Learning Forward India

Joy Of Learning

2023-05-19T18:35:00.007+05:30

We affiliate with Learning Forward and help schools with services to add value to the curriculum by focusing on reading, writing and speaking #JoyOfLearning.

School reform efforts over the past three decades tell us there is no silver bullet for significantly improving our schools.
If we want to improve our school substantially, especially teaching and student learning, we’ll have to do it ourselves, one brick at a time.
If honest, ongoing school improvement is to be, then it is up to us as educators to find ways of doing it.

Affiliate Learning Forward

2020-11-10T17:47:00.330+05:30

Learning Forward India is an affiliate of Learning Forward.

We help you plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so you and your team can succeed with your system, school, and students.

Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development.

We help you leverage the power of lifelong learning to effect positive and lasting change.

The School Bell - first lesson in time management

2020-11-02T09:00:00.000+05:30

You will definitely hear the school bell ring in your head, when ever you lend your ear to it! The sound of the school bell has a certain amount of energy that makes the adrenaline flow and we look forward to the next hour.

The first bell of the day brings in great energy, as enthusiastic young and fresh minds come racing in to the school gates. The day will see the entry and exit of fun and joy in the class, till the last bell that leaves the campus devoid of all energy and seems like the sunset hour in midday.

Our first lessons in time management perhaps are rendered to us by this innocuous bell, that may sound jarring at first but becomes part of our growing years. A school period is a block of time allocated for lessons, classes or other activities in schools. They typically last between 40 and 60 minutes, with around 3-8 periods per school day. Educators determine the number and length of these periods, and may even regulate how each period will be used.

Managing time is really the first challenge for all of us at school, using the 40 odd minutes to ensure learning and capture the imagination is always the biggest challenge for teachers and students alike.

Image courtesy -blogs.warwick.ac.uk

Our first lessons in time management perhaps are rendered to us by this innocuous bell

The race against time, the need to complete the lesson plan, ensure good understanding and give the students the real joy of learning between two bells is not an easy task for even the best of teachers. How best you use your limited time determines your effectiveness as a teacher or a mentor for a group of learners. There are thus crucial questions to be answered keeping in mind that the next bell will ring soon- What do I do? When do I do it? How well do I do it?

Isn't time management an issue for your students? Do their busy schedules and social lives prevent them from completing homework assignments? Managing time is the most important element as this is the basic premise of our putting in place a time table, the bells for the hour are the key to effective delivery. The time table adds up to the calendar and this makes the academic year for our curriculum delivery.

It is often said that students who have studied in residential schools are more independent and parents may have an opinion that they have greater confidence. This is merely because the school works hard to make best use of the full 24 hours they have at hand. From the 'wake up' bell to the 'lights out' bell all members of the school community really work to synchronise the life of a child at the school. As the average boarding school child hears more bells, am taking the risk of stating is perhaps capable of managing her/his time better. When the children return home from boarding school, they do find the going tough at first, then they feel the urge to do something and put forth the question 'what do I do?'.

A bell is a signal in a school that tells the students when it is time to go to class in the morning and when it is time to change classes during the day. Typically the first bell tells the students that it is time to report to class and the bell that occurs shortly after that means that the students are late. There may also be a warning bell between the first bell and the late bell. ~ Wikipedia

The signal for us to thus get active is really the school bell, the ringing sound may excite us or push us, it definitely is the call of the hour and wants us to know that precious time is ticking. Successful people know how to manage their time better, and leadership in my opinion is really best of time management. If you learn how to use your time most judiciously you will succeed, this is what we will have a mother telling children at home and the school bell reminding us at school. It is important for you to hear the bell ring and value your most precious moments in time.

How to Manage Your Time. These days, time seems to be at a premium. We have devices that keep us constantly connected with work, with friends and family, ... this may seem to create some form of stress and challenge you to keep up the pace. All you need to do is put in place you 'things to do' at the early hour or at the first bell, and then do your best to follow it through the day. We must never panic or be stressed, but must appreciate that a 'moment in time' is perhaps the most precious and like flowing water will never come back.

Image courtesy reckenen.com

How much time we have? The image on the left shows how will we spend our time, this reminds me of a famous quote “...there will be sleeping enough in the grave....” by Benjamin Franklin.

Our life indeed sets a limit of time, and this is indeed the wealth we often do not value in our quest for materials and the race to beat the others to it.

Hear the bell, find the energy, think for yourself and make a conscious decision to how best you will use your time. Remember the school bell and hear it ring always, let it not make life uncomfortable but instead help you enjoy every moment and be the master of your time. Time management alone will help you find yourself and live a joyous life.

~ Sandeep Dutt, author and social entrepreneur

The views expressed above are of Sandeep Dutt alone, and you are welcome to comment and share your thoughts with him by email to sd@ebd.in please. For more about the author please visit www.SandeepDutt.com

The quest for My Good School

2020-09-01T17:45:00.000+05:30

The focus must be on creating an environment where:

1. Experiential learning is made possible through activities beyond just study, this can consolidate and bring to life learning which would otherwise be theoretical and uncoordinated.
2. Encouraging students to become involved in activities in the community outside the confines of the school curriculum will help develop their confidence, knowledge and contacts to follow passion after leaving school.
3. With teachers’ encouraging young people, they can take full advantage of what both the school and outside interests can offer; this can be a key factor in their progressing successfully through adolescence into rewarding and fulfilling adult life.

Quality in school education consists of happy teachers, a good student-teacher ratio, modern equipment, adequate space and classroom facilities. A good school brings together the parents, students, teachers and the management to partner for the personal and social development of the child.

Why professional learning is the key to this quest?
Professional learning means a comprehensive, sustained and intensive approach to improving teachers’ and principals’ effectiveness in raising student achievement. Our belief:

The purpose of professional learning is to ensure a comprehensive, sustained, and intensive approach to improving teachers’ and principals’ effectiveness in raising student achievement.
Professional learning strives to go beyond standardised testing to promote authentic learning experiences and the application of knowledge and skills.
Professional learning is aligned with rigorous student academic achievement standards, as well as related affiliation standards of state and central boards and guidelines for school improvement goals.
Professional learning regularly assesses the effectiveness of achieving identified learning goals, improving teaching, assisting all students in meeting challenging academic achievement standards and is used to inform ongoing improvements in teaching and student learning.
The success of the students is affected by sustained professional learning conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by well-prepared school principals and/or school-based professional learning trainers, coaches, mentors, master teachers, or other teacher leaders.
Professional learning is a continuous cycle of improvement, which evaluates the student, teacher, and school learning needs through a thorough review of data on teacher and student performance.
Effective professional learning honours differences in student and adult learners by using various approaches to learning and assessment.
Educators have the right to expect excellence in their professional learning and have the power to achieve it. All educators share the responsibility for their own individual growth as well as that of their organisations.
Professional learning is most effective when supported by an organisational culture that fosters learning for all. Professional learning must be embedded in the organisational structure for systemic change and may be supported by external assistance.
Collaboration and fostering collective responsibility for improved student performance within the school community is essential for school improvement and student success.
All professional learning should be of high quality and aligned with the best standards for professional learning.

The term professional learning means a comprehensive, sustained and intensive approach to improving teachers’ and principals’ effectiveness in raising student achievement. School improvement will happen only when the School Board and the Management support the principal in creating an environment that nurtures excellence, trust, risk-taking and creativity. Further:

The Faculty and staff must develop meaningful relationships, build collaboration and action teams for solving priority learning issues and share findings across the school toward becoming an authentic learning community;
The people must see the big learning improvement picture, create shared values and vision, and empower and inspire each other;
Where all personnel are committed to learning, sharing, and relearning to improve learning for all students; and
Where time and preparation are provided to help everyone understand the essentials of change, share them collectively, and execute them effectively to create learning innovations.

The outcome of the change process for developing new teaching and learning must be to measurably improve student performance.
Acknowledgements:
Schools Can Change - Authors Dale W Lick, Karl H Clauset and Carlene U Murphy & Learningforward.Org
The writer Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone, his email is sd@ebd.in.

Leadership at school

2017-06-21T00:00:00.001+05:30

The key differentiator of a good school is good governance and leadership development at all levels. The Board, the staff, the students, the parent body and the community all need to be part of the leadership development ecosystem. It all begins with the Governance and this is where a good school leads the average.

Members of the Governing Body of The Fabindia School (Photo courtesy Neha Parmar)

Applying principles of good governance to schools

(Refer : http://www.is.vic.edu.au/schools/governance/atb/governance3.htm)

Principles of corporate governance must be considered and applied in light of the complex school environment. Unlike traditional corporations, schools operate on a not-for-profit basis; its stakeholders have long-term personal and emotional investments, relationships and friendships; participation in the school may cover many generations of family members; members of the Board participate on a voluntary basis; the school is engaged in the education, development and welfare of children; teachers are expected to be dedicated and provide a contribution well beyond the normal teaching day. Schools rely on family philanthropy, legacies and benefactors. It is not a simple matter for disaffected stakeholders to change allegiances. Changing schools can be a traumatic and expensive exercise.

It is pivotal to good governance that the Board recognises and manages the School’s main stakeholder groups. The management of stakeholders requires skill and tact and relationships must be delicately balanced at all times.

The main stakeholder groups are depicted in this diagram

We will examine the role of the Board / School Management Committee, the Staff, the Parents, the Community and the Students too.

Governing Body (Trust / Society) should be an independent body that ensures the vision of the not-for-profit schooling organisation is not compromised. There must be a set of Rules and Guidelines to focus on the mission of the charity that is formed to govern the school organisation. As the schools can be established by a Trust or a Society, it is imperative that there is no conflict of interest and yet the school is independent and a sustainable enterprise. We have to give regard to professional acumen and the sentiment of the founders. There must be a leadership showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. Setting up a school is often "an entirely altruistic act", with an element of selfless, self-sacrificing, self-denying, considerate, compassionate, kind, decent, noble, public-spirited and charitable motive. We must not forget above all it must be 'sustainable'. The Boards' biggest challenge will be to become a public charity over a period of time, it is often a challenge for the investor to let go. The social enterprise will give dividend in the form of better human capital and a good citizenry, this alone is the cornerstone for a developed economy and society.

Role of the School Management Committee (SMC) in the operations of the school is very important and a good SMC will be an asset to for school operations. Section 21 of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (RTE), mandates the formation of School Management Committees (SMCs) in all elementary government, government-aided schools and special category schools in the country. The RTE Act envisions an SMC as the basic unit of a decentralised model of governance with an active involvement of parents in the school’s functioning. This body involves the parents and the community in running the school and also works as a conscience keeper for the institution. The members of the SMC should be involved in the operations of the school and assist Principal in effectively managing the school.

The School Staff should be involved beyond the classroom, and there must be a model of effectively having them involved in the decision making and effective functioning of the school. Clubs, Societies, Sports and Extracurricular activities must all give the staff members to pursue their passion and lead. Right from the position of the Vice-Principal (deputy head), the Deans, Heads of Department, Teachers and Administrators all must be able to see the ladder for climbing up in the school organisation. The Staff should see a way forward in the professional careers and be empowered to take decisions at all levels. The more we delegate, the better will be our leadership at the school. As teaching is a profession that is by chance and not by choice, we have to ensure that the staff feels much wanted and valued, this alone will bring about a change from average to the leaders that they must become. The most important step is building learning communities and the teachers must join organisations like Learning Forward and find out how to plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so that the team can achieve success with the school system.

