"Example, not precept is the best teaching aid."
It is said that teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourth theatre. Teaching aids act like props that add more meaning to the classes. What are teaching aids? They are tools used by the teacher to explain concepts to learners.
Teachers go to various lengths to ensure that the learning is effective. Students need to understand the concepts in the best possible way. Teaching aids can be videos, working models, presentations, and likewise. Teachers make use of teaching aids in the classroom to make classes more interesting and effective.
There are different kinds of teaching aids such as visual aids, audio aids, audiovisual aids, and likewise. The advancement of Technology has given teachers a wide variety of options to choose from. In this blog, we will be discussing the types of teaching aids and the importance of teaching aids.
Without further ado, let’s delve deeper into the topic.
Types of Teaching Aids
There are different types of teaching aids and they are:
1.Visual Aids
As the name suggests teaching aids that include visuals are called visual aids . Charts, diagrams, graphs, etc. are effective visual aids that teachers use to convey concepts and lessons with more clarity and effectiveness. Maths teachers often bring wooden models of pyramids and large protractors to teach in a better fashion. Now that classes have moved online, teachers use interactive slides and presentations to covey concepts in a better way. This is better than textbook images and visuals. Not to mention that visual aids appeal to the visual learners and helps them understand the lessons better. Teachers also make use of videos that will be discussing in the coming points.
2.Audio Aids
Audio aids help to improve the listening and communication skills. As mentioned, there are different types of learners in a classroom and auditory learners are a part of it. Using audio teaching aids will help that segment to a great extent. The affect of music on the brain has been proven. Hence, some teachers play music in the classroom to destress their students and increase their interest in the lessons.
3.Audio-Visual Aids
Videos and animations are used in the classroom to explain concepts better. With the development of technology, students have the opportunity to actually see how digestion takes place, understand the water cycle, can understand motion of vehicles, everything can be explained in a much detailed and better manner.
Students understand new concepts better when they see it and experience it firsthand.
The Importance of Teaching Aids
Teaching aids play an important part in the teaching-learning process. It presents information in a new and helpful manner so that students get a better understanding of what they are taught. In addition to this, using different kinds of teaching aids in the classroom help teachers to reach the different kinds of learners in the classroom.
Let us look at how teaching aids help students:
- Novelty - Students love new things and innovation in the classroom, teaching aids help to break the boring routines and add a healthy life to the classes.
- Retain the information longer-The effective use of teaching aids will help students to better retain what they have been taught.
- Better understanding- Teaching aids help to convey concepts in a better manner and this way, the learners would comprehend the lessons well.
- Better learning experience- teaching aids generally helps to break down the monotony in the classroom and makes classes more happening and interesting.
- Increases conceptual thinking- with examples and the environment that teaching aids create, it is perfect for conceptual thinking and helps students to expand their horizons.
Conclusion
There is a thin line of difference between teaching aids and instructional materials. It lies in the fact that instructional materials are usually a part of the curriculum. Teaching aids, on the other hand, are used as an extra material that helps to make the learning smooth. For instance, if you are using a test tube or conical flask as suggested in the textbook, it is an instructional material. Whereas if the teacher brings these equipments or apparatuses while a discussion about lab equipments, it becomes a teaching aid.
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