Solving the myriad of difficulties in the teaching-learning process confronting teachers and the students, as well as preparing them for the 21st century standard, an Ibadan based educational centre – Educational Advancement Centre (EAC), in partnership with a Polish firm, WhyBlueSky, on Tuesday, introduced new teaching methodology, named ‘Activity-Based Learning’ to some primary schools in Oyo state.
WhyBlueSky, which has been cooperating with low-income primary schools in Southern Nigeria, is assisting teachers to deliver instructions better by igniting the curiosity of the learners through the newly introduced ‘Activity-Based Learning’ strategy.
It also trained teachers on the four Cs of learning, which included critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity, which develop students’ competencies and skills that they needed for a successful life and satisfying employment.
Speaking at a one-day training workshop organised for some primary school teachers in the state on activity-based methodology for learning, the Founder, WhyBlueSky, Agata Wilam, noted that the work place has changed, thus teachers must not only change, but a desirable model for the children they teach.
She explained that the aim was to train the teachers according to curriculum on the innovative teaching method which was built on the rhythmic successes recorded by the Children’s University – an after school programme exploring children’s curiosity.
The Polish educationist added that the new learning method targeted at stimulating the interest of the children, mostly focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while some language courses are also included.
Wilam, who said she was in Nigeria to introduce new innovative teaching method to teachers and children said, “Poland has a very good education system and probably one of the best in PISA rankings, so I shouldn’t complain. Still , I find some missing paths in education. The Activity-Based Learning enable the teachers to fully experienced what learning by doing is.
“Everywhere, children are asking questions, this is not only in my country, everywhere they are curious, they are smart, they want to know, they want answers. So, why don’t we create the opportunity for them, engage them in activities about those topics that are interesting to them and they discover the answers together.
“We are cooperating with schools in Southern Nigeria to train teachers. Our workshops are interactive. The main ways for children to learn is by doing.
“When they do (children) things that are real and practical, they find the connection between real world and education. Children learn by research and they learn by doing things,” she stressed.
Speaking further, she maintained that the ‘Activity-Based Learning’ methodology makes learning enjoyable and easy to understand, saying “When you do things that are enjoyable, it is much easier to understand and be motivated to do it better than reading about it.
Wilam continued, “They don’t need to memorise everything. What they need is to convert the learning to problem-solving skills. It is skills that are needed in the 21st century. You just have to know how to do things based on what you know and available resources.
“Sit, listen, read, and memorise, that was how education was being structured in the past. But the 21st century skills needed are critical thinking , communication, collaboration (do things together), creativity which is beyond art but problem solving . We are focusing on those things, activity-based learning will help the children to develop those skills,” she added.
Also commenting, the EAC Coordinator, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, averred that practical is the real learning activity, suggesting that for Nigeria to compete among the comity of nations, the education curriculum should be changed.
He added that its content should be tailored towards problem solving.
“We should change our curriculum; It is no longer an issue of knowledge content but ability to do things. Students are being taught to learn as new problems are showing up. We put too much emphasis on certificates; we don’t look at what people can do and that’s our undoing. So, we should shift the focus from that,” he insisted.
According to Bamgbose, education is not supposed to be a problem for children, but something they will look forward to.
He said, “Children at a tender age work on things and they were able to deduce. These are the things that give people life skills. If we can get our children to look forward to learning, then we can change the whole paradigm and scope of education.”
Expressing his satisfaction with the partnership, the EAC coordinator noted, “We cannot singularly solve the problem of Nigeria or the problem of the world. If you find a good thing, I believe we have a responsibility to showcase it so that many more people will tap into it and go and make a difference.
“If it is so much of what we can do, we’ll be limited.That’s why we called them to come and learn new things that will transform their schools and impact the lives of the children. If we don’t do it, we’ll be doing the incoming generation a disservice.
“When the children can be creative, there will be progress”, Bamgbose assured .
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Akintola Mabel, told journalists that the training has exposed her to the practical approach, especially on how to ignite the curiosity of her students in learning.
Mabel, who noted that most children are kinaesthetic, also added that with constant engagement and encouragement, the newly introduced teaching methodology would be adopted in Nigeria.
She, however promised to replicate the teaching method in her school, especially for the pre-primary and primary school pupils, as “it is easy to remember what you see.”