Good schools have a good Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and the school is a partnering of parents and teachers to build an ecosystem to help children develop emotionally and intellectually. The children must care for the environment, care for the community and care for the country; this is only possible when the family and the institutions work for the betterment of the young people. Today most teachers rue the fact the parents have no or little time for their children as they have to juggle their lives between profession and economic necessity of a family. This makes the role of a PTA even more paramount as parents can together work to help each other in addition to depending on just the teacher/tutor to lead the learning process. In good schools, the parents are involved effectively and this is the single most factor in contributing to the making of a good school.

The students at school and the ex-students must be involved in institution building too. Schools must develop the minds of the children and also their physique, their skills, their personality and leadership traits and create a sense of fellow feeling with their less fortunate brethren if they are to be good citizens.

Public Schools lay emphasis on all-round education. To develop latent talents and skills, a variety of hobbies are offered and the choice of one per year made compulsory out of Photography, Art, Pottery, Sculpture, Carpentry, Metalwork, Electronics, Aero-modelling, Philately, etc. In addition, to build talent and develop leadership abilities these schools are well organised in Debating, Dramatics, Music and have special interest Societies in disciplines such as Astronomy, Wildlife, Literary Affairs, History and Human Rights etc. Each school endeavours to have its own student-run publications, newsletters and magazines. Pupils are encouraged to compete against themselves in the programmes of the Royal Life Saving Society, St. John’s Ambulance Brigade and the International Award for Young People. (Refer to http://www.goodschoolsofindia.com/introduction/thepubschethos.asp)

The Prefect system and a strong adventure programme (mountain climbing, river swimming and other outward-bound activities) inculcate character and leadership. Good citizenship is inculcated by the actual practice of democracy in letting the students run all the activities. A care and concern for their fellow human beings and for the environment is created by a strong social service programme which includes working in the villages, going on disaster relief expeditions, working with the blind, deaf, dumb and mentally retarded, working on tree planting, gardening, compost pit making etc.

The alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students (alumni). These associations often organise social events, publish newsletters or magazines, and raise funds for the organisation. Many provide a variety of benefits and services that help alumni maintain connections to their educational institution and fellow graduates. Additionally, such groups often support new alumni, and provide a forum to form new friendships and business relationships with people of similar background. This network is the most important determinant of the brand value of a good school. The must be involved in the governance and have due representation in leadership positions in a good school.

What Makes A Good School?

(Refer to http://www.moe.gov.sg/initiatives/every-school-good-school/)

A good school cares for its students, studying and knowing the needs, interests and strengths of her students and motivates them to learn and grow.
A good school ensures all students acquire strong fundamentals of literacy and numeracy and develops them holistically, in character, knowledge and critical competencies.
A good school creates a positive school experience for each student, making him a confident and lifelong learner.
A good school has caring and competent teachers who are steadfast in their mission to impact lives.
A good school has the support of parents and the community, working together to bring out the best in our children, and
A good school cares for and provides opportunities to all students, regardless of family circumstances.

Leadership at school is a major catalyst in helping build a Good School. Promoters and social entrepreneurs have to think way beyond just investment and the ROI (return on investment). The school works for the future generations and crystal ball gazing is not easy at all. A student may end up for fifteen years in a particular school, and to prepare a child for a decade or two ahead is the most complex task and not a mere economic enterprise. Developing strong vision and mission statements can help stakeholders in your school reach such a common understanding. This can only be achieved by ensuring that we build leadership at school at all levels.

The author Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone. You may please email the author on sd@ebd.in for comments if any. For more about the author www.sandeepdutt.com

I have a piece of land and want to set up a school?

2017-06-20T09:00:00.008+05:30

Many people who own a piece of land want to set up a school! Is owning the land the criteria for considering setting up a school? Some say 'we are promoting a township and must set up a school'. Yet others have real estate and find running a school is a great business!

"The Fabindia School is a piece of land brought to life." William N Bissell, CoFounder The Fabindia School and Chairma of Fabindia

Is the School a good way to earn social acceptance, a way to épouse philanthropy? The challenge is not in owning or setting up, but in operating and delivering the quality in education, this is a far cry today. We need to understand the school's purpose before we set out to build with brick and mortar.

Images courtesy Shutterstock.com

A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students (or "pupils") under teachers' direction. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools. These schools' names vary by country but generally include primary school for young children and secondary school for teenagers who have completed primary education. An institution where higher education is taught is commonly called a university college or university. ~ Wikipedia

The term education encompasses a whole gamut of experimental learning that is given through teachers in the classroom and often, more importantly, outside. The nature of the experience and how it is designed to be imparted makes the difference between a good school and an ordinary school. How are the academic subjects taught, and what is it a school should teach? There are three important functions, among others, of the educational process in the classroom apart from mere learning:

To develop problem-solving abilities.
To develop creative abilities, and
To develop curiosity and an inquisitive spirit.

Does the school have systems of teaching and learning that encourage the development of the above? For instance, through assignments, seminars and project work? What place does the library have in the learning process? In the assessment systems used by the school, how much emphasis is given to marks?

Often the opportunities for learning outside the classroom are greater, through sports and games and other activities like adventure sports, dramatics and community service. All play an important role in developing character and citizenship. A good school will provide a balance of opportunities in its curriculum to allow students to develop their special interests and talents.

~ Good Schools of India

We must take great care before we set out to build a school, it is imperative first to understand that we will be playing with the lives of young children and will have a hand in moulding their lives.
When a potter starts his work with clay, he has his mind and body in unison and strives to build a piece of art and utility with empathy, care and devotion. He does not make the pot simply because there is mud with properties of quality clay, and further, the pot will sell to give him his livelihood! The potter's labour of love is what really will create a masterpiece. Likewise, many an artist has a canvas to paint, few, however, can imbibe the thought and emotion to create the depth that will be endless.

Our advice to all owners of real estate and property developers is 'once you start to work on a school project, you will need to forget all other work in your life, put your heart and soul in this very project and then alone you can create a school to offer quality education'.

Please do not simply consider investing in setting up a school, as a business decision. The challenge lies in the operations, the effort involved to ensure the personal and social development is humongous. Training people to deliver the promised quality is never an easy task.

Quality in education consists of happy teachers, a good student-teacher ratio, modern equipment and adequate space and classroom facilities. A good school should offer facilities for retraining teachers and good salaries on par with related spheres. A well-designed school should have modern aids and teaching devices. A school should be a centre for excellence. It should employ good teachers and pay them well. It should encourage a concern for the environment and cleanliness. Above all, it should be managed by a dynamic Principal and competent, humane teachers.

Schools should not be commercial shops or teaching shops. Teachers should be well-read and inspired people. They should read about education, love the children they teach and have all-around personalities. They should acquaint themselves with the Montessori methods, Swami Vivekanand's philosophy, and read John Dewey, Rabindranath Tagore and Jean Jaques Rousseau. Quality in education leads to quality in our lives, and that is what we are all striving for.

~ Ramchandani Education Consultants

Successful people are punctual and ensure that they deliver the quality they promise. If you have land, you have a long way ahead, putting up a school with quality commitment is not going to be an easy task. Many buildings exist with no students, we have dilapidated campuses with no young people playing, many dreams turn sour, simply because the schools do not have the right leadership.

The school must be in the best hands, and often it is the Principal who makes the difference. The principal's role covers many different areas, including leadership, teacher evaluation, student discipline, and several others. Being an effective principal is hard work and is time-consuming. A good principal is a balance within all their roles and works hard to ensure that they are doing what they feel is best for all constituents involved.

So if you have land, you need the best Principal, and in principle, you are often not the best Principal for the dream school! The owner must simply be a mere resource provider as many a time he is, the school must have the right people with the freedom to lead and make it an institution. People make the place, and they alone can shape lives. Children are tender not only in body but more so in heart and mind.

Mr A N Dar, former Principal Scindia School and Mentor Genesis Global states, "The challenge with promoters, they need to give space to people they entrust the school to...teachers are there, but they need to be respected - and trusted - and given time, recognition and encouragement. Many well-known schools are floundering because the school is not giving them the space required by them. There are appraisals and increments and even sacking, but the quality of staff is not growing..."

Teachers and the system must show a balance so that the soul of the school is retained.

The most important part of the school is how the place can offer the heart and the mind the best place to be in. Yes, land and open space is needed as infrastructure but does not necessarily make a good school. The open sky, the stars above, the trees and the shade below are even better locales for teaching than the closed box-like rooms with stale air and blank spaces!

An empty mind is a devil's workshop.
Thimmappa M.S. explains "Mind and the thoughts contained in it is meant for functionality only, that is, utility application, to execute the purpose-oriented activity. An empty mind gets filled with non-utilitarian thoughts and is cut off from reality and can cause havoc! ..."

A campus alone is not a school, people with compassion and values who help deliver quality education will help the entrepreneur keep the promise of quality. If you want to make a good school, please first find the best people, then alone will your land become the ideal place for fertile minds. The innovation lies in building and growing and not simply in sowing and forgetting. If you have a piece of land and other infrastructure, you will need to partner with the community, the people and the society to help build the good school.

Best of luck, go and find the best people to help you make your dream come true!

Extract from the book My Good School - Where Passion Meets Education, published by Rupa Publications.

The author of the article Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone. You may please email the author on sd@ebd.in for comments if any. Sandeep is the former National Director of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award ( IAYP in India).

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References:

1. Good Schools of India - www.goodschoolsofindia.com

2. Personal and Social Development - vision document of The Fabindia School
3. Wikipedia

Disclaimer: Images have been sourced with Google User Content online, and this blog claims no design or copyright, please.

What Does Education Do?

2017-06-18T09:00:00.000+05:30

Is going to school at the core of a good education? Why do successful people walk tall? It all leads us to explore how we build self-confidence and make success a habit. An excellent institution whether a family or even a school should help us walk with pride and build our emotional quotient.

"I believe there's a hero in us all that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride." Mike Saquan Wren

To empower us to walk with confidence is what I feel education should do. When we look at schools that work to deliver education, not many will help us achieve the key purpose, as these institutions look at education as a commodity and sell it to us as a package. The main motive of most of these schools is to run a sustainable business; this often will not let them deliver value and meet our purpose of helping us 'walk with confidence'. The school may give us literacy; this is not what education is all about.

