In the last few years, the education system in India, has witnessed many research-backed changes in its teaching methodology. Innovations in science and technology have played their part in upliftment of education in our country. The coronavirus pandemic has also contributed towards expediting the integration of technology and novel teaching methodologies into the educational framework. When a huge demand for remote learning was imposed, our technological prowess led to the development of best software for online teaching. These new upgradations in the education system are instrumental to students in achieving their full potential.
An exciting innovation in the education world today is the introduction of Whole Brain Teaching (WBT). We all know that learning is essentially, a neurological activity. The Whole Brain Teaching Model builds on the premise that different parts of our brain are responsible for different types of processes. Our brain has four functional quadrants, each of which are tasked with carrying out a single type of process among practical, analytical, relational and experimental processes. The idea is to adopt a multi-dimensional teaching approach which involves multiple areas of the brain simultaneously. This leads to more interconnectivity between different brain regions which helps in cementing the knowledge and inter linking it with previously learned concepts.
The application of both left and right hemispheres of the brain leads to a more wholesome learning environment. The right hemisphere of our brain is designated to carry out creative tasks whereas the left hemisphere is concerned with analytical processes. Whole brain teaching is carried out by trained teachers who employ various aids to engage both brain hemispheres of their students to provide more holistic learning. It is especially helpful in teaching preschoolers. The whole brain teaching model consist of an instructional cycle which involves the following….
Attention Getter phase-
Before any learning can happen, a teacher must gain the attention of his students. This phase is also known as Class-Yes phase. For instance an instructor utters the word “Class” to get his students attention, and in response, the students answer “Yes”, redirecting their attention to whatever the teacher is about to say next.
Brain Engager or Mirror phase-
An instructor, then makes use of hand gestures while speaking with the students and the students will mirror the actions and words of their teacher. This inculcates the habit of listening, engaging and following instructions of the teacher, in the students. If you engage all the brain areas of students by making them listen, speak and respond simultaneously, it is improbable for them to be distracted as the are fully engaged in the class.
Making Use of Collaborative Learning-
Also known as the Teach Ok phase, it requires the instructors to ask their students to teach what they learnt to their classmates using the same gestures and words which the instructor has taught them.
Playing Games-
This phase consists of scoreboard games wherein students engage in games and earn rewards and points for successfully doing a task, as a group and if they fail, the teacher gets the points. Games keep the students engaged and motivated and are an application of gamification in education.
Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) has several advantages like higher student engagement and the development of an active learning environment. Student engagement is the pillar of learning. Whether a teacher uses the best app to teach online, or teaches in traditional classrooms, a high level of student engagement is a pre-requisite for any learning. The whole Brain Teaching model helps in designing courses that engage both hemispheres of a student’s brain, thereby making the class more engaging and captivating for him. A higher student engagement helps in improving upon the learning outcomes of students. Moreover, Whole Brain Teaching is an active teaching approach. We are well aware of the benefits of an active learning environment over the passive learning approach followed in traditional teaching methods which are more focused on instruction-based teaching. Active learning methods like Whole Brain Teaching put students in the center of their own learning and keep them engaged with the study material. This leads to better processing of information and assimilation of knowledge in the minds of the students.
Therefore, it is evident that Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) is a highly effective teaching methodology especially for teaching pre school or primary school students.
