Role of Classroom Activities in Enhancing Students’ Participation and Motivational Level

All teachers will surely agree on the reality of dealing with diverse learners in their day to day teaching, who have different intelligence level:  no doubt, it some times helps facilitator to bring varieties in class to respond various needs; on the other hand, it sometimes diverts the focus of the class as well.  

Educationists firmly believe when students don’t get interaction and environment of learning with fun, they usually get depressed and start ill-behaved. A conscious teacher always keep in mind the effective use of teaching which could be done through different teaching methods including variety of teaching strategies. However these approaches bring out learning environment as C.R.Christian and D.A Garvin mentioned, “To teach is to engage students in learning”. Although the active engagement of learners is possible through various ways and all the suggested strategies have meaningful affects that facilitate students to take part in such activities and enjoy learning.  

Morally teachers are responsible to engage their pupils in the learning experience, particularly in relation to the quality of the instructions and activities. No doubt, the ultimate purpose of any activity is learning which could be obtained through doing. Hence it may be either “Minds-on” or “Hands-on”. “Hands-on” learning by doing are powerful ideas, and we know that engaging students actively and thoughtfully in their studies pays off in better learning”. Hand-on activities includes art & craft, creative writing, role play, drama, problem solving while in “Minds-on” activities usually students engaged in imagination, mind mapping, concept map, reflective thinking, brainstorming, higher order questioning, discussion, think-Pair-Share, interviews, PMI, analytical thinking. A qualified teacher may link these activities with proper lesson management and organization where learning taking place during the lesson to maintain pupil attention, interest and involvement. 

Having said that the function of classroom activities is to maintain misbehaviour at maximum level and sustain their interest. It also provides opportunities for children to explore & engage with the content in a creative and dynamic way. Furthermore it encourages learners to express their thoughts, feelings, and responses. Jean Piaget (1896-1980) believed learning occurs by an active construction of meaning, rather than by receiving it passively. He states “when we, as learners, encounter an experience or situation that conflicts with our current way of thinking, a state of imbalance is created”. When a teacher allow learners to  construct their own knowledge, it automatically enhance their critical thinking which further lead him or her to take decisions  for their  self development.