Do you think practical learning can have a profound impact on students? Don’t you think doing things practically can improve learning experiences? It’s observed and scientifically proven that practical learning helps students in retaining information for a longer period of time. Practical learning improves understanding of the concept in a better way than hearing. At an early age, students start learning practically with various activities such as playing outdoor and indoor activities, creating models and structures, even by observing things in their surroundings, etc. 

It’s quite a practical way of learning by doing. Can you imagine someone teaching you how to ride a bicycle, swimming, playing cricket? Now consider all these activities not practically but within four walls or through a textbook or say on a projector? Do you think it’s possible for you to learn these activities via the latter mode?

If you want to learn these activities then doing them practically will be a better option. Until you practically perform the action, you may not be able to learn to swim, ride or play cricket. We all know that practical learning is more important than theoretical learning for all students. Practical learning in the school is basically performing experiments in laboratories, study tours, projects, assignments, etc. Let us look into the purpose and effect of practical learning on students.

What is the purpose of ‘Practical Learning’?

The main purpose of practical learning is to engage students and develop important skills. It helps students to learn and remember things clearly. Here are a few points on the purpose of practical learning for students.

• Learning by doing things can help in retaining information for longer 
• Practically learning is quick and easy
• It encourages students for self-learning
• Students can easily get comfortable with equipment while learning 
• Provides perfection to the students in all the aspects of learning
• Gives a better learning environment for students 
• Helps student to understand theory in a much better way 
• Group activities develop social values like sharing, cooperation, teamwork, compassion, etc

What is the impact of Practical Learning on students?

Practical learning is a task in which students observe and do things by themselves. It can be different from reading and listening for students. It helps you get hands-on experience in the learning activities. You can become very confident and competent.

In today’s world, there are also students who do not know what to do with their careers as they do not have practical knowledge and are always dependent on the class they attend. We should understand the importance of practical learning at an early age. Students should be givendom of learning with real-life situations. So that they analyze and observe the situation and learn from it.

Practical learning should be made an integral part of the learning process. One can excel in theories only when they have good practical knowledge. Practical learning can help them in theories and perform well in academics. The skills developed during the schools are always embedded in their minds. These skills will help them to choose the career of their choice and excel in it.

Practical learning develops a deeper understanding of the concept through personal experience. There are a lot of things that you can only learn by doing things, for example, riding a cycle, driving a car, swimming and many more. Here are a few effects of practical learning on students.

Enhances Learning

Few students are lucky enough in reading and memorizing information to gain knowledge. But what about the students who lack in memorizing or we can say mugging. Also mugging the chapters or syllabus can cause a lot of pressure and stress. In such cases, practical learning can help students in understanding the concept rather than memorizing the information. With this, they will be able to learn effectively and improve their academic performance

Retains information for Longer Period 

Sometimes when you are reading a lesson, you tend to remember information for a short period of time. You try to memorize long paragraphs, theorems but always forget during the exam. But if you try practically learning in the form of experiments, field trips, projects and assignments, the whole practical experience can stay in your mind for a long time and help you in exams.

Develops Understanding 

Practical learning can help students in understanding the concept better. Let me explain to you with an example, if you are studying a chapter of plant grafting and its procedure in the class. You will only be able to imagine the process but not understand the concept. You might read and memorize the process but cannot understand how it is done until you see practically. In this case, you can go to a farm or nursery and see the plant grafting process directly because what you see will remain in your mind for a long time.

Practice Teaches Perfection

We have been using this quote everywhere, but are we really applying it? Reading can help you remember things but not for a long time. It can only be done through practice. For instance, you are putting a lot of effort into learning a new language by reading but that will not work until you speak or converse with other people. Whatever you read will be forgotten soon. You have to keep practicing until you are perfect with the language.

Simplifying Complex Knowledge

You will be able to consolidate the complex scientific knowledge into simpler ones. Practical learning can help you to understand the subject in a much better way. 

Team Work

You can develop team-building skills with practical learning. With this, there is the possibility of working together and sharing knowledge with each other.

How can teachers help students in Practical Learning?

Teachers are the driving force behind the success of students. There are a few lists of things that teachers need to develop practical learning in schools for students.

1. Encourage students to participate in learning activities
2. Take them for educational tours
3. Demonstrate concept practically in the class or outside the classroom
4. Keep innovative and creative materials in the classroom for teaching 
5. Give projects and assignments related to the syllabus 
6. Conduct innovative games in the classroom
7. Provide general instructions and protocols to the students on experiments
8. Create a learning environment for students in laboratories
9. Provide hands-on training for each student in the laboratories 
10. Storytelling  and plays can help students in better understanding
11. Create activities that are skill-based for students that can help students to think about the jobs in the future 
12. Conduct some observational activities that can improve their observation skills and help in better understanding of the concept
13. Give some technological tasks so that students can apply logical thinking and innovate new ideas

We should think of creating and innovating new ideas of practical learning for all the students of K12 in their school. School authorities and teachers should develop practical learning methods for their students. Learning these skills will help students to understand the concept better and perform well in academics.

The practical learning can differ from class to class. Let us take some examples for explanations – 

In Montessori schools, students should be given enough time to choose and manage their activities. Thedom given to the students can lead to functioning skills such as initiation, planning, emotional control, etc. 

In Elementary schools, students can be given tasks of building small scale models or structures with the materials found in their surroundings. With each class, activities can increase that can engage the students in their natural surroundings. 

In Higher Secondary schools, students can start developing their own ideas and projects. They can create some big projects or take up field works such as developing small businesses, farming, visiting industries, etc. 

Impact of Practical Learning – A Way Forward

Practical learning empowers students to achieve something that he has been studying throughout his life. It is really important for developing knowledge and skills. Practical education enhances the learning experience, builds teamwork, confidence, develops understanding and retains information for long periods of time.

We hope that this article on ‘Impacts of Practical Learning on Students’ has been useful for you. In case, you have some other ideas or need other suggestions, comment in the box below. We will like to cover it in our next article.

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