Rote learning is well embedded in the Indian education sector and there’s no denying that. The best of the schools and coaching classes wouldn’t shy away from admitting this harsh truth. We don’t know who to blame for instilling the rote learning culture in the Indian education ecosystem – strict teachers, the educators, or the education sector as a whole? While we can’t put a finger on who started it, we definitely understand and acknowledge the need to rise above it. 

Students have been practicing rote learning for decades now. Some students study to only pass an exam. Their rote learning habits are so bad they may not even be able to answer any questions after an exam is over with. This bad practice of studying doesn’t develop a child’s mind, contributing absolutely no knowledge or learning.  

🖊️ Take a look at the characteristics of rote learning: 

• Mechanical learning
• Arbitrarily related content 
• Information is easy to forget 
• Data is stored in short-term memory

The biggest disadvantage of rote learning is that the children are not motivated to learn any concept in depth or further explore anything related to the concept. One of the most relevant examples of rote learning is how all students learn tables by multiple repetitions, without knowing why they have to learn tables.

Children first need to be introduced to the concept of tables and why they need to learn them. Having enough knowledge on the application of tables and how it could help them in future may inspire students to learn tables differently.

We put emphasis on modern way of education to change the age-old methods of children as well as educators alike. Some of the approaches of modern education that need to be instilled in children and educators include:

🖊️ Mindful Learning:

In this approach teachers are expected to teach a concept in depth and also give information related to the concept. As to when and in what situations it could be useful for children to learn that particular concept. This helps children co-relate the importance and this could help make children mindful about the career and subject choices they intend to make. These modern teaching practices help children develop a habit to indulge in critical thinking and problem solving.     

🖊️ Cognitive Learning

This is an active type of learning that encourages children to use their brain more effectively. The idea is to fully engage children contrary to memorization with repetition. Cognitive learning uses various strategies that benefit children in ways more than one. Some of the helpful cognitive strategies include encouraging active discussion among children, teaching students how they can connect ideas, guide them to justify their answers, and have them consciously reflect on their learnings. Besides these learning habits, it’s also important for children to keep up with technology for there’s no end to the list of benefits of technology in education.

🖊️ Emotional Intelligence

It is imperative for children to understand their emotions and be aware of their reflexes and reactions. Embedding emotional intelligence among young infants not only teaches them social skills but helps them understand situations better. Talking about emotions with children can help them cope with their feelings at school and in social situations. Some children have a hard time facing failure, and this becomes very obvious in the way they react to losing at a game or getting a low score at a test. If they don’t react well in these situations, it’s time to start by making the shift in their behavior.  

Mindful and cognitive learning habits when consciously practiced by students and teachers alike can change the entire scope of education. These practices also help the children, teachers, and parents realize whether the child is a visual learner, auditory learner, or kinaesthetic learner. Besides, children develop a habit of looking at the big picture when learning small concepts, and can efficiently achieve a big task at hand.  

When these skills are embedded in children at a young age they grow into mindful adults who learn a number of life skills to handle different situations. Square Panda India is working towards changing the approach of learning in India at the grassroot level. This could result in a great shift of attitude and critical thinking among young adults, which gradually will result in sustainable development. To know more about Square Panda’s initiative, visit  https://ecce.squarepanda.in/

Taking on responsibility may sound like a challenge for most young people. However, they may find it thrilling to make a choice or take an action without the input of parents or other adult authority figures. When young adults grow up with no sense of responsibility, they may often have trouble adjusting to society. The problem then grows beyond an individual, and engages an entire community. Thus, instilling personal responsibility in children early on becomes vital. 

Personal responsibility is the keystone of all other behaviors.
As a parent, you want your children to grow into responsible adults. But how do you impart responsibility among children? Is it through discipline, or do you coddle and pamper them? In a sense, the answer is both. You must be consistent in your discipline and praise them for good behavior, but also teach them what constitutes acceptable behavior and what does not. When children are young, they are learning to be autonomous beings and making choices that affect their lives. As parents, we have to help them navigate the world and develop their confidence and ability to do so.

If a child doesn’t understand that they are in charge of their own actions, it becomes impossible to teach them a sense of responsibility. At the same time, parents also need to be responsible for their children’s actions. You have to take ownership over what they do to set an example and teach them how to be accountable.

There are many ways to cultivate personal responsibility in our children. Here are just a few:

🖊️ Be a Role Model

Children learn by example, so it is essential to demonstrate the behaviors you want them to adopt. If you want your child to demonstrate a certain set of behaviors, be their guiding light by setting a good example. Children will likely follow suit, so they must see you doing things for yourself without having to ask for help or rely on someone else.

🖊️ Encourage Independence and Self-Reliance

Children need to learn how to make their own choices, act on those, and deal with the consequences of those actions. So they need opportunities to practice making decisions and figuring things out independently — such as solving problems independently or taking care of tasks like getting dressed or packing lunches. Let them try things alone, even if you have to start the task first, so they can see what you’re doing. 