"Education has helped to make me who I am. Through education, I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses. It helped me to develop both occupations and vocations. It gave me confidence and helped me to see the world as an approachable place." quote from eNotes.com

Evaluating People vs. Their Education: Does the phrase well-educated refer to a quality of the schooling you received, or to something about you? Does it denote what you were taught, or what you learned (and remember)? If the term applies to what you now know and can do, you could be poorly educated despite having received a top-notch education. However, if the term refers to the quality of your schooling, then we’d have to conclude that a lot of “well-educated” people sat through lessons that barely registered, or at least are hazy to the point of irrelevance a few years later. - Alfie Kohn

To be considered educated, said the panelists of the Askwith Forum at Harvard, students should leave school with a deep understanding of themselves and how they fit into the world and have learned what some call “soft skills” – complex problem-solving, creativity, entrepreneurship, the ability to manage themselves, and the ability to be lifelong learners. As Professor Fernando Reimers, who moderated the panel, summarised, there is a disconnect between how education gets delivered in the classroom and the common desire for students to become good, well-rounded people.

Students should leave school with a deep understanding of themselves and how they fit into the world and have learned what some call “soft skills.”

How do we empower young people to walk with confidence? This is the dilemma that will never be resolved, as we all have our very personal views and beliefs. The culture, the stereotype and the work of generations cloud our minds and makes us often feel incomplete and demolishes our confidence. How do we overcome negativity and build our self-confidence? Learning is an integral part of our life and education should not only stimulate us but free us and empower us to find ourselves. I have often said that 'leadership is finding you', and a leader is a person who can walk with confidence. Education should help us be the leader we want to be, and not cage our thoughts and make us hostage to a curriculum.

Dale Carnegie shows us how to: Develop poise, gain self-confidence, improve memory, make our meaning clear, begin and end a talk, interest and charm our audience, improve our diction, win an argument without making enemies. In his bestselling book "How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking" he offers hundreds of practical and valuable tips on influencing the important people in your life: your friends, your customers, your business associates, your employees. This book has been tested and used successfully by millions of people all over the world.

Our education process should help us walk tall; we should be able to understand our inner self and express our heart with the effective use of our intelligence. Education will only be complete when we follow our heart, stand on our feet and walk with our heads. The mind thus must be empowered and not merely filled with information like 'bits and bytes' in the CPU of a computer. Over the year's mind, mapping was an extensive field of study and we find that verbalization often devalues the core of learning, the written word seems to be the only way to grow literacy and this itself is the biggest challenge.

Tyler Cowen speculates: "Men are born beasts. But education gives you a peer group, a self-image, and some skills as well. Getting an education is like becoming a Marine. Men need to be made into Marines. By choosing many years of education, you are telling yourself that you stand on one side of the social divide. The education itself drums that truth into you."

Our minds are by far the greatest mechanism we can ever possess yet we hardly take notice of it. My friend Ted Falconar shares with me a vision and he states that we are now engaged in promoting the Creative Infinity Mind that is the mystic and scientific wonderland- a Renaissance that humanity has hardly embarked upon being at an early stage in its evolution; the single dimensioned verbal mind, that is spiritual poverty lacking beauty, creativity and imagination is still hampering the world. The education as it stands today kills creativity and makes us our mere verbalizers, taking from us the opportunity to be great visualizers.

Intellectual ability refers to content and level of cognition (What? and How much?). Cognitive style reflects the manner or mode of cognition (How?).he term cognitive style is associated with stable, trait-like consistency in personal approach to attending, perceiving, and thinking. Or, cognitive styles are particular personality determined modes of perceiving, remembering, thinking, and problem-solving. Another definition - cognitive styles represent stable traits that distinguish the learners according to consistencies in interacting with the environment. Cognitive styles might be understood better by comparing them to construct of cognitive ability within a dichotomy based conceptual framework. - Refer website www.it.fmi.uni-sofia.bg

We will only walk with confidence when we begin to understand our self, and education is only one of the tools for us to find your own self. Education must free our mind and not enslave us to a system, for us to walk with confidence we will need not only IQ but most of all a great level of EQ (Emotional Quotient). You will only walk with confidence when you are emotionally strong, and this is what we need at the core of any learning that is delivered by any institution. We will need the strength of spiritual insight to support our ardour to walk with confidence.

The author of the article Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone. You may please email the author on sd@ebd.in for comments if any. We are on Facebook www.Facebook.com/EbdEdu. & Twitter @brewknowledge.

7 tips for choosing professional development programs

2016-10-18T09:53:00.001+05:30

1. Alignment to school goals. What are you looking to accomplish, and how does professional development align with that?

2. Focus on communication. A very robust communication plan goes hand-in-hand with alignment. Along with new directions in the curriculum, it’s important to communicate how a new initiative meets learning goals because this will make professional development more effective for educators. How does the professional learning you’re using align with goals?

3. Emphasise competency. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all professional development. Professional development should empower teachers to identify where they are, what their target is, and what steps they should take to progress to the target.

4. Ensure professional development is ongoing and sustained.
It can’t be just one shot in the arm. “How do you build ongoing systemic professional development with sustainability built in?” Job-embedded support must exist, including working side-by-side with teachers and supporting them in trial and error, especially as it pertains to incorporating digital technologies into instruction.

5. Make sure professional development is grounded in research-based practices. This is particularly important when it comes to digital technologies, which can be simply a shiny new toy if they aren’t backed by research. For instance, Beerer said, virtual reality is one of the latest educational technologies to spring up in classrooms. It would be tempting to dive in, but it’s essential that research proves how this technology influences learning. And as it happens, there is research proving that virtual reality can close learning gaps and help students build background knowledge. The next step, then, would be to focus professional learning on the best instructional practices using virtual reality.

6. Use reflection. Digital technologies, platforms and online communities of practice make it even easier for teachers to reflect with their colleagues. School leaders and professional development directors should be able to identify what learning looks like in their professional learning programs.

7. Don’t forget about collaboration. How is the professional learning engaging teachers with collaboration? And collaboration means not just subject-area or grade-level colleagues, but also whole-school collaboration or even K-12 collaboration. “Digital technologies give us the opportunity to collaborate beyond school walls,” Beerer said.

BY LAURA DEVANEY, DIRECTOR OF NEWS, October 13th, 2016 www.eschoolnews.com

Solar power for schools is much more than energy savings!

2016-09-18T07:02:00.000+05:30

The Solar PV system at The Fabindia School, Rajasthan

Rooftop solar PV systems is an effective solution for addressing the increasing retail electricity tariffs and power outages across the country. India, over the past seven years, has witnessed an annual increase of 5 – 10% in retail electricity tariffs which is also the primary driver for rooftop solar PV projects. While industrial and commercial consumers in over a dozen states are victims of very high tariffs (over INR 8.5/units), institutional consumers (including schools, colleges and hospitals), though beneficiaries of partial cross – subsidised electricity, are currently paying tariffs of up to and above INR 7.5/unit across multiple states in India. Investments in solar energy provide schools with some benefits that appeal to a broad set of stakeholders. The administration and management of educational institutions have started to recognise the value of solar energy in providing a long-term hedge against increases in electricity tariffs and have been gaining affinity towards the technology’s ability to deliver cost savings. Solar also presents teachers with a great educational opportunity. Finally, the increased use of clean energy technologies like solar can help significantly reduce emissions of pollutants that can harm human health and the environment.

Most schools have access to relatively large flat roof areas which are left vacant and therefore, is ideal to install a rooftop solar PV system. Additionally, the peak operational hours of a school is simultaneous to that of a solar PV system, i.e. between 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs. This essentially means that a rooftop solar system can cater to most of the school’s energy requirement at a lower electricity cost than the prevailing grid tariffs.

Landscape view of the rooftop solar PV system

Regarding educational opportunities, schools have enormous incentive to go solar – not only to save money but also create energy and sustainability conscious student body. Since it is important that students be aware of the huge environmental challenges we face this century, schools serve as stewards of sustainability and cornerstones of green initiatives that benefit our community. With solar PV systems, students can see first – hand how sunlight is converted to electricity and can be integrated into a school’s math, science, and technologies programs to improve exposure and test scores in those fields. Also, the surging demand for solar systems will add hundreds of thousands of green-collar jobs to the economy, including those in research, development, manufacturing, construction, sales, and marketing. Exposure to such projects will engage students at a young age and may prepare them for these types of jobs.

Finally, solar energy is an apt substitute for fossil fuel burning power plants, which emit greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. Additionally, unlike diesel generators, solar energy is free and does not require any fuel costs. Switching to solar energy is one of the biggest changes we can make in our communities to curb global warming. With rising concerns about our carbon footprint and the mounting cost of energy, solar is a wise investment for the health of the environment and generations to come.

The Fabindia School Rooftop Solar PV Project

Commencement of the construction at Fabindia School

SM Renergy (P) Ltd is a well-established solar energy company with a focus on rooftop solar projects and distributors of various solar products including – solar lanterns, solar street lights, solar water purification system, solar water pumping system and solar fencing. SM Renergy has executed various projects across India and primarily has experience in installing rooftop solutions catered to educational institutions.

Early this year, the management of Fabindia Schools selected SM Renergy to set up a rooftop solar PV system at their premises in the village of Bali, Rajasthan. After conducting the site visit and technical due diligence, SMR proposed the following specifications were readily accepted by the school management –

Inverter	10kW Hybrid (both off grid – grid tie)
Batteries	10 Nos (12V, 150Ah)
Solar Panel	11 kWp (44*250Wp)
Structure	Galvanized MS
Safety Equipment	Lightning Arrestor, Earthing

This system was connected to the local grid under the net – metering mechanism. The net – metering mechanism enables the solar system to generate electricity and directly export the energy to the grid. The consumer, at the end of the billing cycle, will only the charged for the net electricity consumed (i.e., – total electricity consumed from the grid – the electricity exported from the rooftop solar PV system). This mechanism helps consumers offset their grid consumption through the solar system and start saving from the day of commissioning the plant.

Storage room for the inverter and battery backup

This solar system will generate approximately 19,200 units a year over the life of the plant which is 25 years. If we assume a current tariff of INR 7.50/unit from the grid, the school will save up to INR 1,50,000 per year – assuming the tariff remains the same which is highly unlikely. In continuation, if we assume an annual escalation of 5% in electricity tariffs, the overall savings over the life of the plant would be a little over INR 2,00,000 per annum. Not to forget that this sum of money can be diverted towards introducing new facilities and upgrading the existing ones in the school. Due to economies of scale, rooftop solar PV systems of larger sizes will even lower the cost of electricity from solar PV which will have a direct positive impact on the savings. The Fabindia School staff and students were very enthusiastic on adopting solar PV at their premise and assisted SM Renergy in every way possible.

Samay Mangalagiri – Director, SM Renergy, Email samay.mangalagiri@gmail.com

Quality in Education

2016-08-05T09:00:00.000+05:30

A country is as developed as its' Education Sector is. We in India should make 'affordable quality education' our development mantra and this alone will help us develop as a great nation. No matter what path we take on the road to economic development, the speed breaker will always be the quality of education!

Good Schools Of India

We have Public Schools, Independent Schools, and Government aided schools. To provide an all-round education it is best to be financially independent and beyond the pale of direct government control, to be free to innovate and keep education alive.

Quality in education consists of happy teachers, a good student- teacher ratio, modern equipment, adequate space and classroom facilities.

There are 33 State Education Boards and 2 National Education Boards. The CBSE is limited as it eliminates international exams as additional streams. The CISCE is more in tune with freedom for innovation and is an autonomous body.

