Any parent of young children or teacher of grade school students can tell you how challenging it is to get kids out of bed in the morning. In most countries, school starts as early as 7:00 a.m. This means that kids are expected to get up between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. before their day begins. The alarm goes off, and it’s all they can do to force themselves out of the comfort of their bed. Children often react with anger and annoyance when pitted against an early start to the day.

Additionally, students in India typically attend private tuition after school to prepare for exams, as good grades are perceived as a crucial factor for gaining entry into good universities and obtaining employment in the future. This leaves less time for children to have a social life. The problem with this schedule is that it sets up a vicious cycle for children. They stay up late to complete homework and don’t get enough sleep, making them stressed and irritable, which hinders their ability to perform well at school. Once entrenched in that cycle, it’s hard to break free. One parent complained that her son’s sleep cycle has been disrupted due to the fact that he stays up late watching IPL.

🛌 Sleep Crisis

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that children under 13 get 9-11 hours of sleep each night, and teens should get 8-10 hours each night. However, because of the changes in their circadian rhythms during puberty, it can be difficult for teens and tweens to fall asleep before 11:00 p.m. The problem with early school hours is that children are still developing their circadian rhythms — the internal clock that tells us when we should sleep and when we should be awake. It takes time for these rhythms to stabilize, so it stands to reason that school should wait until later in the morning, when children are most receptive to learning inputs. 

Children’s sleep schedules are still developing during middle and high school, making it difficult to wake up early enough to get ready for school and stay alert throughout the day. Furthermore, it’s not just adolescents who are affected by early school start times — parents have their fair share of challenges too. When kids have to wake up before 6:00 a.m., parents are up with them — which can lead to family stress if parents aren’t willing or able to adapt their schedules accordingly.

Research has shown that delaying the start of school by an hour or two improves a student’s sleep duration and daytime fatigue. However, changing school start times isn’t easy. It requires teachers and administrators to rethink schedules, bus routes, and after-school sports programs, as well as having parents adjust their expectations about when their kids will be home from school each day. Across the world, some governments, such as the state of California, have realized that children learn better when they are well rested, and therefore mandated school start later.

Here are three reasons why school shouldn’t start early:

✍️ Students Aren’t Ready To Learn When They’re Tired

When you think about it, it’s no surprise that early starts make students less productive. After all, if you had to wake up at 5:00 a.m. every morning for school, your brain would be exhausted by 10:00 a.m.! The body naturally cycles between periods of activity and rest throughout the day. And when we disrupt this natural rhythm by waking up early and staying up late — which happens when kids have early starts — our mind doesn’t work as effectively as it should, especially at times when you’re supposed to be sleeping. This can have serious consequences on learning ability.

✍️ Students Fail to Participate in Extracurriculars

An early start to school makes it harder for students who participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports teams or other after-school activities such as music or cricket practice, where they don’t get home until 5:00 p.m. or later. If schools started later, these students could participate in these activities without worrying about missing their homework assignments due to getting home late from practice or games.

✍️ Sleep Deprivation

Being chronically sleep-deprived can negatively impact a child’s daily functioning, especially in a classroom. Sleep-deprived students have more trouble paying attention, completing tasks, following directions, and remembering what they learned. Sleep deprivation can also cause moodiness, irritability, tantrums, and behavioural problems in children. Being tired can make it harder for kids to control their emotions and behaviour when upset or frustrated. Moreover, post-Covid, the transition back to school is already a challenge for children, and with school starting earlier, it makes things even more difficult for students to adjust to.

Decision-makers must consider better scheduling options for their students, especially in higher grades. There are many issues with the status quo, and while implementing a better schedule won’t fix all of them, it is a dream worth dreaming.

Square Panda India’s comprehensive programs take care of a child’s learning needs throughout their educational journey, and uses scientific research and rigour to deliver optimal learning experiences for multiple education stakeholders, in myriad scenarios. 

To know more, visit: https://ecce.squarepanda.in/ 

Homeschooling, often seen as a non-traditional method of learning, has gained much popularity in recent times. The prevailing lockdown and shuttering of schools had made more people impart education to their kids at home, causing a rethink of the traditional ways we look at education. 

Although homeschooling is not as widespread as traditional schooling in India, a growing number of parents prefer homeschooling to regular schooling. There are some success stories to back it up. Sahal Kaushik, a homeschooled 14-year-old from India, became the youngest student to pass India’s highly competitive Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in 2010. He ranked 33^rd in India and first in Delhi. Another example would be a Mumbai-born product of homeschooling, Malvika Joshi, who was accepted to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2016 when she was only 17. 

Here’s why homeschooling is a viable learning option.

✏️ Flexibility

Homeschooling allows children to learn at their own pace and speed, exploring different learning methods until they find what works best for them. This means that if they do not understand something straight away, they can go back and try again until they do understand it. Each student learns differently, so it makes sense to allow them to learn however best suits them through auditory, visual, tactile or kinesthetic learning styles.

