Conventional vs Contemporary Teaching

“What makes a child gifted and talented may not always be good grades in school, but a different way of looking at the world and learning.”

Education has evolved a lot in the past few decades. It has totally changed the way of imparting knowledge. The educational institutions now a day’s prefer an educator who is all-rounder, one who can not only teach the subject well but can handle young minds sensibly.

Those days are gone where the school was only Brick and Mortar, where the students use to sit in the class and learn through lectures delivered by teachers. Teaching was totally teacher-centric and the students were the passive learners.

As the world has changed, schools now a day’s prefer to be different from the crowd. They want to prepare the young ones for facing the upcoming challenges of their life. Educators are more dynamic, interactive and empathetic. They impart knowledge by giving opportunities to the students to learn by doing different things. This helps them to develop their critical thinking.

“The role of a teacher is to create the conditions for invention rather than providing
ready-made knowledge”

– Understanding  Icons
The Iconic School Bhopal
The Educators at The Iconic School are reading Kavita Ghosh’s Book for the Level II of the Learning Forward India three-year Professional Learning Program. 

भावना शर्मा : पारंपरिक शिक्षा तथा आधुनिक शिक्षा

एक कहानी के अनुसार: एक पारंपरिक गुरु तथा उनके साथ थे एक आधुनिक युग के  गुरु दोनों परम मित्र थे l दोनो ही जंगल के रास्ते जा रहे थे तभी उन्हें किसी खतरे का आभास हुआ । पारम्परिक गुरु ने तुरंत ही एक तख्ती तैयार की और उस पर लिखा कि कृपया यहीं रुकें आगे न जाये आपका जीवन संकट में है । उस तख्ती को कोई भी नही देख रहा था सभी चलते जा रहे थे तभी एक कार गुज़री और आगे जा के धमाके के साथ गिर गई गुरु बोले जैसी प्रभू की मर्ज़ी । जब कोई दुर्घटना हो गुरु यही बोलते । अब बारी आई आधुनिक गुरु की गुरु जी ने एक और तख्ती तैयार की उसके बाद एक भी दुर्घटना नही हुई । क्योंकि उस तख्ती पर लिखा था कि आगे न जाएं आगे पुल टूटा हुआ है ।

यही सोच पारम्पारिक और आधुनिक शिक्षा में फर्क करती है । पारम्परिक शिक्षा का मुख्य उद्देश्य था विद्यार्थियों को उनको परम्पराओं और संस्कृति से जोड़ना तथा पीढ़ी दर पीढ़ी इस रिवाज़ को आगे बढ़ाना । विद्यार्थी पूर्ण अनुशाषित वातावरण में शिक्षा प्राप्त करते और अपने जीवन मे उन सभी शिक्षा प्रद बातों को ग्रहण करते । उस समय कागज़ कलम और पुस्तकों से पढ़ने के बज़ाय विद्यार्थी का चरित्र गठन करना और जीवन में उसे दूसरों को हित करना ही शिक्षा का मुख्य उद्देश्य था । समकालीन अर्थात आज की शिक्षा का मुख्य उद्देश्य सभी को जीवन में आगे बढ़ने सफलता प्राप्त करने के समान अवसर प्रदान करना है|

हर बच्चे का अपने जीवन में कुछ अलग करने का सपना होता है जैसे कुछ को संगीत में रूचि है तो किसी को खेल कूद में , किसी को नृत्य में । ये सभी कार्य विद्यार्थी अपनी शिक्षा के साथ ही जारी रखते हैं । जो कि आधुनिक शिक्षा में ही संभव है । वर्तमान शिक्षा का तंत्र अब पूरी तरह बदल चुका है । इस शिक्षा प्रणाली को और अधिक मजबूत बनाने के लिए जरूरत है ऐसे शिक्षको की जो कि अपने विद्यार्थियों का उचित मार्गदर्शन कर सकें उनकी मुश्किलें और कठिनाइयों को आसानी से परिवर्तित कर सकें । एक अच्छा दोस्त बनें, एक अच्छा सलाहकार बनें क्योंकि परम्परागत और आधुनिक शिक्षा का एक ही लक्ष्य है और वह है, "एक शिक्षित समाज की स्थापना"|

भावना शर्मा 

Responsible Icons, The Iconic School Bhopal

The Educators at The Iconic School are reading Kavita Ghosh’s Book for the Level II of the Learning Forward India three-year Professional Learning Program. 

Curious Icons: A 21st century education

Growing up with an immense level of technology means growing up with a completely unprecedented amount of information at your fingertips. There are kids who have never been more than a few seconds away from the answers to their questions, with everything just a quick search away.

A 21st-century education is about giving students the skills they need to succeed in this new world and helping them grow the confidence to practice those skills. With so much information readily available to them, 21st-century skills focus more on making sense of that information, sharing and using it in smart ways.

A 21st-century educator needs to put the focus on life skills rather than textbook knowledge. Life skills include creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, the ability to communicate and collaborate, along with personal and social responsibility that contribute to good citizenship – all essential skills for success in the 21st century, both for healthy societies and for successful and employable individuals.