International Recognition : It is feasible to consider additional streams such as - The British ‘O’ levels and ‘A’ levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Boarding schools take children at the age of about eleven, 700 students is a good size for a boarding school. We have Nursery Schools, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Senior Secondary Schools. Most Boarding Schools take 8 months of the year. Day Schools tend to load the homework on students and are still not ideal.

A good school should offer facilities for retraining teachers and good salaries at par with related spheres. A well-designed school should have modern aids and teaching devices. A school should be a centre for excellence. It should employ good teachers and pay them well. It should encourage a concern for environment and cleanliness. Above all it should be managed by a dynamic Principal and competent, humane teachers.

Schools should not be commercial shops or teaching shops. Teachers should be well read and inspired people. They should read about education, love the children they teach and have all-round personalities. They should acquaint themselves with the Montessori methods, the philosophy of Swami Vivekanand and read John Dewey, Rabindranath Tagore and Jean Jaques Rousseau. Quality in education leads to quality in our lives and that is what we are all striving for.

The last three years for me in particular have been the greatest learning, as I moved from the high-flying job of the National Director of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award to what I must say ' I was made for', the Chairman Bhadrajun Artisans Trust. Away from the city lights and located at the foot of the Aravali range the trust runs The Fabindia Schools, with a mission to provide access to high quality education for boys and girls at the rural level using English as the medium of instruction. The school views primary education as a major stepping stone towards social mobility, equality and employment opportunities. Since its inception, the school has been committed to encouraging education for girls in a culture where most parents who can afford an English medium school would send only their sons.

My love for outward bound and experimental learning triggered high levels of adrenalin in me and thanks to my long standing friend William N Bissell I did find what I do love the most in life - being with children in the outdoors.

Life in Bali village has indeed been slow moving and quite uneventful for many, for us it has been a drive in the fast lane as we have been trying to find the true meaning of 'quality in education' and deliver this at an affordable price.

With a great leadership team and staff committed to make dreams come true, our school today is really a 'piece of land brought to life'. The learnings from The Fabindia School must be shared by us and it is most heartening to share that we have found the road to 'affordable quality education'. This has widened our horizon and we believe that education for sustainable development is the crying need to the hour.

"Education for Sustainable Development allows every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future. Education for Sustainable Development means including key sustainable development issues into teaching and learning; for example, climate change, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, poverty reduction, and sustainable consumption. It also requires participatory teaching and learning methods that motivate and empower learners to change their behaviour and take action for sustainable development. Education for Sustainable Development consequently promotes competencies like critical thinking, imagining future scenarios and making decisions in a collaborative way. Education for Sustainable Development requires far-reaching changes in the way education is often practised today. ~ UNESCO (the lead agency for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development)

Personal and Social development of an individual forms the core of 'affordable quality education':

The experiential learning possible through activities beyond just study can consolidate and bring to life learning which would otherwise be theoretical and uncoordinated.
Encouraging students to become involved in activities in the community outside the confines of the school curriculum will help develop their confidence, knowledge and contacts to follow passion after leaving school. This will greatly enhance the opportunities for their personal and social development.
With teachers’ encouraging young people, they can benefit fully from what both the school and outside interests can offer, this can be a key factor in their progressing successfully through adolescence into a rewarding and fulfilling adult life

Adapted from ‘Learning for Life’ - published by The Duke of Edinburgh's’ Award

What is the prescription for schools to deliver affordable quality education? Our experience show there are some major steps needed to do this, some are listed here and you are welcome to connect with us for helping you deliver better.

Focus on skills that build employability

Ensure teachers are groomed to be leaders and mentors

The senior management must be trained to deliver better

The parents and the community are equal stakeholders in the schools operations

Need to use of latest technology and updated curriculum

English proficiency and better communication skills

From our learnings in the education sector we feel that some of your challenges are:

Use the existing curriculum to deliver better
Assist young people to identify and plan their challenges
Support young people in enhancing their skills
Work within operational and administrative challenges
Find available opportunity for youth in the community
Build relationships at the different level
Empower young people to find themselves

Affordable Quality Education must have four key elements built into the curriculum - Service, Skill, Sport and Study- this provides the roadmap for personal and social development of an individual. The children must learn about themselves, their relationships with other children and adults both within and beyond the family. Concepts of fairness and justice must be introduced and children should be encouraged to think about and respect the feelings of others. The importance of motivation, perseverance, self esteem and a positive disposition to learning all have a significant role to play in children’s learning and development.

I see the possibility of a nation where every school offers young people the opportunity to be rewarded for challenging themselves, rewarded for engaging with adult mentors, rewarded when finishing school, and rewarded for giving back to their communities. I believe we can help connect young people with new opportunities to change their world.

We Partner The Fabindia School

2016-06-30T10:20:00.004+05:30

The Fabindia School is a co-ed private school for pre-school through Class XII, located in Bali, Rajasthan. Starting with 11 students in 1992, today there are 500 students with near 49% female enrolment. The school emphasises a holistic approach to education, offering extensive extracurricular programs along with comprehensive academic courses. While focusing on the local culture, the school frequently welcomes visitors, trained specialists and volunteers from across India and overseas.

Going to School

2016-05-20T01:00:00.000+05:30

#MyGoodSchool

Do we ever graduate from the school of learning?

Many may say that when they graduate from a school to move up the employment ladder, our school life comes to an end! This, in fact, is just the beginning, as when you are in knowledge acquisition mode you are the receiver and this is what our schools today deliver. When we move on to learning for life, get the real and valuable application of knowledge at work or in life, our 'wealth of knowledge' starts growing dramatically. While K-12 is often thought of as the schooling process, in reality, it is just the infancy. Yes some gifted and genius young minds are way ahead of many, yet the learners work their way up the ladder and as we grow in life all move to the infinite zone.

Knowledge is infinite, it is not defined by a score and so how can we ever leave school! The school is where learning is embedded and life itself is the biggest learning. Acquisition of knowledge is really the developing of a fertile mind, and as our mind crosses the frontiers of learning we move on in life. Words and language are the tools of knowledge building, it is only when we have our extra sensory perception evolve do we actually start getting the dividend of 'going to school'. Yes, learning is the biggest giver of joy and freedom to an individual and the key to quality in education. As we grow we find that the best part of school was the fun and the carefree nature of life. For us to grow our mind we must be in the mode of appreciating the joy of learning and not just consider 'going to school' as a basic necessity of our modern society.

Learning is a gift and more we value this, more will we appreciate the meaning of life. Life begins with learning, flowers with learning and never ends. When we look at the philosophy of the creative infinity mind, we will see that the school of learning empowers us by taking us on a journey of finding ourselves. Successful are the people who are able to delve within, reflect, learn and lead their own lives. Education is freedom with responsibility, and learning is the bedrock of education.

Yes, we build schools…but that isn't enough. To create lasting change, we must never graduate from the learning environment and this is what we all must appreciate about the schooling process. A school is an environment and not a structure, it is an ecosystem and it will indeed be apt to say that life is the school for the living!

The views of the Sandeep Dutt as the author are his personal views, please. Kindly email him for comments if any, sd@ebd.in

The Vision For A School In Transformation

2016-04-27T12:26:00.000+05:30

If we do not change our direction we're likely to end where we're headed.

The most important feature of a transforming organisation is that it has a 'Vision' or what I would like to call the school's desired future. We have to make the school an important societal change agent for the future, to bring about any transformation in learning and social development in any community or country.

First and foremost we must list what a school vision must be:

The Vision must be initiated by the leader and developed with school personnel and all stakeholders.
It must provide future orientation.
Set an overarching direction.
Evoke an image of the future school.
Provide a standard of excellence, an ideal.
Is the vision, the basis for the unique contribution to students, to school personal, community, and society?
Vision should be shared and supported by the internal and external stakeholders.
The vision must be compelling and inspiring.
Finally, the vision must be living and even evolve further as the process of change creation rolls out.

Steve Jobs said, " Innovation requires a team, and you cannot inspire a team of passionate evangelists without a compelling vision; a vision that is bold, simple and consistently communicated."

Reading my lessons from Schools Can Change and understanding the work of Learning Forward, I have been able to crystallize a vision statement for The Fabindia School, and this is how the vision could read. "The Fabindia School will become a national leader in innovation by implementing new technologies in learning and offer affordable quality education." Another way to state the school vision could be "The Fabindia School will become a national leader in schools and become the favored destination for English learning in rural India." The first statement is compelling and inspiring, the second seems to me a statement of purpose, and explains to all the stakeholders what is in it for them. This perhaps is our goal and is indeed a part of our vision wherein we have set out to become an institution of excellence, and there is an element of dynamism in what we are doing. The vision thus sustains over an extended period of time and is the direction for the ongoing mission.

Psychology Today Blog state that "The absence of, or poorly written Vision and Mission statements, are lost opportunities for Attracting/engaging/retaining talent; Building organizational culture; and, Increasing productivity while leveraging all resources to successfully implement a strategic plan."

A study by Bain and Company indicated that organizations that have clearly defined Vision and Mission statements that are aligned with a strategic plan, outperform those who do not.

A Mission statement:

Defines the present state or purpose of an organization;

Answers three questions about why an organization exists -

WHAT it does;WHO it does it for; and HOW it does what it does.

It is important to develop a plan around a clearly defined and well written Vision and Mission. Both serve important, yet different roles as core elements of a strategic plan. The Fabindia School's mission is to provide access to high-quality education for boys and girls at the rural level, using English as the medium of instruction. The school views primary education as a major stepping stone towards social mobility, equality, and employment opportunities.

The Vision must encourage us to think big (overview), think for tomorrow, think of student and society contribution and most important lead and help to create the future.

Learning for Staff and Children
Motivate them and win them over with a bright future
Team up and deliver

Vision killers are often tradition (never done before!), fear of risk taking, stereotypes, complacency, fatigue and short term thinking. We must not look for quick results and look at details to help create the big picture.

The Vision must be Cognitive - to educate, Emotional - to motivate and Organisational - to coordinate. An effective vision produces more efficient and coordinated action. It must be coherent, powerful, emphasize on what is achievable and always clarify what the school should be.

Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a pass time. A vision must be a shared one as this alone will make it become a reality one day. Since its inception, The Fabindia School has been committed to encouraging education for girls in a culture where most parents who can afford an English medium school would send only their sons. To realize the dream of providing equal educational opportunity for girls, the school gives 200 scholarships and 70% are for girls alone. The school also provides scholarships through a partnership with The John Bissell Scholars Fund. It is a matter of pride that girls hold many leadership posts in the school. In addition, the school seeks to enroll and subsidize children from socially and economically marginalized communities who otherwise do not have access to quality education. One of the most important values imparted is for students to stay connected to their birthplace. They are instilled with a sense of pride in their local heritage and a sense of responsibility for the future of Rajasthan.

Link to the presentation

Vision and Mission of The Fabindia School

This article is compiled by Sandeep Dutt and is shared for academic purpose and research with schools and the community. The material could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. SchoolEducation.Com does not warrant that any of the materials on its web site are accurate, complete, or current. We may make changes to the materials contained on its web site at any time without notice. We do not, however, make any commitment to update the materials and be held liable for any loss or breach of propriety if any.