Some students thrive when given structure, but others do better when allowed some leeway in their day-to-day activities, and homeschooling can be adapted to suit all these peculiarities. For instance, homework assignments and tests may not be necessary if your child learns better by doing rather than reading or hearing lectures at home.

✏️ Greater Parent-Child Interaction

Homeschooling allows parents to spend more time with their children and give them more attention. This means that parents can answer questions and help their children understand concepts at a much younger age than they would be able to if they were in public school. In addition, because the family does homeschooling, it tends to be much more enjoyable for all involved. The child does not have to wait for an answer from a teacher or wait for someone else to finish the lesson before they can move on. Instead, parents can adapt what they teach according to their child’s level.

✏️ Lower Stress Levels

Many children dislike having too many expectations placed on them at school, and this stress often prevents them from performing well academically. By giving your child freedom in their education, you allow them to learn without pressure — which is sometimes the only way for them to succeed! You may also find that other students who have been pushed too hard may resent your child’s lack of pressure and try bullying them because of it. Homeschooling avoids this altogether and lets your child thrive better. 

While there are a few avid supporters of this up-and-coming concept, most people are still sceptical about it. If homeschooling were recognized as a mainstream option, it might not be able to be widely used in India, especially among children that populate rural areas. Without any accountability for the education of these children, their education will be hampered.

But every cloud has a dark lining too, and so too does homeschooling have its downsides.

📚 Inconsistency

One disadvantage is that homeschooling can be inconsistent in its approach, as there can be no set lesson plans or schedules. This can mean that your child may miss out on some valuable parts of their education if they only get one lesson a day, whereas a child who goes to a school will get the same lesson every day until they graduate high school.

📚 Lack of Socialization

Homeschooled children aren’t exposed to the same level of social interaction as their peers who attend school. They don’t have after-school activities or sports teams, for example, and if they don’t have siblings, they may not have another child to play with regularly. Some homeschooled kids join clubs or participate in community programs, so that they can interact with others their age — but it’s not the same as having someone in class every day throughout the school year.

📚 Life Balance

If you’re planning on homeschooling full-time, there will be no breaks from work or school. You will need to ensure that your home is equipped with everything needed for school, including desks and bookshelves. If you’re planning on homeschooling part-time, finding time in your schedule for the extra work involved in teaching your children at home can be challenging.

📚 Lack of Quality Education

You have no control over the quality of teaching your child receives. There is no official regulation of home educators in India, so there is no way of ensuring that they meet any minimum standards. Some parents may not be qualified to teach their own children. You will not know if you are getting good or bad instruction until your child’s grades start coming in, but it could be too late to do anything about it by then.

In a country like India, where there are so many challenges in access to education, a school provides an opportunity for an education that might not be available otherwise. This can be especially important for girls and children from underprivileged backgrounds.

📚 Lack of Guidance

Home educators may have difficulty finding support when they feel overwhelmed by the task of teaching their children. If home educators are not teaching in a formal setting, they do not have access to resources such as lesson plans and other materials that could help them improve their teaching skills. This can make it difficult for home educators to evaluate their performance and develop effective strategies for improving it over time.

The Bottom Line

Despite the potential drawbacks, homeschooling is a growing form of education among parents. Families can educate their children at home using any type of curriculum that best suits their child’s education needs, allowing them to be challenged and have an individualized learning experience. Whether a family decides to homeschool or not, parents need to understand that the decision to homeschool their child should be carefully considered.

Square Panda’s comprehensive programs aim to nurture the entire education ecosystem, from teachers to students, parents, administrators, and more, by empowering them with the tools and knowledge they need to realise their learning objectives.

To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Gamification of education is a relatively new concept, and it is gaining popularity rapidly. It is based on the idea that people are inherently competitive, so people will be more likely to participate in a learning experience or work task by using game elements. For example, suppose you want your students to practice their multiplication tables instead of assigning them flashcards or telling them to practice repeatedly until they get it right. In such cases, you can create a game where they get points for correctly multiplying two numbers together. This makes learning more fun for students. They will be more motivated to learn how to multiply numbers because they want to win!

Aditya Shanbhag, Lead Game Designer at Square Panda India, believes that “Gamification works best when closely aligned with the curriculum being taught. It should be used to supplement lessons rather than replace them entirely. Gamified learning is not just about adding points and badges. It’s about creating a framework around the learning experience that incentivizes students to persist with their effort and complete their goals.”

 A report shows that  the game-based learning market is expected to grow from $11 billion in 2021 to $29.7 billion by 2026, at a 21.9% CAGR. Gamification is a new approach to learning that leverages the skills of game design, psychology, and technology to create an experience that’s engaging, adaptive, and immersive. Here’s why schools and colleges should adopt gamified learning.

