Thinkroom Learning

From voice assistants to face recognition technologies, artificial intelligence has become part of daily life, without many even realising it.  It is no surprise that artificial intelligence has forayed into the education sector. Here are some of the changes that AI has brought to the education sector: 

Task automation: AI has been used in different industries to automate tasks and the education system is no exception. An LMS system comes handy in grading tests, evaluating homework, filing paperwork, making a progress report, organising resources and materials for lectures, managing teaching materials. Though not all tasks can be automated, artificial intelligence still helps in easing the workload when it comes to non-teaching tasks.

Personalised learning recommendation: There are many learning software that help students and teachers with personalised activity recommendation. The software recommends online games, quizzes and other activities based on student’s past performances. The software helps in highlighting topics that students have not mastered. This helps teachers in making personalised feedback based on the past performance of students. 

Smart content creation: AI can help teachers create smart content that makes teaching and learning more easier and effective. Using the LMS, teachers can make quizzes and tests on sub-topics. 

Visual learning:  It has been found that visual images along with text results in a deeper processing of the text. This benefits the overall understanding of learners.  Infographic generation, simulation and visualisation have become easy with the use of software with AI capabilities. 

Train the trainer:  Teaching is one profession where it is important that teachers are abreast with progressive learning techniques. With educational software, teachers can have access to comprehensive information available to them at their fingertips. Not just that, they can use such software to plan their class activities which are in-depth, interactive and at the same time fun. 

Identify classroom weakness: AI can complement the teacher’s work in a classroom by identifying the areas where the class is lagging behind. AI can help identify students who are skipping specific questions. By highlighting this, AI will alert teachers which topics need revision. This will encourage teachers to follow the best teaching practices.

24/7 assistance: While it is not possible for teachers to be present 24/7, there are many education AI-powered chatbots that can be helpful in connecting with students in real time. Students do not have to wait to meet teachers to get answers to basic questions.  These chatbots work like teachers’ assistants. 

The potential of artificial intelligence in education to enhance learning, assist teachers and ensure more effective personalised learning is huge. One such application of artificial learning can be seen in the form of learning management systems. In India, many schools have adopted ThinkRoom Programme that is backed by KidsLoop platform, an AI-driven interactive LMS. Chrysalis ThinkRoom is one of the best blended learning programmes that allows schools to use multimedia tools to make traditional classroom engaging and interactive. Not just that, it acts as a centralised platform. From storing learning materials in one location to conducting classes, from evaluating tests to sharing report cards with teachers, ThinkRoom programme is a go-to solution when it comes to conducting hybrid classes. To know about the ThinkRoom programme, schedule an appointment

Teaching kindergarten is a joy. The classrooms are full of students who are brimming with curiosity,  observation and questions. However, as they are new to school routines,  teaching kindergarteners online can be a tad difficult. However, with right online teaching activities for kindergarten,  teachers can hold students’ attention and make learning fun. Here we share with you fun online teaching activities for kindergarten that are part of blending learning models: 

Creating a digital greeting card: Colouring and drawing are an important part of kindergarten. However, due to the pandemic, many students may not have met their classmates in person. So a great way to create social bonds and promote the love for art, teachers can ask students to create a digital card. This they can do either by hand-crafting a card or making it on the LMS portal. Parents can help click the photos of the card and the same can be shared with other students. 

Sight word activities: Learning words and how to use them in sentences are foundational for early reading.  However, reading words from a book can be a bit monotonous for kindergarteners.  Playing word bingo or playing word snake and ladder are some great activities that are fun and at the same time, enhance students’ vocabulary reading skills.  

Sand writing and other tactile activities: Writing is a great way to develop literacy skills. Teachers can make writing interesting and fun by introducing tactile activities such as writing on the sand.  Teachers can ask parents beforehand to prepare a tray full of sand. Students can move their fingers across the sand to write the alphabet. Instead of sand, rice or salt can also be used. 

Real-life objects counting: When children play with real objects they are able to relate to what is being taught. A great way to teach counting is to ask students to bring in their pencils, sharpeners or toys and ask them to count them. Another great way to encourage children to count is to prepare a grocery list with the name and quantity of the items.  Teachers can be used both for reading and counting. 

Give students a virtual tour of the school: Teachers who are working from school can give students a virtual tour of the school and ask them to read the numbers written on each room. They can also ask students to identify different rooms such as the library, art room and dance room.  

Tips for kindergarten teachers to organise activities online 

Plan activities in advance so that parents can be informed about things that are required in the class. 

Break down assignments into small tasks. 

Give short and clear instructions so that students understand fully. 

Take regular movement breaks. 

Find opportunities that encourage interaction among students. 

Stick to predictable schedules.

Create opportunities for songs, rhymes, and games. 

Share frequent positive feedback to all students.

With Thinkroom programme, you will never run out of innovative ideas for teaching kindergarten online 

One of the biggest challenges that teachers face is to ensure that students remember the concepts beyond the classroom. For this, the teaching method has to be engaging. 

Many schools in India have adopted hybrid model learning that is a combination of traditional classroom learning with digital tools. The hybrid learning model involves the use of many innovative techniques and tools that make learning fun and engaging. 

In this article we will discuss some innovative ideas that are used in hybrid model learning that teachers can use to make teaching effective: 

Engaging videos: Supplementing textbook learning with interesting videos is a great way to reinforce lessons. Narrative videos summarise content into smaller, and easier to process chunks. With the use of the right videos, teachers can reinforce lessons better than text-based reading. Also, it is much easier to relate to visuals than text. This makes learning more impactful and memorable than using only text.

Rhythmic audio clips: The musical learning style is something that children enjoy and without much effort, they get to learn. Rhymes and rhythmic narratives not just help students to develop a rich vocabulary but also encourage students to imagine. 

Storyboarding: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” This famous quote by Rudyard Kipling lays a strong emphasis on how visual representation can help students deeply understand the concepts. A visually stimulating activity helps in ensuring that even complex ideas are presented in an easily understandable way. 

Puzzles and games: Making learning fun motivates students to pay attention and stay focused on what is being taught in the class. Puzzles and games not only increase student participation but also foster social connections among students. When learning is introduced through puzzles and games, students do not have to make a conscious effort to learn. 

Brainstorming sessions: When students work in pairs or small groups, they get to discuss concepts. These group activities present students with a great platform to voice what they think. Teachers must set some ground rules for group discussions so that students can share opposing views in a way that is not hurtful to the other person. Doing this will help students to learn how to give feedback constructively. 

Role plays: Roleplaying is a great teaching technique that allows students to explore realistic situations. For instance, teachers can teach students about parliament through conducting mock parliament sessions. Students can debate, make their speeches, and vote on issues just like real members of parliament. This type of learning experience puts students in real-life scenarios learnt from textbook theories. This makes it easier for students to understand how things work. 

Physical movement: Including physical activity during learning isn’t just good for students’ physical health but for improving learning and focus too. Physical activity breaks the monotony of sitting at the desk. For instance, in maths class, to teach place value, teachers can label bins with ones, tens, and hundreds. Kids can toss balls into the bins, then count them and see what number they’ve created.