacrifice every dream they ever dream for themselves. The question is why is it necessary for students to achieve greatness in every walk of their lives? Does it come from within or from the adults around them? Continue reading “Why Do Students Want to Be Perfect in Everything?”