Fun in Learning & Learning is Fun

Brewing Knowledge Friday, April 25th 2025

Quick recap

Sandeep led a Friday evening session focused on book reading, introducing "My Good School" and discussing its content with various schools. The session covered topics such as the importance of incorporating fun elements in education, maintaining enthusiasm in teaching, parental involvement, and creative learning strategies. Sandeep also introduced resources, such as the "Brewing Knowledge" Google sheet and the Learning Forward India Foundation, encouraging participants to engage with these materials and share their thoughts on educational blogs.

Next steps

• Nidhi requested us to read the chapter "Why teachers are averse to change" for the next session on May 2nd. We have read the chapter, and details are there in the Friday Book Reading sheet; you will find a video and reference point.

• All participants are to access and review the Google Sheet containing the reading schedule and covered chapters.

• Suman to continue encouraging teachers at her school to discuss the book and participate in the reading sessions.

• All participants to explore the Learning Forward India Foundation blog (learningforward.in) and the Happy Teacher blog (happyteacher.in) for additional resources and discussions.

• Participants are asked to leave comments on the blog posts related to the reading sessions they attend.

• Reena and other Hindi-speaking participants to attempt reading "My Good School" in English, focusing on understanding the key concepts chapter by chapter.

• All participants are to reflect on the three core elements discussed —reading, reflection, and relationships —in their teaching practice.

Summary

Fostering Love for Reading Through Stories

Sandeep led a Friday evening session focused on book reading, introducing the book "My Good School" and emphasising the importance of stories in our lives. The session was attended by various schools, including Ashwani's from Varanasi. The group discussed the book's content, with Manisha and Sandeep guiding the discussion. The session aimed to foster a love for books and reading, to cherish the art of reading.

Incorporating Fun Elements in Education

Sandeep discussed the importance of incorporating fun elements in education to make learning effective. He highlighted the need for teachers to go beyond the five senses and use colour, sound, touch, smell, and taste to engage students. Sandeep also emphasised the significance of creativity and innovation in teaching, particularly at the kindergarten level, where the teacher's role is crucial in introducing students to the learning process. He suggested that teachers should strive to make learning fun and exciting, as this can have a lasting impact on students' educational journey.

Maintaining Enthusiasm in Teaching and Parenting

In the meeting, Sandeep discussed the importance of maintaining enthusiasm throughout one's teaching career, emphasising the need for continuous zeal and passion. He also highlighted the significance of parental involvement in a child's upbringing, stating that what parents do at home has a greater impact than what happens at school. Sandeep stressed the importance of routines and consistency in parenting, as well as the need for parents to be actively involved in their children's lives. He also mentioned the role of teachers as caring adults in children's lives. The conversation ended with Sandeep reading another chapter from the book and inviting questions.

Encouraging Enthusiasm in Teaching

Sandeep discussed the importance of enthusiasm and passion in teaching, emphasising that a teacher's enjoyment of their work can create a positive classroom environment. He suggested that teachers should be patient and encouraging, building relationships with students and using activities to motivate them. Sandeep also highlighted the need for creative learning and the role of fun in education, suggesting that teachers should engage with students and not rely solely on traditional methods. He concluded by encouraging teachers to be eager and industrious, which leads to a great learning experience for students.

Tracking Chapters in "Brewing Knowledge

Sandeep discusses using a shared Google sheet called "Brewing Knowledge" to track the chapters read during their sessions. He updates the sheet with the chapters covered in the current session and mentions that the link to this sheet is available in the WhatsApp group. Sandeep encourages participants to read the chapters at their own comfort, either with teachers, students, or by themselves. Suman confirms that teachers are engaged with the book, discussing it and asking about reading sessions in advance.

Implementing Change in Educational Practices

Sandeep discussed the challenges of implementing changes in educational practices and policies, particularly among teachers. He suggested that resistance to change could stem from a lack of skills, fear of failure, or a need for more support. Sandeep also introduced the Learning Forward India Foundation, which aims to improve schools through governance, training, and learning. He encouraged participants to read more about these topics and to engage with the foundation's resources.

Brewing Knowledge Sessions and Blogs

Sandeep concludes the session by discussing the blog that inspired the book they've been reading, highlighting its reach and practical content. He explains the concept of "brewing knowledge" sessions, which combine books and participants' knowledge to build a collective knowledge system. Sandeep encourages participants to share their thoughts about the session on the Happy Teacher blog (happyteacher.in) and mentions Learning Forward (learningforward.in) as a valuable resource for educators.

