MY TAKE AWAY FROM THE CONFERENCE
Some of the workshops and seminars were good and here I am sharing some of my take aways.
Teachers are the magic- A great teacher can create magic under a banyan tree.
Dr.Harish Chaudhry
Dr.Harish Chaudhry
9TH TO 11TH DECEMBER 2016
Dr. S. Rajesh CHILD FREINDLY, STRESS FREE AND SKILL BASED EDUCATION
He spoke about creating a child freindly, stressfree and skill centered schooling.
The trend today is competitiveness. Excellence can help competitiveness but competitiveness alone cannot bring excellence.
He talks about his school that does not have pen and paper exams till grade VIII, after that the exams are invigilator free.
He proposes the importance of providing a stress free and skill oriented education. We ned to move away frombeing examination, syllabus and marks oriented to learner oriented. He states that the fact that now education has become boring but highly competitive, thus robbing the joy of learning. He blames the system and not child.
Although he had a lot to speak about, due to shortage of time he could not explain the techniques in detail.
Mrs. Vidyulata Panchal- A SOUL OF SUCCESSFUL WORLD
She spoke about how teaching pedagogy can develop a school. A student mind will acquire things from the surroundings also, and we as teachers need to identify the inherent abilities of the student.
Although the topic was good, she could not explain clearly how and what was being done in her school.
Sukvinder Kaur and Pradnya Gaikwad- PEDAGOGY
They spoke about how adapting teaching style to the learning style of students will improve the learning outcomes. They include the use of Facebook and Whattsup to involve students. They have successfully created blogs to encourage students to participate in discussions related to different topics.
They have classes based on merit of students and they teach accordingly. Although they clarified that it worked well for them and that they have been doing this for two-three years now.
However, I was not convinced about the idea of homogenous groups, this may be possible as they have so many students to be categorised in three classes. What happens when we have just a group of 25 to 30 students? We need to make provisions for all the students. Also some students may become demovitavated if they are not in the top group; though there is some sense when they say that they give chance for a level 3 student to come up to 2 and 1 by improving their performance.
Ms. Brigitta Abraham [Avlon heights international school]- THE SILENT TEACHING
Ms. Brigitta spoke about the importance of self experssion and how this can be nurtured in the classroom. The school considers "remaining silent" as an essential skill. She talked about how their school implements silent teaching. This is silence of both students and teachers, how they use placards, signs, scribble pads etc. to communicate. This is for an hour every week.
It was a good and enlightining session. This showed how different schools use different strategies for holistic development of the students.
Dr. Ashima Das [Avlon heights international school] CREATIVE SCHOOL
Dr. Das explained that teacher as a facilitator brings about creativity in her students. The students should be allowed to explore and research on their own. She spoke about the importance of nurturing creativity in children to make them original thinkers so that they are able to contribute to the society.
They hold plays, skits etc. according to the curriculum giving each child the opportunity to enhance their creativity.
This was a good session that tells us that we can unleash the creativity in students and create magic and bring back the joy of learning.
He spoke about creating a child freindly, stressfree and skill centered schooling.
The trend today is competitiveness. Excellence can help competitiveness but competitiveness alone cannot bring excellence.
He talks about his school that does not have pen and paper exams till grade VIII, after that the exams are invigilator free.
He proposes the importance of providing a stress free and skill oriented education. We ned to move away frombeing examination, syllabus and marks oriented to learner oriented. He states that the fact that now education has become boring but highly competitive, thus robbing the joy of learning. He blames the system and not child.
Although he had a lot to speak about, due to shortage of time he could not explain the techniques in detail.
Mrs. Vidyulata Panchal- A SOUL OF SUCCESSFUL WORLD
She spoke about how teaching pedagogy can develop a school. A student mind will acquire things from the surroundings also, and we as teachers need to identify the inherent abilities of the student.
Although the topic was good, she could not explain clearly how and what was being done in her school.
Sukvinder Kaur and Pradnya Gaikwad- PEDAGOGY
They spoke about how adapting teaching style to the learning style of students will improve the learning outcomes. They include the use of Facebook and Whattsup to involve students. They have successfully created blogs to encourage students to participate in discussions related to different topics.
They have classes based on merit of students and they teach accordingly. Although they clarified that it worked well for them and that they have been doing this for two-three years now.
However, I was not convinced about the idea of homogenous groups, this may be possible as they have so many students to be categorised in three classes. What happens when we have just a group of 25 to 30 students? We need to make provisions for all the students. Also some students may become demovitavated if they are not in the top group; though there is some sense when they say that they give chance for a level 3 student to come up to 2 and 1 by improving their performance.
Ms. Brigitta Abraham [Avlon heights international school]- THE SILENT TEACHING
Ms. Brigitta spoke about the importance of self experssion and how this can be nurtured in the classroom. The school considers "remaining silent" as an essential skill. She talked about how their school implements silent teaching. This is silence of both students and teachers, how they use placards, signs, scribble pads etc. to communicate. This is for an hour every week.
It was a good and enlightining session. This showed how different schools use different strategies for holistic development of the students.
