Enhancing Learning Through Relationships

 

Learning Forward Saturday, hosted at the Mayoor School Jaipur, My Good School Retreat - 10-14 April 2026

To read and discuss Chapter 3 of Wanted Back-bencher & Last-ranker Teacher.

Key Takeaways

• Empathy is the Foundation: A teacher’s personal experience with struggle builds empathy, which is essential for connecting with students and creating a safe learning environment.

• Emotions Drive Learning: Research shows that emotions dictate attention, which in turn impacts academic performance. Positive interactions release endorphins, counteracting stress and improving learning.

• Unconventional Methods Work: Teacher Roma’s strategies—such as using the news for vocabulary and a student-led “buddy system”—successfully engaged students and improved their performance.

• Teachers Have Immense Influence: A teacher’s words carry significant power, as demonstrated by Sophie’s grandmother, who thanked Roma for helping her granddaughter eat vegetables after years of trying.

Topics

Recap: The “Productive Failure” Framework

• Manjula Sagar (Sunbeam Gramin School) provided a recap of the previous session’s “Productive Failure” framework, which views mistakes as the starting point for learning.

• This framework was directly applied to the book’s theme of supporting students who struggle, connecting theory to practical classroom experience.

Chapter 3 Reading: Teacher Roma’s Journey

• The chapter opens with Roma’s personal history of struggling with math and feeling “not clever,” despite passing.

• This experience shaped her teaching philosophy: success is tied to having kind and understanding teachers, not just innate ability.

The Science of Learning & Emotion

• Research shows emotions dictate attention, which directly impacts academic performance.

• Positive social interactions (e.g., encouragement, smiles) release endorphins, counteracting stress and improving learning and behaviour.

• A lack of healthy social encounters can reduce the physical development of the cerebral cortex by up to 20%, highlighting the importance of Social and Emotional Quotient (SQ/EQ).

Teacher Roma’s Classroom Strategies

• Building Rapport:

  • Stood while teaching and discussed non-academic topics (politics, cricket) to build trust and create a safe space for students to share personal issues.

  • Caution: Maintain a professional boundary; be friendly, not a peer.

• Engaging Content:

  • Made newspaper reading mandatory to connect lessons to current events and build vocabulary.

  • Used storytelling (e.g., vegetables as “specialists” like Popeye) to make healthy eating appealing.

• Personalised Learning:

  • Sat beside students during explanations and used humour to break the monotony.

  • Learned from a student (Shreyas) how to solve a Rubik’s Cube using algorithms, demonstrating that academic performance doesn’t define a student’s full potential.

• The “Buddy System”:

  • Paired high-achieving students with struggling peers for tutoring.

  • Rationale: Harness the “high voltage intelligence” of mischievous students and leverage the fact that teaching others improves retention.

  • Incentives: Tutors earned bonus marks; the class earned extra free time for timely assignment submission.

  • Outcome: Significant improvement was observed, with students such as Shreyas passing a surprise math test.

Next Steps

• All Participants:

  • Reflect on Chapter 3, specifically identifying all the teaching strategies used by Roma.

  • Read Chapter 4 for the next session.

• Sandeep Dutt:

  • Host the next session on Saturday at 3 p.m.  

Fathom AI-generated content, read with care.

Introduction: My Forays into Failure: Introduction Part 2

 📚 **Productive Failure | Concluding the Introduction: My Forays into Failure**

“Productive Failure is all about design, science, and a mantra for life… Its true power is unleashed when we internalise it as a way of thinking, knowing, and being in this world.” Prof. Manu Kapur

In the session, we explored the core ideas of Productive Failure. The author defines it as:

🔹 A Design – A way to intentionally structure learning experiences so failure becomes a step toward more profound understanding.

🔹 A Science – It explains how, when, and why this approach works, backed by research.

🔹 A Mantra for Life – When embraced regularly, it becomes part of how we think, reflect, and grow.

The discussion reminded us that failure isn’t something to avoid—it’s a valuable companion when learning something new.

✨ Real growth happens when we’re willing to struggle, reflect, and try again.

Gurdeep Kaur
Ambassador The Teacher’s Academy

Session Summary:

Sandeep led a discussion on the concept of productive failure, emphasizing its role in learning and growth, and encouraged participants to read the book "Productive Failure" to gain a deeper understanding of the topic. The team also discussed the importance of understanding the critical features of a problem before attempting to solve it, learning from failure, and the need for safety measures when designing failure experiences. The conversation ended with plans for the next session, the importance of note-taking for future reference, and the need for teachers and students to collaborate in Hindi and English to spread the joy of learning.