References:

Schools Can Change by Dale W. Lick (Author), Karl H. Clauset (Author)

Psychology Today website

The Vision Statement of the Bhadrajun Artisans Trust

Learning Forward India Academy

2016-04-27T08:25:00.000+05:30

Learning Forward India delivers a structured Professional Development Programme (PDP) with the help of visiting faculty and experts, who take time out to work with the school staff and provide in-service training. The focus of the Learning Forward Academy is to have passionate educators train teachers to become learners. Please note this is not a brick and mortar project, the Academy is a learning environment, an ecosystem, we deliver the training with the help of blended learning, that comprises of online and offline.

Learning Forward Academy is an extended and profound learning experience that immerses members in a model of enquiry and problem-based learning. Academy members work collaboratively to gain knowledge to solve significant student learning problems in their schools, districts, or organisations. At The Learning Forward Academy, we seek to understand individual members' needs and then assist them in meeting objectives through a collaborative learning environment and the support of experienced coaches.

Duration

Four hours a week (three weeks a month) = 12 hours X 8 months = 96 hours.
Also, in the school holidays, a training camp for six hours a day for 24 days adds up to 144 hours.

Process

The training programme comprises of workshops, lectures, conferences, exchanges, research, outward bound excursions, eLearning and finding solutions to not only teach but learn and help the school deliver better.

Outcome and Certification

240 (96+144) hours of training will empower an educator/school staff to deliver better in the Classroom and upgrade their skills on the job.

Step up the PDP ladder!
96 hours - Bronze Level (Level 1)
144 hours - Silver Level (Level 2)
240 hours - Gold Level (Level 3)

We acknowledge each level of achievement by the teacher with a Certificate. This offers the necessary challenge and the rewards the teachers for the extra effort put in, beyond the call of the duty at school.

For further details, please contact Devanjali by email schooleducation@outlook.com.

The First Princi.pal

2016-04-26T10:29:00.000+05:30

"Our minds are shaped by the books we read. Our characters, by the people we meet. Our spirits by the love we give", - Robin Sharma

This prompted me to share the lessons from the book The First Princi.pal - Based on the life and times of PS Mani Sundaram and presented to me by Sunil Malhotra the author himself. Am taking the liberty of quoting from the book as this is a requiem for leadership, it is a story of the teacher in each of us, the leader within and the principles of the Principal.

Princi is that invisible great walking along a crowded beach as the waves wash away the footprints in their wake. His are the only footprints that will endure stubbornly. Like the man himself. Leaving his stamp of greatness on eternity.
10 Lessons for school leadership:

1. Great leaders act decisively.

2. Empower people and provide the enablement to allow them to discover their own potential.

3. Keep the environment clean to induce orderly and productive behavior.

4. Let them be but don't let go of them.

5. Get the job done instead of trying to change people.

6. Measure the extent of social integration by the integrity of your culture.

7. An institution is built on values that last beyond the lifetimes of its makers.

8. Spirit of the law is more important than the letter.

9. Never let personal friendship compromise over professional responsibility and vice versa.

10 No act of kindness is small. Acts of caring can turn lives around.

Finally, the lyrics of Pink Floyd will top it all!

We don't need no education,

We don't need no self control,

No dark sarcasm in the classroom,

Teacher leave them kids alone.

Yes, you will find more in the book and these vignettes are not even a glimpse, live the life of a visionary and read the story of Prof Sundaram the founder of REC Trichy, now NIT. The content above has been reproduced after a conversation with the author, as the book is so complete, I have not dared to review it! In this book, you will see your story, a story of most unsung heroes and what is takes way beyond pecuniary reward to build great leadership.

With high regard for the legendary teachers,

Sandeep Dutt
https://in.linkedin.com/in/sandeepdutt

Email: sd@ebd.in

Learning Is Moving From Isolation To Collaboration

2016-04-10T16:06:00.000+05:30

Learning happens when we begin our journey in the world as individuals and learn to collaborate. No learning will ever occur in isolation; learning is nothing but a collaborative exercise that perhaps helps you become a thinking person. Knowledge is a product while learning is the relentless pursuit of developing one's abilities and an effort to understand the ways of the world.

Learning is a process and not an event, individuals accomplish it, is indeed a highly personal experience, involves developmental growth and is best understood as the change we go through in our journey of life. Most important point to note is that ‘learning is greater than change.' For learning to thrive, we need to adapt, mindset and behavior itself need to change.

In isolation we are cocooned from the need to move beyond our comfort zone, we need to break out and learn to challenge ourselves to deliver as a team player. The community is indeed a reflection of individuals that make up the society. It is how we collaborate, that brings about transformational change and helps us grow as individuals and community too. A school of ants can work to move the largest obstacle, in isolation a single ant may not have all the wherewithal to make a difference.

Ant societies have a division of labor, communication between individuals, and ability to solve complex problems.These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study. Humans are social beings and need to connect, communicate, collaborate to create. Learning will only happen when we work together. The human form is itself brought about when the isolated sperm meets the egg, thus further confirming the fact that ‘isolation’ is not the DNA of any life form.

Learning is full of exchanges

Yes, scientist and even gurus in their quest may want a peaceful abode, their work will only reach the collaborators when they spread the word to help to learn. A teacher in class is first a learner and then a mentor, no teacher can work in isolation. Learning being a social exercise, helps us make a better world and share best practices.

‘Learning is the act of acquiring new, or modifying and reinforcing, existing knowledge, behaviours, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals, and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves. Learning is not compulsory; it is contextual. It does not happen all at once, but builds upon and is shaped by what we already know. To that end, learning may be viewed as a process, rather than a collection of factual and procedural knowledge’. ~ Wikipedia

In Sociology, we define isolation as 'social lack of contact between persons, groups, or whole societies'. In Psychology, it is 'The failure of an individual to maintain contact with others or genuine communication where interaction with others persists'. Both the definitions make it very clear that if there is no cross fertilization of thought and human connectivity, there will be no learning.

Learning may occur as a result of habituation or classical conditioning, seen in many animal species, or as a result of more complex activities such as play, seen only in relatively intelligent animals. Learning may occur consciously or without conscious awareness.

Learning is the transition from isolation to collaboration. The classroom is the ecosystem for learning and here the students and the teacher collaborate to further their abilities and grow their knowledge base. The application of knowledge is the real meaning of education, and we all must work for bringing the necessary change in our lives.

References

www.wikipedia.com

www.gc-solutions.net (image courtesy)

Reading At The Heart Of Education & Learning

2016-03-20T09:00:00.000+05:30

"By reading we read" and this is true. We also learn to write by writing - the more practice children get, the better they become. There is the a classic saying 'Practice makes a man perfect!

With persistence, one can get the hardest rock with the softest rope and with practice the heaviest brain likewise becomes super ...only if you read will you become good at whatever you want to learn, and in todays world where the attention spans are being reduced to split seconds, the ability to read and comprehend tends to get lost.

Having had the honour and privilege of running one of India's premiere bookstores, there is not a day when I have not had a parent or an individual requesting for help to guide them to enable their child to start reading books. Reading is the heart of education, the knowledge of almost every subject in school flows from reading. One must be able to read the word problem in math in order to understand it. If you cannot read the science or social studies chapter, you cannot answer the questions at the end of the chapter. The complicated computer manual is essential to its operation, but it mud be read. Reading is arguably the single most important social factor in any society.

“@RoomtoRead: “When a book is good, people want to talk about it. Therefore, bookstores themselves are social spaces”

Pat Kozyra further goes on to say 'the more you read, the more you know; the more you know the smarter you grow; the smarter you are, the longer you stay in school; the longer you stay in school, the more qualified you become and this will then lead to a better earning and a better life'. All however begins and ends with reading alone.

At The Fabindia School we have the DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) activity, this is carried out in all the classes under the guidance of the Principal herself and works to enhance the reading ability of the students. In today's world of technology, enjoying reading is losing its charm for the students. They have lost the patience to relax and read and empower their minds with knowledge. Keeping this in mind the school started a new programme called DEAR (Drop Everything And Read). This takes place every Monday, right after Assembly for 20 minutes where teachers and students are expected to sit and read either their favourite book or story or even read the newspaper, it is compulsory for all to read.

Ms Deepika Tandon, the Principal of The Fabindia School states "students looked hesitant initially on the first Monday but after two Mondays, this is was seen as a tool to help improve school's campus language! From compulsion to necessity if often a way to find a solution, and this precisely we need to do to encourage reading. DEAR is a way to increase vocabulary; improve pronunciations; be able to read better and increase one's comprehension".

When we read a book, our mind moves from real life to reel life, we start visualising and this is the first step to any form of learning. What parents can do at home to help their child to read:

Become a good reading role model for your child. Let your child see you reading something everyday. The child is like an 'ape' and we have to be cautious of what we practice and not simply keep preaching.
Some families set aside a family reading time each day when the TV and cell phones are off and everyone is reading something, no matter the age.
Make a variety of reading materials available at home.
It is never to early to get your child interested in the newspaper.
Subscribe to a family magazine or several children's magazines.
Start a family library and add 10 books for each member each year.
Better still when you go shopping, you may have the option to drop off your child at the nearby bookstore / library and simply browse.
Be encouraging and praise the child's effort effort to read, do not keep pointing at errors.
Read to your child every day - some experts say "do not stop reading to your child until he or she is in university"!
Read bedtime stories
Have books in the car
Take books to appointments while waiting
Take books while relaxing in the part
Hook the child on to a series and make them collect books of one author or theme
Label objects around your home to help your child learn a sight vocabulary
Whenever you look around, where ever you will see the written word - signboard, directions, name plates... keep observing an absorbing.

The list of suggestions and things-to-do is never ending, you simply have to make it a habit and enjoy it. All children and adolescents must have access to quality books no matter their race, economic status, or capabilities. Reading inspires confidence, bridges the differences between people, and forms a fundamental stepping stone to better communication skills. We believe it is the single most important skill a child can develop to become a productive member of society. Books open children's minds to a world of possibility, while stimulating their intellect, imagination, and intelligence, especially during their formative years.

Story telling, is one of the best methods to encourage reading. Tales and folklore have been the most interesting way for us to communicate with generations, most of our stories today are available in the printed book form. Our movies are based on books, and what a picture conveys is powerful too. At school or at home it is most wonderful to have a teacher, parent or a peer enthral us with stories and insight. This will then encourage the young people to read too, as they too should be made to do some story telling as an activity.

"Writing is a solitary act. But when I connect with a child through my stories, they are forever next to me, greeting each new alien, traveling to every star and plotting with me to save the universe".

—PJ Haarsma, The Softwire series

Read to lead, supplement the reading habit with regular library visits and maybe even research projects. Another step ahead could be that the students are asked to prepare or read-up some material before attending a scheduled class, they may then me asked to explain the lesson and even supplement the teachers effort to deliver the learning in the classroom. When we give the leadership to the students we will have them become better learners and they will read too.

