Teaching Aid(s)

A teaching aid can be materials that the classroom teacher uses to help the pupil’s understand the concepts being introduced in class. This academic essay will discuss what a teaching aid is, its characteristics and importance according to different authors. Thereafter a conclusion will be given.

Before going into the topic at hand, it is imperative to bring to light some key terms in the question presented. Terms like ‘teaching’ an ‘aid’ and a ‘characteristic.’ Teaching is “the process of attending to people’s needs, experiences and feelings and making specific interventions to help them learn particular things,” Smith (2009). This means teaching involves knowing what learners want and attending to these needs of the learner. For example, learners do not know what religion is when they enter class for the first time, this is what they want to know therefore a teacher will teach religion to them.

On the other hand, an aid is help given in order to support or simplify something. It can be anything, an object or even a person (aide) or something personified. For example, using a Bible to teach about Christian faith or using a human being science to teach about the sensitivity of the pupil in the eye.

A characteristic is “a distinguishing trait, quality, or property,” Webster (2018). This means a characteristic is a quality or something that differentiates a person, thing or group from others, for example, Wisdom, the striker. Being a striker is what distinguishes Wisdom from others, its characteristic.

Using only books and theoretical explanations every time can turn the classroom into a boring place, because most of the concepts are usually practical and require physical demonstration or imagery explanations which is why the classroom teacher has to introduce a teaching aid to help pupil’s understand certain things that are difficult to grasp even for fast learners. “A teaching aid is an object (such as a book, picture, or map) or a device (such as DVD or computer) used by a teacher to enhance or enliven classroom instruction,” Webster (2016). This means a teaching aid is any object or any computerized machine that a teacher can use in order to physically show and explain to the pupil’s on a certain topic, for example, using visual aids (these are aids which use the sense of sight) such as actual objects, models or pictures.

Just like anything else, a teaching aid has characteristics or distinguishing features from other things. Teaching aids have advantages and characteristics, one of them being that “teaching aids are large enough to be seen by the students for whom they are used,” Nikky (2010). This means a teaching aid is not small but big enough for every pupil in class to see what is being presented during the lesson, for example, using Quran when teaching Islam morals and social norms.

The other characteristic of a good teaching aid is “teaching aids are simple, cheap and can be improvised,” Chouhan (2013). This means a teaching is simple to use, affordable and can be made or created using whatever is available, for example using small sticks and rubber band to make a person-like thing.

Among many characteristics a good teaching aid has, another one is that “teaching aids are meaningful and they always stand to serve a useful purpose,” Nikky (2010). This means a teaching aid has meaning and it is always has a reason for introducing it.

Another characteristic is “Teaching aids are accurate and realistic,” Chouhan (2013). What this means is teaching aids exactly what is required for the concept being taught and it depicts real life.

A good teaching aid suits the pupil’s this is why Nikky (2013) states that “Teaching aids are according to the mental level of the learners.” This means a good teaching aid will always match the level of understanding of the pupil’s. For example, using beans in kindergarten to teach the children how to count.

Although certain teaching aids like audio aids might be interesting and entertaining, Nikky (2010) adds that “their purpose may be informative but it is not just entertainment.” What this means is teaching aids have information vital for the pupil’s even though they make the lesson entertaining, for example, playing the movie animal farm on a projector (visual aid) when teaching literature to eighth graders.

According to Chouhan (2013), “teaching aids are up to the mark and up to date in every respect.” What this means is a good teaching aid will always be what the learners need and a teacher will use a teaching aid which is in the present unlike using something that is out of date, for example, using ‘whatsapp’ when teaching about communication.

Not only does a teaching aid have characteristics, it also has importance’s that’s why a teacher needs to use teaching aids in class during the presentation of lessons whether simple or complex concepts. According to Nikky (2010), one of the importance's is motivation. He states that “teaching aids motivate the students so that they can learn better.” This means teaching aids help grow interests in the pupil’s towards the lesson.

The other importance that Nikky (2010) adds is clarification. “Through teaching aids, the teacher clarifies the subject matter more easily.” This means using a teaching aid will help the teacher clearly explain something or a concept as pupils will be looking at what the theory behind that concept is talking about. For example, using a scanner (visual aid) in a computer class as a teaching aid to show the pupil’s how you can use a scanner to convert a hardcopy document into softcopy.

Rickey (2018) mentions that the classroom is usually live and active. She says “teaching aids make the classroom live and active.” By this she means a good teaching aid makes the classroom live and with positive energy as pupils are always active.

Apart from this, she also mentions another importance which is direct experience. Rickey (2018), states that “teaching aids provide direct experience to the students.” This means a good teaching aid gives direct exposure and interaction to the students as they can see, feel or touch the teaching aid being used.  

In conclusion this essay has defined what teaching; a teaching aid and characteristic are according different scholars. Also in this paper are the definitions and explanations as well as examples of what a teaching aid is and its characteristics as well as the importance’s of a teaching aid.