Proceedings of the Webinar Series
The Lead talk of the Webinar Series Integral Education was presented by Director Sri. K. Uma Maheshwara Rao on 2nd Dec 2020. Mr. K. U. M. Rao highlighted on knowledge acquisition leading to humility, developing confidence and competence, making the individual prosper materially also leading to happiness earned through the right means. Further, he added value-oriented education helps one to lead a simple life with high thinking equally developing physic, self-reliance, service to humanity, discipline equipping one with the cultural and spiritual heritage of India helping the individual feel Vasudhivakuntumbakam – all world is my family concept.
In the second talk on 9th December Sri M. Mahadevan presented with slides the salient features of New Education Policy 2020 pertaining to school education. He touched upon the structure from age 3 of a child to 15/16 with 4 phases- Early child hood, preparatory, middle and secondary education, developing critical and creative thinking abilities, staffing with dedicated and committed teachers who may be evaluated by students, peers, the system ensuring autonomy with accountability and liberal approach to learning as the learner feels with mobility from one subject to another including art related to each subject like art in languages, art in maths., science.. clubbing one state with another covering the whole country with, say, Karnataka with Uttarakhand. In effect a holistic education with national awareness is expected by this approach with continuous and comprehensive evaluation being emphasised.
The third in the series Online Teaching Methods was addressed on 16th December 2020 by Sri K.L Nagaraju. In the course of his talk, he used copious slides emphasizing access to devises, technical problems, teacher effectiveness, availability of internet, band width needed, gadgets that can be used, platforms available, tools particularly for each subject, open- source tools, student factors, challenges while practicing the same. It was technically and resourcefully very educative for all of us.
The following Wednesday, on 23.12.20, Ms. Sridevi Warrier presented creative teaching with particular emphasis on Art integrated Pedagogy. Examples of ideas for each subject integrated with art and vice versa were explained with some examples for some scholastic subjects. She gave the sources for everyone to enrich on this aspect from CBSE circulars and detailed materials for each subject. A cursory glance on the same gave an inkling to one on more detailed approach to each subject for each level- preparatory, middle and secondary levels of learning. It was well received.
On 30.12.20, Mr. N. Geetha gave a follow up talk on Integral Education. She stressed that “An integral approach to education supports the continuing growth of learners and teachers along the entire spiral of development over the full span of life! The talk centred on “The ‘I’ perspective – Self & Experience The ‘It’ perspective- Objects & Behaviour. The ‘Its’ perspective- Social/System & Environment The ‘We’ perspective-Community, Culture, Worldviews” . As National Education Policy 2020 proposes overall development of the student as an individual and as a member of society, she concluded that the goal of integral education is to offer students the necessary tools to become persons who develop to their fullest potential in their environments.
Following this, Mrs. Ramani Thyagarajan presented a talk on “Implementation of Integral Education in Schools”. She highlighted the fact that we have a reservoir of wisdom / virtues in our great stories, art, literature, biography and history from which Teachers should draw ideas to go beyond the curriculum. She gave o thrust on how parents and families can be made true partners for better understanding the children and their families. Her conclusion was that all the adults in the school must demonstrate and reflect mission of imparting Integral Education and communicate virtues through their action as well as engage the young minds, hearts and head of children to help them to know the good, love the good and do the good.
On 6th January Sri G. Eswarappa spoke on Effective Study Habits helpful for students to achieve the maximum output. He gave the time for study, prepare assignments and completing them and such of those habits which will help a student perform confidently to prove one’s worth.
On 13th January Ms. Sudha Subramanian presented her theme on Effective Lesson Planning. The talk touched upon definition of lesson plan, steps to be taken, presentation aspects, reflecting on the outcome, class room management, evaluating the students including formative assessment and such of those essential ingredients for a good lesson plan. The talk would be very useful for the beginners as also for the experienced to revise as per present requirement of including critical and creative thinking.
On 20th January Ms. Anu Thomas and Ms. Kausalya Bai presented their touch to Art Integrated Learning. In the course of her presentation Ms. Anu touched upon experiential leaning, development of communication skills, cross cultural pedagogy, learner’s autonomy. Illustrating the same she took culinary art and how different subjects are involved in that field like maths., language, science, social science etc., Suggestion for taking up projects to realize these objectives were also given with reference to Uttarakhand state’s location, population, art, culture etc., for students of Karnataka to have clear knowledge of that state. It was a scholarly talk touching various aspects of art integrated learning as envisaged in the NEP-20 and as interpreted by the CBSE.
Ms. Kausalya Bai who followed Ms. Anu the same day gave special emphasis for Art integrated Learning with respect to Mathematics taking different aspects of life in Uttarakhand. The pictures presented, the details included gave a clear understanding for a learner the intricacies of the nuances of mathematical concepts like symmetry, geometrical and trigonometrical ideas, tourism and related concepts in taking part in such an exercise like distance, travel modes, time taken and host of such things including therein mandala and aipan art forms prevalent there for study. The presentation was very interesting besides educative covering almost every aspect of art in and through maths. And the other way about also.
