Inspiring Activity Based Experiential Learning Culture in Rural Govt. Primary Schools.

Deenabandhu Teacher Resource Center

Supported by Oracle

 

Most schools approach teaching through rote learning. Children will not be able to develop conceptual clarity of any subject especially that of science and mathematics through this methodology. Lack in understanding of the concepts hampers the development of a child. Deenabandhu is working to inculcate child centric activity based experiential learning methodology in rural Govt. primary schools through professional development of teachers. 

 

Sri. Ravi with his school children

Science teacher, Sri Ravi Kumar of Govt. Higher Primary school, Arakalavadi, Chamarajanagara is the center of this story. He is working as a science teacher in this school since eight years.

Mr. Ravi was very much interested to teach innovatively. However he confessed that for initial three years after becoming a teacher, he had no guidance regarding, bringing the activity based experiential learning into his classroom. He was clueless about the methodology he should follow to reach and teach children more effectively. 

It was at this time, around five years back, Mr. Ravi was introduced to Deenabandhu TRC through teacher’s workshops. In workshops conducted by Deenabandhu, he not only learnt making various Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs) but also about the way they should be used to bring conceptual clarity in children. As these workshops are designed in-line with state syllabus, he was able to implement whatever he learnt in the workshops directly in his classroom. He could see that children were not only more interested to learn but also developed better clarity of the concepts. He was very much inspired by the teaching methodology followed by Deenabandhu and initiated his own science learning corner at his school. 

Sri Ravi and his resource centre at Govt. Primary School, Arakalavadi

In the previous five years, this science learning corner has developed into a resource center with a collection of more than 300 teaching learning materials. He himself has now developed into a resource person and keeps developing many new TLMs on his own. He is in constant touch with TRC and continues to attend all the workshops conducted by Deenabandhu.

 

Likewise, Deenabandhu has inspired many Govt. primary school teachers around Chamarajanagara, to develop their own learning corners / resource centers in their school. Like Mr. Ravi, most of these teachers are working in rural schools. These learning corners are changing teaching culture in these schools by replacing rote learning with activity based experiential learning. Also when these teachers are transferred to other schools, the same culture begins to blossom in other schools as well. Deenabandhu is indeed changing the culture of education in and around Chamarajanagara and is able to inspire many Govt. schools to follow activity based experiential learning methodology.