🕹️ Improved Student Engagement

Some students are intrinsically motivated, while others need a nudge. By offering ‘rewards’ for their efforts, game-based learning can significantly impact learner engagement. And because these achievements are connected to positive experiences, children can also commit them to their long-term memory. Gamifying the classroom gives students something to do while also keeping them interested in what’s happening around them. When students have more opportunities for engagement, they’re more likely to participate and stay engaged throughout the lesson or activity. This will lead to better attendance rates, more student participation, and less time spent trying to get everyone back on track after an interruption.

🕹️ Informative Learning

Gamification can also teach students about different subjects by using a game-like interface that is easy to understand and use. For example, students can learn how different countries work through an online game with a virtual world where they can interact with other players and gain points for their actions. It reduces the monotonous nature of traditional educational material while at the same time teaching them valuable information about topics they would otherwise find difficult to grasp conceptually or practically during real-life situations. By offering learners challenges that could result in consequences or rewards, gamification helps learners gain a theoretical and real-world understanding of how their choices affect their world.

🕹️ Makes e-Learning Fun And Interactive

Gamification makes learning informative, fun, and exciting. It allows learners to have more control over their education. Students get to decide how much time they spend playing each game or completing tasks within them; they can also choose which direction they want their learning experience to go in. It also adds an interactive element to your learning courses, which creates a feeling of immersion and makes learners feel like an integral part of the overall learning process. 

🕹️ Improves Knowledge Absorption And Retention

Gamification is particularly effective at helping learners retain information for longer periods after completing the course. Studies have shown that when people are engaged in games or other activities that require them to learn new information, their brains are more likely to absorb that knowledge than if they had just read or watched videos about it!

Gamification works because it taps into the brain’s natural reward system; when a student completes a task successfully, their brain releases dopamine, making them feel good. This is why they get excited when they win a game or receive positive feedback on their work, since it helps them remember what they already know and want to do again in the future.

🕹️ Sparks Friendly Competition

Some learners are motivated by competition, while others are not. You can use leaderboards to inspire those who thrive on competition to do their best work. Leaderboards rank students based on their performance against each other, and this encourages them to challenge each other for the top spot. This friendly competition drives learners to do their best and outdo their peers, and gamified education achieves this through mechanics such as leaderboards. However, certain students may find leaderboards off-putting, and as such, they should be offered alternative gaming rewards, such as certificates or unlockable objects. The key to successful gamification is making sure that students are motivated by learning goals rather than just trying to beat each other’s scores.

🕹️ Facilitates Mistake-Driven Learning

Gamification allows learners to make mistakes and fine-tune their skills and knowledge in a safe environment, offering immediate feedback across areas of improvement. When learners achieve goals or complete levels, they feel like they have accomplished something significant, boosting their confidence.

Games encourage students to try new things independently without fear of failure; they’re encouraged to explore different avenues until they find the solution they’re looking for. This self-directed exploration fosters critical thinking skills that can be applied to other areas of life.

Square Panda’s game-based learning system moves students along in their learning journeys in an immersive and engaging manner. To know more about our offerings, visit ecce.squarepanda.in 

A good education begins with holistic development. All too often, parents’ focus tends to be on academics and not on activities that promote physical, emotional, social, and intellectual well-being. However, field trips are an essential part of a child’s education. They give insights and opportunities that are otherwise non-existent within the four walls of the school premises. Field trips act as catalysts for learning, as they encourage children to acquire knowledge through their senses, practice skills and apply information that has been absorbed, thus leading to better retention in their long-term memory.

Field trips can be arranged for any grade level, but are often done at the elementary and middle school levels. They are a great way to get students excited about learning. 

Here’s why:

Hands-on Experience

Field trips allow students to experience hands-on learning opportunities. Classrooms are often not equipped with all the tools necessary for students to thoroughly understand what they are learning about in class. However, during a field trip, they can experience real-life situations that enable them to apply what they have learned in class. 

By going to different places and experiencing different things, students can better understand concepts such as art, history, or geography that would otherwise seem abstract if only explained through classroom lectures. Field trips also stimulate students to use their imagination and make connections between what they’ve learned in class and real-world applications. For example, if your child’s class were studying ancient civilizations during one semester and then took a trip to a museum where they saw artifacts from those cultures, it would reinforce what they were learning in class. The same applies if your child’s class studied ocean life during an afternoon at the aquarium, or had a discussion about environmental issues after visiting an environmentally friendly farm.

Moreover, field trips also help students learn about the world by exposing them to new environments, cultures, and people. This can help foster an appreciation for diversity in our society. 

Better Teacher-Student Relationship

Field trips are also an excellent way for teachers to get out of their classrooms and into the community where they work with students every day. This allows them to interact with other teachers outside of school hours – which can lead to stronger relationships within their school community, as well as building new ones with other local businesses and organizations.

Field trips help teachers connect with their students on an emotional level. When teachers take their classes on field trips, they get to know their students in ways that they don’t usually do when simply teaching them in a classroom setting. Teachers can use this connection to motivate their students to learn more about whatever topic they’re studying at the time of the trip.

