Unit III Seminar method

 SEMINAR METHOD

The seminar method is the most modern and advanced method of teaching. A seminar is an advanced group technique which is usually used in higher education. It is an instructional technique it involves generating a situation for a group to have a guided interaction among themselves on a theme. It refers to a structured group discussion what usually follows a formal lecture or lectures often in the form of an essay or a paper presentation on a theme.

This seminar method is employed to realize the higher objectives of cognitive & affective domains. The higher learning process requires the interactive and integrated methodologies based on the psychological principles. The seminar method applies such technique of human interaction / intervention with the learning and teaching experiences.

Aim & Objectives of Seminar Method:

This seminar method is utilized to realize the higher objectives of cognitive and affective domains.

Cognitive objectives

i.  To develop higher cognitive abilities.

ii.  To develop the ability of responding in this manner would involve higher cognitive actions.

iii.   To develop the ability of keen observation of experience, feelings and

iv.  To develop the ability to seek clarification and defend the ideas of others effectively.

Affective objectives

i.  To develop the feeling of tolerance to the opposite ideas of others.

 

ii.         To develop the feelings of co-operation with other colleagues and respect of the ideas and feelings of others.

iii.       To develop the emotional ability among the participants of the seminar.

iv.        To acquire the good manners of putting questions and answering the questions of others effectively.

The human interaction under this technique develops the good manners and skills among the participants. Provide a good learning and scholastic experience to the participants of seminar.

Pre-requisites (Basic Principles) to be included in the seminar:

•           This seminar method depends with the lingual, social and emotional instances and its maturity level.

•           The complex and undefined concept or article must be read and discussed for the meaningful learning experiences and new concept.

•           Group discussion is emphasized. The kernel of seminar is stressed.

•                       The value and success of the seminar depends on the path of the learner and their learning experiences through the discussion. The learner can advocate and interact in group discussion with his experiences and concept derived. Both the group and learner can transform their ideas and to derive a new conclusion also be anticipated.

•           In the lower level of learning experiences the concepts are explanatory but in this higher level of learning experience the theme or concept centered and need more evidences and explanations through the discussion.

•                       The interactions in this method develop observation and questioning skills, evaluation skills using their own learning experience.

Advantages and special features of Seminar Method.

         This seminar method gives good motivation and learning experience.

         Help to evaluate the learn-ability of learners.

         Regulate the creating and organizing of facts and information.

         Dissemination and retrieval of information is scientifically managed.

 

         Develop the self reliance and self confidence.

         Also inculcates the responsibility and cooperative nature.

         This method is the best for socialization.

         Students’ interaction is possible in participation and production of teaching learning process.

         Traditional monotony is abolished in this method.

         Ensures the understandability and enhances the capability of the students learning.

         Seminar is always subject / theme specific, so that sufficient knowledge about the concerned subject can be developed.

         The presenter or the reader of the article can get further clarifications in his subject.

         Develop the questioning skills.

         The data processing and analysis also play a vital role in this method.

         This makes teaching and learning process lively.

         The student receives good information from his teacher and the fellow students.

         A seminar does not end in the premises after the completion of discussion, the group in smaller groups carries on the discussion in informal settings in off campus. This is certainly a strong advantage of using seminar method.

Types of Seminar

Seminars are conducted in various stages. Based on the size and organizational aspects the seminars can be classified in to four types.

1.         Mini seminar

2.         Major seminar

3.         National seminar

4.         International seminar

Mini seminar:

Its coverage and scope are small and simple. A small population is enough to hold this seminar. A discussion held over the topic taught or to be taught with the students is known as Group discussion. Such group discussions held in an organized way within a class room, it is called mini seminar. This mini seminar gives the students training in questioning skills, organizing the information and presentation skills of seminar. A mini seminar is felt necessary because it gives good experience to conduct a major seminar at Institutional level.

Major seminar:

The seminar conducted at an institutional or departmental level for a specific topic or subject is known as Major seminar. Usually students and teachers are participating in this type of seminar. This major seminar can be organized at department level for every month. A specific topic or subject is selected for the theme of the seminar.

National seminar:

An association of any kind particularly with academic or professional interest or an organization (Government, Firm, etc.,) conducts the seminar at National level is called National seminar. The subject experts are invited to the seminar for discussion. The Secretary of the seminar prepares the schedule and functionaries for seminar.

International seminar:

Usually the seminar conducted by an international organization or agency is known as International seminar. Theme of this seminar has wider aspects.

Globalization, Renovation, Atomic energy agreements, Policies implementation and modification etc., are examples for themes of International seminars. A Nation or its body can conduct or organize the international seminar.

Seminar Committee:

Seminar is conducted or organized by the committee proposed for this purpose only. This committee constitutes a chairperson, Organizing Secretary and subject experts who are expertise in the theme proposed for seminar. The organizing committee guides and helps with the functions of

 

Chair person and organizing secretary. Usually a seminar has been conducted with the following team of organizing body.

1.         Chairperson or President / Convenor of Seminar

Naturally, She/he may be the apex person of the Institution / Department / Government / Firm / Policy maker of the concerned body or agency.

2.         Organizing Secretary of Seminar

 

Usually he is nominated by the Chair person or President of the Seminar committee. S/he must be a good administrator and subject expert in the field proposed theme of the seminar. He must be the person of tolerance and capable of doing things in right time with right persons.

