Keeping abreast with the times


KEEPING ABREAST WITH THE TIMES
Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB
          It is quite common to see that when there is stagnant water, it begins to smell and mosquitoes lay their eggs in it. The water gets polluted. Likewise, if our education had to remain the same as it was during the Greek times, what would our world be like? But quite the contrary, things have changed drastically and so has the education system. Yet the point that I want to make is that in order to be an effective educator, it is important to keep abreast with the signs of the times.
            One could raise the question as to why is it important to keep in sync with the times? We need to since unless we get into the “shoes” of a student, we will not be able to properly give the right dose of education that is apt for one’s intelligence. Surely, nobody would feed rice and curry to a small baby for the mere fact that such food is not suitable for a person of that age. Similarly, it is important to educate what is necessary for the student keeping in mind each one’s capacity to learn and the level of intelligence.
            In connection with this, I was also struck by the fact that most of us are visual learners while the doers and those who listen occupied the ‘minority’ spot. Hence, it would certainly be an obvious fact that if one was to listen for a span of thirty to forty minutes, then he or she would “tune-off”. This is what the modern educationists try to advocate – to be creative so as to facilitate a better environment for the student to learn quickly and efficiently. 

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