Concept-Driven and Exploratory Teaching Framework
Objective
The primary goal of this teaching approach is to enable students to understand problems deeply, extract key learnings, and develop the ability to independently handle new and unfamiliar problems in the future. This method focuses on fostering critical thinking, adaptability, and confidence in problem-solving.
Key Principles
1. Deep Understanding of the Problem Statement
Approach: Begin by ensuring students fully grasp the problem before attempting to solve it. Encourage them to break down the problem into smaller parts and analyze what is being asked.
Techniques:
Use real-world analogies to explain complex problems.
Encourage students to restate the problem in their own words.
Ask guiding questions such as:
What is the key objective?
What information is given, and what is missing?
2. Extracting Key Learnings
Approach: After solving a problem, emphasize the lessons learned rather than just the solution.
Techniques:
Highlight patterns or principles that can be applied to other problems.
Create a "Key Learnings" section after each problem-solving session.
Encourage students to maintain a journal of these key learnings for future reference.
3. Encouraging Independent Thinking
Approach: Gradually reduce guidance as students become more comfortable with the process, promoting self-reliance.
Techniques:
Introduce open-ended problems where multiple solutions are possible.
Ask students to create their own problems and challenge their peers.
Provide hints instead of direct solutions to encourage exploration.
Teaching Process
Step 1: Introduction and Engagement
Objective: Capture students' interest by presenting a real-world problem or scenario.
Activities:
Start with an engaging story or scenario related to the topic.
Pose a thought-provoking question to spark curiosity.
Step 2: Problem Breakdown
Objective: Help students understand the problem thoroughly.
Activities:
Work with students to break down the problem into manageable parts.
Identify knowns, unknowns, and constraints.
Step 3: Guided Exploration
Objective: Lead students through the initial steps of problem-solving while encouraging them to think critically.
Activities:
Ask leading questions to guide their thinking.
Encourage multiple approaches and discuss their pros and cons.
Step 4: Solution and Discussion
Objective: Arrive at a solution collaboratively and discuss the process.
Activities:
Solve the problem step-by-step, explaining your thought process.
Encourage students to share their solutions and approaches.
Discuss any mistakes made and how they can be avoided in the future.
Step 5: Key Learnings and Reflection
Objective: Reinforce key takeaways and encourage self-reflection.
Activities:
Summarize the key learnings from the problem.
Ask students to reflect on what they found challenging and how they overcame it.
Step 6: Independent Practice
Objective: Strengthen understanding through practice.
Activities:
Provide students with similar but slightly varied problems to solve independently.
Offer feedback on their solutions, focusing on their thought process.
Step 7: Creative Application
Objective: Enable students to apply their learnings in new and creative ways.
Activities:
Present a new, unfamiliar problem and encourage students to apply what they have learned.
Organize group challenges where students collaborate to solve complex problems.
Making Learning Fun and Engaging
Gamification: Introduce game-like elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards for solving problems and extracting key learnings.
Real-World Projects: Assign projects that require applying learned concepts to real-world situations.
Peer Learning: Encourage students to explain concepts to their peers, which reinforces their understanding.
Communication Strategy
Personal Connection: Build a rapport with students by showing genuine interest in their learning process.
Feedback and Encouragement: Provide regular feedback and celebrate progress, no matter how small.
Availability: Be approachable and available for doubts and discussions outside of regular teaching sessions.
Conclusion
This teaching framework focuses on building a deep understanding of problems, fostering independent thinking, and encouraging students to derive key learnings that they can apply in future scenarios. By making learning interactive, engaging, and reflective, students will find the process enjoyable and valuable, inspiring them to reach out for more learning opportunities.
Experience
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Specialist Software Engineer (Jan, 2024
–Present) at GE Vernova
Fee details
₹500–1,000/hour
(US$5.79–11.57/hour)
Depend upon which level I'm teaching
For Beginner : 500-600
For Intermediate : 700-800
For Advance : 900-1000