Teaching technique

1. 1. Seminar
Seminars are simply a group of people coming together for the discussion and learning of
specific techniques and topics. The seminar methods is the most modern and advanced
method of teaching. It is an instructional technique it involves generating a situation for a
group to have a guided interaction among themselves on a theme. The word 'seminar' is
derived from the latin word Seminarian, meaning "seed plot". Seminar is a teaching
technique for higher learning.
A specific subject or topic is delivered as an aeticle or report in the seminar. The article
and its concepts submitted in the seminar are analysed and discussed through group
discussion to arrive a final decision or concept.
Types of Seminar
Seminars are conducted in various stages. Based on the size and organizational aspects
the seminars can be classified into four types
1. Mini Seminar 3. National Seminar
2. Major Seminar 4. International Seminar
1. Mini Seminar
A small population is enough to hold this seminar. Such group discussions held within a
class room, it is called mini discussion. This mini seminar gives the students training in
questioning skills, organizing the information and presentation skills of seminar.
2. Major Seminar
The seminar conducted at as institutional or departmental level for a specific topic or
subject is known as major seminar. Usually students and teachers are participating in this
type of seminar.
3. National Seminar
An association of which academic or professional interest or an organization conducts the
seminar at national level is called national seminar. The subject experts are invited to the
seminar for discussion.
4. International Seminar
Usually the seminar conducted by an international organization or agency is known as
international seminar. Theme of this seminar has wider aspects as Globalization,
Renovation, Atomic energy agreements, Policies implimentation and modification etc.

2. Objectives of Seminar
1. To give student the opportunity to participate in methods of scientific analysis and
research procedures.
2. To promote deeper understanding about attitudes, interests and develop desirable inter
personal relationships- desirable group process.
3. To help the students to develop skills in reading and comprehension of scientific
writing of verbal presentation.
4. It enables the students to gain experience in self evalution and in other.
Purposes of Seminar
1. Help the student to study the subject matters.
2. It requires a background of knowledge skills in library work.
3. Helps in problem solving skills.
4. Helps in students to increasing their responsibilities and to exchange their attitude and
values.
Advantages of Seminar
1. This seminar method gives good motivation and learning experience.
2. Help to evaluate the learn ability of learners.
3. Regulate the creating and organizing of facts and information.
4. Develop the self reliance and self confidence.
5. This method is the best for socialization.
6. Ensures the understandability and enhances the capability of the students learning.
7. Seminar is always subject/ theme specific, so that sufficient knowledge about the
concerned subject can be developed.
8. Develop the questioning skill.
9. The data processing and analysis also play a vital role in this method.
10. This makes teaching and learning process lively.
11. The student receives good information from this teacher and the fellow students.

3. Disadvantages of Seminar
1. Seminar is a time consuming process.
2. It cannot be applied to new students.
3. Timid students may initially feel nervous.
4. If subject knowledge is poor, unnecessary discussions arise.
5. The approach to problem solving extends to students professional and personal
activities.
Steps in a Seminar
1. Establish a safe environment.
2. Coach students on expectations.
3. Choose a selection carefully assign it to the class.
4. Read and study selection carefully making notes where necessary.
5. Prepare the opening, core and close questions.
6. Prepare the room physically by arranging chair, desks in circles.
7. Begin the seminar.
8. Process and evaluate the seminar with the class afterwards.
9. Reflect personally on the experience, fine tuning for future use.
Role of Teacher
1. Help the students to select appropriate topic.
2. Guide the students to select the contents.
3. Suggest available sources of information.
2. Group Discussion
The word 'discuss' has been derived from the Latin root 'discutere', which means to shake
or strike. Thus ' discussion' refers to thoroughly shaking up the subject, that is, examining
it thoroughly to reach a conclusion. A discussion is an activity of sitting and talking about
a specific subject.

