Education is going to become more interactive and inquiry-based shares, Abhishek Bagchi, Director Academics, MIT World Peace School, Pune, Maharashtra in an interactive conversation with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:
Tell us about your achievements in terms of ‘Innovation in Education’ during the year 2022.
Innovation as per definition is an implementation of a new method or idea. At our institution MIT World Peace School, we have developed an ecosystem where new ideas are welcomed and experimented without the fear of failure. In 2022, we surely worked on several innovations and I am listing a few noteworthy ones below.
- Our students of grade six onwards created a marketplace where they teamed up, used their own pocket money and created sellable products like toys, handicraft, food items, etc. and sold them to parents and teachers.
- We abolished the summative examinations till grade five and introduced year-long diagnostic and formative assessments completely based of skills mapped with the curriculum.
- We are one of the rarest of the schools in Pune that started creating the maker space lab for students to learn electronics, mechanics, robotics, gardening, pottery, carpentry, etc. using the latest technologies and applying basic science knowledge by solving problem-solving statements.
How futuristic technologies are going to transform education in the year 2023?
Technology in near future is going to revolutionise education for sure. Education is going to become more interactive and inquiry-based. One year may be a small time but we would notice the use of fewer textbooks and more interactive app based learning. Some schools like ours have already started encouraging makers mindset among students to develop problem-solving abilities. This will enhance the STEAM aptitude among students.
What are the innovations that accelerated the transformation of growth in the education landscape in the year 2022?
Majorly the introduction of some good quality digital applications supporting the text-based learning that is transforming the K12 education space. Applications are majorly helping in language development, creating interactive classrooms using augmented reality, providing options to the students to become more creative using latest means like vlogs, podcasts, etc.
What is your mission and vision to impact the paradigm shift of education arena in the year 2023?
The mission and vision are to empower my students more so that they take ownership of their learning. My students will become problem solvers and not photocopy machines. The vision is to see more students engaged in the joy of learning. The mission is to build an ecosystem where they are not afraid to ask questions and make mistakes, access suitable technology to apply the knowledge gained, and solve real problems.
