Create effective learning zones for students, teachers urged

Mr Emmanuel Okomi Andoh, Vice Rector of the Takoradi Polytechnic, has called on teachers particularly at the basic education level to create conducive learning zones to develop the creative and thinking abilities of their pupils.

He said creating an appropriate learning zone could make a positive impact on the student’s learning abilities and motivate them to seek higher goals.

He called on teachers to voluntarily make it part of the everyday learning experience by creating effective learning zones in the classroom, in the form of a meaningful seating arrangement.

Mr Andoh said this when speaking at the 60th anniversary of the Higgins Primary School.

The event was under the theme: Academic Excellence for the Ghanaian Child in Takoradi in the Western Region.

Mr Andoh said a verbally confident student could for example be seated with a reflective student; or a student strong in mathematics could be paired with a student less confident in the subject.

He said preparing students for success was not an easy task, “but fortunately there are many ways for teachers and schools to prepare and promote successful experiences in the classroom”.

Mr Andoh said the nine core steps for teachers, in promoting success in the work of their students are by, beginning lesson with quick review of previous learning and outline goals, present materials in small steps and allow application after each step, provide clear and detailed instructions and explanations and ask a lots of questions to check student understanding.

He said it is important for teachers to guide students in their initial phase of learning and application; provide systematic feedback that is task-based; monitor students as they work; provide ample time for completing tasks as well as identifying in advance what concepts and materials might be difficult and needs time to explain.

Mr Andoh said achieving academic excellence for the Ghanaian students would require that the teacher sharpens and develop their intellectual capacities and skills of the individual students to the service of humanity.

Mrs Florence Aburwofie, the head of the School, said the School was built in the Gold Coast for children of Nigerians and Liberians, who had moved to settle in the country and it was modelled on the AME Higgins Mission School in America.

She said the School has since produced great men and women for the country and beyond including Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia.

Mrs Aburwofie said the School had also chalked a number of successes in the area of sports and the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

She called on the GES to establish an Information and communication Technology laboratory and a canteen in the school to improve the teaching and learning environment.