India Needs Educators Who Explore and Experiment With Learning - Harold Andrew Patrick, PhD

Want to become a member of Eat My News? You can enrol for EMN membership now from here.

1. Tell us more about your experience as an educator. 

It is interesting, challenging, and at the same time a meaningful one. I call myself a catalyst in the life of a learner. I feel alive in this role as my responsibility is in shaping the learning experiences of students. As a change agent, my intervention allows students to maintain their identity yet embrace diverse perspectives. 

2. What is your opinion of the New Indian education policy changes? 

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century to replace the thirty-four-year-old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986. The policy aims at universalization of education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 percent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in school education by 2030. 

Some of the important changes are Multiple entries and exit points in higher education, a stage-wise mechanism to be established for granting graded autonomy to colleges, easing of board exams, change in the report card, foreign universities to set up campuses in India, and eliminating the rigid separation of streams.

3. What changes in the teaching methodologies have you seen in recent times? 

In higher education, it is more experiential, outcome-based, and blended methodologies are in practice. The focus is on measuring graduate attributes such as knowledge in a relevant discipline; skills of employability; and expected behaviors. 

4. How does education help one do well in their career? 

I believe that except for entrepreneurship as a career, all other professions need the right and appropriate education to perform and grow in a career. The modern concept of holding trade or profession related education certification has added value to employment opportunity and career advancement. 

It lays the foundation of knowing, doing, and being of one’s career by imparting employability skills such a conceptual clarity, communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills among others. 

5. Do you think teaching as a profession is viewed at par with corporate jobs? 

Teaching is a service profession and therefore may not be viewed at par with corporate jobs. In India the gap is glaring, however, in other countries, the gaps are being reduced. Not much difference in salaries, however when we compare the perks, perquisites, and benefits there is absolutely no comparison. 

We are seen to play a transformational role in touching and shaping the lives of students and that of society at large, equating the profession with that of a corporate one falls short on many counts as the interventions of educators are often more far-reaching and intangible on the individual. 

6. How can we adopt technology to make teaching more effective? 

The current pandemic has amply demonstrated the reach and effectiveness of the technology. Smart classrooms have already shown positive effects through the use of multi-media content, interactive boards, etc. 

During the pandemic—all of which have helped in engaging students in the digital mode and increasing their attention span. 

The focus on blended learning and MOOCs enables technology platforms for learning to have empowered the community of learners to adopt self-paced approaches in a remote learning environment even while educators raise their level of current thinking by powering traditional teaching methods with newer digital teaching tools and learning resources. 

7. Why does India need more educators like you? 

Res: For me, it is passion and calling, it is not a profession it is a vocation and I am especially called for this role. I did have a stint in corporate but the satisfaction of being who I am is fulfilling. My only hope is that the government and the educational system must enhance value attached to the profession of an educator. 

India needs educators who explore and experiment with learning in the classroom while continuously innovating on teaching-learning approaches that can be co-created by students. Educators need to befriend learning communities and play a role as catalysts and facilitators rather than as authority figures in the classroom. 

Educators need to succeed with the new generation of learners and engage with them based on values such as student-centeredness, empathy, and mutual respect. Students have unique learning styles and seek out educators that not only inspire learning in the classroom but also build in their readiness. 

The role of an educator is today of a mentor who strives to build aspiration for lifelong learning in students. 

Acknowledgment: Dr. Sudrashan Sheshanna and Dr. Sharieff M H, Professors, CMS Business School, Jain (Deemed to be University), for their inputs.

 

Harold Andrew Patrick, PhD

Professor and Dean

CMS Business School, Jain (Deemed to be University),

Bangalore

Interviewed By - Sandeep Virothu