4. Discussion Method
A discussion method is the means by which people share experiences, ideas and attitudes.
Discussion method enable to engage in an orderly verbal inter change and to express
thoughts on a particular subject. Discussion involves two way communication between
participants. In the class room situation a teacher and students all participate in
discussion. During discussion, the teacher spends some time listening while the students
spend sometimes talking. The discussion is, therefore, a more active learning experience
for the students than the lecture.
Characteristics
1. Ensure maximum participation.
2. Students have the opportunity to criticize and evaluate.
3. Logical and meaningful criticism should be accepted.
4.Students should anchor the discussion themselves.
5. Keeping teachers as guide.
6. Teacher select the topic only with the help of students.
7. Teacher divide the class into different groups and give the topic of the discussion to
each group.
8. Every group has a leader to anchor and conduct the dicussion.
9. Students who have leadership quality should be selected for anchoring.
10. Relevant topic should only be considered.
11. In the end, teacher draws the conclusion of the discussion with the help of leaders.
Appropriate use of discussion method
1.Discussion method is used in areas in which students already have some knowledge or
experience, discussion may be used to develop the main points to be covered in a lesson.
2. Students can draw on their experience to contribute to the discussion.
3. All subject except mathematics, art, music, dance can be taught.
4. Discussion may also be used, following a lecture or demonstration, to help trainess
apply what they have learned.

5. Advantages
*Discussion method can develop following abilities among students.
1. Thinking and communication powers.
2. Leadership quality.
3. Expression ability.
4. Problem solving ability.
5. Creativity.
6. Motivation and Contidence.
* Emphasis on learning instead of teaching.
* Participation by everybody.
* Fostering democratic way of thinking.
* Training in reflective thinking.
* Training in self expression.
* Made interest.
Disadvantages
1. There is a chance that only a few students may dominate the whole discussion.
2. It is possible that discussion is initiated on those aspects of the problem with which
few prominent students of the class are concerned.
3. It is time consuming.
4. Not adaptable to all teaching learning situations.
5. If it is not properly guided, a discussion can degenerate into a consideration of in
appropriate topics adding confusion rather than clarification to the lesson.
Preparation and conduct of discussion method
Steps
1. Orientation
2. Engagement

6. 3. Debrief
1. Orientation
* Provide the discussion topic
* Clearly describe the question
* Explain how students have to prepare for discussion.
* Explain how the discussion will be conducted.
* Encouraged the students to think.
2. Engagement
* Develops an environment
* Present clear question to focus the discussion.
* Start by asking students to define the terms.
* If necessary, help the students.
* Wait for each students to answer the question.
* Refocus discussion.
* Keep a progressive record.
* Close discussion by summarizing or evaluating.
3. De brief
A formal method of presenting arguments in support and against a given issue in which
debaters present reasons and evidence to persuade an audience or a group of judges .
Governed by some explict rules.
Perspectives on Debate
A game or mental gymnastics; participants sharpen their thinking and speaking skills,
find way to win. A lab; one team tests its arguments against the ones of another. a way of
finding truth; winning arguments should be truest arguments.
Debate
Do your best to argue your side of the debate, rather than relying on your personal
opinions. Sometimes argue something that is against your personal views.

7. Why Debate
* 'Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress'- Mahatma Gandhi
* To provide ,eaningful listening, speaking, writing practice.
* To develop argumentation skills for persuasive speech and writing.
* To increase social skills and conflict resolution abilities.
* To enhance self esteem and academic confidence.
* To lead to competitive success in the future.
Rules
1. There are two terms, each consisting of two or three speakers.
2. Each team has two or three constructive speeches.
3. He who asserts must prove.
4. Each speakers is questioned as soon as he concludes his constructive speech.
5. The witness must answer the questions without consulting his colleagues.
6. The judge must base his decision entirely on the material presented, without regard for
other material which he may happen to possess.
How to make debate effective
1. There must be no mistakes of Grammer, punctuation.
2. Create an arguable and clear topic.
3. Have a strategy, set up your argument and plan it out.
4. Don't forfeit around. Leave a simple sentence and expand on it later.
5. Passion is good, emotion is bad. Don't use personal or general issue.
6. Remember this is a debate not the war so have fun.
4. Brain Storming
Brain storming is basically an activity designed to promote creativity. It is a form of
discussion which enables the group to do collective creative thinking. Brain stoming is
the name given to a situation when specific area of interest. Using rules which remove

8. inhibitance, people are able to think more freely and move into new areas of thought and
and so create numerous new ideas and solutions.
Rules
1. Postpone and withhold your judgement of ideas.
2. Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas.
3. Quantity counts at this stage, not quality.
4. Build on the ideas put forward by others.
5. Every person and every idea has equal worth.
Steps
1. State the problem.
2. Generate ideas.
3. Select a solution.
4. Build the item.
5. Evaluate.
6. Present Results.
Uses
1. Advertising campaigns.
2. Market strategy and methods.
3. Research techniques.
4. written documents and articles.
5. Investiment decisions.
6. Management methods.