T&L: Enhancing Learning Through Effective Teaching

In 2016, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) was introduced in Davos, although part of the 4IR elements has been taking place for at least a decade. 4IR will change the current living arrangement to a next era. Digital technology and artificial intelligent have made it possible to create products and services for a better life. These services include education (Education 4.0).

Malaysian Higher Education 4.0 (image source: apkpure.com)

In relation to the higher education, the Generation Z (Gen Z, born between 1995 and 2010) and later will be highly affected by Education 4.0. They are growing up in a time so revolutionised by technology. This group of adolescence would be attending universities in the coming years. They have three main wishes:

1. desire of meaningful education to equip them for jobs of the future,

2. strong growth in their careers,

3. dreams to be fulfilled within 10 years of their entering the career.

Education 4.0 is imperative in human capital enhancements to meet the knowledge and skills requirements. New pedagogical techniques need to be devised to follow the changes in reading and learning habits. These techniques include simulations, virtual reality, flipped-learning, Small Private Online Course (SPOC) and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

Educator should clearly understand that these techniques are just another media to deliver the knowledge and to train the skills. Responsibility to learn have to be given to the students through encouragement and motivation. It is important to consider the following learning components regardless of the technique to enhance engagement of the Gen Z:

1. Imbibing: Internalising essential concepts/mechanisms

2. Iterating: Practicing fundamental skills

3. Interpreting: Applying the essential knowledge/skills to different situations (real/simulated)

4. Interest: Developing enough curiosity to drive motivation to enhance body of knowledge

5. Innovating: Creating new/novel ideas, products and services

Although Education 4.0 highlighting the utilisation of digital technology in teaching and learning, face to face session can still be impactful to students knowledge and character building. To create effective teaching session, the following steps may be incorporated for each session:

1. Tuning: Explaining the important of the knowledge or skill in the future job description and the learning objectives.

2. Engaging: Actively involving the students, for example, giving idea or suggestion and doing hands-on training.

3. Delivering: Interactive lecture or case study discussion.

4. Motivating: Encourage the students to be better and suggesting possible method to improve weakness.

5. Testing: As short questions or quizzes at the end of each session.

At the end, good educator should be able to make learning as an enjoyable process.