(CH. Sirisha Rani)
Following the emergence of digital technologies, the whole world has seen an unprecedented technological impetus where the physical presence is gradually becoming redundant.
More particularly so in the field of education. The e-learning platforms are acting as representatives of change in the area of transfering education, information, thoughts, etc. beyond the boundaries of classrooms.
Educators are also supposed to understand that modern technology can go a long way in advancing and shaping educational goals to meet the needs of the evolving social contexts.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which posed a threat to age-old group learning, has forced upon us a situation where we have no option but to deploy the digital age technological tools, more specifically ICT tools, into our pedagogy. This is where the term techno-pedagogy took birth.
To be precise the techno-pedagogy means the integration of pedagogy with technology. Techno-pedagogy is the combination of both pedagogical and technological aspects.
If one wants to assess the journey of teachers from pedagogy to techno-pedagogy, one has to evaluate the techno-pedagogical knowledge of teachers, the role of teachers in the emergent scenario, and the challenges related to techno-pedagogical practices.
In the present Covid-19 circumstances, the entire education system suffered a jolt due to the collapse of the traditional classroom teaching practices.
This warranted a systematic shift towards the infusion of technology into education. The knowledge of pedagogy is considered as the art and science of teaching and the term ‘Techno-pedagogy’ requires educators to resort to teaching, connecting and collaborating with students, parents, and peers with the help of technology.
For this, the teachers should be-
1.cognizant of techno-Pedagogy
2. able to explore the role of the techno–pedagogically skills
3. able to overcome the inconveniences of using techno-pedagogical practices in the present scenario.
4. well trained in the use of advanced tools to engage themselves digitally.
The coronavirus pandemic, which has unleashed social and economic interruption worldwide, has also ushered in an opportunity for the education sector to adapt itself to a new technologies.
From March 2020 onwards, the inclination among teachers to use techno-pedagogy has been on the rise. Despite many inconveniences of using pedagogical practices in the present scenario, teachers are doing their best to students to engage them digitally. And also, the students are encouraged to ask their queries and develop new ideas or research tendencies by introducing different types of digital tools.
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided the education sector with an opportunity to emerge stronger.
A very important step in education delivery is to plan and organize everything digitally. There is a multitude of ways to deliver learning activities and content with innovative dimensions for effective classroom instruction.
Many teachers are enthusiastic to expend the time and effort to keep e-classes active and student-centered during the ongoing turmoil that plagued the system.
The important aspect of the online teaching and learning mode is that many schools are encouraging self-driven learning among the students.
Now the teachers are using different software teaching tools to assess their student performance digitally. Right from teaching, digital modes are being used in collecting assignments, organizing events, recording classes in an effective way.
Reporting information and evaluating student’s performance through digital certificates is another curious aspect of techno-pedagogy.
What is heartening is that a majority of teachers are eager to learn digital teaching skills and devoting their time and energy to change the traditional classrooms into digital classrooms in order to help their students overcome the post-COVID-19 challenges.
Though the displacement of traditional education is bound to cause trauma, chaos, and uncertainty for students and teachers alike, it is certain to pave the path for the realization of our collective dream of Digital India.
In the process, the techno-pedagogical exposure and critical reflections, help the teachers enhance their cognitive levels boundlessly.
(Ms.CH. Sirisha Rani, Assistant professor Malla Reddy College of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad)
Nice good information