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Magic of Mentors: Masterclass Saturday February 15 2025

Chapter 14: Magic of Mentors: A Man Who Saw Tomorrow by Naga 

The saying that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with highlights how important our environment and the people around us are. Choosing mentors wisely can have a profound impact, as they shape our mindset, skills, and even our values. Have you had any mentors who’ve made a big difference in your life?

Q1. Mentors play a crucial role in shaping one’s journey to success. Reflecting on your experiences, have you had a mentor who guided you during your student life? What qualities do you believe are essential for an effective mentor?

Q2. As an educator, you interact with students who may not always recognise their strengths. How do you identify their hidden potential and provide the proper guidance to help them grow?

Q3. If you had a magic wand to inspire, guide, and unlock the hidden potential of your students, what would your magic mantra be? How would you apply it to create a lasting impact on their learning and personal growth?

Q4. Mentorship goes beyond guidance; it fosters a culture of trust and inspiration. How can you foster a classroom environment where students feel encouraged to seek and offer mentorship among peers?

Session Recording

Reflection on a year of Transformation: By Sanyogita Dubey and Reeta Tiwari

Attending multiple learning sessions from Masterclass 2024 is a transformative experience for us.

We have gained many skills under the guidance of our mentors which enhanced our teaching learning process. We have learnt how to write creative blogs? How to be a good videographer?How to work in a podcast?  and How to be a good story teller? Blogging, serve a plateform to share teaching strategies, Classroom experiences or other insights.

These skills helped us in creating educational video for students which make our class more interactive and interesting and promote the student's to make their own videos and blogs.

Now we are able to think outside the box and bring fresh ideas into our classroom.

Masterclass has proven to be a plateform that not only enhance our personal skills, self esteem, our confidence but also revitalizes our teaching approach to resonate with modern learners. We would like to show our gratitude to all my mentors.And we are so privileged that we are the part of this learning session.

Thank you and Jai hind.

Reeta Tiwari 

Sanyogita Dubey

Sunbeam English School Bhagwanpur.

Celebrating 100 Episodes "I am passionate about Education...

A gift of the pandemic times, lockdown and tranquillity offered the best soundbox experience and was perhaps the ideal time to speak and listen. We were pursuing the Joy Of Learning Professional Learning Program with educators from schools across the country, and this was how I discovered the gift of audio!

This is the story of making 100 Episodes "I am passionate about Education..."

Joy Of Learning (11 Sessions) The teachers collaborate and work in groups to explore the 22 values and discover how the values help in an individual's personal and social development. The values come alive at their school and enhance learning at the classroom level. JOL is an extensive and profound learning experience that immerses members in inquiry and problem-based learning models. Staff members work collaboratively to gain knowledge to solve significant student learning problems in their schools. We seek to understand individual members' needs and then assist them in meeting objectives through a collaborative learning environment and with the support of experienced coaches. The learning program is delivered by Zoom and other eLearning methods, and the focus is on helping teachers find solutions to help the schools provide better.

As we zoomed in and listened to teachers' stories by choice and teachers by chance, I wondered why we were so mad about teaching and learning. Despite the thankless job, with little appreciation, our teachers are perhaps the real changemakers in the world. So this was the eureka moment; let us find out what makes them so mad about the profession,  the quest for meeting 100 educators began!

Does one have to be a teacher to be an educator? Hello, there is a teacher in each of us, and even beyond in the environment, nature, living and non-living. The whole world is my school, and everyone is my teacher.

On my last visit to Finland to attend the Hundred Summit in 2019, I was fortunate to meet entrepreneurs, policymakers, youth leaders, investors, school heads, students, and people from all walks of life. People head to Helsinki for the Education Week in early November every year to share ideas and innovations and how every problem has a solution, waiting to be simply showcased. This made me reflect on my life and how in near 40 years of living with altruism, I had the good fortune to travel from Sydney to Los Angeles, Nepal to Sri Lanka, East to West, and even head an international youth program. 

2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, my years of taking Learning Forward! Every winter, I travelled to the USA to attend the Learning Forward Annual Conference to meet thousands of teachers and passionate educators from across the world; this further increased with the expanse of my network.

