Unequal learning outcomes and unfulfilled academic goals are common issues that educators and institutes often encounter. If institutes facilitate quality education, why do some students fare well while others struggle academically?
The underlying reasons are pretty self-explanatory, including varying knowledge and understanding levels. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that the significance of remedial education has increased over the decades. Besides, it provides a mechanism to assist learners struggling in specific subjects or areas.
What is remedial education?
Remedial education is an educational approach wherein teachers provide adequate support to students as per their learning needs. It includes specialized classes that strive to identify individual learning requirements.
It enables students to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and assists them in dealing with challenges. Institutes can conduct remedial classes as part of the traditional classroom setting, online platforms, or afterschool programs.
Students can choose the class structure as per their preferences and requirements. Furthermore, the aim of these classes is to identify the knowledge and skill gaps that prevent students from making any progress.
Also, the remedial educational system rejects the concept of a single-dimensional approach to teaching and learning. On the contrary, it incorporates different teaching methodologies that match students’ unique needs.
Strategies for Remedial Education
Individualized education plans
When students fail to keep up with the pace of the rest of the class, they falter. fall behind and require timely intervention. That is when teachers can implement individualized education plans, which are central to the remedial educational approach.
Firstly, teachers need to determine students’ problem areas and develop a strategic plan to help them understand and learn. For instance, a personalized learning plan is the best solution if a student faces difficulties comprehending math or science concepts.
Besides, teachers can include a tailored curriculum that allows the review of core topics and concepts before going to more complex topics. Also, it is a notable example of the student-centric mechanism striving to improve student learning.
Collaborative Learning
The emphasis on completing the syllabus and meeting educational standards often takes precedence over holistic education. Institutes must prioritize establishing a holistic educational system through innovative pedagogical initiatives.
The collaborative educational model is one such instance, wherein institutes and educators incorporate peer-to-peer learning. Teachers can implement flipped classroom sessions, wherein students can explore subject materials at home and apply the concepts in the class.
It will boost self-learning among students, allowing them to prepare for the class and participate voluntarily in the exercise. Also, pairing up students will further the outcome as it will help students get involved and improve their understanding. Consequently, it will elevate the collaborative learning experience.
Community-Based Partnerships
Taking education beyond the four walls of the classroom has become a distinguishing and critical feature of educational institutes. When institutes partner with or build alliances with business ventures and companies, it opens new avenues for students.
In fact, they involve strategic partnerships like mentorship programs, internships, project-based learning initiatives, and research campaigns. As a result, students are beneficiaries of multiple advantages, such as:
- Students get help and support from experts.
- Industry representatives mentor students.
- Students get insight into trends, knowledge, and in-demand skills.
- They obtain feedback about their capabilities and aptitudes, which they can improve to prepare themselves for the future.
What Is Hybrid Learning? How will the Hybrid Learning Model Enhance the Education System in the Future?
Gamified Learning
Short attention spans and passive teaching and learning mechanisms are two common reasons for students’ disinterest. So what’s the solution? Employing active educational approaches certainly helps to stimulate students.
For instance, teachers can integrate game design elements into the learning process, helping to engage students. Teachers can use a learning management system to infuse gamification into learning activities.
Also, gamified elements like badges, points, and scoreboards assist in establishing a healthy, competitive learning environment. Therefore, when students complete an assignment or home task, they receive a badge of achievement.
In effect, it motivates students to take an active interest in the learning process and express their doubts and uncertainties.
Technology-Empowered Education
Restricting screen time has become a necessary measure in the present scenario, especially when students spend a lot of time on smartphones and laptops. However, one can leverage the habit by integrating education and technology.
Educators and students can utilize learning apps and online learning platforms as a medium for remedial teaching. Furthermore, these resources can help teachers track student performance in various subjects.
At the same time, they can provide adequate and real-time feedback, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
Multi-Sensory Learning
All students don’t learn the same way; while some respond faster to videos and texts, others understand better through listening. Furthermore, a combination of different mediums (audio, video, and text) creates a source for multi-sensory learning.
Institutes and teachers can employ virtual instructor-led training (VILT) videos as a part of microlearning sessions. It is a great way to simplify formal learning courses, enabling students to learn easily.
Likewise, summary videos, ‘’how-to’’, ‘’watch and learn'', and video essays are great sources for students to get in-depth knowledge. On the other hand, podcasts, lectures, and interviews are equally useful for audio learners. Kinesthetic learners strive to participate in activities as they prefer hands-on experience.
Therefore, multi-sensory learning sets the stage for hybrid learning, as students can engage in learning activities online and offline. They can complete the assignments or home tasks related to the topics online and engage in varied activities during offline classes.
Tips for Conducting Effective Remedial Classes
Training and professional development
The teacher’s role in guiding students and streamlining educational initiatives is undoubtedly significant. However, if the teachers don’t possess relevant qualifications and skills, they will be unable to facilitate quality education.
Therefore, institutes must prioritize implementing training and professional development sessions, helping teachers gain the necessary skills. In effect, they will learn adequate instructional methods and handle learning challenges.
Student Progressive Metrics
Are the students progressing? Did they make any discernible improvement from the term’s beginning to the end? Addressing such questions and finding answers are pivotal to tracking students’s overall academic achievement.
That is where teachers must utilize tools like standardized tests and formative assessments to analyze student learning and improvement.
Engagement Indicators
The purpose of remedial learning is to help students who lag due to poor learning habits, ineffective instruction, etc. However, teachers can utilize suitable remedial teaching techniques to help them overcome problems.
Nevertheless, they must ensure whether or not students engage with the learning materials and take an interest. But how? Teachers can check the attendance rates, the time students spend on learning platforms, participation in class activities, etc.
Besides, using learning tools like the LMS helps track the engagement quotient and contributes to student management.
How can LMS Software Enhance Student Learning Experience?
Assessment Practices
Remedial education moves away from the traditional educational structure; hence, standardized summative assessments are insufficient. In contrast, developing and implementing formative assessments are the need of the hour.
Teachers can develop and personalize assessments that test the areas where students face problems. Moreover, such tests are useful as they allow students to self-evaluate their own progress.
Resource Allocation
Institutes must consider remedial education when making budgets or financial plans so that teachers don’t face issues while implementing lessons. Therefore, teachers can integrate and apply cutting-edge tools to improve student learning.
Key Takeaways,
Remedial learning is an educational strategy that has been developed to provide assistive learning support to students. It caters to their learning requirements and strives to lessen the skill and knowledge gaps.
In effect, it empowers students by increasing their self-confidence and helping them overcome learning difficulties.
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Author :
Gaurav Somani,
Academic Consultant