Jokin Arul Raj – Computer Science Teacher – Good Shepherd International School (GSIS), Ooty
Jokin Arul Raja, the Computer science teacher at Good Shepherd International School (GSIS), Ooty, Tamil Nadu handles IGCSE and ICSE curriculum and is also a buddy teacher for a class. Raja shares his experiences and thoughts with us…
Teachers who left a lasting impression
My Principal Mr.Kasirajan and my English teacher Ms.Carola made a great impact in my learning. I had trouble in learning English as a subject. They took efforts to analyse and understand the area where I faced difficulties. They did a lot of follow up to improve my skills and marks. It is their effort and the courage that they gave me that brought a hike of 92 percentage in my board examination from the regular marks I used to get.
Project based learning method
Classroom assignments or Project based learning is a learner-centred method allowing learners to collaborate with their fellow mates and help them develop the skills such as time management, critical thinking, problem solving and communication. It also helps the teacher to assess learners as well as the effectiveness of their own teaching. Students apply the same in their day-to-day life. To be brief, it makes the students practice what they learn.
Challenges of a teacher
Being a teacher is not that simple as he has to address the different needs of different learners in the same classroom. Teachers are responsible to meet the long term goal of students. They have to discover the full potential of each learner to transform their social, emotional, cognitive levels. In order to address these challenges, teachers have to move from traditional teaching methods to recent trending methods such as PBL, Peer Tutoring, Flipped learning, E-learning, Collaborative learning, etc. Also, many non-profit organisations like New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Council of International Schools (CIS) and British Council are coming up with various learning strategies.
Calculators in classrooms
According to International curriculum, usage of calculators by the students in classroom is allowed only after/if the students are completely strong enough to do the mathematical calculations by their own. It saves time and enables the learners to work out more problems. But at the same time our Indian curriculum does not encourage this practice as students have to prepare themselves for many competitive exams where they are not allowed access to any gadgets.
Computer Science in everyday life
Is it possible to live without computers in this 21st century? The scope of computer science is vast such as Education, Traffic control, Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), scientific research, Medicine, Communication… etc. Each and every one needs these everyday. Computer have developed the lifestyle of mankind.
Future of computer science education
Education for all. It is a common statement in India. In the same way, I would say digital literacy for all to open the eyes of all people to see the positive and negative sides of digital world. Common man also should know how to access computers like operating ATM, and CDM. Awareness should be made about cyber security, cyber-crime, cyber ethics and laws. All schools should have well equipped labs to teach computer science, robotics. Teachers are to be provided with in-service training to update them on how to teach Machine Learning, Data Visualization, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence. Only then will the future generation will be more innovative than the present.
Contact details:
Good Shepherd International School,
Good Shepherd Knowledge Village,
M.Palada, Ootacamund – 643 004
Tamil Nadu, India
+91 423 2550 371
+91 423 2550 386