Gurus go beyond books to improve level of edu

Teachers of government-aided schools have adopted creative methods of teaching-learning to improve the education system of the state board curriculum in this academic year. Teachers are using live demonstrations, experiments, outdoor learning, site visits, internet, assigning field-work and practical projects to help pupils.

The teachers are now demonstrating experiments in the classroom instead of explaining it through journals or charts. Sachin Kamble, a teacher said, “We are demonstrating experiments based on gravitational force, use of water to turn turbines to generate electricity or the effect of wind to create soil erosion through live models. We are using basic materials to demonstrate these experiments so the kids understand it better and memorise it faster.”

The methods have been initiated after parents repeatedly complained that teaching techniques of the state board curriculum are rudimentary. Parents had raised these issues in parent teacher meetings where they informed the teachers to go beyond the syllabus, textbooks and incorporate new ideas in classroom learning.

In addition, teachers are also taking students for site visits to explain various concepts. Vaishali Rokade, another teacher said, “We take our students to the nearby market to explain various fruits and vegetables. Students remember it better when they actually see the things and ask questions based on the composition of the fruits or vegetables. It makes it easier as the kids can go back home and identify these things.”

Parents claimed the state board curriculum should have projects based on practical techniques. Firoz Shaikh, a parent said, “If students are made to work on projects which require them to conduct surveys, research or even a field visit and talk to people, it will help them grow holistically. The curriculum focusses on the same old syllabus, but the teachers can make it better by incorporating new ideas and going beyond the textbooks.”