My travels in India and the conferences attended in the past decade. Meeting school alumni, industry bodies, and the five different avatars of my life made it very difficult to make a list of 100 influencers in my life, particularly those who have made a difference to others.

My teachers, fellow travellers, friends and colleagues, my list of passionate educators started evolving. The first one was a teacher of Sex Education. She shared how she was working to sensitize communities and look at life with a gender agnostic lens. Then I met teachers who have had a phenomenal impact on my life, simple real-life people who are real influencers and role models. Yes, we lack mentors and people who practise what they preach; the next part of my agenda is to list real stories.

You will love the stories shared by our happy teachers and passionate educators. They grow the capacity of your people to improve student achievement and transform your school into a culture of trust and collaboration in less time with fewer resources. Each person in your school contributes to the culture of your school. School culture is built on the actions and interactions of the people. You make your school stronger by adding value to others and making others feel valued. Thus, the show's spirit and the live content without any format made the show even better, from the heart and soul.

My life's focus is on school transformation with an emphasis on culture as a service. Over 30 years of experience has empowered thousands of teachers and touched the lives of near a million children. The Future Of Learning  - Long-lasting success in professional learning needs a 'culture of learning .' I feel teachers need to take charge of their own learning. They can support teams to design the future of education and transform schools to deliver better learning outcomes.

As an Author, Entrepreneur, Mountaineer and above all, passionate about taking learning forward. Founder Learning Forward India, Ambassador Hundred.Org, Chairman Bhadrajun Artisans Trust, Owner of The English Book Depot and former National Director of The Duke Of Edinburgh's International Award. The episodes perhaps help me reflect and recreate my life as I reconnect with people and, after decades to learn how we could touch each other's lives. Recording the shows was a kind of surreal as unknowingly we are doing similar type of work in our unique ways. As a journalist, an industry person, a member of a Royal Family, leaders and simple folks all work to make the world a better place to live in.

In the series of 100 Episodes, I travel across the world to decode my passion for education. Meeting teachers, coaches, entrepreneurs and leaders; they share how, in their way, they go about with the singular focus to help schools deliver better, build trust and relationships to spread the joy of learning.

The 100 episodes will inspire you by listening to personal examples of teachers working to help children experience the values. This will also help people take stock of life and how they wish to lead their lives. Education without sharing values is never complete. This was another significant learning when producing the shows.

Episode #100, Releasing on Saturday the 23rd of October 2021, is a tribute to John Martyn, who inspired and enriched the lives of the children from the rural areas near Dehradun. In 1935, John Martyn accompanied Arthur Foot to India to establish the teaching staff of The Doon School, a newly opened boarding school for Indian boys. Martyn was at Doon for 31 years, thus becoming one of the longest-serving schoolmasters in the school's history. After he died in 1984, his wife Mady Martyn wrote a book about him entitled Martyn Sahib, the story of John Martyn of the Doon School.

In his honour, his wife and Martyn's friends set up John Martyn Memorial Trust in a village at the foothills of the Himalayas called Salagaon. The trust runs a school for underprivileged children and provides free education to over 150 children. The past 37 years have been an incredible journey as the school witnessed the lives of many disadvantaged children transforming because of quality primary education.

Yes, in this show, I meet the teachers of The Fabindia School, the parents, board members and students to find out how one man's passion for bringing a piece of land to life helped build the changemaker school, where I have had the good fortune to spend near a decade. I would like to conclude with the good words of my real friend for life and colleague in the mission for quality in education "Sandeep is a passionate educator. He is one of those individuals who have dedicated his life to making the greatest impact on the greatest number of people." William Nanda Bissell, Chairman of the Board, Fabindia. This is perhaps what each of the 100 passionate educators has been doing all their lives, impacting the lives of one and all on their journey, building relationships and, of course, following their hearts. 

Learning Forward Station
https://vurbl.com/station/learning-forward/

Playlist "I am passionate about education...
https://vurbl.com/playlists/I-am-passionate-about-education/

Available on Apple, Google, Spotify, Anchor, Overcast,  Radio Public, Jio Saavan and all podcasts worldwide.

