Our multidisciplinary approach shifts the classroom instruction from passive to active, thereby engaging more students in the learning process, says Jyoti Arora, Principal, Mount Abu Public School, Rohini, Delhi, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).

What kind of industry best practices are being followed at Mount Abu Public School?

The school has adopted numerous innovative techniques for making the learning process easier and enjoyable. ‘Integrated Project’ introduced in the curriculum is one such initiative wherein students research on the given topic and present their knowledge. One complete day is dedicated for the project where the students think, pair, share and collaborate to research on the given theme and present their project interlinking with all the subjects of their curriculum.

Another creative method is the Flipped Classroom wherein the teacher gets their lecture recorded and video is uploaded on the youtube. Students then watch the video and get prepared with queries. Another method called Butterfly Classroom is employed where the teachers visit the classes of their peer members and learn the different teaching methods that can be incorporated in their own ways of imparting knowledge to make their classrooms more interactive.

What sort of IT-based solutions currently being adapted by your school for students’ holistic development?

The school is a ‘Microsoft Showcase’ school that emphasises on the concept of the integration of technology in all the subjects. The teachers use Microsoft tools to make the classroom teaching more efficient with a better impact on the minds of the children. Establishment of ‘Atal Tinkering Lab’ and ‘Astronomy Lab’ make the teaching and learning at par with the technology. The computer labs are well equipped with 3D modules for a better understanding of the concepts.

Tell us about methodologies of your school meant to keep its teachers abreast of the latest trends and teaching paradigms.

The school hosts various workshops, seminars and capacity building programmes for the teachers to make them better equipped and making their classroom teaching well-organised and efficient. The teachers also participate in different capacity building programmes on different subjects organised by CBSE and other ‘Centres of Excellence’. The different subject experts guide the teachers with latest trends and developments, the same is then percolated to the children in classroom teaching.

Today, a focus on nurturing life skills has also emerged as a key thrust area for institutions. How is Mount Abu Public School working in this direction?

The school firmly believes that only academic excellence is not enough to make empowered citizens. So to nurture an individual into a global personality, it is mandatory to inculcate the values of a good human being. The school has allotted specific periods for enhancement of skills and organises various programmes like workshops and seminars for life skill development in association with CBSE and Expressions India.

What has been the vision which has inspired you all these years?

The school has a vision, ‘Passionate urge for excellence at par’, which clearly defines the objective to inculcate a passion for learning and developing self-expression, innovation, initiative and experience blended with an understanding of traditional values too.

Educationists the world over are acknowledging the importance of inculcating creative and critical thinking in students. KIIT World School has encourages such thinking while nurturing young minds. Newer ideas and innovations have become the norms, that KIIT adheres to, keeping the vision of providing a holistic approach to the learners.

Fostering 21st century thinking skills among learners is the need of the hour. At KIIT, pedagogy is designed in such a way that the focus is on the understanding of the child rather than rote learning of the topic. It is ensured that the students have achieved optimal learning outcomes by different types of assessments.  These assessments are diagnostic as well as dynamic in nature and are an integral part of the teaching-learning process.

In the present scenario, it has become imperative to have paradigm shift in the way knowledge is disseminated. Equipping the students with tools to deal with present day problems has become all the more necessary. At KIIT, a platform is provided to students wherein there are open debates on contemporary issues plaguing our society like substance abuse, intolerance, gender insensitivity.  Apart from this, they are also given ample opportunities to create and innovate through ‘Idea Factory’ thus bolstering the scientific temperament.

Idea factory is one such initiative where any one is free to give ideas be it students, teachers or parents. At KIIT, the students of innovation team enthusiastically work on the ideas, taking them up as projects and coming up with solutions. By implementing their classroom learning, the students create prototypes. At the same time, they become a part of the innovative fraternity and work towards the goal of making India self-sustaining in terms of scientific innovation and discovery.

Reading, observation and experimentation are emphasized to cater to the inquisitive learners. It is clearly evident from the fact that reading provides requisite input to the mind resulting in better informed learners. The teachers are fully equipped with the latest in their subject area along with the news in and around the world to satiate all the queries of the students. A lot of importance is given to experiential learning, where students are given hands on learning environment for enhanced comprehension of the concepts. KIIT has developed a pedagogy where learning spaces have been created all over the campus.

The technology enabled smart classrooms bring the world to learners, enabling discussions and debates through video conferences. The state-of-the-art labs at KIIT, especially ATL Lab are discovery zones where students explore the concepts and are inspired to create. Idea Factory is the latest addition, which further strengthens our vision of equipping the students with 21st century skills.

Libraries and class libraries are profound thinking corners where learning to learn is deep rooted. Corridors have been transformed to Art Galleries brimming with creativity, artistic magnificence and new information to soak in.

The assembly areas are portals of knowledge sharing and character building as each day starts with a storytelling session. Learning within the boundaries is not enough, the learners are provided access to best of online resources. Through technology, online assessments are provided besides resource sharing.

A cross- curricular approach is followed to engage students with hands on projects based on academic and skill development standards. The school curriculum relies on realms of Gandhian Philosophy encompassing the head, the heart and the hands resulting in all-round development.

With a firm belief that today society needs schools to have a paradigm shift in their approach to education from preparing students as job seekers to job creators. The programs are designed in the school where personal and public victory are focused along with managing emotions and enhancing the art of living a meaningful life. Apart from this, students are motivated to do self-reflections of their learning, thus analyzing the gaps. The shortcomings or lacuna found in the learning outcomes are addressed by the teachers so that the child is able to overcome them, well in time.