Introducing Productive Failure - opening session for the Saturday Masterclass for 2025-26

What if failure isn't the opposite of success but the very path to it?

This Saturday, we're not just reading a book —  

We're challenging a mindset.

Join us for a thought-provoking Masterclass as we dive into Dr Manu Kapur's groundbreaking work:  

📘 Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning Through the Science of Failing

Whether you're an educator, a leader, or a lifelong learner —  

This session will shift how you approach challenges, growth, and learning.

Let's move from fearing failure to harnessing it.  

💬 We're ready to fail better.  

Are you?

About Manu Kapur, summarised using AI

Manu is the Director of the Singapore-ETH Center and a Professor of Learning Sciences at ETH Zurich, where he also leads The Future Learning Initiative. Previously, he was a Professor at the Education University of Hong Kong and held positions at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. With a background in mechanical engineering, he has a strong passion for mathematics, having taught it at the college level and led Singapore’s team at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Manu holds multiple degrees including a PhD in the science of learning from Columbia University, where he also earned a Master of Science in Applied Statistics and a Master of Education from NIE, Singapore. He focuses on enhancing human learning through his theory of Productive Failure, aimed at improving mathematical education. His research has influenced Singapore’s national mathematics curriculum and garnered extensive media attention, securing around US$13m in funding.

He has directed significant educational programs, received visiting professorships worldwide, and is a sought-after keynote speaker. Additionally, Manu has served as an associate editor for leading journals in the learning and cognitive sciences.

Session recording available on our YouTube Channel @MyGoodSchool

Technology : A Boon - Jitendra Suthar

Courtesy: medium.com

Technology is the most helpful style of science for the final population. In straightforward words, technology is from where we take the ideas of science and rework them into gadgets and devices that area unit is helpful to the nation as persons. Once we shop around, virtually everything may be a result of or a style of technology.

For example, the device you’re victimisation right away may be a style of technology created for communication or the white goods in your room may be a use of science that helps to stay your food contemporary and funky.

 
It isn’t straightforward to imagine our lives while not victimisation any style of technology. For the littlest of communications, we tend to show to our mobile phones. Even most of the food we tend to eat is pre-packaged in factories with the help of varied technologies. Thus, imagining a life without technology is not possible. It’s not solely a truth of life however additionally a necessity for all the people.

In fact, the smartphone, that is, a transportable which might connect with the web is changing into one amongst the fastest-growing and most accessible sorts of technology around the world. On a smartphone, you’ll be able to click pictures, browse the web, hear music, and use social media. With the appearance of smartphone technology, the sensible purpose of not solely communication along with your friends is met, however additionally such a large amount of others, as mentioned. Scientists have done such a lot to advance humans victimisation technology, and that we still have an extended thanks to go.

Jitendra Suthar
The Fabindia School
jsr@fabindiaschools.in

Home access to digital educational resources

Dear Educators:

With students stuck at home, access to digital educational resources has become essential in ensuring that children are still learning while away from school. I am writing to introduce you to an at-home learning solution with complete with e-classroom capabilities that could be highly beneficial to students in India considering the global situation related to COVID-19.

MarkSharks Learning Technologies (MSLT) is a Singapore-based ed-tech company that provides interactive maths and science learning solutions for students in classes 7-10. Our product, MarkSharks, is an eLearning tool that turns mobile devices and tablets into interactive virtual labs where students can question, explore, and understand mathematical and scientific concepts using real-world examples.

In view of today’s situation, we believe this product contains features that now more than ever would be extraordinarily beneficial to students and teachers across the country. To start, teachers can lead live online classes using our content while students follow along on their own devices at home. Moreover, teachers can quickly create assessments for their students and receive real-time student performance data to help address misconceptions immediately.

We would like to offer MarkSharks free of charge to all students until July 31, 2020. The need for creative digital educational solutions is crucial at this time and we would like to do anything we can to help. If someone in your office can contact us, we would be happy to provide more details or a demo of our product. Thank you and please stay safe.

With Compliments

The MarkSharks Team

https://www.marksharks.com/

Muskan Rathod: Can Human Beings make this World a better place?

I can recall some lyrics from the song heal the world.

Heal the world make it a better place 

For you and for me an entire human race

There are people dying if you care enough for the living

Make a little space make a better place

Heal the world.......

It's true that we humans can make this world a better place because we are the mastermind of the world.

       It's true that God created us but it's totally false to say that we cannot change this world because we have all the rights and means to change this world. But in my opinion, we can change the world in favor of other living beings and not just for our greed.

       Though it is said that humans are the biggest animals, but we should not forget that we have got a more creative mind than other animals. Today there is so much development in the technical field that's just because of humans.

