The parent-teacher relationship is one of the essential factors in a child’s education. Good relationships between teachers and parents can help create an outstanding learning environment that allows children to overcome the difficulties they face academically. When parents and teachers work together, they can build upon the home-school relationships that are already in place, creating an environment where kids can excel.

When parents feel connected to the school, they are more likely to receive information about their child’s academic performance and behavior from teachers and administrators. This helps families understand how to be effective partners in their child’s education by knowing what resources are available when needed and how to support their child at home. A recent study demonstrated that a robust parent-teacher relationship during the pandemic lockdown helped students academically and emotionally.

Role of Parents and Teachers in Child’s Education

👩‍🏫 Teachers

Teachers are often the first contact point for parents with their child’s education. A great parent-teacher relationship is based on mutual respect, understanding, trust, and a shared vision for the child. To build this relationship, follow these tips:

• Create a welcoming environment: Make sure parents know what’s expected at drop-off and pick-up times. Post directions for parking, early dismissal, and late arrivals in your classroom. Provide directions to get to the school, as well as information about upcoming events and activities.

• Be friendly and approachable: Parents may not have time to visit with you during the day, but they still want to feel like they can come to you if they have questions or concerns about their child’s progress or behavior in class. Be available after school so that parents can easily reach you by phone or email when necessary. Patient is essential when dealing with parents reluctant to be involved in their child’s education, since not all parents feel comfortable communicating with educators. Some may simply lack the confidence to speak up during meetings or conferences. Initiate conversations with such parents and let them speak their minds. 

• Be honest: Don’t hide information from parents about their child’s progress or behavior. If you’re concerned about something, talk to the parents about it as soon as possible so they can help their child improve. Parents should also feel free to share any concerns with you, so they can work together to solve problems.

• Listen carefully and respond thoughtfully: Parents may have questions about their child’s behavior and performance at home, so listen carefully and try to address their concerns without making judgments or assumptions about what might be going on at home that could be impacting schoolwork or behavior issues in class. Don’t get defensive or blame parents for their children’s problems. Instead, offer suggestions for ways they might support their child’s learning at home that will help improve performance in class.

• Don’t make promises you can’t keep: Teachers shouldn’t promise results from anything beyond what they’re responsible for — if you’re a reading teacher, don’t promise improvements in math skills because there is little you can do to influence those skills outside your classroom directly. However, if you see the potential for growth in those areas, encourage parents to seek assistance elsewhere.

👪 Parents

The benefits of having a solid parent-teacher relationship extend far beyond the classroom. Parents are a child’s first teacher and are often the most influential in shaping their child’s behavior. Parents can be a valuable resource for teachers, helping them understand students’ needs and challenges outside school. In turn, teachers can help parents become better advocates for their children at home and in the community. The following tips can help you build a positive relationship with your child’s teacher:

• Get to know your child’s teacher: After the first few days of school, ask your child what they like and don’t like about their teacher. This will give you insight into how to approach them when necessary and allow you to get acquainted with your child’s class teacher. 

• Be supportive of your child’s teacher: It can be challenging for teachers when students misbehave in class or don’t pay attention during instruction time. But instead of making excuses for them or complaining about the situation, try being supportive by offering encouragement. You can do this by saying, “I know he’s trying his best” or “I’m sure she’ll figure out how to help him.” Your positive attitude will go a long way!

• Parent-teacher communication: It can be intimidating to talk to your child’s teacher, especially if you’re unsure what to say or feel you’re wasting their time. But it’s vital that you communicate regularly with your child’s teacher, so they know who they will be teaching and how best to reach them. If there are any issues or concerns about behavior or progress in school, tell the teacher, so they can address them early on before they become more significant problems down the road.

• Avoid missing PTA meetings: Be involved in school activities like open houses and parent-teacher meetings. This helps build relationships with other parents and shows them that you’re serious about being involved in the education process at all levels. Parent-teacher conferences are a great way to get a feel for how your child interacts with their teacher. At these meetings, you can ask questions about your child’s progress, address concerns and learn more about what your child learns in class daily.

• Be respectful: It can be challenging for teachers when parents disrespect them or believe they’re responsible for their children’s behavior at school — but it happens more than we realize! If you don’t agree with something a teacher says, respectfully explain why and try to devise a solution that works best for everyone involved — including yourself!

Square Panda’s learning interventions seek to engage every stakeholder of the learning ecosystem in a comprehensive manner, and help them realize their learning objectives. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in  

In today’s world, we live in a highly competitive environment. Children are surrounded by different media, which may lead them to develop materialistic values often associated with the pursuit of money, fame and power. This can be detrimental to their development. To mitigate this, parents usually work hard to make their children feel safe and secure by creating a happy, healthy, and vibrant environment at home. But there is something that parents commonly miss: instilling community values in children. 

