Teachers get creative in new normal

COVID-19 | The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the world to adapt to new norms with the education sector here not spared its effects and those under the Ministry of Education - especially teachers - required to tap into their creativity to find new approaches in the teaching-learning process.

Since the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) and closure of schools and universities in March, traditional or face-to-face instruction has changed to online or virtual learning.

At the urging of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to adapt to the new normal, and realising that the new teaching methods have the potential for wide and future application, educators have tried hard to add variety to the teaching process.

Till now, teachers are utilising technology and applications like WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom and Google Meet to ensure their pupils don’t fall behind.

Realising that TikTok is a trending app, young English teacher, Izzati Nur Syifaa Hasan, 24, has been using it as a teaching tool and has so far created over 10 videos on different topics.

“The videos that I create are focused on the teaching of grammar and pronunciation. I think that online learning using TikTok, for example, helps in our new normal because it is readily accessible.

“Online learning is becoming more viable because pupils now are good with the use of social media … but my focus is the Year 6 students while the Year 1 students are not being encouraged at this time,” said Izzati who is called ‘Teacher Syifaa’ by her students at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kem Syed Sirajuddin in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.

However, YouTube and TikTok are just extra teaching tools.

“For me, face-to-face instruction is more efficient. Online learning (TikTok) will maybe help them remember the topic better because there is a video,” she told Bernama.

Siti Faridah Matt, 34, who teaches at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Derma in Kangar, Perlis, said through Twitter that she embraced the new normal by creating green screen videos.

“I used two metres of green fabric and whatever was available during the MCO,” said the teacher with 10 years of experience and who hopes to create more videos to diversify the digital material available for students.

She said she has received positive responses from netizens for her videos of the periodic table in chemistry which have gone viral.

- Bernama