Foster Collaboration

Students learn more when they work together. Field trips provide an opportunity for students to collaborate on a project or task, which fosters their ability to work together. This can be challenging for some students, especially those new to the school or those who have difficulty communicating with their classmates.

Field trips encourage teamwork and collaboration between students. When students are faced with new challenges, such as finding their way around a strange place, they have to work together to overcome them. This is a valuable skill for students to develop, as it will help them succeed later in life.

Field trips also allow teachers to see how their students interact with others in different settings and environments than they’re used to at school. This gives teachers insight into how their students will behave at other events like sporting events or concerts — valuable information that can help them better plan future activities for the class!

Develop Life-Skills

Students build self-confidence by exploring new places and situations on their own. Most children are not used to being away from home or school for long periods, so taking them on a field trip can be a great way to boost their confidence levels and provide them with an exciting experience they will never forget!

Field trips enable students to use their problem-solving skills in real-life situations where there isn’t always a correct answer or an immediate solution available at hand. Students may need to think outside the box to complete their tasks successfully during these types of activities.

Improve Learning Outcomes

Field trips involve students in their own education. By taking students out into the world around them, teachers allow them to become active participants in their own learning instead of passive recipients of information fed to them by their instructors. A field trip lets students ask questions about what they see and interact with other people who may live in different places around the world — experiences that can significantly enrich their perspective on life and increase their knowledge base.

Field trips also give students a chance to practice skills they’ve learned in class, such as reading maps, following directions and interacting with strangers. This helps solidify what they’ve learned in class, making it easier to remember when they’re back at school.

At Square Panda, we believe holistic development is the best way to prepare the students of today for the challenges of tomorrow. To know more about our work, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Social media has changed the way we communicate with one another, and as a result, the way we learn. Although social media has impacted our world in many ways, its impact on education deserves special attention.

In today’s world, students are exposed to more information than ever before. Students can access articles, videos, and photos from all over the world at the touch of a button. From online classes to the ability to communicate with teachers and peers, social media is changing the way children learn. It has made it easier for students to interact with their teachers and peers. Through social media students can ask questions and stay up-to-date on coursework. Students can also use social media as a tool to find information when they have a doubt in class. They can also understand concepts that were not covered in class.

Social media has had a profound impact on education. Here are some of its effects.

For Students

Social media platforms like Facebook & Twitter allow users to interact with others in their network through comments or posts. This helps them expand their knowledge base by exposing them to new ideas or perspectives on topics they might not otherwise encounter in their day-to-day lives. 

For example: A student interested in politics may start following political figures on Twitter. This way they will see a variety of opinions held by different people within their social circle. This is important, as it helps students understand that there are many ways of thinking. While some ideas may be more popular than others, they are all valid in their own right.

Social media has also become an important tool for student learning. It gives kids access to information they may not find anywhere else. Examples of this are peer-reviewed articles from experts in their field of interest, podcasts from experts in other areas, videos from around the globe that showcase different countries’ cultures, and more.  A study reveals that TikTok has become a popular medium for learning pronunciation among students. 

Another benefit of social media platforms is that they allow students to connect with others who share the same interests and hobbies as them. For example: A student who loves photography would follow a photographer on Instagram who has similar interests. This allows students to gain inspiration from other artists, which helps them develop their own style of art and become more confident about what they post online.

In addition to allowing students to access high-quality education, which they might not have been able to do due to physical distance or financial constraints, it also allows them to enter into fields where there is high demand, but low supply. 

While social media can be a great educational resource, it is essential to keep learners safe online. Check out this webinar addressing the cybersecurity of students.

For Educators

Additionally, social media is changing how educators teach. Teachers are using social media as a tool for creating lesson plans and communicating with students outside of school hours. According to a recent study, teachers and professors are finding new, innovative ways to use social media to engage students and further their educational development.

Teachers are using social media to connect with other educators and share ideas about teaching methodologies or best practices. They can also use these platforms to see what their peers are doing in other schools across the country or around the world. It can help them improve their own teaching style — especially when it comes to incorporating new technologies into their classrooms.

In fact, many schools now have policies in place that encourage teachers to use social media as part of their curriculum. Schools want teachers to utilize the wealth of resources available on platforms like YouTube and Twitter. They use it as a way to communicate with families about school events and policies.

Another benefit of social media is its ability to help teachers create engaging lessons that engage students holistically through interactive activities like quizzes or polls, which can be accessed via mobile devices. Teachers can also use social media tools like Twitter or Instagram to share interesting articles or videos with their classes so that everyone stays up-to-date on current events.

Teachers are using social media to reach out to parents, who are more involved in their children’s education than ever before. Parents are also able to use this technology to ask questions about schoolwork or assignments and receive answers from their child’s teacher immediately.

In these ways, social media helps reshape our understanding of the world around us. It constantly reveals new ways in which to further education for all.

Square Panda’s programs and services equips children with the knowledge and skills needed for successful classroom learning, and consequently empowers them to embrace lifelong learning in dynamic environments. Moreover, we empower teachers to contribute significantly in this regard, augmenting the student learning experience. 