🖊️Reinforce Positive Behavior

Give them more opportunities to do activities that require them to be responsible, and let them know how proud you are of their good decision-making. For example, if your child puts toys away after playing with them, praise or give reward for the accomplishment. A pat on the back, a high-five, or encouraging words work just fine. By making sure that they feel good about behaving responsibly and knowing they will be rewarded for it, you can help set the stage for your kids to grow up into responsible adults capable of making sound judgments. 

🖊️ Teach Problem-Solving Skills

Help children learn how to identify problems and come up with solutions. Encourage them by praising them when they come up with creative answers — even if they aren’t always successful at solving problems immediately! For instance, if a child says, “I don’t know how to build this”, you could ask, “What do you think would help?” This way, the child learns to come up with ideas and solutions on their own.

If you notice your child has a problem they can’t solve on their own, it’s okay to step in and try finding a solution together. You don’t want to overstep your boundaries and take away from the sense of accomplishment they get from solving problems independently, but there’s nothing wrong with facilitating and encouraging their efforts. Be sure to give lots of positive feedback when they do come up with workable solutions!

🖊️ Teach Them to Say “No” 

Kids need to learn to say no to people who ask for favors or gifts they do not want. This is an important social skill that will help them avoid being taken advantage of. It could also teach them to be polite when someone makes an unreasonable request. Teach your child what “no” means, then practice saying it aloud until they get comfortable with it. If you are worried about hurting someone’s feelings, teach them how to say “I would rather not” or “ No, thank you.”

🖊️ Teach Them That There Are Consequences For Bad Behavior

Young children are naturally curious, but don’t always understand the consequences of their actions. As they grow, they need guidance to develop good habits and have an attitude that will help them become responsible adults. Most children know by age five or six that if they hit another kid or break something in a fit of anger, there will be consequences (e.g., time out). But parents need to keep reinforcing this. When kids get in trouble, you have an opportunity to explain what’s wrong with what they did and how to make amends for it. Take the time to talk about mistakes, apologize for your own mistakes, and help your kids devise ways to fix things. If a mistake is relatively minor, try to find a way for them to learn from it without punishing them too harshly. Think of it as building a foundation to build upon when they’re older.

Square Panda encourages holistic development among children with its programs, and engages parents and communities as well in the learning journey. To know more about solutions and interventions, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

In India, most teachers use traditional tests to assess students’ progress. These exams are given at the end of each unit or term to measure how well students have retained the knowledge they’ve gained. However, modern educational requirements demand assessment methods that foster student growth and improved teaching methodologies. This is where formative assessment plays an essential role in improving student learning outcomes.

Formative assessments are learning strategies to provide immediate feedback on student progress, and can help teachers determine exactly where each student stands. This helps teachers understand their students are up to speed before moving forward with new concepts or skills.

According to a Unicef report, using formative evaluations can help students understand their learning processes and identify areas in which they may need guidance. Since formative assessments are ongoing throughout the course, teachers can identify problems early on before they become too difficult for the student to overcome later on in the course or even during class. Teachers can offer more examples or practice opportunities when they notice a student is having trouble with a particular topic.

🖊️ Formative vs. Summative Assessment

Summative assessments are tests that are taken once after all of the learning has been completed. They measure how much information has been learned or retained by students. These types of assessments help determine whether or not a lesson was successful or if it needs to be revised. However, they cannot evaluate if there are still gaps in the learning process that need to be filled before moving forward with new material.

Formative assessment is a process that allows teachers to evaluate student learning and provide feedback to students before they move on to the next lesson. As a result, teachers can change their approach, modify their instruction or adjust materials based on what they learn from assessment results. Formative assessments are usually ongoing throughout the semester and are not designed to be used once at the end of a course like summative assessments. 

🖊️ Formative assessment strategies include:

• Pre-assessments are assessments administered before instruction begins and are used to provide an overview of student learning so teachers can plan accordingly.
• Assessments during instruction allow teachers to gauge student understanding of concepts and ideas as they are presented.
• After the instruction has been completed, post-assessments allow teachers to determine if students learned what was expected of them.

🖊️ The Need of Formative Assessments

In addition to a negative impact on the academic year, the abrupt closure of schools due to Covid19 pandemic resulted in children missing out on core-teacher interaction, learning opportunities provided by classroom instruction, and peer interaction. Remote learning also had its own limitations in the Indian context. In order to restore learning after the pandemic, schools need to be able to identify gaps in students’ understanding and be able to provide them with the necessary support.
As a result, post-pandemic, formative assessment has become an increasingly important means to assess learning loss due to Covid19 school closures.