The students who pass out from school are exploring newer avenues, getting engaged in successful assignments, making bold decisions. They are not only abiding rules, they are rule makers.

A strong belief in the amalgamation of the age-old values and contemporary trends in the field of education has resulted in creating students who see elders, especially teachers as their role-models. The learners at KIIT are self-driven and independent learners who are at the helm of the affairs and teachers are their facilitators.

With a legacy spanning 114 years, Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions is a well-known name in the education domain across the country. A number of industry best practices are currently being employed by the institution for the holistic development of students, says Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN).

How do you foster curiosity and critical thinking in a child?

Children are by nature curious and they have a lot of questions to ask and seek clarification. The school environment which we provide, encourages our students to ask questions and learn through peer group activities. The teaching-learning system is designed like a voyage of exploration that brings a lot of joy to students at each destination, with each discovery. The design of each program fosters curiosity and critical thinking. The students progress step by step from acquiring basic knowledge to solving complex problems. Project-based learning (PBL) is an integral part of the school curriculum which sparks curiosity to enquire, question, find out solutions and thereby enhance critical thinking and application of concepts.

Initiatives like STEAM and ATAL Tinkering Lab promote creativity and critical application. Operational tools like Robotics Club, Math’s & Science kits , Question wall & Think Tank Corner, TED TALK, dedicated spaces for Fine Arts, Music, Dance & Theater, Art & Craft, graphic studio, Annual Exhibition, Multiple Intelligence Camps etc are used in the school to inculcate curiosity and critical thinking among children. We also conduct a lot of activities focused on environmental challenges and community services to develop qualities of good citizenship. These areas also challenge the students’ mind to find creative solutions to social and environmental problems.

How do you focus on the training of your teachers?

Training of trainers is of utmost importance to us. Teachers are the most important influencers in the life of every student. They are the fulcrum of the school education system and each teacher holds a delicate balance for the life of every student she/he tutors. The teacher is also looked upon as a mentor and a role model of impeccable conduct, which goes far beyond the official role of a Teacher.

Seth Anandram Jaipuria Schools focus on professional development of teachers as a systemic intervention. We have a systematic process for the training of teachers. The Corporate Resource Cell and School Resource Cells provide institutional guidance for assessment of training needs, to design training programmes and implement.

The training curriculum is designed to update domain knowledge, meet standards and the training modules are calibrated to provide personal attention to each teacher. It underlines subject-matter mastery and provides hands-on experience for teachers under the guidance of experienced facilitators. The resource persons are empanelled or associated with CBSE, NCERT, CIET, NIIT etc. Apart from subject-domain skills, we train teachers on Soft Skills and IT-enabled Pedagogy. We also encourage all teachers for selfreflection, continuous self-improvement using online resources and keeping an open mind for observing and learning from peers.

Student security is of huge concern these days. How does your school ensure student safety?

Our Schools pay high attention to student safety. We are committed to the parents to provide a safe and secure environment for students to learn, so that their parents can send their children to school without anxiety or fear. Our school infrastructure meets construction and building safety standards applicable for educational institutions. All operational safety policies, procedures, rules and regulations are documented and followed. The School Safety Committees are in place to oversee and implement safety policies. GPS enabled buses equipped with fire extinguishers, first-aid and horizontal iron bars on windows ensure safe to & fro transit of students. A teacher accompanies the students on board, in every bus during transit.

All our school campuses are secured with boundary wall and round the clock ‘Watch and Ward Service’. Iron Grills are installed at all vulnerable entry-exit points protecting the corridors, class rooms and washrooms used by the students. CCTV surveillance is installed as per norms for the entire school and is diligently monitored. Lady security personnel are detailed for guarding areas exclusively used by Girls. Police verification of character antecedent is mandatory for all employees, including outsourced services staff, before appointment and deployment in school services.

Special attention is paid regarding chemical use in labs, use of art tools, cyber safety, and during sports events, fire drills, earthquake evacuation drills, etc. Safety mock-drills for checking an emergency, are periodically conducted at each school premise. Sensitization training on POCSO and COPTA are organised periodically. Workshops are conducted for staff and all other associated stakeholders to sensitise on child emotion. Expert therapists visit the School for counselling students to relieve stress.

Please tell us about the pedagogy adopted for K-12 in your school and about its unique aspects.

We have a progressive school system. Though we follow board curriculum, it doesn’t restrict us to experiment with new things and try out new pedagogies. Whether it’s integrating life-skills in curriculum or welcoming the latest learning technology into our classrooms, we make sure our children get the latest and the best. We keep an open mind. We believe, pedagogical innovation is imperative for continuing the journey of excellence. We are having a running dialogue with Microsoft Education, Google Education and the Khan Academy to improve our pedagogy. We are working with a number of reputed educationists and consultants for continuous improvement. We visit the premises of Schools in India and abroad to learn about their new interventions or experiments.

The classrooms in our schools are now competing with virtual classrooms which are flourishing in the Internet and Social Media. The pedagogy in our schools has to stay ahead and retain the edge over the virtual platforms. It is a humongous challenge but our Schools and our teachers are reinventing continuously to stay on top. We have successfully converted the threat from the internet and social media to a great opportunity for building a massive collaborative platform.

We focus on interdisciplinary teaching wherein we foster critical thinking to align and integrate learning from different subjects to make them interesting and applicable to complex problem-solving. We leverage IT for enhancing the speed of learning and enriching the learning experience for students. Our students are trained to excel in the curricular as well as extracurricular faculties. They learn to handle pressure without losing the smile on their faces. They are not only trained to be digital savvy, with a modern outlook, but also as compassionate human beings with a feel for the society and environment and their minds deeply rooted in the ethos of Indian Culture.