Dr. Ashima Das [Avlon heights international school] CREATIVE SCHOOL
Dr. Das explained that teacher as a facilitator brings about creativity in her students. The students should be allowed to explore and research on their own. She spoke about the importance of nurturing creativity in children to make them original thinkers so that they are able to contribute to the society.
They hold plays, skits etc. according to the curriculum giving each child the opportunity to enhance their creativity.
This was a good session that tells us that we can unleash the creativity in students and create magic and bring back the joy of learning.
PLENARY SESSION
Dr. Rajaram Sharma
Setting a course on turbulent seas-the need for reexamining an agenda for the teacher.
Setting a course on turbulent seas-the need for reexamining an agenda for the teacher.
Dr. Rajaram Sharma is a good orator, this session was on how we as teachers find ourselves inadequate, clueless and at times helpless about societal expectations and student goals.
Our teaching goals seem irrelevant today, but we need to just rediscover ourselves, make proper efforts and we will be able to move on the most turbulent waters.
What is required-
This way we can give the "joy of learning" to the students.
My thoughts are in the same direction, I believe in creating interest in students in the classroom. If they enjoy learning, they will retain better. My classes are more interactive and I try to get the answers from the students themselves. Although it is logistically not possible to have a different classroom arrangement, I would any day prefer a group arrangement.
Our teaching goals seem irrelevant today, but we need to just rediscover ourselves, make proper efforts and we will be able to move on the most turbulent waters.
What is required-
- Come out of the neatly stratified current arrangement of the classroom; this system is for creating a command over students.
- Change to being a science teacher rather than being a teacher of science textbook. [Dr. Rajaram talks about throwing out the textbook and rely on the creativity of teaching]
- All devices are created to aid the teacher... including the chalk and board, we need to unleash the energy in these devices.
- He shared his experiences as a teacher, how with his students build a 4 feet nest in the classroom by the things brought from the playground. This lead the students to get more information related to nests and eggs. One child even brought eggs for the classroom nest.
- What he wants us to know is that we have to "provoke" the students and they learn themselves.
This way we can give the "joy of learning" to the students.
My thoughts are in the same direction, I believe in creating interest in students in the classroom. If they enjoy learning, they will retain better. My classes are more interactive and I try to get the answers from the students themselves. Although it is logistically not possible to have a different classroom arrangement, I would any day prefer a group arrangement.
Mr. Rick Smith
Conscious classroom management strategies- How to bring out the best in students.
Conscious classroom management strategies- How to bring out the best in students.
Mr. Smith spoke about various strategies for effective classroom management.
As a teacher we should be able to understand the undercurrent in the student behaviour and take actions accordingly.
Students will show resistance – as teachers we should try and go under the resistance, the more we argue or shout the more they will resist.
Maintaining posture, volume and tone in the classroom is important; this is the most effective way to communicate or pass our message to the students.
There is no point in shouting to the students; speak slowly but clearly and with authority. In short, "More words we use, the less powerful they become".
His session was interesting as he dramatised most of the things he wanted to convey. Although as a teacher I follow most these strategies in my classroom, the way he conveyed it was good. It did not seem boring for even a second.
As a teacher we should be able to understand the undercurrent in the student behaviour and take actions accordingly.
Students will show resistance – as teachers we should try and go under the resistance, the more we argue or shout the more they will resist.
Maintaining posture, volume and tone in the classroom is important; this is the most effective way to communicate or pass our message to the students.
There is no point in shouting to the students; speak slowly but clearly and with authority. In short, "More words we use, the less powerful they become".
His session was interesting as he dramatised most of the things he wanted to convey. Although as a teacher I follow most these strategies in my classroom, the way he conveyed it was good. It did not seem boring for even a second.
Mr. Neeraj Jain
Raising readers
Raising readers
This session was based on the “Kids and Family Reading Report”. The excess of information being just a click away, makes the idea that reading is pleasurable, utopian.
Mr. Neeraj focussed on how to raise readers and how to instill the importance of reading in children.
Based on their report he said-
Allow kids the choice to select books they want to read, this has more chances of they completing the book. Kids prefer selecting books for reading on their own and most of them prefer reading fun books. We may guide them to read certain books but not force them.
Though there has been technological advances and digitalization of books, most kids still prefer reading printed books.
As a parent, I remember telling my daughter to read on her own once she could read. I assumed that this would be good for her and would develop the habit of reading in her.
I wanted her to be independent, however, what I failed to realize was that it was at rare occasions that she asked me to read her some story, I failed to understand was that she was trying to reach out and spend time with me. My advice to every parent is that do not ignore when your kids ask you to read. This will foster a strong bond that will last life long...memory for the child and the parent.
Mr. Neeraj focussed on how to raise readers and how to instill the importance of reading in children.
Based on their report he said-
- The begining has to be with parents reading to kids- reading aloud is what kids enjoy. Earlier with joint families, kids had their grandparents telling them stories…this can be considered a form of reading aloud.
- Then parents should be reading them selves, hence seeing them the kids also get the habit of reading.