- Sandeep Dutt, School Improvement Coach and a wannabe Radio Jockey! You can find about more about what he does for life on www.Sdutt.com

Humility & Appreciation - Penta BHIS

Humility

‘I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.’                                                                             –Socrates

Ms. Cooper

The young Ms Cooper started on her first teaching job. On the first day at school, she thought that she knew it all. Not in the sense that she had mastered the art of teaching, but she was well aware of the dos and don’ts. Ms Cooper was very careful about ‘going by the book’. In the staff room, she could easily gauge whom she would like to have as a mentor to look up to.

In the days that followed, she comes across a no-nonsense Math teacher, Mr Iyer. Despite his strict manner, he was greatly appreciated by his students. The way they greeted him or made it a point never to bunk his lessons, made Ms Cooper want to learn from him. How was the class able to appreciate this highly learned teacher? Were the teenagers not alienated by his immense knowledge?

She came to glimpse a part of the answer, one day. Mr Iyer was so immersed in the task at hand that

Mr Iyer

he did not hear the bell ring. His students came to the staff room to call him. Embarrassed at his own late-coming to class, he apologized to them in a courteous manner. Neither did he presume that his students should accept his delay in coming to class nor did he excuse himself for this lapse. This humility was a part of his moral make-up. No wonder, his students reached his class on time!

He also gave Ms Cooper friendly advice, “It is not necessary that students have to like me, but it is necessary for me to like and accept all of them. That is important.”

She was humbled by his words.
He even told her of his ‘happy folder’ where he kept all the notes, thank-you cards, work from a challenging student, letters or emails from former students and so on. Even if his house were on fire, the ‘happy folder’ would be the thing he would save first.

Happy Folder😊

Ms Cooper followed his advice and created her own happy folder which grew in size over the years. She was lucky to learn from the best and the more experienced teachers around her. She remembers her starting days - no idea how to control her class consistently, or plan lessons in challenging situations or teach students effectively while engaging them or deal with daily conflicts in the classroom.

Appreciation

But who said Rome was built in a day?

She soon found something good in every student and appreciated it, owned up to an honest mistake (without making excuses!) and found appreciation from her colleagues.

She always remembers to mention Mr Iyer, now that she mentors new members in her team.

Penta @ Billabong International High School, Thane
- Jeeji Sanjeev, Sanika Joshi, Arpita M.G., Muskaan Menda, Radhika Anand, Supriya Naravankar & Bhavani Swamy.

Draft Volunteer Conduct Agreement

NAA means National Award Authority, and the NAA India office is in New Delhi, contact Nivedita for further information. Call us now +91 11 26497154/ 26493400


The draft Volunteer Conduct Agreement reads as follow:-

Throughout the world the Award is reliant on the hard work, commitment and dedication of volunteers.  It is volunteers who, for the most part, deliver the Programme to young people and act as instructors and supervisors for the different activities.  Without volunteers the Award could not operate. When working with volunteers, NAAs should undertake the following steps:

·         A description of the role must be written and agreed with the volunteer.

·         Relevant references must be taken up and the equivalent of a Criminal Records Bureau check must be carried out, where possible. 

·         All volunteers must undergo an induction into the organisation. 

·         The necessary volunteer conduct agreement should be signed.

·         Training should be provided where necessary to enable the volunteer to carry out their role.

·         A highly supportive level of supervision and management must be carried out with regular meetings to review progress.

·         A proper ‘thank you’ needs to be made at the end of the project and the appropriate handover undertaken.

It is important that no document sets out ‘rights’ or ‘obligations’ nor gives the volunteer employment rights. It is also important to include expectations of the volunteer and of the organisation in the role profile.

Recognition of Achievements

NAAs should present adults involved in the Award, certificates in recognition of outstanding service to the Award. The certificate should be signed by the chairman or president of the NAA, or their nominated representative.

The success of the Award has depended largely on the extent to which people have helped with its organisation, development, promotion, operation, and assessment. Meritorious service of this nature can be acknowledged by the award of a certificate recording such recognition. Emphasis should be on outstanding service over a significant period of time; the presentation of a certificate should never be regarded as automatic.

Minimum Service

The minimum time involvement should normally be at least 3, 5 or 10 continuous years, though there may be exceptional cases when a shorter period of service would be worthy of recognition, or where breaks in service could be taken into account.

Criteria

The judgement of outstanding service must inevitably be subjective, but considerable involvement of an individual's own free time to the undoubted benefit of a number of young people, is the basic criterion. Evidence is also required of positive advancement of the Award’s aims and philosophy. The person should have demonstrated superior efforts and initiatives during his or her period of involvement with the Award and is expected to have shown exceptional ability, reliability and results in one or more fields related to its operation.