        I think that if humans can make things to destroy the world or specific country, then they surely have the power and means to make this world a better place. 

      Since every coin has two sides so do human beings!

     At last, I would like to conclude by saying that if humans have the right and power to destroy then they surely have the power to change this world into a better place.

                   ~Muskan Rathod

Student, Class-XII Science
The Fabindia School, Bali Rajasthan

Byju P Joseph: The smallest of clues can lead to the biggest of theories

Thank You The Gaudium School, for inspiring all by the “50 Tales of Discoveries”. This attempt provides a chance to know the real situations behind some of the discoveries. The inspiration which I got from these tales of discoveries motivates me to share a few things.  

It is not an easy thing for human beings to explore everything in the universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe is expanding continuously. We know that the universe is endless, everywhere it is the same, and then where does it expand towards? It is really beyond our imagination. Research is going on so we can expect answers for all such questions.

Let’s leave the universe and think a few things related to our earth. What will happen if the earth stops its rotation on its own axis and its revolution around the sun? Have you ever thought about it? Don’t worry. These things will not happen.

Recent studies in Geo Physics reveal that our earth is going to slow down its rotation in the coming five years from 2018. It means that the speed of rotation will decrease slightly. As a result of it the equator will contract slightly, says the Scientists of American Society of Geo-Physics. According to this change, the tectonic plates will not contract but at the sides of these plates, the pressure will increase. Its impact will be horrible. Consequently, earthquakes may occur at some places of the earth where tectonic plates are hitting continuously. By studying the shaking of tectonic plates from 1900 scientists discovered that whenever the earth’s rotation slows down the intensity of earthquakes increases. This slow motion is determined by measuring the duration of days and nights. By applying modern technology it can be measured accurately even up to microsecond.

There are chances to increase the number of earthquakes having intensities above seven in Richter scale in coming years. We cannot predict when and where these will occur. Only precautions are possible.

-          Byju P. Joseph, The Fabindia School, Bali

Email: bjh@fabindiaschools.in

The Fabindia School, Pali- GSP Changemaker school 2017-18

Green Schools Programme (GSP) is an environmental audit carried out by students and teachers in schools. The GSP Audit goes beyond awareness activities and focuses on action and impact while facilitating environment education in schools. To know more about the programme, please visit our website - http://www.greenschoolsprogramme.org/ The Fabindia School, Pali, Rajasthan was one of the changemaker schools of 2017-18.

Presenting the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) from 16th to 30th August- N.E.W.S Travels

N.E.W.S Travel, Award Partner have received a mandate from LIYSF 2012 to select & send 35 students & 3 faculty members to the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) to be held in London between 16^th & 30^th August 2012.

LIYSF, is a two week residential forum that attracts over 350 of the world’s leading young scientists, aged 17-21 years old, from more than 60 participating countries, including the top prize winners from the European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2011.

Please see: www.liysf.org.uk for more information 

The modern world still presents new challenges and the scientific advancements continue to increase. How science moves forward in the future with the thinkers of today and the questions to be asked comes from those attending LIYSF.

Highlights:

• Lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists
• Seminars, debates and discussions on scientific topics of world concern
• Visits to industrial sites and research facilities
• Visits to academic research centers in London, Oxford and Cambridge
•  Visits to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum
• Social activities, including discos, inter-hall competitions, a light-hearted international cabaret and an evening of Songs of Home.
• Sightseeing tours of London, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Windsor and Hampton Court
• Visits to some of the best shows in London theatres
• Visit to the London Eye & London Dungeons – (This specially offered for the Indian Students attending the Forum)
•  Accommodation is in London University Halls of Residence. 

Meals are provided throughout the Science Forum and free travel to all scientific visits and programmed events.

For two weeks, the participants live together as an international community can exchange their ideas and experiences of the world to fulfill the aim of the Science Forum: to give a greater insight into science and its application for the benefit of all mankind.  

The Forum is endorsed by the U.K. Prime Minister & is supported by the highest echelons of learning in the UK such as the Imperial College, London.

As one of the participants remarked, "..a unique opportunity to meet and get to know a great deal of incredibly talented people from around the world. People who you know will one day be making a difference to all areas of science"

LIYSF 2012 Visit and Speaker Line-up Getting Hotter!

UNIQUE VISITS- World famous academic institutions, scientific organisations, laboratories and centres open their doors to LIYSF students to see behind the scenes.  LIYSF students get the rare chance to meet scientists in small groups and get a close hand look at the work they do.  Choose the visit that is most suited to your interests and tailor your own programme.  Visits already confirmed include Airbus, The National Physical Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering – Imperial College London, Rothamsted Research Centre, UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory and The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy to name a few. 