To know more about our varied methodologies and pedagogical approaches, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Teachers have always been at the forefront of the education system, greatly responsible for shaping young minds and preparing them for life. With the internet and other technologies taking over, the education system is changing considerably. Online classes and virtual schools have replaced some of the old classroom setups. Mobile devices and electronic documents have elevated note-taking to a whole new level. Educators now have to fully embrace the technology revolution to keep their students ahead of the curve. 

Teachers who don’t engage in continuous professional development can fall behind their peers and feel less confident in their ability to provide a great learning environment for students. Continuous Professional Development helps teachers keep up with the latest developments in their field. It means they can provide more engaging lessons relevant to today’s students. It also allows them to develop new skills and techniques that will help them become better educators overall.

The most common type of professional development is on-the-job training. In this, the teachers learn how to use new technology or techniques while working with students. This type of training often occurs through workshops or classes offered by professional organizations.

Other types of Professional Development include:

• Mentor programs in which experienced educators work one-on-one with new teachers to give them advice and guidance about how to improve their teaching skills
• Summer institutes that provide intensive courses over several weeks
• Internships where new teachers work under the supervision of an experienced mentor who guides them through the process of teaching a class for a set period.
• On-site programs where teams from different schools come together for workshops or seminars focused on specific topics, like classroom management or instructional strategies.

Instead of simply observing, teachers committed to continuing their growth and development engage in a myriad of professional opportunities. They seek conferences, workshops, online training classes, or e-learning courses to expand their knowledge and skills.

With Continuous Professional Development, Teachers Can:

✏️ Learn New Skills

Continuous Professional Development allows teachers to learn new skills and techniques. Teachers who take part in professional development courses often learn how to improve their teaching methods and techniques. They also comprehend how to create lesson plans and other resources that can be used in the classroom. This helps them improve their ability as educators and helps them better teach their students. 

Besides, teachers also experience more confidence in their teaching abilities because they know they are up to date with the latest developments in education. This allows them to feel more comfortable when teaching a new topic or concept, making it easier for them to engage with their students and explain concepts clearly.

✏️ Better Understand Student Needs

Effective professional development programs help teachers identify learning objectives for each lesson before they begin teaching it. They also allow teachers to reflect on how well-designed lessons met their objectives, including how much time was spent on each objective, what worked well, why specific techniques were successful or unsuccessful, etc. The goal is to make every lesson as effective as possible by identifying what works best with different groups of students at different times in their education.

✏️ Increase Knowledge about Effective Practices

There are so many new initiatives being implemented in schools every year, along with the ongoing challenges faced by all educators. With Continuous Professional Development opportunities, teachers get access to information about these initiatives and how they might impact their classroom practice. 

Additionally, teachers have better relationships with their colleagues and other professionals because they understand how other people work and think about specific topics or issues related to teaching. This can help them collaborate with other professionals on projects at school or within the local community, which means there is more opportunity for students to benefit from their expertise too!

Professional Development Opportunities

Continuous Professional Development allows teachers to find ways to improve their teaching style and increase their knowledge base. This means there is always an opportunity for teachers who want to learn more about teaching or expand their knowledge base on a particular subject matter or topic area, whether it’s math or science or another subject area applicable in the classroom setting. Continuous Professional Development allows teachers to find opportunities that they may not have otherwise found if they weren’t participating in these ongoing efforts.

Teachers are responsible for the well-being of their students and for ensuring that they succeed in their studies. With professional development, teachers can learn new ways to engage with students so they don’t feel like they’re just lecturing at the front of the room. They can also learn how to work with children from different backgrounds than them—for example, if they’re teaching English as a second language, which is often required in most schools across rural India today.

Through these mechanisms, and more, Continuous Professional Development helps teachers stay at the forefront of an ever-evolving education landscape, and help young learners realize their full potential. 

Anganwadi workers are women who work in government-run childcare centers across India. A large number of these women come from low-income households themselves, and therefore face financial constraints when it comes to completing their education or acquiring new skills that could help them improve their quality of life. Square Panda India’s Anganwadi Workers Upskilling Program aims to empower Anganwadi workers, enabling teachers to upskill their talent and knowledge to help them deliver better services, while our Educator Empowerment Programs equip teachers with the skills and knowledge required to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. 

To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Here are some useful videos to explore the topic further:
Prerequisites of a Preschool Teacher
Supporting Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development with Edtech
How To Support Educators In Their Changing Roles

You may also be interested in reading some of our blogs on teacher training:
3 Things Teachers can do to Improve Teaching Kindergarten Online
4 Ways Formative Assessments Can Enhance Your Teaching
Creating Self-Paced Classrooms through Curriculum Design

We hope that you enjoyed our post on National Curriculum Framework. If you have any tips or suggestions please leave a comment below. If you would like to collaborate with us, you can drop us a mail on marketing@squarepanda.in.

