Workshop on adult learning begins at GNDU

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 25

Santosh Panda, Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE), IGNOU, New Delhi, delivered the inaugural address in one-week workshop on andragogical practices under centre of professional development of teacher educators, school of education, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching Scheme, MHRD, organised at the department of education of Guru Nanak Dev University. Stressing on the need to orient the teachers to the andragogical practices to engage adult learners in developing higher-order thinking skills, he reiterated that teachers should teach what they can practically do and put into action. He highlighted that employability skills were as important in higher education as social and life skills. As many as 30 participants from various universities and colleges from all over India are participating in the workshop.

Prof Hardeep Singh, dean, students welfare, was the chief guest of the valedictory session. Prof Panda said that quality education was need of the hour. He also stressed that we should revisit our ancient Gurukul system and try to revive it in the present scenario. “The teaching-learning process should not be made complex rather teachers should have the ability to take students on their pathways. Higher education should enable the students to reflect in action and reflect on the action, as this can only lead to total quality management,” he said.

Prof Amit Kauts, project coordinator, school of education, shared that we need a paradigm shift from pedagogy to andragogy. The purpose of this workshop is to link adult learning theory to instructional strategies to foster interactive the learning environment in the classroom.