- Children should be given choice to select their own books
Allow kids the choice to select books they want to read, this has more chances of they completing the book. Kids prefer selecting books for reading on their own and most of them prefer reading fun books. We may guide them to read certain books but not force them.
Though there has been technological advances and digitalization of books, most kids still prefer reading printed books.
As a parent, I remember telling my daughter to read on her own once she could read. I assumed that this would be good for her and would develop the habit of reading in her.
I wanted her to be independent, however, what I failed to realize was that it was at rare occasions that she asked me to read her some story, I failed to understand was that she was trying to reach out and spend time with me. My advice to every parent is that do not ignore when your kids ask you to read. This will foster a strong bond that will last life long...memory for the child and the parent.
Dr. Harish Chaudhry
Teacher empowerment and motivation
Teacher empowerment and motivation
Are teachers born, do they become or are they made?
Dr Chaudhry talked about the need for nurturing new teachers, holding hands and letting them grow. The role of a leader or a mentor in helping a new teacher get accoustomed to teaching.
Leadership is instilling self-confidence in people. People need to believe in their competencies and the leader has to provide the resources. This workshop focused on how important it is to acknowledge the fact that people try and fail rather than not try at all.
Development of the brain today has become limited due to –GOOGLE
We see more of rote learning that results in strong memory connection, but weak thinking.
In India, parents do no grow out of parenthood and children do not grow out of childhood.
Thus, teachers after B.Ed., need to be nurtured; looked after to become good teachers, there is no specific ingredients that make good teachers, some are gifted.
We need to find, attract, retain, develop and stabilize good teachers.
Some of the points that Dr. Chaudhry wants us to understand is-
Dr Chaudhry talked about the need for nurturing new teachers, holding hands and letting them grow. The role of a leader or a mentor in helping a new teacher get accoustomed to teaching.
Leadership is instilling self-confidence in people. People need to believe in their competencies and the leader has to provide the resources. This workshop focused on how important it is to acknowledge the fact that people try and fail rather than not try at all.
Development of the brain today has become limited due to –GOOGLE
We see more of rote learning that results in strong memory connection, but weak thinking.
In India, parents do no grow out of parenthood and children do not grow out of childhood.
Thus, teachers after B.Ed., need to be nurtured; looked after to become good teachers, there is no specific ingredients that make good teachers, some are gifted.
We need to find, attract, retain, develop and stabilize good teachers.
Some of the points that Dr. Chaudhry wants us to understand is-
- Computer is a tool, teachers are the magic
- Happy people perform better
- Synergy and teamwork produces better results
- Actions speak louder than words
- You cannot monitor that what you cannot do yourself
Ms. Chandeep Marwah
Enhancing education through technology
Enhancing education through technology
Ms. Chandeep is educator-communicator with specialisation in group communication. She works on empowering teachers to effectively integrating 21st century skills in the classroom.
Today there is an overload of information on the Internet; teachers have to act as facilitators to help filter the content available.
Teacher today has to be confident enough to say- “I don’t know this, lets find it out together”
Follow the policy of ECM- Every Child Matters
Some software that can be used in classroom
Today there is an overload of information on the Internet; teachers have to act as facilitators to help filter the content available.
Teacher today has to be confident enough to say- “I don’t know this, lets find it out together”
Follow the policy of ECM- Every Child Matters
Some software that can be used in classroom
- One note- teacher student interaction
- Sway – making presentations
- Bing- safe search
- Microsoft eduzone
Some videos that she showed-
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS TODAY
|
TECHNOLOGY IN CLASSROOM
|
Gurmeet Bindra
Discipline and its changing definition
Discipline and its changing definition
Ms. Gurmeet Bindra is the Principal, Welham Boys school, Deharadun.
She spoke about her experiences in handling discipline issues in a boys residential school.
Discipline is not just confined to classroom behavior; it affects the overall attitude towards the life of a child. It also affects the parents and people around the child; the older version of ‘reward and punishment’ now has given way to new practices.
We can just create guidelines and directions with the hope that it will work.
Today parents in becomes friendly with their children do not realize the boundary and become friends. Being a friend and being friendly is different. This also applies to the teachers, most teachers in order to be friendly with the students become friends.
There are different forms of discipline, it is important that we know the thoughts of the students, only then can we influence them.
There is no specific one size fit sole; it is different every time.
We should focus on saying, “yes” to “no”, whereever required for disciplinary issues.
She spoke about her experiences in handling discipline issues in a boys residential school.
Discipline is not just confined to classroom behavior; it affects the overall attitude towards the life of a child. It also affects the parents and people around the child; the older version of ‘reward and punishment’ now has given way to new practices.
We can just create guidelines and directions with the hope that it will work.
Today parents in becomes friendly with their children do not realize the boundary and become friends. Being a friend and being friendly is different. This also applies to the teachers, most teachers in order to be friendly with the students become friends.
There are different forms of discipline, it is important that we know the thoughts of the students, only then can we influence them.
There is no specific one size fit sole; it is different every time.
We should focus on saying, “yes” to “no”, whereever required for disciplinary issues.