Atlas set to make learning fun through Manasaloka initiative
Sri Lankan stationery giant Atlas conducted its annual Manasaloka Experiential Learning Exhibition on July 14 and 15, 2019.
The Manasaloka initiative seeks to empower students preparing for the Gradefive examination, the first major hurdle in the academic lives of most Sri Lankan students.
Manasaloka is just one of Atlas’ many social responsibility initiatives designed to transform education by making learning fun and more relevant, while helping students in Sri Lanka truly understand what they learn.
The event, which was open to the public, was held at the Sri Bodhi Primary School in Gampaha from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. and is especially tailored towards students in grades three to five and their parents.
Through initiatives such as ‘Manasaloka’, Atlas seeks to make learning fun - inspiring millions of kids to learn for a better tomorrow and create a world where education is treated as a journey, instead of a race; where learning is for a lifetime and not just an exam.
To create a space that allows for creativity and imagination and not just memorisation and repetition. Most students will be able to recall information they have been forced to memorise but few really understand what they study or how to apply that knowledge in real life.
Thus, Atlas aims to make learning fun, engaging and practical by advocating for an experiential learning model through initiatives such as Manasaloka.
Speaking about the initiative, Atlas Managing Director Asitha Samaraweera said: “For 60 years, we have been helping Sri Lankans to write their stories, shape their futures and express themselves. A truly home-grown company built around Sri Lankan values, we have grown to become more than just Sri Lanka’s most trusted producer of stationery; we are providing the nation’s children with tools for success on their journey of learning. We owe this success to our core Sri Lankan values, which guide all our activities and, having enjoyed all this success, we are now constantly finding ways to give back to society and our country. With Manasaloka we’re looking to add value to the academic journeys of Sri Lankan students and help them to get a hands-on understanding of their subjects and life in general. Learning must be a holistic process and not just a repetitive task and this is what we are calling for through this effort.”
The main exhibition included various exhibits that are relevant to the core areas of the syllabus for the Grade five Scholarship Examination. Exhibits included paddy fields, akamatha, irrigation work, a blacksmith’s workshop, a gamagedara and many others. The exhibits provided for a sensory learning experience and explanations were provided for each by experienced educators. Kids were encouraged to ask as many questions as they wanted until they achieved a sound understanding of the subject matter.
Alongside the main exhibition, learning sessions were also conducted for both parents and kids. For parents, experienced trainers conducted a seminar that provided them with the knowledge and skills necessary to help their children prepare for the exam. For the kids, fun and interactive sessions were conducted to prepare them psychologically and help with improving self-confidence and reducing stress.