Future Commitment

The presentation of a certificate of recognition is not merely a reward for meritorious past service, though that is a necessary condition, but a point at which exceptional talent, initiative and diligence have been recognised at the highest level, and beyond which nominees are expected to commit themselves to further efforts on behalf of the Programme and its participants.

Procedure

Nominations should be made to national Award offices. The presentation of the certificates is at the discretion of the national Award committee or board.

Eligibility

There will be many categories of persons eligible for nomination, including Award advisers, long-standing chairpersons and members of Award committees and panels, members of expedition panels, unit co-ordinators, leaders and organisers, and instructors and assessors of Award activities.

Presentation

Wherever possible, an appropriate occasion (for example, a local Award presentation) should be chosen for the recipient to be presented with the Certificate of Recognition.

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Role Profile Format

Role title:

Reports to:

Method of reporting: (eg to whom; how often and how)

Location:

Objectives of role: (including but not restricted to geographic area, specific projects and outcomes)

Specific responsibilities and actions required:

Timeframe:

The NAA will provide: (eg equipment, invitations to meetings, funding, expenses, secretarial support etc)

Checklist:

Action	Date and by whom
Role agreed
References taken up
Criminal Records Check carried out (where possible)
Induction undertaken
Volunteer conduct agreement signed
Training undertaken
Supervision and management process agreed
Thanks given
Handover completed

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In consultation with [Representative’s Name] of [NAA Name] in [country], I accept these terms and undertake that I will:

1.       Exercise due care and diligence in carrying out my role and responsibilities

2.       Comply at all times with the requirements of the [NAA Name] and with all applicable laws relevant to fulfilling my obligations to the [NAA Name]

3.       Consult to undergo a police and/or reference and/or background checks when requested by [NAA Name]

4.       Undertake training and meet accreditation requirements, as appropriate

5.       Respect the privacy of persons served by the [NAA Name] and hold in confidence private and personal information collected by the [NAA Name]

6.       Immediately advise the [NAA Name] of any matter of which I am involved that has or could lead to a criminal conviction

7.       Advise the [NAA Name] of any officer or employee of the [NAA Name], or any assessor, instructor or volunteer involved in the management and/or delivery of the [NAA Name] who I believe has acted in a way which may be detrimental to the good name of the [NAA Name]

8.       In carrying out my role and responsibilities for the [NAA Name] I agree to:

·         Represent the Award with professionalism and be responsible for conducting myself with courtesy and appropriate behaviour

·         Conduct myself in a respectful manner, exhibit good conduct and be a positive role model

·         Display respect and courtesy for participants, other volunteers, staff, contractors and property

·         Provide a safe environment by not harming youths or adults in any way whether through discrimination, sexual harassment, physical force, verbal or mental abuse, neglect or other harmful actions

·         Work cooperatively as a team member with the employees of the Award and other volunteers

·         To follow through and complete accepted tasks

·         To copy and distribute materials only for the purposes of the Award and will not use them without the prior written consent of the [NAA Name]

·         Not use those materials in any way which would bring [NAA Name] into disrepute

·         That once my appointment with the Award ends,  I will immediately stop all use of the materials

·         That any improvements or developments or new versions of the materials, including new materials I create based on or incorporating them, belong to [NAA Name] and I assign all rights, including intellectual property rights to [NAA Name]

The NAA agrees to:

1.       Explain the rights and responsibilities of volunteers

2.       Provide support,  supervision and training to enable volunteers to undertake their roles

3.       Respect my privacy  and hold in confidence private and personal information collected by the [NAA Name]

4.       Treat volunteers with respect in line with equal opportunity requirements

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The [NAA Name] has provided me with a description of my role and responsibilities, and the requirements and fundamental principles of the Award which I have read and understand. I will comply with all these requirements.

I am aware of my obligations as outlined in this document and that my appointment as an [instructor/assessor/volunteer] in relation to the Award may be terminated as a result of any breach by me of the undertakings in this document.

I agree to the above terms.

Volunteer name: _______________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Volunteer signature: _____________________________________________________

Date: _________________________________________________________________

Representative of NAA signature: __________________________________________

Date: _________________________________________________________________