The Progressive School Vol 02 Issue 04

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ut a time will come when the numbers will start depleting but that will be beyond the next few centuries so how do we tackle this intolerable, inane rat race. Teach CONCEPTS not CONTENT. Think — Did the action of force happen first or the book containing the description of force? First is the concept, then is the content. If we see force being applied by a mother pushing a perambulator or an iron monger hammering a block of iron, it will take a fraction of a second to understand FORCE. Even pushing of a door can be used to explain FORCE. This will help a child’s curiosity and sustain it. We need to remember that psycho somatic learning is all based on curiosity. The greater the curiosity, better the learning. So teachers arouse CURIOSITY in a child first before teaching them and this will remove the rote learning. Five lessons from Einstein which may help to prevent rote learning: • Follow your curiosity • Imagination is powerful • Make mistakes • Don’t be repetitive • Knowledge comes from experience TPS: Many schools believe that provision of informal supports to learning for extended and impactful learning comes with a cost which parents cannot afford and hence find it convenient to marginalize them. Is there a scope for integrating such learning experiences with curricular architecture and how do you think this can be done? Rupa: This is definitely not true. Provision for informal support for learning comes at a cost which parents cannot afford is a myth. To give a simple example, when students learn civilizations and delve into archaeological surveys learning about civilization like Mohenjodaro and Harappan civilization, we make the students do a treasure hunt wherein the teacher hides bits of pottery, ceramic pieces, glass bangles under the soil and ask students to excavate them through the game of ‘treasure hunt’. This enables them to learn through a fun and interesting method. It enables them thereafter to understand Rupa Chakravarty how civilization was discovered and excavated to give us the knowledge of our heritage and past era. The world around us is a living example of what is in a book. All we need to do is develop the students’ observational power and this will help them learn more actively and accurately unlike in rote learning. If I cannot learn the way you teach, then teach the way I learn. TPS: “Learning Beyond” is fundamental to “Learning Always” and “Life long learning.” It is development of a mindset and attitude to learning which is required for a vibrant knowledge society and a global learning environment. How can this idea be seeded in the young minds which would trigger them to be powerful ‘self-learners’? Rupa: Frankly, learning beyond is a trait the younger generation is born with. Our staid, boring and archaic way of teaching quells that desire to ‘learning beyond’. They know a lot more than we could have ever thought of at that age. Learning environment should match competency for them to sustain their desire to learn. There should be a clearly understood vision that encapsulates how it will be achieved, here is where we can help them by building their vision. Life long learning is the ongoing, voluntary and self motivated pursuit of knowledge so education is not learning of facts but the training of the mind to think which will lead to ‘Learning always’. We now accept the fact that learning is a ‘Lifelong process’ of keeping abreast of change and with a dynamic and vibrant methodology, we have created a learner. We can teach a student a lesson in a day but if you arouse his curiosity he will continue the learning process as long as he lives. Curiosity about life in all its aspects I think, is still the secret of great CREATIVE people. TPS: In a world haunted by technology, most learners spend their time with the instruments of technology for further and extended learning. What are its advantages and shortfalls? How do you think this mindset can be changed to a positive and personalized interactive social learning culture? Rupa: Donald Norman rightly said, “I’m not a fan of technology. I am a fan of pedagogy – of understanding how people learn and the most effective learning methods: But technology enables some exciting changes.” We must remember technology is just a tool. It promotes independent learning in students as the internet is a treasure trove of information. The information is also updated regularly so it’s in real time. The shortfall is how to analyse and synthesise the information. Effective technology integration offers opportunities to be more actively involved in the learning experience. We all know that technology will never replace great educators but technology in the hands of great educators can be transformational hence it is the teacher’s vision that could lead to creating an exciting way to teach students and arouse their curiosity for curiosity dies, rote learning begins. Technology also encourages teachers to research and adapt innovative teaching methods like, technology has really helped in ‘Flip classroom’ teaching. Technology is advancing at such a phenomenal rate that at times it is difficult for teachers to keep abreast with it but not so for students. There is no denying that one of the shortfalls of technology is to access to negative and harmful information photographs etc. can result in trauma for a child. The child may in his innocence fall prey to cyber stalking. We must refrain from confining our children to our learning for they were born in another time. They are natives of this land called technology. 50 THE PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL JUL-AUG-SEP 2018 www.progressiveschool.in
