Effective teaching-learning methods not dependent on teachers' capabilities only

TANJUNG MALIM: Effective teaching and learning methods are not only determined by the capabilities and expertise of teachers, but also by setting and achieving the real learning objectives and implementation of pedagogy.
Higher Education director-general Datin Paduka Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir said based on that premise, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), here, had gathered local and foreign experts to share ideas and strategies for effective teaching and learning methods through the "Best Practices in Teaching and Learning Colloquium 2017", here, today.
"Besides sharing ideas and strategies, educators also need to create interesting learning environments accompanied by good performance by the administrators and leaders of the educational institutions," she said when opening the colloquium at the UPSI Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus.
The one-day programme featured speakers from local and foreign tertiary institutions, State Education Department, and teachers and would-be teachers, aimed at raising the quality of education and boosting reference in the field of education in this country.
Meanwhile, UPSI vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Mohd Sahandri Gani Hamzah said organising of colloquiums was one of the efforts by the university to make it a centre for activities and reference in the field of teaching and learning.
He said the programme was recorded for uploading on YouTube so that the information and ideas gathered on the best teaching and learning methods could be shared with educators across Malaysia and the world.
"Among the issues highlighted by the colloquium speakers were learning skills in the 21st century such as information and communications technology skills, thinking, problem-solving, interpersonal and self-instructional skills.
"The term learning skills in the 21st usually refers to basic competency in working together, digital literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving to be taught by the educational institutions to enable the students to be competitive in the face of current challenges.
"However, educators need to shift to various aspects, considering that the teaching and learning process in the 21st century requires certain characteristics including the ability to master the subjects, namely, the curriculum content, and pedagogy and use of the latest technology in the teaching process," he said. — Bernama