LEADING SCIENTISTS SPEAKING- Check out our regularly updated EVENTS DIARY to see the leading scientists that will be joining our lecture programme for LIYSF 2012. Professor Sir Roy Anderson, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London will open LIYSF. Other confirmed speakers include; Professor Steve Cowley – Director of Culham and Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan – School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Professor Sam Evans – School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Dr Peter Douglas – School of Engineering, Swansea University and Dr Andrew Hanson – Outreach Manager, National Physical Laboratory.


For Details: India Tel: +91 731 3919111/222  Email: liysf@newstravels.co.in 
Check out http://www.liysf.org.uk/ for more

Participation Conditions:

1. Participation is open to students of science between the ages of 17 – 21 yrs (Can be relaxed to 16 years for exceptionally bright students who are endorsed by their schools)
2. The Forum is conducted throughout in English and participants should have a good knowledge of the language.
3. Students must be studying science and have achieved or be in preparation for taking exam qualifications for university entrance

Note:

1)      The number of participants is capped country wise & the indicated numbers are the maximum that they will allow from India.

2)      Participants must arrange their own funding which would be approx GBP 2110 + INR 68,000/ = Rs 2,53,680/- (1 GBP = INR 88)

3)      The Registration to the Forum closes on 31^st  March, 2012.

4)      Service Tax as applicable @ 2.575% will be extra at actual

Package Inclusions:

1.      Return Airfare with taxes

2.      Accommodation in a University Hall of Residence including Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner for the duration of the programme

3.      The full programme of Lectures, Seminars and Visits (including transport in and out of London), together with the social programme, maps and other necessary documentation. 

4.       City Tour of London

5.      Visit to Stonehenge & Salisbury

6.      Visit to the London Eye

7.      Visit to Hampton Court & Windsor

8.      Visit to the London Dungeons

9.      Theatre Visits

10.  Return airport Transfers

11.  UK Visa

12.  All transfers

13.  Travel Insurance

14.  Tour Manager

As a matter of fact we have factored in all the OPTIONALS in the package as such any student from India will NOT be required to pay anything over & above the indicated cost.

IMP: It has been the Forum’s experience that there is a substantial demand by the educators / teachers / professors to also attend the Forum, to facilitate this a provision has been made to add 3 (maximum) educators / teachers / professors for the LIYSF 2012, this is offered at a concessional rate as follows:

GBP 1710 + INR 68,000/ = Rs 2,18,480/ (1GBP= INR 88) + Service Tax @ 2.575%

This is ordinarily being offered to any institution that can commit 5 or more students for the Forum & is considered on a first come first served basis.

THE ITINERARY

2012	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
August
Thurs 16th	Arrivals	Lunch	Welcome in Halls of Residence
Fri 17th	Opening Ceremony Professor Sir Roy Anderson	Lunch & Lecture Demonstration Professor Richard O'Kennedy	Welcome Party
Sat 18th	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Peter Douglas	City Tour of London	The Science Forum Bazaar
Sun 19th	Visit to Stonehenge & Salisbury	Visit to Stonehenge & Salisbury	Student Topics
Mon 20th	Visit to Research & Scientific Establishments in London	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Aravind Vijayaraghavan	Great Crossword Treasure Hunt
Tues 21st	Specialist Lectures	Lecture Demonstration Professor Sam Evans	Lecture Demonstration Professor John Ellis CERN Theorist
Weds 22nd	Visit to Research & Scientific Establishments in London	Visit to Research & Scientific Establishments in London	Visit to the London Eye
Thurs 23rd	Specialist Study Day The Human Planet	Specialist Study Day The Human Planet	Lecture by - Prof.David Phillips (President of the Royal Society of Chemistry) London late night shopping
Fri 24th	Day visits to Oxford & Cambridge Research and Scientific Establishments	Day visits to Oxford & Cambridge Research and Scientific Establishments	International Cabaret
Sat 25th	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Andrew Hanson	LIYSF Olympics	Lecture Demonstration Dr. Cyril Isenberg
Sun 26th	Visit to Hampton Court & Windsor	Visit to Hampton Court & Windsor	Visit to the London Dungeons
Mon 27th	Specialist Lectures	Lecture Demonstration Professor Steve Cowley Visits to Science & Natural History Museums	Student Debate Evening
Tues 28th	Managing the Warming World - Study Day. Led by University of Surrey  Professor Roland Clift	Managing the Warming World - Study Day. Led by University of Surrey  Professor Roland Clift	Theatre Visits
Weds 29th	Participants Forum	Lecture Demonstration	Farewell Party
Thurs 30th	Departures