Q&A NURTURING RIGHT LEARNING ATTITUDE Pankaj Sharma, Principal, Sagar Public School, Bhopal As Swami Vivekananda Says, “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.” The perfection which has to be manifested, Swamiji says – is already in man. When we already have it, the role of education is actually a process of purification. A process by which we realize the perfectness within and here lies the critical role of an educator – be it a parent at home or a teacher at school. As educators, we need to throw light on the strengths of the student and facilitate ways and means to bring out those strengths, so as to nurture a confident and courageous adult. For this, both formal and informal learning are required, shares Pankaj Sharma, Principal, Sagar Public School, Bhopal. TPS: There is a long-standing view that only a limited quantity of learning is obtained through formal institutions of learning and informal learning plays a significant role in the empowerment of the individual. This view has been further strengthened by cognitive psychologists. How do you think schools can cope with this situation by synergizing formal and informal learning modes? Pankaj Sharma, M.A. (Political Science and History), M.Ed., is the Principal of Sagar Public School (SPS), Saket Nagar Bhopal. She is a passionate teacher from past 20 years and has been successfully handling the responsibility as Principal from last 10 years. With a very practical approach she lays emphasis on empowering the team; the teachers as well as the students. She has a special interest on working on group learning strategies and developing critical thinking skills. SPS is scaling new heights under the leadership of Shri Sudhir Kumar Agrawal, Chairman Sagar Group, whose constant guidance and philanthropic approach enables the school to grow as a unique learning centre based on values. www.progressiveschool.in Pankaj: Learning is not confined to the formal sources as the informal sources too have an impact on students’ mind. In fact now the students’ social and mental touch points have tremendously increased and therefore the schools should synergize both, the formal and informal sources by incorporating them in the teaching learning strategies such as the home assignments, projects, visits, experiential learning, flipped classroom techniques etc. which will ensure better learning. Though it is slightly difficult to gaze the learning through these tools however keeping in mind the impact they have on developing interest, these cannot be ignored. TPS: Can you suggest a few informal instruments of learning provided by schools that help in this process of empowerment of the individual and how do they play a scaffolding role in learning? Pankaj: Learning through outdoor visits to various institutes such as banks, industries, markets , public offices, governing bodies, observatories, parks, study of the reports published on various media, data analysis, JUL-AUG-SEP 2018 THE PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL 51
Page 1: VOL 02, ISSUE 04 JUL-AUG-SEP-2018 `
Page 4 and 5: C O N T E JUL-AUG-SEP 2018 VOL. 02
Page 6 and 7: RETROSPECTION REIMAGINING TEACHING
Page 8 and 9: PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS A MEANINGFUL LE
Page 10: • MODULES on Safe Diwali, Dengue
Page 13 and 14: use content to construct knowledge.
Page 15 and 16: for both the world of work and succ
Page 17 and 18: What are your observations in quiz
Page 19 and 20: Students can also learn to prepare
Page 21 and 22: Wingsuit Flying & BASE Jumping proj
Page 24 and 25: POINT OF VIEW MAKING LEARNING EASY
Page 26: mind and personality such as intell
Page 29 and 30: Types of parents We are influenced
Page 31 and 32: Better agrees, “Digital connectiv
Page 33 and 34: mentors perpetually work with the s
Page 35 and 36: about meeting them and follow them
Page 38 and 39: EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ENHANCING EXP
Page 40 and 41: LEARNING HAPPY TO LEARN! Benazir Sh
Page 42 and 43: ERGONOMICS HOW SEATING ERGONOMICS A
Page 44 and 45: BEYOND FOUR WALLS LEARNING BEYOND
Page 46: VIEWPOINT LEARNING CHRISTENED ONCE
Page 49: VIEWPOINT LEARNING: A LIFE-LONG CON
Page 54 and 55: INTROSPECTION SUSTAINING ACADEMIC L
Page 56: LEARNING 10 CHARACTERISTICS OF INFO
Page 60 and 61: English medium in 444 West Godavari
Page 62: National Testing Agency (NTA) to co

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