The writer, Al-Hajj Khalil Champsi (Toronto, Canada) is a professional engineer, PMP certified, and a community volunteer.
In this era of online studies, it has become even more challenging in getting across instructions in VAK (Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic) styles of teaching. Therefore practice, deliberation and experiences gained need to be shared amongst peers thus providing more enjoyable moments for the learners.
Therefore, it is very important for the instructors/teachers to identify learners preferred learning style. This way, the recipient can be engaged in the communications. This is more required for teachers to be ahead of the game and learn the instruction styles and assist the learner’s capacity to absorb of the subject matter.
Similarly, as an educationalist and a teacher one has to be sensitive to need of the students especially in the classroom settings where children have different learning needs. It happens sometimes one comes a across special needs student who requires the teacher to provide a one-to-one basis instruction in all formats VAK to get across to the learner and break the barrier of obstruction or noise to the communications.
Education requires a set instructions and development using tools and techniques available (Such as electronic hardware, Power point, White board, Books, Pen, papers, eraser, Black board with writing material, Text books, Online resource, Library, etc) to ensure the learner acquire knowledge with understanding, in order retain and apply in real life.
In order to understand better, let us look at is Critical thinking and have a better understanding of providing better education in the modern era. Critical thinking consists of the following main pillars:
- Understand the links between ideas.
- Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas.
- Recognise, build and appraise arguments.
- Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning.
- Approach problems in a consistent and systematic way.
- Reflect on the justification of their own assumptions, beliefs and values
Critical thinking is thinking about things in certain ways so as to arrive at the best possible solution in the circumstances that the thinker is aware of. In more everyday language, it is a way of thinking about whatever is presently occupying
In reference to the story from Quran, Chapter 31 verse 19, Luqman is advising his son, “Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! the harshest of all voices is the voice of the Donkey.”
To further understand from this verse, one has to look at Auditory part of understanding: making a conversation (a type of speech, message, etc) in a modest ways at all time and especially in classroom settings. This way the auditory method of teaching becomes effective and in which the learner can absorb through positive communications. In short this can be termed as nurturing or growth of the learner, which encompasses character building.
Another good example can be an act of prayers. When one prays the use of VAK comes into practice. Recitation of the prayers is auditory activity, Ritual of prayers is kinaesthetic activity and after prayers, recitation of supplication from the Books can be look upon as a visual activity.
One can apply such principles in the modern era education with critical thinking to bring a change to both the teacher and the learner and make this into a learner’s centre with the use of VAK and 80:20 rule.
A per part lateral thinking, learning cannot be defined by time. Our Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said, ’’One should seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave”. This means learning process is timeless and cannot be confined to an era.
As teacher one should emulate the footsteps of our Holy Prophet (saw) and his household in being ‘kind and merciful’ to the learners and the rewards is from Almighty Allah (AWJ).
References: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-thinking.html
The 80:20 Rule in the Language Classroom By Jennifer Robertson Montes
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