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The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) provides guidelines for educational planning and development at every level — right from pre-primary to higher secondary education. It also covers areas such as learning outcomes, curriculum development, pedagogy, and assessment that are common across all types of school programs. India is currently using the fourth curriculum published by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in 2005.

Impact of National Curriculum Framework on Indian Education

The NCF will have a significant impact on the education system in India. It provides a national benchmark for achieving quality standards across all states. As the Hon’ble Union Minister for Education said at the launch of the Mandate Document of the NCF, “If NEP is the guiding philosophy, then NCF is the pathway, and this mandate is the constitution.”

The NCF encourages students to participate in activities that enable them to learn about other cultures, traditions, and perspectives through activities like field trips and visits to museums. It highlights, how every individual must be given opportunities for different kinds of learning experiences and interactions with others from different backgrounds and cultures,

The NCF also stresses the importance of developing an integrated understanding of science, mathematics, technology, and social sciences to develop skills like critical thinking and problem-solving abilities among students. It recommends that students should engage in challenging tasks that require them to apply scientific concepts in real-life situations. 

The Mandate Document focuses on holistic development. It emphasizes on multi-disciplinary education, teaching in one’s mother tongue, continuous professional development of teachers, and life-long learning. The view of the Document is to address the learning losses caused by the pandemic. It is a progressive step towards creating the transformative, holistic, and integrated reforms needed across the Indian education ecosystem.

Anita Govindrajan, our Sr. Curriculum Developer at Square Panda India mentions, “Education today is not just about mechanical learning. It is about life skills and critical thinking. It is necessary that learners construct knowledge on their own by exploring the environment around them. The National Curriculum Framework offers students a more balanced learning experience that focuses on discovering, exploring and asking questions.”

Here are a few key focus areas of the National Curriculum Framework, and how it can be applied for real-world benefits:

Stress-Free Learning

NCF focuses on stress-free learning, making the experience a joyful and engaging one for teachers and students alike. Historically, students were taught to learn by rote, which made it difficult for them to learn and apply the knowledge in real-life situations.

Today, students are being taught to think critically, and solve real-world problems. This makes it easier for them to learn new concepts and apply them in various situations. The curriculum is also becoming more flexible, allowing students to have more control over their learning experience. By using textbooks only as a starting point rather than the basis for exams in addition to innovative pedagogical approaches, the learning process has become more flexible, making the pursuit of knowledge more rewarding and stress-free for students.

Edtech as an enabler

Technology is used in all facets of our lives, and it is no surprise that it has become a significant factor in the educational system. The use of technology can help teachers engage students in learning activities while providing them with new opportunities to learn. Furthermore, students can collaborate with their peers across the globe and access diverse perspectives on their study material. 

The use of educational technology also allows teachers to create a more engaging curriculum for their students. Teachers can use various websites and applications that would enable them to develop interactive online classes, which are often more fun than traditional lessons where students simply write down information on paper or listen as the teacher speaks. Teachers can also use technology to provide students with a platform for creating projects and reports that can be shared with other classrooms around the world.

Upskilling teachers

Teachers are a key pillar of the education ecosystem. Hence, they need to be empowered with the proper skills, knowledge, and tools to enable them to do their jobs effectively. This means ensuring that they have access to ongoing professional development opportunities in addition to resources and materials that will help them improve their practice.

If teachers are trained to use different teaching methods, they will tailor their learning approach to suit every student’s needs. This ensures that all students are engaged, regardless of their age or background. It gives them the best chance of academic and social success in school environments, while also helping  improve student retention rates over time.

Square Panda India has a demonstrable track record of successful education interventions across India. The company has a comprehensive array of products and programs that aim to improve learning outcomes from pre-primary through secondary grades. Square Panda India envisions contributing to the nation’s education landscape by focusing on the holistic development of each education stakeholder. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

Here are some useful videos to explore the topic further:
Anganwadis Their Role And How Training And Support Can Impact Them
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If you’re a parent, you’re probably very familiar with that phrase: “children are like sponges”. It refers to how children absorb facts, language, and life skills at a remarkable rate during their earliest years of development. That’s because these years are among the most critical in shaping who they will become and what they will learn. And while kids discover many of the things they need to know from their families and communities, early childhood education is an integral part of this process.

Many people refer to early childhood education as preschool. But today, the term means so much more. It is a time when children begin to acquire essential social, emotional and cognitive skills. This will serve them well in later years and help lay the foundation for success in school and beyond.

Besides learning in the classroom, young children’s earliest experiences directly impact the development of their brains and their abilities far into the future. Research has shown that 90% of brain development happens before age 5. Early childhood education provides opportunities for active exploration and helps children meet essential developmental goals while encouraging curiosity and creativity. Here are some of the benefits of early childhood education:

👉 Socialization

Socialization happens when we learn how to live in harmony with other people in our communities — when we learn how to share, take turns, and respect each other’s boundaries. And for many kids, preschool is the first place they can practice those skills! 