Community values refer to a set of beliefs and behaviours that make society a better place for everyone. These include kindness, tolerance and empathy towards others, respect for human rights, equality of opportunity, peace, freedom, justice, truthfulness, honesty, sincerity, trustworthiness, integrity, and more. 

The importance of building community values in children cannot be stressed enough. Connecting with the community helps children develop empathy and compassion towards others. They learn that everyone has different needs, abilities, skills, and experiences, and they should respect others and appreciate their differences. This helps them understand what it means to be part of a community, where each person contributes something unique to society.

Why is Community Involvement Important?

When children are involved in their community, they develop a sense of belonging and responsibility. They understand that their actions have consequences on other people’s lives as well as their own lives. They start learning to take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming others or other circumstances for anything that goes wrong in their lives or the world around them. 

Children get an opportunity to learn new things about different cultures, traditions and beliefs by interacting with different people from different backgrounds. This helps them become more tolerant towards others and allows them to appreciate the values unique to each country or region. Children also learn how important it is to be part of a team or group. They learn cooperation, sharing and respect for one another’s ideas and opinions. They also learn how to compromise, negotiate and resolve conflicts peacefully without resorting to violence or aggression.

If you want your child to grow up into a well-rounded individual with good values and character who knows how to work with others, you must involve them in your community from an early age.

Community is not just about living in a house next door to someone on the same street or in the same building. It’s about interacting with people from different walks of life and learning from each other. Parents must start engaging their children at home by talking to them about the surrounding community — its people, culture, and traditions.

Family and Community Involvement in Early Childhood Education

As a parent, you are the first and most important influence on your child’s life. Your actions, words, and example all contribute to how your child grows into adulthood. Instilling community values into your children will help them feel confident in social situations and allow them to know what they should or shouldn’t do in certain situations. For example: if a child sees his father stealing from another person, he may think it’s okay because his father does it too, and he doesn’t know any better.

Parents must model good behaviour and encourage their kids to do the same. Here are some ways that parents can help their children learn about community values:

👉 Encourage them to volunteer at their local library or animal shelter. Volunteering is one of the best ways to teach children about giving back to their community. It also allows them to meet new people while helping others who might not have as much as they do.

👉 Talk about the news with your kids. It’s essential to keep current on what’s happening in the world and how it affects our community. When you read a story, discuss it with your children and ask them what they think. This is an opportunity to discuss how we should treat other people and why certain things are wrong. If you read an article that says someone did something terrible, talk about how they should have handled it differently or why they shouldn’t have done it in the first place.

👉 Use language that reflects the values of our community. When you’re talking with your children, use words like “kindness” and “respect” instead of “good” or “bad.” If someone does something good, tell your child why it was good — not just because it was nice or helpful, but because it reflected kindness and respect for others.

👉 Talk about recycling and why it’s essential to keep our planet clean. You could also talk about ways to recycle at home — for example, by separating your recyclables from your trash or composting food scraps.

👉 Help your child understand their own feelings and emotions better to control their actions and reactions in any given situation. For example, if your child is angry, help them learn how to express it appropriately instead of shouting or hitting others when mad (like other children might do).

👉 Let your child know what is expected of them. This includes letting your child know what behaviour is acceptable and what behaviour is not acceptable. Also, let your child know that they should do what is right even if no one else is watching or if no one else knows about it.

Benefits of Community Involvement in Schools

Community involvement in schools creates a sense of ownership for students, parents, and teachers. When people feel like they have a stake in something, they tend to care more about it. This is especially true in schools where students are often very attached to a particular school or principal because they may have gone there since kindergarten or had an influential teacher who greatly impacted their lives.

Many students feel disconnected from their school because they don’t see how they fit into its plans or goals. When teachers involve the community in their lessons, however, students can see exactly how they fit into the school’s mission of education and may feel more motivated. This sense of connection between students and school helps create a sense of belonging that makes students feel more invested in their education and learning environment.

Research has shown that when students are involved in activities outside of school, they are more likely to be engaged in the classroom. They have more resources for learning and can bring their knowledge and experience into the classroom. For example, students who participate in service-learning often report that they are better able to understand issues related to sustainability because they have seen first-hand how their actions affect the environment. 

Service-learning also helps communities by providing students with opportunities to give back and make a difference. In addition, student groups working outside of school may develop lasting friendships that make it easier for them to work together as a team both inside and outside of school. Exposure to other cultures through community involvement can also help students become more culturally aware and sensitive, promoting understanding among people from different backgrounds.

It provides opportunities for young people to practice leadership skills. As part of community involvement programs, students may be asked to take on leadership roles, such as helping plan events or serving as student representatives on committees that oversee school activities. These roles give young people valuable experience in decision-making and teamwork before they graduate high school and enter the workforce or college.