We need to set up a book club or a library society that is run by the students and let them manage the school library as well as help their peers find what is interesting to read. This will ensure the library is well stocked with books the young people want to read and will have them visit the library too. This may need some guidance or supervision of adults or an experienced teacher or an individual who is well read and well informed too. The school may even have the students visit the nearest bookstore, accompanied with the school staff, when library books are purchased. Please do not stock the library with leftover books or material that is donated and irrelevant for the needs of the students.

As we sum up, my only simple brief is whatever you do, make it easy for young people to access books and work to make books their best friends. Books for me are living life partners, and sharing a book is possibly the best way to make good friends too.

Read to Lead

The author of the article Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone. You may please email the author on sd@ebd.in for comments if any.

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References:

1. Tips And Tidbits For Parents And Teachers - Pat Kozyra

2. Image 'Practice makes Perfect' from Falbertruns.blogspot.com

3. The Hindu - The World of Books

4. Kids Need To Read - www.kidsneedtoread.org

5. www.bookspro.com

Innovation and Design

2016-03-10T00:00:00.000+05:30

Is the Education system helping us innovate or are we simply preparing the students to do assembly line work? The more we put in place uniform systems, curriculum and structure, our education will deliver less innovation and design. When you give a block of wood, with two basic tools like a mallet and a chisel to a young person, you will make the person think design and evolve. If you give Lego blocks, a kit to assemble an aero-model or simply use templates, you will stifle design and creativity. The kits and uniform building blocks are good business sense for marketeers, less effort for teachers and easily help build prefab models which are misinterpreted as creation in our education system.

When children are given a container full of play dough or our good old plasticine, they make shapes and put thought to action. If you provide moulds/ templates with the play dough you will make them use the shape and create a mere cast! Design is an evolution of vision and free thought, from chaos to order, from fuzzy logic to logic. The essence is freedom and the evolution of the mind. 'Jugaad' our frugal and flexible approach to innovation has been the true spirit of an Indian. Innovation helps us do more with less, generates original ideas and pioneers growth. It all begins with the honest and true action guided by a free spirit of the young mind.

Frugality, flexibility, and following your instincts are principles we all learned growing up in India. Intuition and immense adversity are the mother of best ideas. In the west innovation is done in R&D departments, in India innovation happens at every corner of the street. As educators and trainers it is our duty to provide an environment that helps a 'free mind' to design and this is perhaps the only way to bring about innovation. The assembly line method of manufacturing built by Ford was indeed a way to mass produce with standards and in good time, today we have China as the factory of the world.

Israel the famous 'Start-Up Nation' and has the maximum number of new enterprises listed on the Wall Street. Silicon Valley the mecca of innovation finds a large part of the design and innovation originating from Israel. To 'process and build' is indeed good business but to 'design and innovate' is much bigger value. If we do a 'me too' and look at our competition we waste opportunity, if we reflect and think we will create, this is truly what education must help us to do. We do not need a replica always, there is a limit to what we can do with an assembly line, and the way the people of Japan and Israel today look at innovation and design, there is a lot in it for our educators to learn.

Image from pearlsofprofoundity on wordpress.com

'Charkha' was believed to be a symbol of self sufficiency during India's freedom movement, where each household was self sufficient and innovated to build the nation. We will he happy if innovation is able to solve some of the daily problems faced by us. Given the caterpillar, it is hard to believe that one day the butterfly will fly free! Innovation and design alone can make the mind soar and conquer new frontiers.

"Indian companies will find it very difficult to truly build a global brand till they invest in technology like Samsung and LG. Indian spend on R&D is about 0.9% of GDP. This compares with China at 1.5% of GDP which in absolute terms is second to the US! South Korea spends about 3.4% of GDP, Japan about 3.5% of GDP, and the US about 2.8% of GDP. It almost appears that you need to spend about 3% of GDP to be world class leader in technological innovation." ~ Kamini Banga of The Economic Times.

What does 'Made in India' stand for? This is a very hard question and we need to ponder over this. Are we just the suppliers of 'low end' unskilled labour force or 'high quality' managers and talent to the world? If we want to lead the world and regain our lost glory our education system and policy must encourage innovation and learning, not just focus on literacy statistics. Next time when we go to a class full of innovative minds we should make it our duty to help them think design and innovate. Art and craft has been the intrinsic part of the Indian civilisation, yet we have not realised the true potential of innovation and design. The history of India shows our crafts people were the leaders in design, the Taj Mahal, the famous forts and monuments that stand out in the world are all designed by the creative Indian. Arayabhatta, Tagore, Raman, Chanakya...many leading minds and even a legend like Mahatma Gandhi were real innovators in their areas. Today we are becoming an assembly line of Japanese design, a producer of crops grown from imported seeds and sending out the best of Indian mind to empower nations all over the world.

A teacher alone can help build a great India by helping the young people lead in innovation and design. Let us not ape competition, but be original as this alone will add the greatest value and who knows the block of wood a teacher gives to the student, will one day produce another marvel in design. The true 'Guru' today needs to be resurrected in our society and help the 'Shishya' reach his true potential. Innovation and design will only be possible when the teacher finds the rightful place in society and is able to be the true leader the society needs.

Time is now ripe for us to value our culture, develop an open learning environment and recommit ourselves to innovation and design. Gone are the days when we could pride ourselves with providing the world with engineers and doctors and do the low end process delivery. We have to reclaim our true position as leaders and innovate to succeed.

The author Sandeep Dutt is the founder SchoolEducation.Com, please email him on sd@ebd.in

Principal As The Chief Learning Leader

2016-03-06T09:09:00.000+05:30

Should the principal be the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) with due qualification and degrees? Are owner driven schools, which look at the school purely as a business enterprise better than schools run by charities? Such questions always make us think and we do debate this matter often. Many good schools are owner driven and do not have the principal with the degree of an academician. What is most important however that the Principal / Head of the School should be the Chief Learning Leader.

Image courtesy danpontefract.com

Learning is the act of acquiring new, or modifying and reinforcing, existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves. Learning is not compulsory; it is contextual. It does not happen all at once, but builds upon and is shaped by what we already know. To that end, learning may be viewed as a process, rather than a collection of factual and procedural knowledge. ~ Wikipedia

The learning institution is always in evolution and is able to understand the needs of the pupils and deliver to the happiness of all stakeholders. What is imperative is that the Chief Learning Leander (CLL) must understand that knowledge is not just information and acquiring of skills, but a road to infinite possibility and its growth alone is the single most need for an evolving mind. For the head to be held high, and true freedom be experienced, the learning institution must ensure that the CLL must be a person who leads by example. Just having a degree or certification is not enough, learning is a never ending process and this the only way to build schools that learn.

Image courtesy startempathy.org

In 'Schools that Learn', Peter Senge argues that teachers, administrators, and other members of school communities must learn how to build their own capacity; that is, they must develop the capacity to learn. From Senge’s perspective, real improvement will only occur if the people responsible for implementation design the change itself: “It is becoming clear that schools can be re-created, made vital, and sustain ably renewed not by fiat or command, and not by regulation, but by taking the learning orientation”. The Principal/ CLL as we describe the individual must be able to motivate, coach, inspire, teach, a mentor, be a visionary, ensure team work and above all lead by example.

Education is simply building your own capacity, this must be the goal of each individual including the CLL. Senge makes a powerful argument regarding the need for a systems approach and learning orientation by introducing Schools that Learn with a historical perspective on educational systems. Specifically, he details “industrial age” assumptions about both learning — that “children are deficient and schools should fix them”, that learning is strictly an intellectual enterprise, that everyone should learn in the same way, that classroom learning is distinctly different than that occurring outside of school, and that some kids are smart while others are not — and schools — schools “are run by specialists who maintain control”, knowledge is inherently fragmented, schools teach some kind of objective truth, and “learning is primarily individualistic and competition accelerates learning”. These assumptions about learning and the nature and purpose of schools reflect deeply embedded cultural beliefs that must be considered, and in many cases directly confronted, if schools are to develop the learning orientation necessary for improvement.

The Chief Learning Leader must set the tone for the growth and development of a dynamic school.

The Chief Learning Leader must set the tone for the growth and development of a dynamic school. The world today offers great opportunity to learn and grow, information flow is no more hierarchical and knowledge today is in free flow mode. In the world without barriers and each one working to reach new frontiers in technology and learning, there is really no way that the school can do without a CLL. Be it the principal or the owner, they will only succeed if they work like a CLL. The business world CEO may have the KRA model and look at every outcome as a measure, this will have its' limitation in the working of a good school. The CLL will have priorities and will understand that the learning institution generates wealth that is far more than the simple surplus in an income an expense, and it is not the top-line that alone matters. Education thus is not a commodity but an infinitesimal wealth. The understanding of infinitesimals was a major roadblock and today the mathematical world has evolved and we have even begun to look at the creative infinite mind. The wisdom and the ability to be a learner is all that a CLL needs to be.

Education thus is not a commodity but an infinitesimal wealth.

Good governance and active participation of all stakeholders in a school - the management, the teachers, the community, the students and the head - is very much needed to build a learning organisation. The role of the CLL is indeed a complex one and no job description is perfect for the head of the school. The leader must not be one decorated with a degree alone, it is imperative the leader must lead as the role so demands. Lead by example for the teachers, the students and the community.

The CLL has to create a environment for learning and a culture of self discipline. In the corporate world a Chief Learning Officer (CLO) is the highest-ranking corporate officer in charge of learning management. CLOs can be experts in corporate or personal training, with degrees in education, instructional design, business or similar fields. The CLL as we describe the head of the school is even at a higher pedestal than the CLO. The CLL beyond being a person well versed in the field, must have knowledge of administration and be a good manager too.

In 'Role of the Principal - Keys to Being an Effective Principal' Derrick Meador states "the role of the principal covers many different areas including leadership, teacher evaluation, student discipline, and several others. Being an effective principal is hard work and is time consuming. A good principal is balanced within all their roles and works hard to ensure that that they are doing what they feel is best for all constituents involved. A school principal is the primary leader in a school building. A good leader always leads by example. A principal should be positive, enthusiastic, have their hand in the day to day activities of the school, and listen to what their constituents are saying. An effective leader is available to teachers, staff members, parents, students, and community members. Good leaders stays calm in difficult situations, thinks before they act, and puts the needs of the school before themselves. An effective leader steps up to fill in holes as needed, even if it isn’t a part of their daily routine."

Effective leadership is taking along with you all the stakeholders of the school. The key challenge for the CLL is to be able to lead as per the vision of the school, ensure there is good governance and quality delivery of education at the school. A large part of any school principal’s job is to handle student discipline. Most principals also are responsible for evaluating their teachers’ performance following district and state guidelines. Developing, implementing, and evaluating the programs within the school is another large part of a school principal’s role. A principal should review, remove, rewrite, or write policies and procedures every year as needed. Having an effective student handbook can improve the quality of education your students receive. It can also make a principal’s job a little easier. The principal’s role is to make sure students, teachers, and parents know what these policies and procedures are and to hold each individual accountable to following them.

