Allah says in Quran:
Are those who know and the ones who don’t know equal?
Human kind is epitome of creation for his intellect and linguistic competence. In fact, in this highly advanced technology and scientific era the importance of quality education has been inevitable to cater the need of challenges of time and the way forward is to preparing our next generation who should be equipped with relevant skills to deal with emerging complex trends of the world.
Moreover, in order to follow the very notion into achievement a conceptual learning plan, need to be devised and ensure accurate execution to produce the desired results. Subsequently the desired outcome in the shape of self actualized knowledge with multi-dimensional skills will help students to harness challenging opportunities for higher education and prepare young graduates to meet the local and global demands of job market.
Global market trends to see a radical transformation in academia so the knowledge based societies can orient with the market designs. In this regard for instance Rote Memorization teaching approaches to be replaced with conceptual learnings.
It is because a general observation reflects that in public sector educational institutions prevalent teaching approaches are based on rote memorization. Mainly the assessment criteria through question papers in examination are designed on that vary pattern of rote memorization. Under this system of examination, what is observed that only memorizing skills are tested instead of conceptual comprehension.
An empirical study of both teaching methods and their impact
1. Rote Memorization | 1. conceptual learning |
2. Restriction on thinking process | 2. involved thinking process |
3. Tunnel vision | 3. making research minded |
4. Dumped information | 4. creation of knowledge |
5. Mediocre and followers | 5. professionals and leaders |
6. No Role in development and change | 6. champions of change |
Moreover, college and university student being adults should be dealt very carefully. On one hand it is important that one should not consider a student as empty vessels and inject blood in them, and on the other hand it is significantly important to avoid a teacher centered approach where only a teacher is responsible to deliver one sided lecture. Similar irrelevant and unprepared lessons worse payoffs. In fact, even the new academic standards emphasize on students’ centered approach, which shows a great scale of independent relation between student and a teacher which complement each other during knowledge orientation on subject matter? Otherwise traditional practices of teacher centered approaches make a student careless, irresponsible and lethargic by practicing teacher centric approaches. Hence to make a student careful and responsible faculty should pay a role of facilitator NOT a dictator. Student should be guided in such a way that helps them to carry out academic research work. Nevertheless, after decades the policy makers have not been able to develop an effective teaching learning system. Therefore, the existing obsoleted andragogy desperately needs to be replaced with conceptual learning which encompasses all necessary areas for personal and professional development of a student. It means making surgery of a topic with deep sense of understanding.
Amjad Ali DIRECTOR
Student Affairs