 |
The teacher focused on the message in the poem ‘rain’ that rain water
is the main source of life and has to be saved. Arundhoti explains
that the poem has its literary appeal and along with it has ample
scope to move across the curriculum horizontally integrating all the
subjects.
The teacher, Arundhoti, had clear ideas on conducting the
lesson by using technology as a tool. She focused on- promoting
enquiry based, engaged learning collaboratively; development of
thinking skill in both emotional & constructive measures;
incorporating new technologies of literacy such as internet
activities and inquiry; teacher playing the role of a facilitator,
a co –learner and mainly teacher to model the use of technology
and demonstrate its potential.
|
|
Working with technology rolled away all barrels
of the way. Few students had access to computers at their
residence but were more than willing to put in extra hours to
complete the activities. The teacher narrates that “When I
couldn’t give them a chance to work on computers, they drew a
rectangle in the note book as the desk top and went on.” One group
would complete its work early and take permission to assist the
other group. Some times the work was deleted by the senior
students but the interest and ease in working with technology
would make the students redo the assignment. Arundhoti says, “I
know it would never have been possible if it happened in their
note books.”
The students put to practice their language skills as the teacher
introduced them mailing to ePALS, a unique experience for them.
They even produced an interesting newsletter on rain. Language is
tied to many aspects of cognition- mainly memory, attention,
problem solving, and learning. Arundhoti used all to teach how to
make inferences about what we read.
The higher achievers in the class went quite far off enhancing
their knowledge from the internet regarding aforestation,
deforestation and floods where the teacher was a co learner. The
under achievers did not refrain from learning. They started with
beautiful imaginations on rain with MS Paint brush. They, along
with the teacher, composed songs and picked up the concept with
facility. A lot of their work was reproduced in the class
newsletter. “It was a nice experience to see my children feeling
so involved with the lesson.” reflects the teacher.
 |
The students as sensitive citizens learnt to value resources .The
water savers of class 5th grade clearly understood
that life is impossible without water and needs to be conserved.
They also got to learn that plants kingdom would benefit if water
is conserved .Rain water is preferred over tap water because of
the absence of added chemicals by municipalities. Rain sensors,
rain barrels and rain gutters are being used over the world to
conserve water.
Arundhoti was satisfied at the end of the day. Her reward- “The
students felt interested and started working with me.” They
were ready to sacrifice their extra time like games period to get
a chance to work on computers. |
Kendriya Vidyalaya Ballygunge, Kolkata serves 2000 heterogeneous
groups of students having different language, culture, age, strata
etc. Arundhati regards her school as a launching pad, where the
administrator is a role model .She remarks “There is no chance of
progress getting arrested.” Here technology and creativity blend
with ease as two computer labs, more computers in the library,
LCD, projectors and K-Yan are available to all.
Arundhati reminisces “My first acquaintance with computer was in
Portugal where a small girl taught me to send e-mails. And now I
am teaching it to my grand daughter. Another passion of mine is
the Portuguese Language, which I have learnt at Lisbon and taken
the Teachers Training at Macau.”
At present she is working on a project dealing with HIV/AIDS .The
ease of accessing information and presenting her thoughts with the
internet has helped her to deliver lectures from about 15
platforms. She says she was also inspired by the site
www.educationinindia.net
and used it as a reference point for the challenge of using
technology as a tool for student engagement and meaningful
learning.
Water is a renewable resource, the genesis and continuing source
of all life on earth. The school children of Kendriya Vidyalaya
Ballygunge have paid an indirect tribute to WWD, World Water
Day by working on a project to conserve water. |