On 27th January, Ms. Manjula Raj presented a talk on Life Skills Education. The standard of our talks have been raised to International level by her defining life skills based on WHO! Briefly they indicate abilities for adaptive attitude, developing positive behaviour, learning to live through nature and nurture. Also creating awareness for the environment- human as also flora and fauna to reach a level of judging the situation and taking proper decision at a time including times of crises. The role of the teacher for inculcating these life skills becomes crucial to include role play type activities managing emotions of all kinds. Her narration of case histories illustrated the type of guidance to give to the child. On the whole her presentation was very informative for the novice as well as specialist alike to try to implement some of these suggestions to develop Life Skills in children.
On 3rd February Ms. Uma Devi enlightened the members on Teaching of Science -A new perspective. She coined a new acronym IIEP- insightful, inspiring, enjoyable and participative learning -well planned at that. She suggested project-oriented learning with activities indicated including video making by the students. The pictures galore displayed at that time were very informative, aesthetically enjoyable including art in science and science through art. She advocated team teaching also to reinforce this synthesis of many areas of the learning process. The presentation was appreciated one and all.
On 10th of February Ms. Vasanthakumari presented a talk on Developing Leadership Skills with detailed description of 25 characteristics of a good leader with specific reference to 11 skills of which 8 were in the characteristics mentioned also. Some of the common points are Integrity, Communication skills, delegating responsibilities to the subordinates, resilience, accountability, empathy, humility, influencing ability, confidence generation by exhibiting confidence and positivity. It was something like a check- list for each of us to self -evaluate to find our leadership potential to develop in turn the same in the clients we may meet in teachers or students besides principals. The in- depth preparation of slides with cartoons interspersed in each and detailed presentation were appreciated by all listeners.
Almost one round of volunteers being over the second round started on 17th February with the director Sri KUM Rao presenting a talk on Effective Centres of Learning. He started with the gurukul system passed on to Takshashila, Nalanda universities of yore attracting students from all over the world to learn there and be developed as universal citizens with knowledge and understanding of not only life as an ordinary citizen but also with spiritual learning for development of the individual’s soul for a world outlook following Vasudhaiva kuntumbakam concept. He also indicated the ecological balance needed for welfare of humanity as envisaged by Rabindranath Tagore in starting his Viswabharati university almost in line with Takshasila and Nalanda. He opined that the NEP 20 tries to imbibe that spirit with art integrated learning being emphasized and if it is followed properly the system is likely to develop all round personality to radiate universal brotherhood with dharma as the centre of philosophy of life in full perspective.
On 24th February 2021 Sri M. Mahadevan gave his second talk in the series on Rambling Thoughts on Education- some reflections. It was interspersed with anecdotes from his student days, continuing into teacher service touching upon learning teaching experiences with special emphasis on evaluation, with all shades possible, including setting of question papers, correction, error analysis, planning for individual differences among children and prepare suitable guidelines and implement for the gifted, the weak students and others in the system. Emphasis was given to special guidance including extra assignments for the gifted to enable them for creative and critical thinking to man great responsibilities in future with skill as leaders in various fields was the highlight of the talk besides helping the weak students by remedial plans. Slides, action films, activities video formed part of the talk enjoyed by the members, though less in number, as evidenced from their feedback.
On 3rd March 2021 Sri K.L. Nagaraju gave a talk –follow up of Developing Effective Study Habits. Reiterating the significant points presented in the first talk on the topic by Sri Eswarappa, he emphasized on developing concentration, enhancing memory power and some tips for taking tests and examinations.
Following him Ms. Anu Thomas presented her follow up on Effective Lesson Planning earlier presented by Ms. Sudha Subramanian. She emphasized on Outcomes of Learning experiences for every subject in the curriculum slightly different from objectives of learning as envisaged in the NCERT books on the same, separately published for elementary and secondary education. She gave the details with examples of some topics. Her thrust was that objectives were more teacher centric and outcomes learner centric. The speakers were introduced and sessions moderated by Ms. Sudha Subramanian and the discussions that followed were illustrative of the on the interest shown by the members who were about 14 this time.
On 10th March 2021 Sri Eswarappa presented a talk on Establishing Science Laboratories in schools. It was very detailed for even a novice to plan, budget and establish junior and senior science laboratories in schools, functional at that. Some of the salient features he indicated were the location, collection of materials including flexible furniture, safety measures to be planned and erected, fire related precautions like fire extinguisher, first aid, disposal of waste, inculcation of team work etc., It was very revealing indicating his practical experience in the field. Ms. Sudha Subramanian moderated the session with members freely participating in the discussion exhibiting their experience on and in implementing lab. Techniques in schools.
On 17th March Ms. Ramani Thyagarajan presented her views on Spirituality in Education with her background of service in Chinmaya Mission schools. The topic being subtle in its perception leaving the realms of physical, mental planes and trying to reach the soul of individuals, it did pose problems to enable this concept to be made part of the learning process for the children with the players in the scenario -managements, teachers, parents -to condition themselves suitably to help the children to realise the need for spirituality in life by stories, activities and role model life to be observed by the learners and catching the values therefrom. Values are more to be caught than taught! The relative roles played by religion, yoga and the like were also touched upon to bring home to the members the need and importance of imbibing spirituality in life. Ms. Sreedevi Nair moderated the session and the lecture was managed well even though the slide show was not possible due to technical reasons. The interaction that followed was varied and well illustrative of the topic trying to make every participant to think and reflect on spirituality in daily life.