Having good relations with parents and community members can benefit the principal in a variety of areas. If you have built trusting relationships with a parent whose child has a discipline issue, then it makes it easier to deal with the situation if the parent supports the school and your decision. The same holds true with the community. Building relationships with individuals and businesses in the community can help your school out tremendously. Benefits include donations, personal time, and overall positive support for your school. It is a vital part of any principal’s job to nurture their relationships with parents and community members.

Learning is a ladder with countless number of steps, we must keep climbing and this the most essential for the CLL. Set higher standards for yourself, then alone you will be able to lead schools that learn.

The author of the article Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone. You may please email the author on sd@ebd.in for comments if any.

Identifying Student Needs

2016-02-20T09:00:00.000+05:30

Image - community.Pearson.com

How does your child learn best?

In an educational setting, a learning needs analysis helps students identify where they are in terms of their knowledge, skills and competencies, versus where they wish to be - what are their learning goals?

''Adults learn better when they can see a reason or relevance as to why they are following a programme of study. By conducting a learning needs analysis with prospective students, the learning provider can identify what programmes are needed. Including learners from the outset will help ensure that course content, schedules, etc., are in line with the needs of the student. By assisting the learner to identify the gaps in his/her own learning, the provider will be better able to support the student''. ~ Learner Centred Methodologies, by Rhonda Wynne, Ireland

A learning needs analysis will help:

Identify what skills and knowledge the learners already have
Highlight skills/knowledge/competencies that need developing
Identify clearly what students wish to achieve
Outline and define expectations and goals
Establish need and demand for the course you have in mind
Determine what can realistically be achieved given the available resources
Identify any obstacles or difficulties which may arise
Increase the sense of ownership and involvement of the students
Provide information about your student group - know your audience
Achieve a correct fit between the provider and student, i.e., the course matches student needs and expectations
Identify the content that best suits students needs
Determine what is the most appropriate delivery format - class based, online or a mix of these and other formats
Determine what skill set and knowledge base is required of the tutor
Develop a budget and cost benefit analysis
Establish when is the most suitable time to deliver the programme and over what time frame
Ascertain the most suitable evaluation mechanisms
Outline what results can be expected and if/how these can be measured

"Teachers plant seeds of knowledge that last forever" Antonise Crawford. As in a garden we need the right environment for the seed to flower, our students will need much more than just the right environment to flower. We as mentors need to first map the needs of each child, as each of us is different and often it is said no two people in the world are alike. The biggest challenge to help a child to learn is thus in taking the right steps to help him/her to grow not only in mind and body, but in heart and soul too. Complete education is only possible if we really know what are the true needs of the students. There is no 'one size fit all' when it comes to a curriculum. The teaching methods are what matters and not simply the content forced on to the students. The methodology must fit the needs of the individual student.

Image courtesy www.sfccmo.edu/

At a very early age our current system of education starts working like an assembly line, and the curriculum rolls out the 'one size fits all' approach. This is where the inherent challenge lies, continuous learning will only happen when we can identify the student needs. The only constant is change, the needs also go through a catalysis and this makes the challenge even bigger. Student needs push us to explore new vistas of learning - study, skills, service and sports all offer avenues for us to find out the needs of the students. Once we have the interest of the student at the core of learning, we will see a quantum leap in learning and will empower the seed of knowledge to develop into holistic learning. The needs of the parents, teachers and all stakeholders will have to supplement the needs of the student alone and not vice versa. We have different forms of learning delivery and most places the mentor as the one who leads the learning process. Need for us to offer the lead to the student and the mentor is there only in a supportive role.

The school really is a 'piece of land brought of life', a land with freedom, opportunity, joy and space for each individual to find herself/ himself.

There are several questions for the parents, when evaluating a good school for their child, a few are listed here as a check-list (non exhaustive), please visit www.goodschools.in for a more exhaustive list.

Teacher : student ratio (total strength of school, number of teaching and non teaching staff, class size).
Quality of teachers (Qualifications, experience, levels of motivation, training and development undertaken, competency).
Academic and administrative support available to the teachers.
Access of staff to contemporary research and development and pedagogic trends.
Curriculum design (academic and co-curricular activities).
Hobbies, sports, and spare time activities.
Involvement of every student in different aspects of the curriculum.
Academic options available to students.

Does the school offer the opportunity for experimental learning? Best of learning is only possible when we see the facility that will ensure that 'experiential learning' is very much inbuilt in the school design. The school really is a 'piece of land brought of life', a land with freedom, opportunity, joy and space for each individual to find herself/himself. How should parents choose amongst the array of schools available? Should they opt for an old, established school? Should they instead try out a new, innovative school? Is a day school or a residential school better for their child and their family? What kind of fees should they expect to pay for what kind of facilities? Is a co-educational school suited to them or a single-sex school? The list of the questions is infinite, the answer lies only in one challenge and that is to first of all 'identify student needs', as this is really the first and the last point of call for each parent/ mentor.

It is imperative for us to understand that the student needs will change over a period of time, and we should not become complacent on our part.

It is imperative for us to understand that the student needs will change over a period of time, and we should not become complacent on our part. Learning itself has a level of dynamism and energy in it, this should propel us even further to our goal of building knowledge and competence in what we love to do. The step one and the final step will always be the student need, and not what the school sets out as a simple timetable or the curriculum set by an education department of any state. The state, the school and the society have often not understood the needs of the students. The economics of the process, the cost effectiveness of delivery of education, the needs of the industry and the nation may direct us to deliver education in one way and this is where the real challenge lies.

Don't Be Afraid To Fail

(This message was published in the Wall Street Journal by United Technologies Corporation)
You've failed many times, although you may not remember.
You fell down the first time you tried to walk.
You almost drowned the first time you tired to swim didn't you?
Did you hit the ball the first time you swung the bat?
Heavy hitters, the ones who him the most home runs, also fail to strike out a lot.
R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.
English Novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before hi published 564 books.
Bahe Ruth struck out 1330 times, but he also hit 774 home runs.
Don't worry about FAILURE. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.
~ Thank you Pat Kozra for this quote in your book Tips and Tidbits for Parents and Teachers

There is opportunity in self-learning, collaborative learning, on-line learning and today informal learning is finding its protagonists. The methodology is not the question, it is the objective that matters most, and the bulls eye is to 'indentifying student needs' alone. No effort should ever be spared to help the individual seed flower in the garden of knowledge and the world of opportunity.

The author of the article Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone. You may please email the author on sd@ebd.in for comments if any.

Like us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/Ebdedu

For more about the author www.sandeepdutt.com

Teachers Travel With You All Your Life

2015-12-30T15:00:00.000+05:30

Learning is a lifelong process; it is imperative we have the best teacher accompany us on the journey of life. We may grow up and follow a 'guru' or a mentor, whomsoever we follow the teacher's leadership is supreme, the teacher travels with us for life. The empathy and care our teachers bestow on us will be etched in our memory for life. No matter where you go, you will always carry your teacher in you. The empathy and care our teacher bestows on us will be etched in our memory for life. No matter where you go, you will always carry your teacher with you.

What Makes Teachers Great?
There are characteristics that can predict whether a teacher will be a great teacher even before they get into the classroom. Studies show the teacher is one of the most crucial factors in your child's school success. A poor teacher can set your child back forever; a great teacher inspires them forever.

I discovered some great poetry in Pat Kozyra's book on Tips and Tidbits for Parents and Teachers:

I am a counsellor and psychologist to a problem-filled child,

I am a police officer that controls a child one wild.

I am a travel agent scheduling our trips for the year,

I am a confidante that wipes a crying child's tear.

I am a banker collecting money for a ton of different things,

I am a librarian showing adventures that a storybook brings.

I am a custodian that has to clean certain little messes,

I am a psychic that learns to know all that everybody only guesses.

I am a photographer keeping pictures of a child's yearly growth,

When mother and father are gone for the day, I become both.

I am a doctor that detects when a child is feeling sick,

I am a politician that must know that laws and recognise a trick.

I am a party planner for holidays to celebrate with all,

I am a decorator of a room, filling every wall.

I am a news reporter updating on our nation's current events,

I am a detective solving small mysteries and ending all suspense.

I am a clown and comedian that makes the children laugh,

I am a direction assuring they have lunch or from mine I give them half.

When we seem to stray from values, I become a preacher ,

I'm proud to say, "I am a teacher."

Children require guidance and sympathy and not mere instructions. The degree and certificates a teacher carries will not be of any use, if there is no empathy and concern for the child in the teacher. You do not need a classroom to teach, what you need is a heart with all the room. Look back and recollect the best teacher who touched your heart, who made you feel very special and who had full faith in your ability. A teacher is with you all your life, even today I remember my first teacher in Kindergarten, my special teacher in Class I and others who have helped me find myself. Their love and care irrespective of domain knowledge will always carry me for life.

As we grow up, we strike a chord with a 'guru' or a mentor and sometimes the person is even a colleague. Learning is from the heart, the mind is a mere knowledge bank. For effective learning the teacher must become an integral part of your life, you will have the teacher in your heart, it is the true disciple who becomes most successful and inherits the mantle of the successful leader.

Mark F. Goldberg states "Greatness in teaching is just as rare as greatness in medicine, dance, law, or any other profession. Although the qualities that make great teachers are not easy to inculcate or duplicate, understanding these qualities can give all teachers a standard of excellence to strive for, and guide schools in their efforts to recruit and retain the best teachers."

You may not always find the real teacher in the classroom, as the walls often box the learning process. The teacher has the burden of the curriculum, the challenge of living up to expectations, the need to work for a livelihood and finally KRAs to meet! A teacher who will be part of your life's journey, who you will love, adore and even try to emulate. For me the classroom is a mere brick and mortar description of a location and not a place of real life learning. When you start limiting the learning to hours, books and time, you will have a challenge at hand.

Aboutleaders.Com

In our journey we will have the opportunity to travel with many co travellers. Dr. Mary Kay Whitaker says "Think back to a great teacher you’ve had in your life. Maybe there was an exceptional teacher who encouraged you and helped you explore future career opportunities that would incorporate your talents. Maybe you had a coach who not only taught you how to do a perfect lay-up, but also reminded you about the importance of getting good grades in addition to high scores. How about your friends or parents and all the lessons they may have taught you: to push yourself to succeed, to do the things you love, to believe that you can be or do anything that you set your mind to."

The teachers who have been a part of my life taught me how to appreciate others, care for nature and play the game to find the joy within. When climbing mountains, doing a cross country, cooking at home, standing up and speaking... all they said was follow your heart, be true to yourself and you will find the leader within. Being a person with no particular religious beliefs, I am sure when you hold someone in high esteem you will carry that person in your heart, this is your teacher. Some may say you are a follower, but remember you are simply travelling with your teacher and doing it at your own comfort and pace too.

Teachers have faith in you, this is why you never get lost! In my school days, as a group of boys we went trekking, in those days there were no mobile phones and we lost our way. After a days delay when parents and the community would have gone wild, my real teacher was very comfortable and simply assured all that "they will find their way". The great teacher had an intuition and tremendous faith in the ability of his pupils, when we finally trooped in a day late, he was ready to welcome us with a plum cake and very eager to hear our experience and exploits, he smiled warmly and with a heart full of compassion and care stood by the boys for their efforts. Note there was no panic, no chastising, no questioning, just celebrating the spirit of exploration and faith in the 'shishya'(student).

