Best Practices 2

Title of the Practice

Enhancing Students’ Learning through adoption of Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) Framework

Objectives of the Practice

1. Use interactive learning tools to instruct, guide and assess students toward a better, more robust understanding of the subject matter balancing UNESCO ICT-CFT (Contemporary Framework for Teachers) and Technology Pedagogy and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework
2. Establish a collaborative environment for faculty members to gain different perspectives on the usage of ICT tools in teaching-learning practices and share and develop upon each other’s ideas.

The Context

Covid-19 has taught us how to work, meet and attend events remotely. This has helped us to be creative, collaborative and find more inner strengths. As academicians, this pandemic has brought out the best in all of us to search, find and utilize all available web based learning tools. All of us have evaluated more software applications, their utility and suitability in engineering education than ever before. It is in these troubled times, that we have become more innovative in using the TPACK (Technology, Pedagogy and Content Knowledge) framework. In the last couple of semesters, we have analysed and tested the best ICT tools that enhance student learning.

The Practice

PPGIT adopts a strategic Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) approach, acknowledging the widespread use of mobile devices in daily life. The induction program guides students on purposeful mobile device utilization throughout their four-year engineering program. Each engineering department curates a shared repository with web links for simulations, visualizations, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), fostering interdisciplinary learning.
The Learning Management System (LMS), built on Moodle, is the technological backbone. It empowers faculty to manage learner data, facilitate course registration, organize materials, and analyze students' progress. Faculty members, equipped with Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), create online materials within the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework.
The flipped classroom approach, a cornerstone of PPGIT's methodology, has students take a teaching role, enhancing research, presentation, and communication skills. The LMS is integral for both pre-class individual learning and in-class teaching, seamlessly integrating Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK).
Faculty members incorporate technology at every stage, from motivational videos to formative assessment tools, ensuring a holistic, technology-enhanced educational experience. PPGIT's multifaceted approach reflects a commitment to leveraging technology for comprehensive learning outcomes and developing crucial skills in its students.

Evidence of Success

The success of adopting TPACK framework in teaching-learning process at PPGIT is evident in many aspects for both the learners and faculty members as follows:

Learner Benefits

1. Helps learner to reflect on their learning
2. Identify learners based on their skills and learning abilities
3. Analytics and dashboards that indicate the top areas of interests
4. Motivates through digital reflection
5. Stimulate problem solving skills and life-long learning skills.
6. Increase awareness about ‘how they are learning’.
7. Increase the responsibility for their learning.
8. Enables learners to engage in a deeper rather than surface knowledge.
9. New information is acquired through self-directed learning.

Faculty Members Instructional Benefits

1. Enables data driven instruction
2. Provides Activity Based Learning environment
3. Assist learners to examine errors in reasoning
4. Notice learners involvement and engagement
5. Provide feedback and mentoring
6. Identify learner performance (Fast Learners, Slow Learners and Poor Learners)
7. Facilitates learning measurement, continuous assessment and evaluation

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Problems Encountered

1. Few students don’t have mobile devices
2. Unstable internet issue outside the campus
3. Some activities conducted using ICT tools consume more time
4. Students with different learning capabilities felt some activities are not suitable to them

Resources Required

1. Planning to give mobile devices to all the students like Tablets
2. Planning to upgrade LMS with all ICT tools for dynamic pedagogy