Brewing Knowledge Friday: A Journey of Thoughtful Teaching and Learning

Meeting Summary: Professional and Personal Development Session for Teachers

Purpose:

To engage educators in a meaningful discussion on child learning through the exploration of a significant educational book and a thought-provoking Rumi story, with the aim of fostering both professional growth and inner reflection.

Key Takeaways

• Exploring Child Learning:
  The book What Did You Ask at School Today? by Kamala V. Mukund provides deep insights into child psychology and educational practices. It challenges educators to critically reflect on traditional methods and align teaching with how the brain naturally learns. Endorsed by Dr. Yashpal, the book calls for imaginative and explicit instruction that nurtures higher-order thinking skills.

• Need for Indigenous Educational Research:
  There exists a noticeable gap in culturally relevant psychological research within the Indian educational context. The session emphasized the urgency of:

  • Developing culturally grounded theories,

  • Conducting studies based on Indian realities,

  • Reinterpreting Western psychological concepts within the Indian classroom context.
    Investment in quality journals, academic associations, and dedicated researchers is essential.

• The Rumi Story – The Angel of Death:
  This story served as a metaphor for the inevitability of fate and the transformative power of perspective. It invites teachers to consider how their interpretations shape their responses, both in life and in the classroom.

• Reflective Practice for Educators:
  Teachers were encouraged to become reflective practitioners. The session introduced the happyteacher.in blog as a platform for sharing insights, thoughts, and classroom reflections. Teachers were invited to contribute by writing about either the book or the Rumi story.

Topics Covered

1. Book Introduction: What Did You Ask at School Today?

   • Written by Kamala V. Mukund

   • Addresses cognitive dissonance between schooling practices and brain development

   • Advocates for reimagining instruction to foster creativity and reflection

2. Indigenizing Psychological Research in Education

   • Emphasized the need for context-specific studies

   • Discussed three critical approaches to indigenization

   • Urged institutions to strengthen India’s educational psychology discourse

3. Personal Insight: Rumi’s The Angel of Death

   • Shared as a lens to explore acceptance, perception, and internal growth

   • Parallels drawn between life lessons and classroom realities

Next Steps

• Teachers are encouraged to:

  • View the session recording on the My Good School YouTube Channel

  • Write and share their reflections via the provided email

  • Continue participating in the weekly development sessions

• Upcoming Session Highlight:

  • Vidyotma will present insights on auto-suggestion inspired by Napoleon Hill’s writings, linking subconscious influence with classroom confidence and intention.

As this session marks another step in nurturing thoughtful, self-aware, and impactful educators equipped to lead learning in the 21st century, I invite you to share your reflections and key takeaways with me at mk@learningforward.org.in.

Your personal insights and experiences on this topic will not only deepen your own understanding but also contribute meaningfully to the collective growth of our teaching community.