Strategic Changes in Teacher Education

Abstract

In the age of robotics, AI and computer-centric learning & job opportunities the profession of teaching, as a career, is losing ground in India. Youths opt teaching only after other career options become exhausted. Adapting innovative ways of teaching, going beyond prescribed curriculum, avoiding implantation of pre-fixed beliefs, etc. have become essential for motivating and educating trainee teachers in teacher training institutions. Shifting focus away from one way, lecture-type classroom teaching and engaging trainees in interactive learning combined with extra-curricular activities have significantly increased attendance in classes of our institute. Taking groups of trainees to classrooms in schools (out of institute campus), using examples found in real life situations in community, making them interact with parents/guardians to find needs of learning, gamification like use of word play, puzzles, quizzes, etc. are making teaching-learning process interesting, both for trainee teachers and children. Small project-based learning, selecting topics as per personal interest, is developing management skills, critical thinking and orienting trainees towards research. Further, use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse strengths and weaknesses of students leading to development and employment of personalized teaching-learning modules are showing good results. Psychological implication of all these efforts is resulting in production of school and subject managers instead of mere teachers.