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4 Things that can Transform our Schools

The shloka Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwaraha, Guru shakshaath parabrahma thasmai shree
gurave namaha summarises the position of the learned teacher in the life of a disciple.

We have moved far from the system of a single Guru and his Gurukula to myriad schools with multiple teachers
teaching our children today. Over two decades of experience with teachers of todays schools, here are my thoughts
on what we should do rather than a debate about the changes that should happen in the schooling system.

The student-teacher relationship is fast changing with the intervention of new technologies and new pedagogies. The
focus of schools on making learning fun and enjoyable is diluting the core purpose of making learning meaningful.

Here are four important things that, I personally feel, need to be addressed by schools of today.

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1. Mind-Set: STOP IMPRESSING PARENTS and start INSPIRING CHILDREN

When most schools are jumping on the bandwagon of improving and showcasing tangible changes in the schools
infrastructure, a change in mindset is the path to tread to gain momentum towards progress. Mind-Set is the
beginning of innovation and exploration of what we can do in this world.

A school is not designed to impress parents with new gadgets and facilities. It is indeed a place for students to learn
the necessary skills for life. A change in mindset will lead to changes in the way we teach, in the way we learn, in the
way we think and in the practices we follow in our classrooms and the entire school ecosystem.

Management should focus more on the quality of learning experiences for a student rather than impressing parents
with extravagant displays of facilities. A five-star infrastructure is meaningless if the quality of teachers and teaching
environment is sub-par.

2. Skill-Set: TEACH THEM HOW TO LEARN

Skills learned in school should enable students to face the challenges of life during and after their schooling years

Most schools interest in a childs progress stops after the exams and results. This approach is a good financial model
but a bad social model. Schools need to focus on the overall development of a child to make them as future-ready as
possible.

The skill-set needed to thrive in the world are constantly changing, especially in todays world the rate of change is
rapid. The prudent approach for schools and teachers to cater to this rapid change is to identify the necessary skills
and develop their pedagogy around these skills.

In addition to the changing skill-set, the student body changes constantly as well. A teachers challenge is to keep her
own skill-set updated and upgraded, to make a meaningful impact on her students learning.

School managements often are skeptical on investing in teacher development programmes, asking themselves this
question What if we train them and they decide to leave?

Well, What if you dont train them and they decide to stay?

Teacher enhancement should feature on a managements priority list, in order to ensure an inspired student body.

3. Knowledge-Set: EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT

Knowledge of the changing world, knowledge relevant to the chosen academic stream, knowledge of how to go about
their tasks, knowledge of what they dont know, knowledge of history both cultural and scientific, knowledge of
various cultures and their attempt to change the world all these and more comprise the knowledge-set of an
individual.

Management should emphasise on improving knowledge-set of teachers every year. Drive teachers to teach one
different topic every year to their students or one different skill every year along with their subject of expertise.

4. Tool-Set: A MONKEY CAN BE TAUGHT HOW TO WRITE

Tools old and new strengthen a students will, their ability to take a risk and guide them towards higher goals.
Simple tools like time management, creative tools like mind-mapping, necessary tools like stress management, anger
management, peer pressure management, revived motivation, sustained interest levels should all be part of the
students learning curriculum.

They should encounter different situations where these skills can be put to use and sharpened. Needless to say,
teachers need to be aware of and adept with the chosen tool-set.

When a school ecosystem can focus on and sharpen all these four MSKT-sets, without doubt, a forward-thinking
learning environment will automatically emerge and all stakeholders school management, teachers, students, and

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 parents will be infinitely benefitted.

-Sriraghavan S M, Co-Founder and President Customer Relationship, BRAINSTARS

Image Courtesy-

http://www.trustedcfosolutions.com/transform-restaurant-business/

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Published by BRAINSTARS
BRAINSTARS is an organisation dedicated to fostering and nurturing the movement of Science Education in India. We act as the
bridge between the formal education sector and innovative educational research. We continuously study the demands and
conditions of contemporary science education in five environments school, college, professional science education, community
science literacy and government policies. Based on our study, we create educational programmes, services and tools that
significantly address and fulfil the science education challenges in any environment.

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October 15, 2017

BrainSTARS, education
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, INSPIRING CHILDREN, Knowledge-Set, Mind-Set, Skill-Set, TEACH THEM HOW TO LEARN, Tool-Set,
transform, transform our schools

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Warm up for your little ones fingers

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One thought on 4 Things that can Transform our Schools

Suma
October 16, 2017 at 11:07 PM

Well said Aruna

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