Children at this age are often eager to make friends and connect with others, but they haven’t yet learned how to do so appropriately. They may still have trouble sharing toys or taking turns on the swing set. Young kids can experiment with interactions by participating in activities like cooperative play and music time with their peers. They can do it under the guidance of trained teachers who can show them how to communicate effectively in a group.

👉 Better Academic Performance

A study found that young children who attended early childhood education programs were more likely to score well on reading and math tests than those who didn’t attend these programs. 

One of the main reasons for this is that children who attend preschool are exposed to structured learning and playtime activities, which help prepare them for kindergarten and first grade. A child who has not mastered basic skills like the alphabet, numbers, and shapes will find it difficult to progress further in school. They may be at risk of falling behind their classmates or having to repeat a grade level. If a child is too far behind, they may eventually drop out of school. But if you give your children a head start when they are young, they will have fewer problems in school as they grow older. 

👉 Lifelong Learning

It’s a universal truth that children are the most tender, impressionable minds. Every experience they have, every interaction they witness, stays with them into adulthood. It shapes who they become as people and how they treat others. Early childhood education provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning. 

👉 Improved Self-Esteem and Confidence

Kids with a solid foundation in early childhood education tend to have higher self-esteem and confidence. Kids are naturally curious, and as they develop their knowledge through play and hands-on learning, their sense of self-worth also improves. They feel good about themselves for what they are capable of doing. 

A strong sense of self-worth is essential for children to build confidence throughout the rest of their lives. Preschools focus on the overall growth and development of the child rather than only academics. The curriculum that these institutions follow is designed to foster an environment for learning and social interaction for small children. This allows them to be prepared for life at school and provides them with the confidence to pursue their dreams.

👉 Better Attention Span

Children who attend preschool have better attention spans than kids who start kindergarten without the benefit of preschool education.

Zankhana, a Senior Curriculum Developer and a seasoned Foundational Year Educator at Square Panda, opines, “When in preschool, children get accustomed to having their attention directed by an adult. As a result, they are less likely to become distracted or frustrated when required to focus on a difficult task or academic concept. This increased ability to focus makes it easier for them to pay attention in class, making them more likely to succeed academically and socially.“

👉 Exposure to Diversity

As parents, you want your kids to grow up in a world where they are not judged by the color of their skin or what religion they practice. But beyond that, you should hope your child will grow up to be someone who respects other people and learns to understand the world around them. 

Early childhood education provides the opportunity for children to meet and get along with people who look like them and those who don’t. It is a place where they can develop empathy towards others while also gaining an understanding of themselves—which will help them later on when they enter the workforce and have co-workers from all walks of life!

👉 Healthy Lifestyle

Children need to be physically active to stay healthy and develop their gross motor skills, which will enable them to be successful in school. In childcare facilities, kids tend to follow the lead of their peers and teachers. If a child sees their friend running around outside or jumping through tires on a swing, they may be more likely to join in on the fun. The other kids might inspire them to try something new, or they may learn by watching what others do.

👉 Boosts Creativity

Though many parents worry that the pressure of learning too much at an early age will stifle their kids’ creativity, it’s actually the opposite — studies show that children exposed to an enriched environment from birth do better creatively later in life. 

Early childhood education programs often allow free play periods that give children time to use their imaginations when playing with other children. In addition, different classes may be offered in music, art, and storytelling that can help boost creativity in early childhood.

Square Panda India offers comprehensive early childhood programs that put children on a path toward academic success by setting them up with the tools they need to succeed, and creates the supporting ecosystem needed to ensure lifelong learning and success. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in 

Here are some useful videos to explore the topic further:
Why Educators Are The Key To Successful Early Childhood Education
5 Reasons India Needs A Strong Early Childhood Education System
8 Activities To Build Social And Emotional Skills In Early Childhood Education

You may also be interested in reading some of our blogs on early education:
The Economic Impact Of Early Education
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We hope that you enjoyed our post on early education. If you have any tips or suggestions please leave a comment below. If you would like to collaborate with us, you can drop us a mail on marketing@squarepanda.in.

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Empathy is a critical skill for every human being to have. It is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. To be empathetic, one must be able to imagine themselves in another person’s shoes. Thus feeling what that person is feeling. Anyone can learn empathy through practice and experience. We are all born with the capacity for empathy. But we often need to nurture it to grow into a full-blown skill.

Empathy maps are visual tools that explore the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours of a particular population. We can use them to learn how a particular population processes information and makes decisions. They are based on the principle that we humans make decisions based on our emotions, not our intellect.

In education, an empathy map is a simple, easy-to-understand visual that captures knowledge about a student’s behaviours and attitudes. Using empathy maps, educators have a better chance of relating and connecting with students, which leads to more effective teaching practices. The empathy map consists of four quadrants: 

• thinks/says
• feels/needs
• does/goes/seek
• hears/sees

As a teacher or adult interacting with the student frequently throughout the day, you can capture insights about them in these different quadrants. We can use it to understand a student with whom you have a troubled relationship. We can employ empathy maps to build a relationship with any student you don’t know well yet.

