We all experienced those afternoons in school where students literally struggled to remain attentive in class due to factors that were not easily comprehensible. I am unsure about who was culpable when such scenarios occurred but we can all agree that there is a need to develop innovative ways of making learning interesting for all students irrespective of the environment and seasons. At home, parents face a similar dilemma and have seemingly ingrained imaginations on how they can persuade their children to be more enthusiastic about learning especially during school holidays.
In contemporary society, gaining knowledge is a central building block that the society can offer to young people. Perhaps that explains why we should not take this common Quote for granted, “Education is the key to Success”. We consider knowledge and our minds as the greatest tools that equip students at all levels with the skills necessary for pursuing entrepreneurship and hunting for jobs, activities key towards improving their living standards and building the economy.
Borrowing from the aforementioned perspectives, the big question therefore is; how can we make learning fun and interesting for students at all levels? Let us highlight the various viewpoints below.
Teachers and parents should involve themselves in projects/assignments mandated for students since they will be setting good examples for them. Extremely busy schedules for parents pose challenges towards the realisation of such interventions. On the other hand, teachers are under immense pressure to clear the syllabus, perhaps based on the structure of our system of education. Students gain motivation by emulating what they see their parents and teachers doing. Basic elements like spending time with students and children when learning or doing assignments respectively makes them feel special. Asking them about their progress in school, finding out what challenges they are facing while learning and how you can help, letting them know that you will be there for them and subtly reminding them of the beauty of education and the fruits they will reap thereafter are important involvements for empowering students.
Secondly, students in both lower and higher classes enjoy activities that involve practical works and games. Educational games, physical education (PE), practical lessons in complex subjects, Art and Craft and Music lessons are among many interventions that parents and teachers can embrace to make learning fun and interesting. The world is moving fast in terms of radical changes in technology and other elements that define our day-to-day lives. Parents and teachers should expose students to learning materials powered by technology. Eneza Education has bridged this gap using their SMS platform (Shupavu 291), Web Platform, mobile web and Android Application available on Google Play to improve learning experiences.
Thirdly, it is paramount for learners to attend educational shows tailored to the national curriculum. Studies show that students notwithstanding their varied abilities improve their comprehension of concepts when exposed to visual learning effects and actual situations where the application of the knowledge learnt occurs in real time. Simply put, parents and teachers should persistently explore different learning possibilities that are in tandem with current learning atmosphere. Encouraging students to participate in learning programs at an early time should compound this aspect.
Finally, this piece will be incomplete if we do not highlight the following extract by Edward Bolles,
“We remember what we understand; we understand only what we pay attention to; we pay attention to what we want.”
(Bucks County Community College, 1999, p. 1)
After making all interventions, students should be in a position to develop their cognitive abilities by building their creativity and thinking skills. Once we achieve this, then can we say that they are educated, empowered and keen on making the world a better place through the application of the knowledge learnt.
About the author
John Eliakim is an Account Manager at Eneza Education. He is keen on creating a positive impact through writing by engaging education stakeholders, parents, teachers and students on various platforms to improve the quality and accessibility of learning resources.