Teaching aids enliven lessons

TONOTA: Although student centred methods of teaching may, to some extent, achieve this, teachers can also utilise a wide variety of teaching aids to make their lessons come alive for learners.

Teaching aids are materials and devices that can be used to supplement the written or spoken word in the transmission of knowledge and skills and to emphasise or clarify the instruction. They may also be used to communicate attitudes; for example, a chart may show the effects of overgrazing to reflect poor attitudes of some farmers towards the management of their animals and the veld. However, teaching aids can never replace teaching methods. But, nevertheless, teaching aids have many advantages: they stimulate interest amongst students, promote better understanding, and contribute to longer retention of learning.