Formative assessments can be administered in many ways: by having students complete quizzes, answer multiple-choice questions or write short responses to open-ended questions. For example, think about a quiz that asks students to recall key points from a lecture or read silently while listening to an audio recording of the studied material. Here are some ways formative assessments foster student growth:

🖊️ Provide Guidance to Students

Formative assessments allow teachers to pinpoint where students are having trouble so that they can provide additional instruction in that area. In addition to identifying specific areas for improvement, formative assessments allow teachers to provide constructive feedback so students can see what they’re doing right and wrong. This helps them learn from their mistakes and become better at solving problems in the future.

🖊️ Promote Self-reflection 

Students who receive formative assessments often have the opportunity to reflect on their work and ask themselves questions like “What did I do well?” or “What could I have done better?” This process can help them develop a deeper understanding of concepts.

🖊️ Help Students Practice Skills without Stress

Students don’t always perform as well when they feel under pressure, so formative assessments allow them to experiment with new strategies and get feedback before the stakes are too high such as during a quiz or test. This gives them a safe space where they can learn from their mistakes and try again until they succeed — which can boost confidence and improve test scores later on.

Square Panda India’s comprehensive programs utilize formative assessments to motivate and inspire students. This helps them realize their full potential while keeping them actively engaged and motivated to continue learning in a joyful manner. To know more visit, https://ecce.squarepanda.in/

A teacher’s day is far from easy. There are endless meetings, a blizzard of emails, and piles of paperwork that need to be filled out just for their classroom. They’re expected to plan engaging lessons and lead classrooms full of students with vastly different needs. Teachers are expected to remain calm in the face of complex student behaviors, deal with parents who are sometimes unreasonable, and try not to lose their cool when they open up an assignment only to find it has been filled with senseless answers or drawings. A teacher’s job would be a tall order even if they had enough time and resources, but the reality is that many teachers work in school environments that are underfunded and overburdened.

As our society increasingly values standardized test scores, schools focus more on test prep than learning. As a result, some teachers find themselves forced to spend most of their time teaching for the test instead of engaging students in interactive learning. The ultimate goal of teaching should inspire learning something new everyday and preparing students to pursue aspiring careers. 

Teachers are expected to educate students from all walks of life, which may vary in intellect levels, emotional problems, and attitude. This can really throw a wrench into the system. According to the UNESCO report on the State of Education in India, about 16% of pre-primary, 8% of primary, and 13% of upper-primary teachers in Bihar are underqualified. About 3% of secondary school teachers and 1% of higher-secondary level instructors also lack proper credentials. The report recommends integrating ICT (Information and Communication Technology) into the curriculum and reforming teacher training, so teachers have career pathways.

To improve student learning outcomes, teacher empowerment is imperative. Teachers need to feel confident and comfortable with their role in the classroom to effectively engage with students and provide them with the best possible learning experiences. Here are some ways that we can empower teachers:

🖊️Reduce the Workload

Schools expect teachers to complete a lot of paperwork, give students constant assignments, and narrow down the education process to things that are usually related to standardized tests. Teachers have to keep up with timelines, remain constantly aware of the latest trends in education, and keep track of every new development regarding their student’s academic achievement. To empower teachers, schools must reduce their workloads by eliminating unnecessary paperwork, such as weekly lesson plans, reducing class sizes, and should hire more administrative staff to handle repetitive tasks. They can also help teachers manage their time better by providing support such as online lesson plans or hiring coaches to design curriculums and provide assistance with student behavior management.

🖊️ Collaboration with Other Teachers

Teachers need time to collaborate on best practices, share ideas about curriculum and technology integration strategies, observe one another’s classrooms, and learn new techniques for engaging students through hands-on activities. The most effective teachers use these types of practices every day to refine their craft and enhance the learning environment for their students.

By collaborating with colleagues, teachers can gain insight into how to improve their teaching practices, resulting in improved classroom learning. Teachers can also learn new techniques of engaging students that help keep kids focussed. It is also advised for teachers to meet regularly and discuss students’ progress, and what they could do differently for a better outcome.   

To facilitate collaboration among teachers, management must make it a point to have their teachers build a rapport with colleagues through special teacher conferences. Management also needs to support teachers willing to take on leadership roles by delegating responsibilities and providing necessary training.

🖊️ Continuous Professional Development

During the Pandemic, the education sector experienced one of the greatest transformations of shifting from conventional classrooms to online classes and virtual schools. Along with the students, the teachers across the country were also finding their way around virtual schooling. Let’s be honest, the teachers, parents, and students took some time to get accustomed to the online scheduled classes and meetings. That said, it is imperative for teachers to keep up with technology and trends to effectively conduct a class full of students. Continuous Professional Development helps educators stay updated with the latest technologies & skills to effectively offer engaging lessons relevant to today’s classrooms. Providing an opportunity for continued education during work hours encourages teachers to pursue professional development. 

Square Panda India’s Anganwadi Workers Upskilling Program aims to empower Anganwadi workers, transforming these centers to their fullest potential for children’s holistic development. Learn more about our programs here