Dear Content Contributor,

Recently, global awareness on the establishment of Centers of Excellence in Teaching and Learning in many Universities is on the increase, even in our country, Nigeria. Faculties build up ideas, contents, materials, policies etc. However, the critical problem affecting learning is the method of delivering the teaching contents to the learners. Meanwhile, Effective teaching and learning are activities that should take place in a classroom environment. They involve both the teachers and students. Sometimes, the involvement of one does not depend on the other.  Let us reflect on the principle of teaching and learning, as discussed by experts from the Carnegie Mellon University Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation Centre, where it was stated that “Teaching is a complex, multifaceted activity, often requiring instructors to juggle multiple tasks and goals simultaneously and flexibly”. The following set of principles can make teaching both more effective and more efficient; by helping us create the conditions that support student learning activity and minimizing the need for revising materials, contents and policies. While the implementation of these principles requires a commitment in  terms of time and effort, it certainly pays off on the long run. Read more

 

The major feedback from teaching activity is learning. It has been discovered that students’ prior knowledge go a long way in helping or hindering their learning skills. In this case, we need to educate our students on the approach to take that will not hinder their learning capabilities. For effective learning, let us read through the following learning principles:

Can students’ prior knowledge  help or hinder learning?

Students come into our courses with knowledge, beliefs and attitudes gained in other courses and through daily life experiences. As students bring these knowledge to bear in the classrooms, they influence how they filter and interpret what they are learning. Read more