The ppt gives a brief description on the use of the conference method as a technique in teaching.

1. CONFERENCE AS A TECHNIQUE
OF TEACHING ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
Dr. Bahunlang Tron
CTE(PGT), Shillong

2. Introduction
O Methods of instruction vary with the
subject matter of the course, the number
in the class, and the judgement and
personality of the teacher.
O Many topics of the course content can
also be taught through conferences, in
which the students and faculty can work
closely together.

3. O Literally, a conference is a formal meeting
of people with a shared interest, typically
one that take place over several days.
O It is also taken as an act of consulting
together especially on an important or
serious matter.
O Conference as a teaching technique is in
which the students and faculty work
closely together in exchanging facts,
ideas, interpretations, etc.

4. Purpose & Composition
O Ideas, facts, methods of analysis, and interpretations are
exchanged, challenged, and defended by both students and
faculty members, who can jointly share responsibility for the
learning process.
O For certain objectives, conference methods are the
techniques of choice. In other instances, they are valuable
options that can provide an educational system with needed
flexibility. When used properly, the method is invaluable for
increasing student motivation through greater involvement
and participation.
O Under certain conditions, it can even make it possible to
ease the loads of overburdened instructors by reducing the
time required to prepare formal presentations.

5. OConference teaching fosters critical
thinking which may be defined as the
ability to evaluate learned concepts
and factual information.
OConference as a teaching method is
helpful in building the confidence
among students to listen to ones own
intuition about what matters and the
sensitivity to recognise and evaluate
the goals of others from diverse
backgrounds.

6. Composition
O Conferences can generally be held by
enrolling between 6 and 12 students, with
a maximum enrolment or group
composition of 15.

7. Objective of using the Conference method
O To increase understanding and grasp of course
content.
O To enhance motivation and generate greater
student involvement.
O To develop positive attitudes toward later use of
presented material.
O To develop problem-solving skills specific to the
course content.
O To provide practice in the application of concepts
and information to practical problems.
O To generate ideas among students concerning
ways of applying acquired knowledge.

8. Method
O The conference method involves a series of
carefully planned meetings with specific goals, in
which leader/teacher and students discuss topics
of problems relevant to the overall purpose of the
instructional program.
O The method rests squarely upon group discussion
and is dependent upon the teacher or leader’s
manipulation of the discussion process so that it is
always directed toward specific program goals.

9. O Usually the conference leader/teacher does not present
theory, principles, doctrine, or ways of handling problems.
O Rather, the group is presented with a topic or problem and
members speculate about possible ways of handling it.
Solutions may be suggested by members and evaluated by
the group through a free exchange and experiences and
opinions.
O The group may evolve ideas that become the accepted
solutions, or the leader may guide the discussion along some
particular course toward a predetermined solution of his/her
own.

10. Teachers’ contribution
O Teachers contribute to conference style
learning by explaining expectations for
classroom behaviour, carefully choosing
primary source readings and moulding
class discussion by posing and
responding to questions in strategic ways.

11. How can students benefit?
OTo benefit from conference style learning
students must
read assigned materials carefully,
practice formulating analytic questions,
think aloud about challenging issues and
learn to respect their own intuitions and
those of others,

12. TYPES
O ‘Free’ conference and the ‘directed’ conference.
O The free conference involves a completely
unguided and is usually problem-centered
O The agenda is developed by taking a problem-
census in which participants suggest potential
topics. Solutions are those freely evolved through
discussion.

13. Directed conference
O The directed conference is more frequently used
for training purposes.
O In this type, the conference leader used a
predetermined agenda and each topic on it is
discussed.
O The discussion may be relatively free; more
frequently it is guided by the leader who makes
sure certain points are covered.
O In some cases, the discussion is ‘directed’ to the
extent that the leader actually manipulates it to
reach a predetermined conclusion.

14. Merits
O Learning from the conference method appears to
be mainly cognitive, with heavy emphasis upon
insight into practical problems gained through the
exchange of viewpoints.
O The method possesses potential for changing
attitudes, however, genuine change seems to
depend more upon the competence and skill of
individual conference leaders rather than upon the
method itself.
O The conference method through the leader can
probe relevant points and raise questions which
will give students insight into underlying problems.

15. Demerits
O Since the method rests almost solely upon
discussion, no opportunity is provided for skill
practice.
O If the leader is not a content expert, there is much
greater risk of superficiality in the discussions.
O It is not possible for a leader/teacher to be
sufficiently knowledgeable in different content
areas and to be able to identify gaps in the
discussion.

16. Conclusion
OIn conclusion it may be mentioned
that the benefits of conference
style learning far outweigh its
potential risks, as students learn
to practice critical but considerate
thinking.