Stories and fond memories are treasures we all share, this is where the teacher must be the most prolific artist. Your favourite teacher will be able to correlate 'reel life with real life' and make every moment a moment of learning. It is very important for us to understand that learning has to precede teaching. While teaching may be a process, the outcome has to be learning and that too learning for life. Find the teacher you cherish and travel with the individual for life. Let your teacher reside in your heart, you will be able to overcome any major challenge or obstacle in the journey of life.

"You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul. " - Swami Vivekananda

Care in abundance, desire to find out more, cherishing the students, knowing them very well and being a knowledgeable person will all help you be the person who will be able to deliver lifelong learning. This is the teacher you will travel with all your life.

The author of the article Sandeep Dutt takes the onus of the content and the opinions expressed are his alone. You may please email the author on sd@ebd.in for comments if any. For more about the author www.sandeepdutt.com

References:

1. tvoparents youtobe channel

2. Tips and Tricks for Parents and Teachers - Pat Kozyara
3. Aboutleaders.com, Brainyquotes.com and goodschoolsofindia.com

Disclaimer: Images have been sourced with the help of Google User Content online and this blog claims no design or copyright please.

Building a Professional Learning Community

2015-12-25T10:43:00.000+05:30

The aim of the programme should be to EMPOWER rather than advice or train the staff. The school personnel in all probability has years of professional experience which must be valued. The idea is to UNDERSTAND where the teacher is coming from and addresses the issues as we move along TOGETHER. Until the time we are seen at as outsiders, no plan will work in their domain. Moreover, spoon feeding a plan of action will be a trivial exercise bearing no fruit. The government has a hand down approach that is clearly disconnected with reality. A more personalised plan is the need of the hour, wherein, we are the facilitators.

The whole approach has to be one based on ACTION RESEARCH. Rather than finding solutions to vague problems or lecturing the staff, it is necessary for a culture of cooperative learning and organic growth to be created. The idea is to create a thriving PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY. No one should be seen as a threat or a judge but a peer and friend. The attitude of “we know better” has to be discarded. The idea should be one understanding the teacher not only from a professional standpoint but a personal one as well. The first step is to establish where the teacher draws his /her identity of a teacher from

Own memories of a child
Peers
Media
Recent Educational dialogue
School environment.

Once we know where the teacher comes from, the teacher should themselves draw parallels between their private and personal lives. Certain potent questions have to be raised at this juncture. Can you be a good parent or role model if you are not a good teacher? If you do not do justice to your students can you do justice to other commitments? Are they linked or connected? In most cases the answer will be yes- If so how?

The teachers have to sit together and understand their strengths and weaknesses. What issues do the teachers see with the school and vice versa? SELF ASSESSMENT is the key. To feed into their self-assessment process, there could be many activities, letters from students, personal stories, movies, readings, case studies.

Once the self-assessment part is done the teachers should sit together, facilitated by us and address each issue individually. Draw a concrete ACTION PLAN. Not being a hand down plan-of-action but designing, executing and evaluating their plan. The staff needs to own the process as much as we do. Otherwise, no round of workshops will change their attitude.

To create sustaining change, a culture of peer assessment, group meetings, open forums, fun group activities have to be established over other things. The staff needs to feel part of an open community, along with a feeling of oneness.

While all these activities are of prime importance due importance has also to be given to FEEDBACK. EVALUATE OUR programme and help the teachers evaluate their action plan. DEMOCRACY is the key to success in such a case.

Please connect with the author with your comments and feedback if any.
~ Kritika Singh, email kritika601@gmail.com
Masters of Arts in Education – Azim Premji University (Bangalore)

Currently working with professor Fareeda Khan on the Dal project, to study why the Hanji community of the Dal lake remains educationally backward. The study is an qualitative study of the community and educational scenario.

The Art Of Writing At School

2015-12-13T07:22:00.001+05:30

In this world of electronic delivery, the art of writing could be the casualty!

We are in an era of instant communication and connecting more; the need to be comprehensive in our writing is losing ground. SMS language, abbreviations and slang are corrupting the art of writing very rapidly. Business at the speed of thought, sometimes even pushes us to share information without thought and editing. Writing has character, a physical form and conveys emotions far more efficiently. The written word is an art form in itself and is very personal too. With the proliferation of the electronic and print media, who knows the handwritten word may be extinct shortly itself. With touch and voice pushing us to new frontiers with gadgets, we may even end up with a paperless world in some years ahead. Indeed, be a heartbreak for the romantics, the writers and the creators of the cursive writing form.

True, This! —Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword.Behold
The arch-enchanters wand! — itself is nothing! —
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyse the Cæsars, and to strikeThe loud earth breathless! —Take away the sword —States can be saved without it!

~ The sentence (if not the idea, which had been expressed in various earlier forms) was coined by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 for his play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy.

The term handwriting encompasses both printing and cursive styles and is separate from formal calligraphy or typeface. Because each person's writing is unique, it can be used to verify a document's writer, the deterioration of an individual's handwriting is also a symptom or result of certain diseases.

Education at school starts with the learning of alphabets and building up the art of writing. We all will remember how we first started our school with the single letters, and then the joining of alphabets, the formation of sentences and moved on to the writing statements and expressions.

The most creative experience for me in person - our English class teacher was forcing us to write a Thought for the week. The was an even bigger challenge for me than to learn how to write. It made me think, have my imagination go wild, scribble and cross out and finally have a simple and powerful handwritten piece ready for my Monday morning English class. Yes, we did not have the tools of word processing and perhaps spent a lot of time thinking and imaging, this is why the quality of our writing was much better and perhaps more original too.

In my secondary school years, our House Master would push us to keep a journal and write a Daily Log. An excellent way to reflect, learn time management and best of all in a very subtle way it helped us improve our art of writing. Today the ubiquitous Calendar Apps keep our logs and reminders!
While at school, we had to file reports of our school outings and mid-term excursions with sketches and photos incorporated. Essays and writings of people are today curated in museums all over the world, and perhaps when we go back to the archives in our schools, we will be delighted to find some of our very own original writings. Trust me, this will be your most treasured moment!

Today in the world of 'cut and paste' often the Art of Writing is the casualty. When I sit down to write my blog every 10th day of the month, I find that more than concentrating on my writing I end up browsing. When we quote with reference it is research and not copying, this is perhaps what takes us away from the original way of writing and doing deep research, thinking, scratching our heads and coming up with eloquent prose.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, writing becomes more important. This is especially true for non-writers. If you work in an office, the majority of your communications are made with text by email or IM. Whether you like it or not, your ability to exchange ideas, collaborate with others, and ultimately succeed, hinges on the ability to write effectively.

K. Stone has laid out a process to help us write faster, better, and easier. To follow up, here are 10 timeless tips from www.pickthebrain.com to help you improve style and substance, straight from the pens of humanity’s finest authors.

1. Cut the boring parts
2. Eliminate unnecessary words
3. Write with passion
4. Paint a picture
5. Keep it simple
6. Do it with love
7. Learn to thrive on criticism
8. Write all the time
9. Write what you know or what you want to know
10. Be unique and unpredictable.

Any change in the world must be brought about by the power of expression and writing is indeed the most powerful form of expression. It is original, thought provoking and when used effectively will be the change in itself. How do we do this? Here you will find some examples and how the art of writing is encouraged at an institutional level.

How to encourage the Art of Writing?
Beyond the simple need to write an essay or do homework, the school may want to set up a Literary Club or a Literary Society. This will bring together young people with passion, with peers in action writing will definitely become very exciting. Have a writers workshop at school, send out entries for essay and writing competitions at the inter-school or national level. Use the internet to set up blogs and have students participate in online events and literary chats. Simple still start publishing a School Weekly or share information in groups. Am happy to share The School Weekly of The Fabindia School, hosted on the blog www.bateduction.com as an example. It took the community near 100 weeks to finally start enjoying working for the weekly, today the students look forward to Mondays, the day of The School Weekly.

In this media-barraged world, writing skills, turn of phrase and succinctly put together information are of great importance. At The Doon School the art of writing pays a catalytic part in learning.The Doon School Weekly (DSW), written and edited by the boys, has been in existence since 1936 and is much awaited at Saturday morning breakfast. Prayas and Arpan (Hindi) and The Echo (a biannual science publication) are written, edited and published by our boys too. The Yearbook, the School List, and The Doon School Information Review are other key publications.

From websites like Worddraw.com you can download Microsoft Word School-Newsletter templates (please note Microsoft Word is registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation and worddraw.com is not associated with Microsoft). There are many tools and software programs available for free, a simple school newsletter can be done by using any average word processing software today. GoogleDocs itself is a good tool for self-publishing.

The New School in New York is a vital force in creative writing—in New York City, the nation, and the world. This School's commitment to supporting all aspects of the writer’s life is unsurpassed. Coursework emphasises literature as a living art, rather than a historical artefact. The instructors resist critical narrowness and approach the creative process from the inside out, bringing a form to inspiration. Students are guided through the writing process from draft to publication.

Playing host to an extraordinary calendar of events—readings, panels, book releases, and awards—The Writing School in London, is an active participant in today's cultural dialogue. The school cultivates a writer's life that's always growing, that is active in the evolution of the literary experience. Here's How The Writing School Can Help You - The Writing School will teach you how to write creatively and how to market your work. You can succeed as a writer. The Writing School teaches you how to write using their unique time-tested approach. You'll develop the skills to earn money from your writing.

Music and films today are not distributed with the same method and medium as in the last century, today books too are changing form and all this is perhaps a pointer that writing as a form may not be so personal anymore, however the Art of Writing will always exist as this is the most powerful medium of communication for us.The medium of distribution may change, but the power of the written word in any form will never be diluted.

Join us in promoting the free flow of ideas and thoughts between the school children and young people, please.

Mission & Vision

2015-09-23T18:53:00.000+05:30

Our mission is to help provide better governance, good leadership and build professional learning communities at schools.

Educational Philosophy My Good School works for the personal and social development of an individual by offering an environment where experiential learning is made possible through activities beyond just study; this brings to life learning that would otherwise be theoretical and uncoordinated. School teachers have the most important role in delivering quality education. There is an enormous paucity of good teachers, the only way out is in-service training and building a Professional Learning Community.

The Learning
Our work for The Fabindia Schools Programme, demonstrating excellence in school operations, involving the community and establishing a sustainable model for delivering good education in the villages of India, is now being replicated at a larger scale. We believe that the happiness of young people is in the hands of teachers and mentors, and we must do all to help them live their dreams by providing them with the best possible education. Taking ahead this vision and mission, we are working to provide affordable quality education in rural and urban India, by putting in place good systems, offering best in class training and ensuring that we have happy teachers to lead us.

The Professional Learning Community
Brewing Knowledge shows you how to plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so you and your team can achieve success with your system, your school, and your students. We are a group of passionate educators working for professional development and assist our members, to leverage the power of professional learning to affect positive and lasting change.

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2015-06-08T16:00:00.000+05:30

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