If students who are the citizens of tomorrow are to become genuinely involved in public affairs, then a more systematic approach towards citizenship education is essential. It enables them to make a positive contribution by developing the expertise and experience they need to assert their rights and understand their responsibilities while preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of adult and working.

- Curious Icons, The Iconic School Bhopal
The Educators at The Iconic School are reading Kavita Ghosh’s Book for the Level II of the Learning Forward India three-year Professional Learning Program.

Kaushal Singh: Backbenchers’- makers of their own destiny

We are in the modern era, and our skills are the major sources of our survival. We always categorise people according to their learning, thinking level and their adapting ability. We want to change this curbing situation. We want to provide a child with multiple opportunities to excel. Our school education is the first step that provides the child with skill-based learning, where they experience by doing. Educators in the classroom are able to recognise students' and children's multiple skills and are provided with a platform to develop their skills or talents. It is a myth that backbenchers would not create history.

The famous quote by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam proves a point - “The best brains of the nation are found in the last benches of the classroom”.

Sitting in the last row and being on the backbench does not mean that you are not involved in gaining knowledge all the time, but if a student sits in the backbench and never listens to what is going on, that’s a problem. The backbenchers enjoy a lot, but at the same time, they learn more than the front bench. The thinking level and creativity of backbenchers are always higher than that of frontbenchers. They just need the right direction to move on to a better future. The first benchers are reading history. 

We agree with the statement of Bill Gates that “If you want to pass, ask first bench students, but if you want to gain success, ask the last bench students”. At the same time, the last benchers are creating history by curving their benches with memories.

- Kaushal Singh, Caring Icons, The Iconic School Bhopal
Her point of view -  Chapter 1 of Kavita Ghosh’s book, as a part of the Level II for the Learning Forward India PLP. Explains the role of a contemporary teacher.

Wanted Back-Bencher Last-Ranker Teacher

LFIN PLP, my learning my way!

Video from Responsible Icons, sharing their viewpoint about Chapter 1 of Kavita Ghosh's book, as a part of the Level II for the Learning Forward India PLP. Explains the role of a contemporary teacher.

A day of Buddhi Yoga in Bhopal

Kalpana Jain: Responsibility and Co-operation

#22Values, The Value of Values in progress at The Iconic School Bhopal. #HappyTeachers #MyGoodSchool. Kalpana Jain shares her views on Responsibility and Co-operation.
22 Immutable Values - Appreciation, Caring, Co-operation, Courage, Freedom, Friendship, Happiness, Honesty, Hope, Humility, Love, Patience, Peace, Quality, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Thoughtfulness, Tolerance, Trust, Understanding & Unity.

The Value Of Values explores twenty-two values that can be taught through schools and indeed the whole community. This program will inspire you by using examples of where values are already being used by children and adults in schools and share practical tools to stimulate discussion and philosophical debate. It will also help people to take stock of their own values and how they wish to lead their life.

Kalpana Jain: हम कौन थे क्या हो गए और क्या होंगे अभी

आपने बचपन में कागज़ के हवाईजहाज़ जरूर बनाए होंगे और उन्हें उड़ाया भी होगा। विद्यालय में भी कुछ शरारती बच्चे कक्षा में कागज़ के हवाईजहाज़ बनाकर उड़ाते हैं। वही शरारती बच्चे अब बड़े हो गए हैं और अब वे संविधान के मंदिर में हवाईजहाज़ उड़ाते हैं। चोर-चोर मौसेरे भाई एक-दूसरे को चोर ठहराते हैं। उनके पास कई बॉटल हैं और उनमें बंद कई जिन्न!! जिन्हें मौकापरस्त लोग अपना मतलब निकालने के लिए बाहर निकालते हैं। कुछ साल पहले बोफ़ोर्स का जिन्न निकला था और कई लोगों को ले डूबा था। आज-कल राफेल का जिन्न हल्ला मचा रहा है। जो कुछ राज्यों की सरकारों को ले डूबा है। ऐसा लगता है!! कुछ लोगों को ऐसा भ्रम है!

आपने एक गड़रिये की कहानी सुनी है? जिसमें वह रोज अपनी भेड़ों को चराने जंगल जाता था और वहाँ पर शेर आया.........शेर आया- चिल्लाता था। गाँववाले भागकर उसकी मदद करने आते। उन्हें देखकर वह जोर-जोर से हँसता और कहता अच्छा बुद्धू बनाया। एक रोज सचमुच शेर आ गया। वह अपनी जान बचाने के लिए जोर-जोर से चिल्लाया पर कोई भी मदद के लिए नहीं आया। आजकल एक पप्पू रोज राफेल-राफेल चिल्ला रहा है। कुछ भोले-भाले लोग बार-बार दौड़कर उसकी मदद को आ रहे हैं। 

