You may be working a job or have a business, but if you reflect on what you have now, a majority of it is because of the learnings and knowledge you attained in your school or college. A science student may have a completely different education than a commerce student, all because of the education model used by the school, college or a specific teacher. Educational models are frameworks that guide the learning or teaching process in schools and colleges.
When you think about schools and colleges, some are considered better than others and charge higher fees. One of the main contributing factors for increasing an educational institute’s value is the educational model they use to teach their students and guide them for the future. This blog will help you understand everything about educational models and how they help students to learn better.
Table of Contents
What are educational models
Educational models are guidelines and frameworks that define a structure that teachers in schools and colleges use to guide their learning and teaching processes. A specific educational model defines how teachers provide knowledge to students and how students engage with and use that knowledge. One of the best things about educational models is that they can be customised based on the institution’s or teacher’s objectives and educational philosophy. They can focus on students or the teacher or create a blend of both for a more holistic educational approach.
Importance of educational models
Here is why educational models are important:
- Disciplined learning: Educational models help students learn in a structured and systematic way. They also ensure that teachers deliver knowledge in an organised and consistent manner.
- Improved student engagement: Educational institutes generally create educational models as an interactive tool. Students can engage with teachers to better understand the subjects.
- Personalised knowledge: Educational models are designed to be customised to meet the needs of the students. Teachers can customise a specific educational model to ensure that every student is provided with knowledge.
- Adaptability: One of the best features of educational models is adaptability. Educational models are flexible and can adapt to changing courses and technology to remain relevant to the students.
How do educational models impact student learning
Educational models are vital in defining how students are taught and provided with knowledge. One way they affect student learning is by crucially influencing teacher processes, course designs, and overall student engagement. There are various types of educational models that impact student learning. Here are the most common types of educational models:
Traditional educational model
The traditional educational model involves teachers providing knowledge and learning and students passively receiving it. It provides a disciplined learning environment where teachers are responsible for the students and how they learn. However, this model can limit creativity as it does not include interactive learning and engagement.
Constructive educational model
The constructive educational model is different from the traditional educational model. It believes that students learn more through a constructive educational approach. It creates processes and guides students to be actively constructive and learn through real-life experiences and theoretical knowledge. This model promotes a deep understanding of the topics rather than only relying on book knowledge.
Experimental educational learning
Experimental educational learning is a new-age educational model that focuses on experimenting with knowledge and learning to understand its application and the following results. Here, learning happens through direct experiment and application. It makes learning more relevant and engaging for the students, and they understand the topics with direct application.
Inquiry-based educational model
The inquiry-based educational model believes that students learn more if they ask relevant questions in real time when the teacher is teaching them a specific topic. In this type of educational model, students learn by asking questions and following them up with other questions until they have a proper understanding of the topic. It is a highly interactive educational model.
Flipped classroom educational model
The flipped classroom educational model believes that students study better at home as they are in a comfortable environment without any external impact or judgement. In this type of educational model, students study new topics at home and discuss them with the teacher in the classroom the next day. This is an interactive educational model and provides learning flexibility to the students.
Cooperative learning model
The cooperative learning model believes that students learn best when they are with a small group and can discuss their learning with each other. This model takes a collaborative approach, where students learn together in a small group to achieve a common goal. It promotes healthy discussions and shared learning experiences.
Who designs educational models
Educational models are designed by teachers, educators, policymakers or educational institutions to cater to the needs of their students and help them learn in a personalised and effective manner. Before making an educational model, they analyse the specific educational and learning needs of the students based on the subjects, courses and topics to develop a comprehensive learning structure for the students. They also update the educational models if they want to include or exclude specific processes to make the model better for the students and their learning process. Educational models can be digital and let students learn using online marketplaces or platforms.
Conclusion
Educational models significantly influence student learning by shaping teaching methods, student engagement, and knowledge retention. While traditional models provide structure, modern approaches focus on active learning, critical thinking, and real-world applications. An ideal education system often integrates multiple models to create a balanced and effective learning environment. The effectiveness of any model depends on factors like student needs, teacher expertise, and available resources. Some educational institutes may borrow money from a financial institution, such as a bank or NBFC, to fund a specific educational model.
