World Beyond The Books

Learning is a very subjective term; some students learn fast, others comparatively slow. Nonetheless, what remains similar is the fact that the education system at present encourages students to follow the rote method of learning. I remember that the words ‘math test’ were suffice to make me run faster than an Olympic runner! I never could understand the use of trigonometry, polynomials or even numbers for that matter!

Looking back, I think they should have just taught addition and subtraction in school – you know it helps to count your money! However, if someone had explained the concepts well to me or helped me to see the practical usage of various concepts, my interest in the subject would have ignited and hopefully my report card would have seen something more than 35 marks!

Do You See What I See? …I Guess So…!

There are different learning patterns which come naturally to individuals; resorting to learning concepts and theory which is in sync with your individual learning pattern helps you to not just learn things faster but also to retain them.

Most of us are visual learners i.e. we find it easier to learn or understand the lessons when taught with the help of visual aids, such as diagrams, graphs, videos and so on. Don’t you find it easier to remember places you have visited than the places you have just read or heard about? Think for a moment. Ah, I have that smile on my face that I always get when I am right! However, classroom teaching restricts the usage of visual aids. There are different constraints faced by a teacher, such as paucity of time and lack of resources which discourages them to go beyond the textbook.

It is, thus, essential to analyse different methods of teaching which would help the students to effectively learn the concepts instead of resorting to the usual mugging up of lessons. More on this later! Stick around!

CBSE and HOTS: a whiff of cool breeze!

Students scurrying along, holding their books at the time of board examinations is not a sight unseen. However, this year there was a change. Parents, teachers and students alike could be seen discussing the new ‘in’ thing namely HOTS. This interesting name brought more to mind and facial expressions than its slang brother -- raised eyebrows, uncertainty and even a bit of fear!

So, What is HOTS???

CBSE has introduced a new pattern for the examination of Classes 10 and 12, called the HOTS. HOTS or higher order learning skills evaluate the students on the basis of their analytical and comprehension skills as opposed to their memorising ability. Question paper for all subjects of Class 10 and 10 major subjects of Class 12 were chosen to be framed to test HOTS in students in the year 2008. These 10 subjects include physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, business studies, accountancy, economics, political science and history.

According to CBSE chairman Mr. Ashok Ganguly, HOTS would help to create a clear distinction between the students who have got thorough knowledge of subjects as against those who have just crammed the theory.

A Shift in the CBSE Exam Pattern

As per the new pattern, 20% questions in all major subjects will test student’s higher order thinking skills. Another change is the entry of short answer type questions in the exam papers. According to CBSE, the paper will start off with 10% of questions holding 1 mark each, easing students into sections requiring more evaluation and longer answers.
It should be noted that the questions would still be based on the prescribed NCERT syllabus. However, they should expect indirect questions requiring mind application.

HOTS – no need to sweat it out!

Contrary to the popular belief, the new CBSE pattern this year didn’t prove to be difficult for students who were thorough with the NCERT syllabus and had an in-depth understanding of the subjects.

One should look at HOTS as simply a means of assessing student’s comprehension, application, analysing and reasoning skills. Higher order learning skills lay focus on questions, such as ‘explain why’, ‘what was the impact of’ or ‘what do you think’. All in all, it is a method of encouraging students to think, analyze and answer.

Preparation for boards, thus, remains same. However, don’t just learn the theory by heart but it is equally important to understand it well. Develop the habit of asking questions like ‘why’ and ‘how’. Besides covering the NCERT syllabus extensively, it would also be a good idea to solve the model papers prepared according to the new design. This would help you to gain confidence.

So you should keep anxiety pangs at bay and continue working hard!

Teach India: Spreading education beyond the rose colored walls

Leg wrestling with my brother at a swanky shop, I was trying to avoid the angry gaze of my mother. She couldn’t have made it more obvious that she did not like this immature behaviour. Silk curtains and bed-sheets – we couldn’t care less about them! The wrath of the rain god outside had made our feet mucky as well. Needless to say, the sparkling white marble floor was in a mess due to the leg wrestling of the likes of hulk Hogan and Rock!

Finally, my mother’s two strong hands grabbing our little ear lobes pushed us outside the shop, to avoid further embarrassment. It was then, that I noticed a group of 5-6 kids trying to memorise alphabets; they even scribbled on the misted window pane with their small fingers.

Instantaneously, I realized how we, the ones who can afford to study in the best of schools, take education for granted. On the other hand, the ones who are deprived of it treat learning as a source of entertainment; a new book, a piece of paper, a pen or something as innate an object as a misted window pane and their learning starts.

Teach India, a Times Group project, started after a truly successful stint with the ‘Lead India’ project. For those who are unaware, the man who lend his face to the Lead India show was the Big B aka Amitabh Bacchan. ‘Teach India’ is led by the Aamit Khan, the man who showed on big screen the rendezvous of the dyslexic children with the challenges of the world.

The Times Group initiated the Teach India project with the aim to educate those who are the future torch holders of our nation. Their modest estimate of 10,000 volunteers saw a whooping raise to over 88,710 in just a few months.

The need and importance of education does not require any discussion, whatsoever. However, despite this being an obvious fact, those who do not afford a brick wall house have more to mull over than send their young ones to schools. As a result, the growing disparity between the educated and the uneducated is still eye boggling.

Click here to browse through the FAQ’s on the ‘Teach India’ project.

Road to Effective Learning

Why do children shy away from studies? How does a 6 year old child remember the time slots of his favorite cartoon programmes but finds it incredibly hard to remember the A to Z of 1 to 100? Researchers and teachers have been trying to find the answers to similar questions. With infinite case studies and even more being done every so often, the answer is right in front of us.

The teaching module that is prescribed by the boards of most of the countries, inevitably, suffers from the same deficit i.e. following a theory led pattern of teaching. Students lost in books till neck down, can’t wait to get a respite from the school and those hard to learn lessons. Learning is a process which stems from understanding of concepts and formula’s and not mugging up complex theories.

Education in the 21st century is regarded more like a page turner model. Teachers referring to the notes that they have prepared back at the time of completing their own education, with minor changes every now and then has become a nomenclature.

However, educationists around the world have woken up to the needs of changing the facet of education…one that would help in increasing substantially the effectiveness of teaching and restrict learning by rote.

Stick around for more discussion on the same subject! Ciao for now.