विरोधी पक्ष भी पीछे नहीं है। कभी वह विदेशी मामा को खोज लाते हैं, तो कभी अन्य गड़े मुर्दे उखाड़ने लगते हैं। असल बात तो यह है कि सभी एक ही थैली के चट्टे-बट्टे हैं। अवसरवादिता इन सब पर इस कदर हावी है कि घात लगते ही नीचा दिखाने का एक भी मौका नहीं छोड़ते। इनकी तह में जाओ तो सब एक ही डोरी में गुंथे हुए हैं। जिनका एक ही उद्देश्य है, जैसे भी हो अपने छोटे-छोटे व्यक्तिगत हितों के लिए दूसरों के भविष्य को दाँव पर लगा दो। इनके सफेद कपड़ों के अंदर जमाने भर की कालिख छिपी हुई है। सबसे बड़े दुख की बात तो यह है कि ये सारा घालमेल देश के रक्षा सौदों में सालों से हो रहा है। देश के सर्वोच्च पदों पर आसीन व्यक्तियों के लिए अमर्यादित, अभद्र भाषा का प्रयोग, संविधान के मंदिर में रोज हंगामा खड़ा करना इनकी आदत हो गई है। 

कभी आपने सोचा है...किन लोगों के हाथ में हमने अपना भविष्य सौंप दिया है? हम सब इनके हाथ की कठपुतली बन गए हैं, जिन्हें वोट की ताल पर नचाया जा रहा है। अंधभक्तों की फ़ौज इनके पीछे है, जो इनके एक इशारे पर मर-मिटने और मरने-मारने को तैयार है। ज़रा सोचिए...किस खतरनाक मोड़ पर ले आये हैं हम, अपने साथ अपने देश को?

आज जब मैं यह लिख रहीं हूँ तो मुझे राष्ट्रकवि मैथलीशरण गुप्त बहुत याद आ रहे हैं। शायद वे भविष्यदृष्टा रहे होंगे तभी तो कई साल पहले कह गए– "हम कौन थे क्या हो गए और क्या होंगे अभी। आओ विचारें आज मिलकर ये समस्याएँ सभी।"

-कल्पना जैन, The Iconic School, Bhopal

Understanding Icons: Appreciation

#22Values
The Values of Values - Appreciation - shared by Understanding Icons
The Iconic School, Bhopal
#HappyTeachers 

Caring Icons: Appreciation

#22Values

Listen to the Caring Icons explain the value of Appreciation, at The Iconic School

The Value Of Values @ The Iconic School Bhopal

Helpful Icons: Humility & Appreciation

#22Values

The Value Of Values, Helpful Icons share their perspective.

The Iconic School Bhopal, PLP Session No. 6

Responsible Icons: Humility

#22Values 
Session 6, at The Iconic Schoo, part of the 11 Session The Value of Values Program delivered by Learning Forward India.

The minute you think you’ve got it, you’ve lost it. --E. D. Hulse

Helpful Icons: Patience

The School was preparing for the sports day and all the children were practising with full enthusiasm. The joy of participating in all the races was very high. The Sports head conceptualized all the races keeping in mind the spirit of chasing, fighting and developing patience.

The event started and the Sports Head was all set with the educators to start the event. The whistles and the claps have set the mode for the sports event to start. The only turbulence was with Joy for the 100-meter start race. The three-step command of “ on your mark, set and Go was released by the referee”. Joy due to his anxiety moved on the ‘ set’ command in place of the final one. This led him to a foul, and the whole team had to come back to the starting point. The referee gave warning to all about being conscious and not repeating the foul. During this time Joy was ridiculed, rebuked and was blamed by his peers for being the person responsible for the delay and revert to the starting line.

Joy’s confidence was shattered and he was afraid and had a guilt of not participating in the race further. It was at that moment that the Kedar sir observed him and immediately pitched in to whisper in his ears that “ You can do it and you alone will win”. Joy only looked at him, his expressions shared his disappointment and his hesitation to not go ahead. Kedar sir just held his hand and said, the one who takes the challenge is you and will be you and he repeated: “ You will and you can”. These were the magical words that lead Joy to run the race and yes he was the first one who made it to the finishing line.

Joy finished the race and immediately rushed to Kedar sir to thank him and making him the Hero for the day.

Helpful Icons - Dr Gargi Singh, Babita, Kedar, Rashmi & Swastika

The Iconic School www.iconicschool.com

Isha Tiwari: Is your child ready to face the world?

“Helping your child grow up into a good human being must count among the greatest joys in this world”, yes its utter true and this book, ‘Is your child ready to face the world by Dr Anupam Sibal stands out to be one of the greatest books.

In the introduction of this book it’s written that when it comes to being a parent, it really doesn’t matter whether you are the CEO or an IAS, for your child you are just a parent. I personally love the example of Barack Obama quoted in this book.

Being a parent, several questions haunt my head and in this evolutionary world, it’s very challenging to cope up with the needs of everyone. Today, it has become quite difficult to communicate with your child and we must practice the skills ourselves first what we wish to see in our children. We ourselves should nurture our minds first in order to bring about a change in our child. Let your kids fly high and in that flight of your children, you be their ultimate mentor. Let them dream, and be their anchor in turning those dreams into reality.

Your child should not feel targeted at any point and even if he/she feels so, parents comfort and positive role should help him/her cross oceans.

Dr Sibal with his insight and vision is surely helping everyone who faces issues in parenting and giving them a new look.

Isha Tiwari
Understanding Icons
The Iconic School
Bhopal, India