‘I hear and I forget, I see and I remember.’
As educators, we have all heard this quote by Confucious. However, have you thought about what happens if we use both visual and auditory stimulations in the process of teaching and learning? Audiovisual media and communication are transformative aids that have changed the education scenario worldwide. We realise that audiovisual learning aids are more than just entertainment when we see how social media influences individual choices and decisions. As schools we need to make the optimal use of this medium to enhance learning outcomes.
Educational institutions can reap significant benefits by using media in classrooms. It makes learning more engaging and fosters a learning environment conducive to deeper understanding. Audiovisual media stimulates children’s cognitive capabilities and makes it easier for them to analyse, comprehend and absorb new ideas.
Students that belong to Gen Alpha are permanently connected to technology and are constantly bombarded with colourful, fast paced visuals. When you compare this to a traditional classroom, it seems pale in comparison. Teachers today deal with students who have an attention span of 8 seconds. They need to captivate students’ imagination and create strong impressions in a short span of time.
So, what do schools need to do? The education sector is being exposed to a huge influx of visual media. We need to jump on the bandwagon wisely, weigh our options with care and decide on what would help our learners the most.
The first step to selecting the right technology for our students is to identify our learning objectives. Here are some questions which will help an educator make informed decisions:
Is it enhancing literacy skills?
Is it promoting critical thinking and analysis?
Is it promoting cultural awareness and diversity?
Is it fostering communication and discussion?
Is it cost effective?
Is it enjoyable for the children?
Integrating audiovisual media in the classroom has become increasingly crucial to enhance the teaching learning process. There are multiple ways in which they can be seamlessly integrated into our schools’ pedagogical practices.
In Gitanjali Schools, using flipped classrooms has proved to be extremely beneficial. It gives students the freedom to process information and learn at their own pace making learning more inclusive and comprehensive.
Instead of merely reading about scientific concepts, students can view visual representations that demonstrate phenomena like the water cycle, electrical circuits, or chemical reactions. For example, PhET Interactive Simulations provide free, research-based simulations that help students understand scientific concepts visually.
Social sciences can be brought to life through documentaries and virtual tours of historical sites by using AR and VR. Watching a documentary about ancient civilizations or taking a virtual tour of the 7 wonders of the world can make history more tangible and relatable for students. Platforms like Google Arts & Culture offer virtual tours of museums and cultural landmarks around the world. Students can explore different parts of the world, observe wildlife, and experience different terrains through virtual reality and 360-degree videos. Websites like Discovery Education provide virtual field trips on a variety of topics, from space exploration to oceanography.
Complex mathematical concepts can be difficult to grasp through text alone. Educational videos and interactive tools can break down these abstract concepts into clearly understandable steps. We’ve all heard of the popular Khan Academy’s video tutorials that help students understand math concepts better.
Film has become an increasingly popular teaching tool in our classrooms at Gitanjali group of Schools. Its unique ability to engage, entertain and educate makes it a valuable addition to any curriculum. Films are a powerful medium to convey emotions and narratives. Using film in our schools for life skills training and value-based discussions through School Cinema has proved extremely advantageous over the last 15 years. Social emotional skills and mental wellbeing are tackled beautifully in the movies provided.
Audiovisual media can also enhance lessons in creative arts and music. Students can watch performances, listen to various genres of music, and even create their own digital art and music using various softwares available. Programs like GarageBand allow students to compose music, while video tutorials can teach techniques in painting and drawing, and Google’s Gemini helps create digital art.
Skills and knowledge learnt through visually stimulating material tends to last in our memories for a long time as it is one of the most effective styles of retaining information. This is corroborated by the fact that 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual and visuals are processed 60,000 times faster in the brain than text.
Research has proven that audiovisual books help children comprehend language easily, by aiding active listening and critical thinking skills. At Gitanjali group of schools we run a reading programme where students in the primary classes read, listen to and watch stories, do skill based activities, write and publish articles.
Educators who embrace these tools can provide richer, more immersive learning experiences that prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. As technology continues to evolve, the potential for audiovisual media in education will only expand, offering new and exciting opportunities for both teachers and students.
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