Comparing 'Ex-Cathedra' and IT-Supported Teaching Methods and Techniques: Policy of Teaching Practice

Abstract

Teaching at higher education institutions in Serbia still relies on traditional 'ex-cathedra' methods and is mostly based on acquiring factual knowledge, which discourages student participation in the learning process, as well as any initiative on their part. The aim of the paper is to point to the implementation of the traditional 'ex-cathedra' versus the use of IT-supported teaching methods and techniques. The underlying idea is that professors' abilities depend on their familiarity with different teaching methods and techniques, their knowledge of a foreign language, and the use of ICT. The data analysis has confirmed that teachers do differ from each other with respect to their academic titles: senior teachers (associate and full professors) use traditional methods more frequently than younger teachers do. In general, all teachers should incorporate modern trends into their teaching styles, since traditional teaching methods and techniques are used more often than IT-supported ones.