Kathan Shukla and Vijaya Sherry Chand
Can there be a better time than now to reflect and re-examine public policies governing the school education system? How can schools be at the centre of a decentralized, bottom-up policymaking process? Do we have it in us to put systems in place? It is time schools stand up for themselves and take on a central role in the ecosystem. Schools need to demand high quality support from district and state-level administrators to improve the experiences of their students.
Year: 2020
May their tribe increase
S. Mundayoor
Teachers’ Day, as always, is an occasion for many of us to remember and cherish those who untiringly taught us. Here, the author shares some anecdotes about a few teachers who inspired those who came into contact with them. These recollections are mostly from the annual teachers’ residential camps held during the Eighties and Nineties by a group of schools in Arunachal Pradesh, with which the writer was associated.
A new beginning
Anand Krishnaswamy
How will learning and education be in the coming days, especially against the backdrop of Covid 19? While imagining such a situation, the author questions some of the assumptions of the education structure. He asks: What if every child, every student is thoroughly capable of ascertaining what he or she wishes to learn, what if every child can extract learning from anything and everything he or she touches, sees or feels? What if a child can learn at various levels and all of that was acceptable? In trying to expand on these questions, he lists four facets of education of the future.
Escape from reality
Tim Hibsman
With schools closed, this is the perfect time for students to embrace research writing for all subjects. Students can be asked to research different topics and then provide their project through a traditional research paper and presentation. The optimum way to give students their assignments is through a model scenario. Provide students a role playing situation where they conduct research, write a report and present their findings.
I observe, therefore I am
Maya M. Nathan
A teacher recounts her experience of Science Day celebrations at her school and what it taught her about the teaching-learning process.
Team teaching: a true account
Neeraja Raghavan
What happens when two teachers team up to teach a subject together? Is this kind of collaboration even possible? What about the dynamics between the two teachers? Here is an amazing true account of a rare collaboration and how their boundaries and roles unfolded as their work progressed.
Parents in the library
Sonam Gangsang
In our series of writings which share the work of library educators, the focus this time is on an educator’s journey in a small Tibetan school in Karnataka and how she managed to engage parents and the community to develop an interest in library practices and learning.
Screen time panic
Neerja Singh
How much of screen time is good or not good for children? With digital devices everywhere and for everything, is it time to put the brakes on their use? Can the present generation of children do without them? Though these devices can improve learning, excess use can also be harmful and interfere with everything from sleep to creativity. How can teachers and parents help within these technological contexts, is the question.
Pay attention… naturally
Aruna Sankaranarayanan
Is there an upside to this global pandemic? Initially there were some positive reports about pollution receding, people sighting birds in their balconies etc. How can we forge this relationship with nature anew? Can communing with trees, birds and bees enhance children’s ability to focus? This article talks about how one can appreciate nature more mindfully.
Rendezvous with Nick Middleton
Leena Satuluri
An interview with an acclaimed travel writer, geographer and an environmentalist upped the ante for children who were absolutely delighted to speak to Nick Middleton. His book,’ Extremes along the Silk Road’ has been prescribed for CBSE students of grade 11. Here are excerpts from the interview done by the students and the author.