3.         Chairperson of the Technical Session of seminar

S/he must be the person with expertise in the theme proposed for the seminar. S/he would have a good experience to perform all the activities of technical session which is vital to the seminar.

4.         Speaker of Seminar

S/he is the active participant of seminar presenting his / her paper among the other participants in the presence of Chair Person of Technical session of seminar.

5.         Participants / Paper presenters of seminar

The people who are presenting papers and observing the paper presentation by participating in the seminar are termed as Paper presenters and Participants of the seminar.

STEPS INVOLVED IN A SEMINAR

The seminar is a process which allows the people to discuss a theme in a peer group with subject experts in an objective method. The steps of the seminar method are classified into the following three steps:

• Activities involved in the preliminary stage of seminar (pre seminar phase):

-Selection of seminar theme and its sub-themes.

·        Venue (availability of physical facilities, etc.,), Date(s), and Time (duration of each session) aremust be finalised well in advance.

·        The panel of specialists, subject experts, Chief Guests, observers for seminar must be preparedand obtaining the concurrence from the President or Convenor of the seminar.

·        The permission must be requested from the persons listed in the panel and from their head officesto utilise their services for seminar.

·        A circular regarding the seminar and its information must be prepared without ambiguity.

·        The seminar circular must be circulated well in advance to the people (must have the relevantknowledge about the theme of the seminar) who are able to participate in the seminar.

·        The selection of the paper presenter / speakers must be based on the article submitted by themand their professional excellence. Such selected Paper presenter will be informed with thenecessary regulations to be followed by them in the seminar.

·        A compendium of selected papers must be prepared by an expert committee.

• Activities involved during seminar (seminar phase):

·        Ensure the physical facilities (Stage settings, Seats, Audio-Visual equipment, etc.) available forthe participants of the seminar.

·        Welcome the Chief Guests, Chairpersons of Technical session, Observers and Participants ofseminar and encourage their active participation in the seminar

·        The compendium must be distributed to the participants before the beginning of the seminar.

·        The seminar theme and its sub-theme need be explained.

·        Guide the paper presenters for their location and time of seminar session before the beginning ofseminar.

·        The Chairperson of technical session and the paper presenters and speakers must manage thetime effectively.

·        Proper assistance must be ensured for every speaker / paper presenter to facilitate their paper presentation by providing appropriate Audio, Video equipment such as Public Address System,Overhead Projector, LCD projector etc.

·        At the end of seminar session, the seminar events will be briefed by the Chairman of the seminar.This gives a clear definition to the seminar conducted and the further steps to be done in futurealso.

·        The chairman or organising secretary will announce the concept derived by the seminar.

·        Deliver of Vote of thanks to the Participants, Seminar Committees and all the people whoengaged in the seminar activities either directly and indirectly.

• Activities involved after the end of seminar (post seminar phase) :

·        Correction of the presented papers / articles from the authors (paper presenters) must be done bythemselves.

·        The restructuring of paper submitted is essential, because the clarifications received during thediscussion must be incorporated. A clear, definite idea or concept of each paper will be reachedthrough the restructuring the seminar paper.

·        Compilation of the restructured papers will be done by a panel of experts.

·        The prepare compilation (Compendium) must be sent to the concerned firms, institutes,Agencies, Government departments for further follow up activities.

·        The compendium may be distributed on request to the people of similar interest also (with the permission of Chair person of Seminar)

·        Finalisation of Accounts must be done. A clear budget report must be prepared and sent to the auditing committee / officers for approval are essential.

·        Evaluation of Seminar:

·        The evaluation must be made to get immediate feedback from the speaker and participants regarding the seminar paper and other seminar details.

·        The objectivity of the paper presented, the view of the audience also need be evaluated.

·        The observation schedule, questionnaire can be used as evaluation tools for seminar.

·        The information obtained through the evaluation tools must be a feedback for the paper presenters.

·        The evaluation of overall seminar process can be used for the study and feasibility of forthcoming seminars and its arrangements.

Merits of Seminar method:

·       Naturally, the spontaneous learning can be achieved effectively in this method.

·       Seminar is usually learner centered.

·       Information seeking and retrieval behavior is encouraged very much in this method.

·       The learner himself prepares and compiles his own paper for the seminar gives readiness of mind and learning becomes structured.

·       Learning by doing is encouraged in this method.

·       The paper presenter / participant receive a reinforced learning experience from the Group discussion.

·       Learning experiences is highly structured by the learner himself.

·       The teacher or chair person of technical session only plays the Guidance and instructional role.

·       Develops cognitive, affective domains based learning.

·       Norms of behavior is developed and reinforced.

·       Develops open mindedness, suppress the subjective ideas from the learners.

·       The interactions and interrogations develops the spirit of information seeking behaviors (norms of behavior)

·       The data processing skills, compilation skills, communication skill are easily inculcated in this method.

·       Learner gets in-depth knowledge of the subject he presented.

·       This method built better social values and fault tolerance levels in the minds of learner.

 

Limitations of Seminar method

•  Setting up of a seminar for every topic in the Text is not feasible.

•  The subject area to be taught must be relevant to the theme of the seminar.

•  The seminar themes must conform the learning experiences to be inculcated to the students.

•  This method found fit for higher learning only.

•  Implementation of this method for lower classes is cumbersome.

•  Only matured and balanced minded teachers can make this method successful.

•  The teacher must be resourceful (both in academic and administrative) in nature.

•           Time management is some what difficult.