On 24th March 2021 Ms. Sudha Subramanian spoke on Developing Leadership Skills in children. She indicated the special emphasis needed on core leadership skills, characteristics of a good leader, ways to develop the skills, need for courage and commitment, particular importance to be given for social and emotional development and practicing group projects to evolve leadership replacing ‘me’ with ‘we’ approach. She also mentioned the reference to these skills included in the NEP 2020. The discussions that followed were very interesting involving very many listeners adding lustre to the topic and to her presentation. On the whole it was a well-presented talk moderated by Ms. N. Geetha.
On 31st March 2021 Ms. Sreedevi Warrier gave a scholarly talk on CBSE Assessment Framework prepared in collaboration with British Council and released by CBSE recently. The policies envisaged in NEP 2020 was also touched upon. According to her, the approaches significantly vary from traditional ones in inferring the learning and development of learners. Presenting a historical perspective to assessment from the vedic times touching upon the commissions of education and their recommendations over the decades on the theme, she gave the thrust on a shift towards Competency-based evaluation. Indicating the relative roles of PARAKH and NTA as planned in the evaluation process she made the listeners feel the real changes as indicated in the system as deviating from summative to formative to ensure the steady process of learners to realize their potentials in full as a result of these changes in process and implementation. Ms. Vasanthakumari moderated the session.
The Webinar series was so popular thar the unanimous decision was to continue the programme on alternate Wednesdays through 2021-22 session.
On 28-04-2021, when Ms. Neerajakshi gave an expository talk on Social Science Resource Centre in Schools. She gave a comprehensive and near-exhaust suggestions for the same. It was interesting, revealing and informative. It was a source material for even novices to plan and execute the same. The subtitles included history, geography, economics, political science, anthropology and the like. It was recommended to collect information on these connect concepts, including use of ICT, stories, songs, video clips, etc., Historical development of technological advancements from early times to the present day in communicating ideas from ‘x’ to ‘y’ also formed part of her presentation. It was an eye opener for many of us to conceive of a semi- permanent structure replacing ad-hoc exhibitions periodically organized to make the study of social science interesting indeed. Ms. Vasanthakumari, moderated the session which ended with welcome opinions shared by the recipients congratulating the lecturer on her wide preparation and depth of knowledge on the theme.
On 12th May our director, Sri K.U.M. Rao, gave a talk on Propagation of Basic Human Values. In the course of his presentation, he touched upon the disturbed society and narrated some of the reasons for the same including the structure of society, values needed in the family, in school, in society, near and far and illustrated with Gita slokas relevant for the theme. He brought home to us the need for harmony in body, mind and soul of individuals with spiritual touch needed for the development of these in individuals. He emphasized the need for teachers to integrate the learning with values of respect for fellow beings and extend even to flora for fauna for harmony in life. Modern education should get inputs from ancient value-based approach to make the child really well educated, was reinforced by him. He concluded his talk with a coined formula for practice-
Vijnana +Sujnana = Prajnana meaning
Knowledge + Discrimination = Efficiency.
It was enjoyed by one and all.
Sri Nagarajan Ramagowdu moderated the session which ended with responses from many including Ms. Uma Sivaraman.
On 26th May Sri M. Mahadevan presented a talk on Developing Critical Thinking during Teaching-Learning Process a topic suggested by the secretary Ms. Anu Thomas. After digging at all possible sources, he codified some points of the variety of situations in which critical thinking is involved quoting from Socrates, Gurukula system, thoughts of John Dewey, Einstein and some pictures too. He indicated some samples to introduce critical thinking in school teaching-learning with examples from mathematics, languages, social sciences, science adding folk stories also indicative of such thinking. Though his presentation lasted only for about 25 minutes the follow up responses from the colleagues were very many and awakening their curiosity to this field of critical and creative thinking lasting more than 30 minutes. On the whole the presentation was interesting, educative and informative too as opined by the listeners. Ms. M.S. Sudha was the moderator who introduced the speaker and thanked all concerned at the end.
Updates AUGUST 2022
“Ms. Sudha Subramanian gave a lucid, interesting and informative talk on Time Management for school educators. It was relayed on 10th August 2022 by the REEDAC Bangalore attended actively by members from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra also. She touched upon all significant aspects of the topic analysing the title including therein the role of various stakeholders in education including therein school leaders, teachers and others too. She emphasized the importance of the same affecting the objectives and outcomes influencing the total functioning of an institution. In the course of her talk she included the results of such an exercise in effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of the system.The various roles played by the school leader and the teacher were indicated in a nutshell with powerpoint slides to optimise productivity.It was a well received webinar which is relevant not only for educators but every one whatever role one plays in society for realising one’s objectives. Ms. Sreedevi Warrier chaired the session and the talk exhibited the well modulated time management in practice also.”
Mahadevan