Community involvement gives students insight into careers they might not have considered before. For example, suppose your school has an environmental club that works with local groups to restore wetlands or clean up beaches. In that case, some students may realize that ecological science is an exciting career path for them! The possibilities are endless, and only limited by your imagination. So put on your thinking cap, and start coming up with new ideas to involve students in the community.

Square Panda India’s programs are created to have a holistic impact, including developing the community and engaging all stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and children, in its upliftment. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in.

Technology advancements have led to new approaches to teaching, learning, and communicating. And robotics has become a powerful educational tool and an engaging way to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) topics. The current level of sophistication and accessibility of these resources, as well as their ability to motivate students of different ages and ability levels, is undeniable. 

Some schools have already begun to do this. They’ve realized that incorporating robotics into the classroom helps students understand complex concepts through hands-on experience, which is more effective than just reading about it in a book or listening to lectures. For instance, the UT Education Department has planned to set up a robotics laboratory in 14 government schools in Chandigarh, to enhance cognitive faculty and promote hands-on learning in students. The lab will have DIY robotic kits for students to learn technology and programming concepts. 

In another case, the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation has set up a robotics laboratory at one of the Marathi-medium schools under a World Bank-funded project to improve teaching and learning.

Merits of Robotics in Education

Robotics is making waves in the educational sphere, and offers a plethora of benefits to students. With industry leaders touting robotics as the future of manufacturing, all signs point to why schools should strive towards infusing robotics into classroom lessons.

🤖 Preparation for Future Career Opportunities

Robotic technologies can provide an effective platform to help students develop the necessary skills for future career paths. Students who are educated in robotics may better understand how technology is changing our world. Currently, by the time students prepare to enter the workforce, they’re already playing catch-up, because the knowledge they learned in school doesn’t match up with what they’ll need. Robotics helps fill that gap by allowing students to take control of and practice operating machines that simulate real-world situations. Instructional tools such as computer-assisted instruction and online courses can be used to enhance classroom learning in the areas of programming, mechanical engineering, and applied sciences. 

🤖 Simplifying Complex Programming

It isn’t easy to learn how to program a computer. Programming requires an understanding of the logical structure and how input is processed into language and action, leading to results. Robotics can make programming easier to learn and more appealing to kids who are otherwise intimidated by the idea.

Robots help children learn by creating an immediate connection between the step-by-step instructions they’re writing down (the programming), and the result of those instructions (the robot doing fun things). Instead of having to take a leap from programming instructions to see their results on a computer screen, children can create robots that immediately show them how their code works as they write it. This helps kids understand that there are actual steps involved in making something happen on a computer—they’re not just playing around with buttons on a screen or typing in random words like they might do when playing a computer game. 

If you have an early learner eager to try programming but overwhelmed by its seemingly abstract concepts, robots can be a great way to make it more concrete and accessible for them to learn. 

🤖 Supporting Disabled Students

Students with special needs struggle to learn the same way as others and often have trouble with social interaction and expressing their thoughts and emotions. But with robots, these students can receive a personalized experience that meets their individual needs. 

Robots can be programmed to give students the support they need—they can read textbooks aloud or answer questions. Some students have sensory processing issues that make it challenging to remain focused on a lesson for the full 60 minutes of class time. Robots could provide the visual and auditory information they need without requiring them to sit still or listen intently for an extended period. 

🤖 Stimulates Collaboration and Teamwork

Robotics is an innovative and engaging way to get kids excited about STEM. It gives them a chance to work together in teams, challenge each other, and fail together. By working together on problems, students can teach each other skills and develop their capacity to work as part of a team. This is especially helpful for students struggling with social issues, as it encourages them to cooperate, communicate, and interact with their peers. 

In addition, it allows students to collaborate on projects, fostering creativity and imagination. This can be an excellent way for students to build their confidence because they will know that their successes are due to the contributions of others and not just their own work. In addition, robotics pushes the limits of what these students can achieve if they are willing to put in just a little extra effort. 

Square Panda’s tech-driven interventions help children from all walks of life be better prepared for future challenges. To know more, visit ecce.squarepanda.in 

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.

Follow us so that you never miss out on any updates:
Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | KOO

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
Unpacking The National Education Policy- Readiness For Young Learners
5 Reasons India Needs A Strong Early Childhood Education System

You may also be interested in reading some of our blogs on government initiatives in early education:
The Role Of Public-Private Partnerships In Early Childhood Education
Square Panda India Suggests: Guidelines To Create AatmaNirbhar Learners
3 ways Square Panda’s Research-based Programs Align with NEP 2020’s objectives

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.

Follow us so that you never miss out on any updates:
Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube