Listening to what children say is the key to creating a positive environment in the classroom/ school. Generating curiosity that entails acts of observing, listening, questioning and wondering makes the child an independent and confident learner. Their discoveries, ideas and products need to be welcomed and should light up all the spaces.
A true sense of learning is highlighted when the learner is at the epicenter. Adapting to Heutagogy, the pedagogy that gives scope to the students to approach learning as a self-directed learning process, where the students take the lead and self-analyse their own development, potential and skills rather than simply acquiring knowledge. All educators need to be the facilitators and catalysts, guiding the students’ independent exploration and problem-solving journey for sustainability.
The three main components of meaningful education are Knowledge, Skills and Character.
Knowledge is about subject understanding and its integration, inter/ multi-disciplinary and global outreach. Curiosity, Courage, Resilience, Empathy and Ethics are the strong foundation of Character. Requisite skills are Creativity, Critical thinking, Communication and Collaboration. All the components, when well defined and woven, can create a successful and achievable story in education.
Technology and AI are playing a very crucial role in all fields, and it is important that we keep our students updated and aware of the future needs, for them to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Global students. With the advent of technology, we also need to ensure that our students do not lose out on relationships, emotional bonding and strength. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, along with physiological, safety, love and belongingness, self-esteem and self-actualisation are the aesthetic needs too. As a researched fact, aesthetic awareness plays a very crucial role in the student’s mental growth, as appreciation of beauty brings in self-confidence in the students, and their overall performance enhances multifold.
Education is a celebration, a joyful time, excitement, gratification and a pleasure. It is our responsibility as educators to bring in all these beautiful elements in the lives of our students so that their memories are always worth sharing with the next generation.
“The heart of learning beats strongest when diversity is honoured not as a challenge to manage but as a gift to celebrate.”Dr Donna m Velliaris
