Creating Dynamic Classrooms to Teach Database Management Systems

Is imparting education merely about teaching and learning? Or is it about providing students an enabling environment where they can appreciate the context of what is being taught to them, learn the critical concepts of their respective disciplines, and develop the ability to apply them in real life? The School of Engineering and Applied Science's Shefali Naik, Assistant Professor, and Kunjal Gajjar, Adjunct Professor, published an article in the latest edition of Journal of Education on how dynamic classrooms allow students to build on their creativity and imagination and let them have a complete understanding of concepts being taught to them and therefore greater retention.

The article, Applying and Evaluating Engagement and Application-Based Learning and Education (ENABLE): A Student-Centered Learning Pedagogy for the Course Database Management System, discusses Ahmedabad University's unique designedly ENABLE framework that is premised on project-based learning. The professors have built on their experience of using ENABLE to teach Database Management Systems. Professor Naik said, "Through ENABLE, we offer our students a real-world experience. The concepts are taught through industry projects, essentially requiring us to introduce theory during practical project implementation. The pedagogy followed through ENABLE helps faculty serve as facilitators rather than teachers. Students are evaluated continuously through quizzes, presentations, class participation, assignments, peer feedback, and more. ENABLE facilitates ease of grasping complex concepts."

Besides their shared experience of teaching through this innovative pedagogy and its significance in the educational process, the article also highlights the students' experience of working on real-life projects, and the effectiveness of the practice in the broader field of education. Professors Naik and Gajjar had earlier presented their teaching experience at the Indian Institute of Technology Banaras at the conference, Sharing Teaching-Learning Conference (STEC 2019), in March 2019.