The era when knowledge was considered wealth is dead, and welcome to the era of applying knowledge to create wealth. This article explains the importance of learner-teacher interaction in the classroom.
Anyone, anytime, anywhere across the globe, can access any information with the click of a button. There is no dearth of platforms to access information, but there is a growing need to convert the information into knowledge, leading to the application of knowledge in a real-world scenario. In this context, the importance of student-teacher interaction in classrooms comes into the picture. If a student wants only the information, they can click a button to get it in less than a fraction of a second. The primary purpose of joining a classroom is to learn and gain the best possible knowledge through active interaction and collaboration with the co-learners and the facilitators. Nowadays, most learners are millennials, and the Gen Z group is highly connected with people, events, and tech-savvy. Catering to this segment needs more interaction in the classrooms. The top ten benefits of student-teacher interaction in the classroom are as follows.
- Moving from Information Delivery to Knowledge Discussion
The course delivery facilitators should move from basic information delivery to knowledge discussion. The role of the facilitator is to ignite the learners’ minds about a learning unit and let them share their views, opinions, and experiences. The facilitator should also perform the role of the moderator. With this approach, the information exchange in the classroom becomes fruitful knowledge via active discussions.
- It provides opportunities for slow and fast learners to achieve learning effectiveness
The style and pace of learning differ from one individual to the next. By enabling active interactions in the classrooms, both slow and fast learners get the opportunity to exchange their knowledge, achieving overall learning effectiveness, sustainability, and uniformity in learning.
- Fosters multi-perspective learning
Learners from different geographical locations and ethnic backgrounds have different views, opinions, and experiences. This provides an excellent opportunity to interact in the classroom and achieve multi-perspective learning.
- Actively engages the learners and the course delivery facilitators
The interactions help the learner and the course delivery facilitators engage in the learning process since, at every moment, the kind of information or knowledge that will be shared is different. This provides an element of surprise in learning and engages the learner and the course delivery facilitators in the teaching-learning process.
- Creates opportunity to analyze, evaluate, and create new knowledge
The interaction in the classroom provides an excellent opportunity for the learner and the facilitator to analyze, evaluate, and create new knowledge about a learning topic. This can be accomplished by posing various questions/scenarios about the learning topic, allowing students to choose the best ones based on the pros and cons, and concluding with a decision.
- Enhances the communication and thinking skills of the learners
In general, one-way communication is followed in the learning process. The facilitator delivers the information, and the learners receive the information via listening. Interaction requires the facilitator to move from one-way communication to two-way communication. In that case, there is an excellent opportunity for the learner to interact with the facilitator to convey their thoughts, opinions, and ideas, which enhances their communication and thinking skills.
- It builds confidence and competitive spirit among the learners
Assume a specific learner in the classroom begins interacting with the facilitator; in that case, the other learners’ focus shifts to listening to the message communicated by their co-learner. This scenario will likely encourage other learners to listen to and respond to their point of view, which helps to develop confidence and a competitive spirit among the learners.
- It helps to enhance the recall memory and apply the knowledge in specific scenarios.
Because of the learners’ involvement in the learning process and prior exposure/experience in the classroom setting, the possibility of recalling the knowledge gained in classroom interactions is greater. Thus the application of the knowledge in specific scenarios is also increased.
- It provides an engaging learning environment and eliminates monotony.
A classroom full of interactions and engagements provides an excellent learning ambience and will help eliminate monotony in the teaching-learning process.
- Enhances the student’s satisfaction in learning and achieves learning effectiveness
The primary purpose of any learning activity is to acquire knowledge that can be applied in a real-world scenario, be it your personal life or professional life. This knowledge can be achieved only via active interactions between the learner and the facilitator. The concept of interactive learning is not only expected to achieve learning effectiveness but also to increase students’ satisfaction in the learning and knowledge acquisition process.
Conclusion:
“What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand. ” Xunzi (340 – 245 BC). Let’s practise interactions in the teaching-learning process to make our learners participate, understand the information and thereby develop fruitful knowledge for today, tomorrow, and the future.
About the Author
Dr.D.P. Sudhagar
Director-Internal Quality Assurance Cell
Dean-Research and Innovation Council
CEO-GCU Incubation Centre
Founder-EQA, CHTI, GRIFA, YLT
Garden City University
Bengaluru-49
