Micro Teaching / Facilitating - Class

Topic: Micro Teaching / Facilitating - Class

Resource Person: Dr. Anand A. Samuel/ Dr. T. Subbulakshmi /

Date: 23.06.2020

Session: AN4

Time: 2:45 PM to 4:40PM

 

Today’s session was chaired by Dr. Anand Samuel, Vice Chancellor of VIT, and appreciated all the participants of this faculty training program for their patience, listening and observation.  Dr. Anand Samuel Sir, thanked Prof.Tania, Assistant Professor, VITSOL, for her delivering and giving insight on POSH.  Dr. VC added a few more inputs related to Prof. Tania’s talk on harassment and the current procedures and rules in VIT.  Sir, came up stating that mistakes may happen because of innocence, ignorance, even educated do, but mistake is a mistake hence it will be punished. Therefore, any faculty member who is involving himself/herself in any form of harassment would be viewed rigorously, VIT adheres to the rules strictly.  Sir, has also stated that when an action is taken against any person, VIT does not disclose the matter and publicize to any other faculty/staff of the VIT, it is strictly made confidential, may be for the betterment of all.  

 

By making examples out of VIT itself VC sir, cautioned all the faculty members to adhere to the rules and responsibilities of VIT especially in the issues of harassment.  Sir, has cited examples starting from UG to PhD, where the harassment took place and how the offender was dealt strictly.  At the same time he also quoted one example, for a question raised, regarding caste discrimination, where he pointed out that even such cases also will be seriously considered and action would be taken.  He further strongly points out that women are protected, hence action and the process is quickly taken ie., within 24 hours, the matters are scrutinized and decisions will be taken.  Sir has also conveyed that VIT has a complaint cell, and there is a committee, consisting of internal and external members.  Once a complaint is received immediately the matter is dealt and decisions will be taken within 24 hours.  This quick action is processed for the betterment and relief for the victim or the aggrieved party.  

 

Apart from guiding on the issue of harassment against women, VC sir also assured that men are also protected at equal footings.  He also went for a voice poll where all the participants assured that no such event would occur.  Answering a question why aggrieved parties do not come and give a complaint in the beginning, Sir replied that there may be many reasons, like the students may have fear or they want to complete the course without any disturbance, etc.  With regard to an apology made by the offender, whether it can be considered, though in the strict sense, it is not accepted, and the earlier speaker of the Faculty Training Program also suggested that apology will not be considered in the “Court of Law”.  One more question was regarding the awareness to the student, where VC sir said it is known to them, VIT provides awareness about everything, including harassment and above all it is available in the website of VIT.

Micro Teaching Session Started @3:45PM

Now with respect to Micro Teaching, VC Sir explained the classroom teaching is entirely different from online teaching.  They are not one and the same, because in the classroom we engage the students and the teacher will have complete control, but online it is challenging.  If one hour class is taken it should be seen that students learn something connected to the course, but if it is taken for one hour without any activity or interaction the students would feel exhausted and bored. 

Therefore, Sir has suggested that the teaching should be for 20 minutes and the remaining time (30 mins) should be involved with activities like: G.D, Presentation, VR/AR, Simulation games etc. that will involve the students and they get a “positive feel and students learns by doing”.

He advised the faculty to adopt new Pedagogy Methodology in their teaching and tools to be adopted for ultimate learning.

 With respect to questions raised on online teaching, VC sir has given a balanced view on that. 

Ø  He said that when materials are taken from different websites it should be seen that the faculty members are maintaining the sources and said to acknowledge the author of a particular work. 

 

Ø   He also said that retrieving learning materials from the website amounts to stealing and sometimes leads to punishment, in-order to avoid such a situation it’s better to acknowledge the source or authors of that specific work.

  

Ø  On the issue of naughty students who do not maintain the decorum of Online session, Sir has advised that the students should be diplomatically approached rather than one which is usually in nature. 

 

Ø  For the question of standardization, he said that the question standardization is not required, rather, the ultimate requirement is teacher, students and subject collaboration and objectives are achieved.  He also stated that creativity should also be part of it. Further cautioned that, as freedom is given this does not mean anything can be done, hence, along with the freedom, the limit also must be known to the teacher and balanced within the limits.  Sir has also conveyed that we must learn from mistakes, for a question regarding when a teacher is taking a class, others would also watch, he said that that would increase the teacher’s accountability.  And advice to be very careful in online teaching. 

 

Ø  On another question regarding Do’s and Don’ts, he replied that mandatory rules would be enforced and asked the teachers to be responsible along with dos and don’ts. The Do’s and Don’ts during Online Teaching and Learning – A framework will be circulated shortly to adhere during the Online Classes.

 The Session was effective and ended with the explanation of assignment work and submission procedures.

 

Prepared by: Prof. Kamban - VITSOL

                        Prof: Nisha R - VITBS