As discussed in the preceding pages, good teaching is
causing, facilitating and promoting learning. In order to achieve the purpose,
the teacher, like other craftsmen, has to use certain skills- commonly styled
as “devices of teaching .” These devices are the external modes or forms which
teaching may take from time to time. According to John Mander , there are five
main reasons which might justify the use of these teaching expedients. They
are:
·
To teach something more thoroughly so that the
children may retain the subject-matter taught;
·
To teach something more quickly. This will
result in “covering more ground” in the given time, and thus give a better
chance of “getting through the syllabus;”
·
As a means of creating or sustaining interests;
·
As a means of intergrating a number of seprate
pieces, of work already learned by other means ; and
·
As a means of bringing with the experience and
understanding of children something which is new to them. This often includes
the presentation to children, in simplified form, of matters which are
appreciated fully only by adults.
Thus, a proper use of these
tricks of trade makes learning quicker and interesting.
Differents teaching devices
A number of classifications have
been given of teaching devices.
John Mander has suggested two
categories of teaching devices
·
Devices of limited application
·
Devices of general education
Devices of limited application:
This category includes both skills of
verbal presentation, suited only to particular facts, and mechanical devices
which illustrate single facts or the process. The mechanical devices include
much specialized apparatus. Every facts offers its own opportunity for bright
imagery and forceful expression. Counting letter-cards may be used for teaching
reading.
Devices of general application:
In this category, devices such as cinema, film strips projectors,
epidiascope linguaphone etc., may be
used in the teaching of subjects.This category also includes devices of
curriculum presentation such as projects, and units which can be applied in the
teaching of any subject.
