To Develop Learning … Develop Teachers

What do I do with my child this summer

In this write up we direct our focus on the other stake holders in the education sphere- the student and parent. As a matter of fact the trustee / principal has a role in assisting parents understand the value and the requirement of the holiday break in a student's life.

The school holidays have started. That's a lot of free time ahead with the children.

Host of options now exist that you might be able to suggest to children -at home or on a vacation. In fact even we at Develop Schools have a unique activity based programme 'Develop Interest in India' (click to get details) for children, currently launched in Mumbai which is both fun filled and doubles up as a quality learning opportunity. The programme works great even as an in-school activity during the course of the academic year as well.

We understand summer holidays are a difficult time for parents. Keeping children amused for six weeks or more, both at home and away, can be difficult to organise, exhausting and expensive. Here are some rules for a slightly less disastrous summer, based on some experience of getting it wrong.

Encourage boredom 

We all want children to become re-acquainted with simple pleasures, or to develop a curiosity about the natural world, but this is never going to happen if you keep trying to distract them with engaging and exciting trips. Let them spend the initial holiday period at home staring at their shoes. Offer only dispiriting chores as an alternative. Eventually, their boredom will drive them to invent games of their own, which in turn will lead to enhanced creativity, increased self-confidence.

Pocket money to be the teacher 

This could be an ideal time to assist children understand the value of money and the concept of 'work'. They could put in some effort at home or on a part time basis in a non taxing environment. Make sure the work is enthusing fun and not bordering on child labour.

Never tell children where you are going until you lock the door 

Experience says a successful summer outing requires a planned itinerary. Do not say: "We're going to spend two hours visiting an old aunt, followed by a simple lunch you won't like, followed by a long walk through the park , followed by - an ice-cream." My suggestion is just say: "We're going for an ice-cream, let us go" Once you are moving, you can fill them in on the details.

Always under pack 

No child misses any of his things on a holiday. Have you ever heard children come up and say, "You know what? I really wish we'd brought my other jeans". In fact if you pack less, maybe just maybe you might be able to buy and enjoy more local stuff.

We must understand that our role with the students does not end with the academic year but continues through the engagement of the student's life with us. And so we must utilize this one more opportunity to value add to our students and also in the process Develop Schools.

Are You Trying To Engage Your Students Or Entertain Them?

Rita Wilson, Chief Editor

(Ex-chief executive and Secretary, ICSE)

Lately, I have had a number of conversations with teachers about whether entertainment can help you engage your students.

It is not uncommon for a teacher to lament the fact that they feel like they are spending more time trying to capture and hold the attention of their students than they are in meaningful learning. Some blame the rise in popularity of gaming, others the amount of time students spend online, still others fast changing TV shows and movies for the apparent decrease in the attention spans of their students.

A classroom teacher lamented that given the amount of time kids are spending online that they now need to be entertained if you want their attention. It's not an uncommon complaint.

But I don't believe it is a valid one. The terms "entertain" and "engage" are being used synonymously. There are important distinctions.

• Entertainment's primary purpose is to create an enjoyable experience; engagement's primary purpose is to focus attention so learning occurs.

• Entertainment is ephemeral, often frivolous; engagement creates long-lasting results and deals with important issues.

• Entertainment needs have little relevance to the learner / reader / watcher / listener; engagement is relevant to their lives.

• Entertainment is an escape from problems; engagement involves solving problems.

• Entertainment results through the creativity of others; engagement asks for creativity on the part of the learner.

• Perhaps the greatest distinction is that entertain is often passive, whereas engagement is active or interactive.

I am not convinced that students need constant entertainment anymore that any of us do. But they do demand that learning should be made engaging.

A teacher remarked, “The concept of entertainment versus engagement is interesting. I strive to engage my students, to have them actively involved so they think and respond with understanding. It does often take some entertainment to initially catch their attention and draw them in, and ultimately, engagement is my goal.”

But the sad truth is (after listening to many conversations around student achievement) I find what most people are talking about is how to increase academic engagement in order to better test scores on standardized exams. And this makes me shake my head. Shouldn’t our real goal be to increase intellectual engagement so that we inculcate a love for learning in the children?

We talk often about teaching “the whole child” and then we turn around and say, “But school is a place of learning. Academics are the focus!”

And the debate goes on!!!