Education plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of society, and at the heart of education lies the vital role of teachers. As we navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century, it becomes increasingly crucial to equip educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare students for the rapidly changing world. Training teachers in line with the demands of the changing times is essential for ensuring that education remains relevant, engaging, and transformative.
With an endeavor to unleash and self-discover the potential of teachers, Agastya’s Teacher Training Program team recently piloted an innovative program under the Acharya Initiative titled ‘Meta’ Teacher in Me. Intending to enhance the personality, perceptions, and pedagogical practices of teachers while instilling 21st-century skills and sensitizing teachers to the critical issue of climate change, this program centered on five major educational principles-
Interdisciplinary approach
Curriculum beyond textbook
Reflection and action research
Educational Technology
Environmental Consciousness
Many teachers participated in the workshop recently held at Agastya’s Kuppam Creativity Campus between 30th May and 3rd June 2023. They shared their experiences, saying,
“The program was not exclusively pertaining to the academic alone; but the overall development of the teachers through the collaborative inputs from Academic, technical, theatre and arts.”
The program was meticulously designed with field visits, interactive activities, experiments, tool-making for inquiry (rain gauges and foldscopes), and finally, analyzing results to discover innovative ways to integrate different disciplines.
Teachers visited the waterbody near the campus and collected water samples to analyze its various physical and chemical parameters. The participants then assembled foldscopes they had made earlier to examine the biological parameters of the water samples. The session ended with a discussion on climate change.
Through expert-led sessions like, immersive simulation games on different landscape formations and hands-on tasks, including jigsaw puzzles and screening documentaries like ‘A Life on our Planet’ by the famous naturalist David Attenborough, the facilitators deepened the understanding of climate change through anthropogenic activities. They explored ways to weave environmental consciousness into their curriculum.
“Who is not my teacher?
What are not my teachers?
As everything in this world teaches me something.”
– Olapamanna
These are from a beautiful Malayalam poem, ‘Thingalum Tharangalum,’ which served as the workshop’s anthem to evoke teachers’ thinking. A teacher expressed their thoughts by saying,
“We learned a song in a language which we don’t know. It’s a tongue twister, yet we are comfortable and liked the melody and essence of the song, and that’s why we were able to perform”.
The program’s design made these lines real by venturing beyond the confines of traditional classrooms; teachers were exposed to the wonders of nature with Eco-walks and lake visits. They engaged with the real-world application of their teaching methodologies to create learning opportunities around them, which proved to be one of the defining features of the program.
Acknowledging the influence of technology in modern classrooms, teachers were provided with tablets allowing them to experience how these tools could enhance their teaching and learning. From collecting visuals during Nature walks, making creative notes, and virtual simulations, to creating their own animated story using ‘Scratch’, teachers embraced the usage of gadgets and digital technology.
Theatre was designed as one of the program’s pillars to create an emotional connection to the subject. Teachers got the opportunity to show their theatrical skills by presenting the significance of the five elements of nature. The performing experience brought a sense of joy and excitement and proved to be a powerful tool for reflecting on their learning journey. The participants discovered an incredible potential to create memorable learning experiences for their students by integrating arts.
Nurturing Reflections
Recognizing the importance of self-reflection in the journey of professional growth, teachers were provided with tools and frameworks to evaluate and critically reflect on their learning through guided exercises, peer sharing, group discussions, and mind map sessions. Teachers expressed their learnings and reflections on their emotions through mind maps, a splendid outcome of the workshop.
Cultural Collaboration:
“Knowledge can be gained from books;
But the love of the knowledge is transmitted only by personal contact.”
— Henry Van Dyke
To kindle the love and passion for knowledge, the program brought together teachers from geographically and culturally diverse backgrounds and from across India, ranging from Government schools to International institutions, to foster a spirit of cultural collaboration. This unique convergence of experiences and perspectives gave them fresh insights, gained valuable cross-cultural knowledge, and cultivated a deeper appreciation for the power of diversity in education.
A distinguishing feature of this program was working with eminent scientists from Gubbi Labs, educators from the Fig Tree Learning Centre, and theatre artists from Banjaras theatres. By working alongside eminent scientists, teachers bridged the gap between theory and practice, inspiring students to engage in scientific inquiry and critical thinking. Collaboration with experienced educators provided invaluable insights into effective teaching strategies and innovative pedagogical approaches. Moreover, the fusion of arts and education through the involvement of theatre artists unleashed creativity and encouraged imaginative thinking while demonstrating the transformative power of performing arts in education. With all these meaningful experiences and learnings, teachers came up with their own ‘Learning Experience Action Plan’, which they took back to their respective schools to implement in the future.
The program’s diverse experiences and collaborations with experts catalyzed profound shifts in teachers’ perspectives and attitudes toward pedagogical practices.
Along with the teachers’ transcendent learning journey, Acharya Initiative stood inspired by the program’s impact and remains dedicated to reflecting, learning, and refining the program to empower more teachers with similar transformative experiences!
