Alumni Lecture Series- On Beyond Chalk And Talk: An Exploration Of Engaging Teaching Learning Strategies

On May 7, 2025, the Semester II students of the Department of B.Ed., Loreto College, Kolkata, attended alumni lecture series - session 1 on 'Beyond Chalk and Talk: An Exploration of Engaging Teaching Learning Strategies' by distinguished alumni Ms. Shreyoshi Dutta, Senior Secondary English Faculty and Head of the Department of Cambridge at Vibgyor High, Bangalore. The session opened with an interactive activity on Menti.com, where participants were invited to respond to the question "Why did you become a teacher?" which effectively gauged the trainee teacher's prior knowledge and motivations. Ms. Dutta emphasized the importance of moving beyond traditional methods and integrating pedagogical innovations into classrooms. Highlighting the role of a teacher as a stimulus, she stressed the need for student-centred learning, where engagement arises from students' active responses rather than passive listening.

Ms. Dutta advocated for building a classroom culture rooted in trust, recognition, and encouragement, encouraging teachers to give verbal rewards, badges, and smiley tokens as positive reinforcement. The lecture further explored differentiated instruction, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and inclusion to support diverse learners. A particularly engaging activity involved distributing a sheet with blank circles, where trainee teachers were asked to draw something related to teaching-learning strategies for any subject. This hands-on task demonstrated how minimal materials could lead to maximum engagement and creativity in the classroom. Several Pedagogical Innovation Methods were introduced for example Project-Based learning which could enhance students' cognitive abilities, research capabilities, and problem-solving skills. Suggested ideas included creating podcasts, audio plays, and Third Theatre performances. Tools like the Spinner Tool from Cambridge resources were highlighted for group activities and quizzes, along with other tools. Some of the other digital tools that were highlighted in this session were Edpuzzle for interactive video lessons, Exit tickets to assess learning. Tools like Google Maps, Google Expeditions, and Magic School were recommended for immersive and visual learning experiences particularly while teaching social science subjects. Ms. Dutta also guided the teacher trainees on how to use these tools effectively, ensuring teachers gain practical insights and confidence in their application. Flipped Classroom was also emphasised to foster active learning outside the classroom.

The session concluded with a compelling call to action: to "change the fish market to a curiosity room"-a metaphor advocating for transforming chaotic, passive environments into hubs of exploration and inquisitiveness. This session thus provided a rich array of strategies to invigorate the teaching-learning process and inspired the trainee teachers to think creatively, trust their students, and embrace modern pedagogical tools moving us beyond the traditional methods.