For example, what does this student say to his or her peers? How does he or she act when her team is struggling with a problem? What does he or she look like when she is happy? 

Empathy Maps allow teachers to put themselves into the shoes of their students. They can then better understand what students need from them. A teacher may ask students questions about their learning experience and then record their responses on a map to make it easier to analyze the data.

How do Empathy Maps help Teachers?

Empathy Maps do not replace in-depth assessments or other methods for understanding students’ needs. They provide a framework for educators to go beyond conversations with students and generate more meaningful results. These results contribute to improved design, courses, and programs. 

These maps help teachers see things from the perspective of their students. They also aid in developing an emotionally supportive learning environment. By understanding what they need and want, teachers can provide more engaging lessons that cater to the specific interests and goals of their learners.

It is essential for educators not only to know how students feel, but also why they feel this way. Thus, Empathy Maps should include reasons behind emotions expressed by students during classes. With such information at hand, educators can adjust their lesson plans accordingly to address students’ needs and promote a positive classroom atmosphere.

Benefits of Using Empathy Maps:

The use of Empathy Maps promotes the development of emotional intelligence in students. They become more attentive to others and get new skills in communication. In addition, this approach encourages interpersonal relationships and personal growth and development.

This benefits learners in many ways, including:

• It helps learners put themselves in someone else’s shoes, and see things from another person’s perspective. By developing greater empathy, learners can better understand the world around them and work collaboratively.
• It helps them get to know each other better as team members. Having a learner complete his or her Empathy Map can help other members understand that person better. 
• You may be asked to work with someone who is not part of your usual team. They may have a chance to see your perspective in a new way and generate ideas about how best to work together.

By using a variety of unique approaches and pedagogical tools, Square Panda India helps people across the education ecosystem realize their full potential through the transformative capabilities of EdTech. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in

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The pandemic has altered almost every area of our daily lives. Teachers and students, in particular, have had to adapt to online education, which has proved difficult for many learners. Educators agree that online courses are no substitute for in-person learning experiences. In 2018, the New York Times reported that online classes do not allow for the same level of individual attention as in-person classes, and children studying online perform worse than those directly studying with teachers.

Despite this, some students have managed to thrive by embracing this remote style of learning. Learning styles can be deeply individual, and students who respond well to online learning usually have a strong sense of independence and self-motivation. Those students often choose this learning style because they can work at their own time and pace.

Let’s look at why some kids are succeeding in online learning.

👉 Self-Paced Learning

There is a lot of flexibility in online learning. The choice to learn at your own pace instead of being forced to go through the material in a certain way can help you stay focused and attentive. Therefore, students who do well in self-paced, flexible learning situations thrived while learning online. It allowed students to remain focused and attentive to course materials. Students could take any past classes they may have missed or repeat them as many times as needed. Anytime students wanted to repeat a lesson, they could replay it at their own pace, allowing them to fully comprehend the material and gain an understanding that would not be found in a classroom setting.

👉 More Time, Less Distraction

It is not an overstatement to say that today’s students had a grueling schedule in a pre-pandemic world. They attended school and were also expected to manage different extracurricular activities, such as sports and arts, alongside their classes. In addition to this, most students had to receive additional support from private tuitions and preferred going to these sessions in the evening or on weekends. As a result of the pandemic lockdown, many students had to curtail social activities, focusing on their online courses and studies, which proved to be beneficial for many.

👉 Mental Well-Being

Mental health is an integral part of overall wellbeing, and it varies from person to person. Regardless of the child’s age, some students may suffer from anxiety about going to school or the thought of being in a physical classroom where they feel uncomfortable. For these students, online schooling provided the opportunity to learn without all the pressures and expectations of being in an actual classroom. Even if they weren’t able to keep up with their classes at first, they were still able to complete their assignments at a later time without worrying about falling behind.

👉 Family Support

While it is widely known that school-based interactions and relationships with peers helps develop a child’s academic and emotional well-being, many children thrived while learning remotely. Parents play a significant role in how well their children flourish at school. Since online learning was new for children, many parents were actively involved with their children’s education. Most children were able to cope well with the demands of online learning because parents assisted them with the technology being used. This helped in boosting their child’s self-esteem and confidence.

The Bottom Line

There are several reasons why some kids thrive during remote learning, but it’s important to remember that every child is different. It’s never a good idea to compare your child with others or expect them to perform just as well as their peers in every subject area. While the thought of virtual schooling may have been far from parents’ minds when it first emerged, they can now view it as a viable alternative to attending classes physically in school, for now and the foreseeable future.

Our comprehensive interventions span across the lifetime of a child’s education journey, and impact multiple factors that influence a child’s educational achievement – such as learning, teacher support, parent support, educational infrastructure, access to technology, health & exposure to other skills. 

To know how our array of products and programs improve learning outcomes from pre-primary through secondary grades, visit ecce.squarepanda.in/