The Progressive School Vol 02 Issue 04

What are your observations in quiz
being a powerful tool for learning?
Giri: It is like the saying “I forget most
of what I was taught and remember all
of what I learnt.” World over, systems of
education that have succeeded are those
that focussed equally on learning skills
along with teaching skills. When we
emphasise heavily only on the teaching
side, we run the risk of merely preparing
our children for exams and fuelling a
rote culture. Learning through inquiry
opens the mind to understand and not
merely recall.
If we look at great institutes, like
Harvard, MIT, IITs and IIMs, that foster
higher order thinking skills almost as a
way of life you would find them having
weekly quizzes as an integral part of
their system.
TPS: With the onslaught of technology,
the excessive coverage of information
through media is becoming both an
opportunity as well as a challenge.
How do you think the Quizzing skills
can transform to meet the emerging
dynamics?
Giri: Information overload is a global
problem and an even bigger one when
it comes to children. We, at Greycaps,
experimented with a GK program called
Global Awareness where we supply
schools with monthly workbooks. Schools
loved the idea and we today reach over
a quarter-million-children each month
across India.
We live in an era where content has to
be generationally relevant to the audience
we cater to (i.e. what they want to read,
not what you choose to write) and has to
be curated in a snackable manner.
TPS: Do you see a future for quiz in the
emerging educational dynamics? How
Giri ‘Pickbrain’ Balasubramanium
do you find the role of quiz programs
worldwide and its status in India?
Giri: Quizzing has a central role in
emerging educational dynamics.
1. The future will not be only learning
from teachers. It is also about peer
group learning.
2. Learning through highly engaging
gamified platforms like quizzes is the
in-thing with corporates. It can be
extremely useful for schools to adopt.
3. Learning beyond our comfort zones
is going to be a key area. Quizzing
naturally takes us from the known
to the unknown without creating a
discomfort in the unknown quadrant.
Quiz programs both in India and
several countries is reflective of a huge
upward trend. We, as Greycaps, would
have never imagined a decade ago that
we would be hosting quiz shows in as
many as nine countries. Technology
(app) powered quizzes are also on the rise
making learning fun.
TPS: What are your plans to enhance
this informal learning process to a
learning community in which schools
are one part of the system?
Giri: Learning beyond curriculum is
critical but we cannot expect our schools
to deliver on that front too in the time
they have (or don’t have). They can merely
create the platforms and opportunities for
informal learning and students have to
choose their areas of interest that would
take them beyond.
We, at Greycaps, have curated a
portal called Knowledge Tribe (www.
knowledgetribe.in) which brings together
information and people who appreciate
knowledge. It is an absolutely free
knowledge network to share, discuss and
learn with like minded people.
TPS: What message would you like
to give to the school community and
students in particular to develop this
informal learning skill?
Giri: Informal learning skills are as
important as formal. In the modern world
it can be your game changer. Everyone
wants integrated solutions.
• Take Steve Jobs for example. He
changed the face of computers by
introducing beautiful typography
which came from informal calligraphy
classes he had once attended.
• Here is one more. Back in 1994, Bill
Gates paid about 30 million dollars to
buy a creation of Leonardo Da Vinci.
These were not one his sculptures or
paintings, but a manuscript called
“Codex Leicester,” a collection of
scientific writings by Leonardo.
Jobs, Gates and many others who
have impacted the world have done so
because they invested time and money
into informal learning as well. Widen your
horizons to give yourself a larger landscape
for success.
www.progressiveschool.in
JUL-AUG-SEP 2018
THE PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL
17