CLASSROOM WALLS

Breaking the traditional classroom wall is like tearing down a large building. It requires proper planning, high will power, a passion to see them down and yes; the right alternative technological tools to do the job. Technology has proven to be literally limitless when it comes to facilitating the teaching learning process both in and out of the classroom setting and is the only alternative to this long enduring model – traditional four walled classrooms.

The traditional four walled classroom model portrays itself in a number of ‘glorified’ ways but still maintains a somewhat common paradigm that learning – despite the use of technology – should take place within four walls of the classroom. Use of technology is more of a separate activity with little or no relevance to the usual ‘very important’ lessons within the allocated and fixed lesson periods. All learning that takes place outside our traditional classroom walls (in this paradigm) is considered to be accidental and not deliberate.

I disagree strongly to the above tradition. By appropriately using the right technology tools to support the teaching learning process and applying ourselves to well-planned and facilitated learning, technology can do wonders in breaking the traditional four walls of our classrooms. In this application, technology should be seen as a mechanism that can ensure that learning takes place anywhere and everywhere; appealing to the learners’ interests and convenience and providing for self-paced learning among others.

The world, as we know it, becomes a small global village and learners can collect, create and share knowledge in an unlimited number of ways. The use of technology in the context of bringing down our traditional classroom walls can only be limited by a teacher’s creativity and a learner’s intuition and imagination.