“Story telling, solving case studies and involving students in role playing are among the best methods to ensure effective education,” Abhimanyu Acharya, an expert in international educational modules, said at Manik Nagar in Bidar on Saturday. He was speaking at Manik Public School after inaugurating `Stotram Maya Bhashitam’, a monthly lecture series programme by eminent persons from various fields.
Students should be taught the way they like to be taught. The only way education can reach them is by way of stories and games, Dr. Acharya, who earlier has served as the advisor to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, said. “Recent research had revealed that involvement of students physically and intellectually in classroom led to spectacular results,” he said. No involvement, no result. This is why role-playing increases the rate of absorption of lessons by students to 99 per cent. It helps mould muscle memory that prepares students to take up tasks automatically. The famed mathematician, Shakuntala Devi, was so successful in mathematics as she had muscle memory for the subject that demands repeated revision and recall, he said.
He urged teachers to keep studying and gain expertise in their chosen fields. “Only when your proficiency levels are high, can you play with the subject. That is when you can make it easy for others to understand,” he said. According to him, the prime duty of a teacher was to make the subject as easy as possible. This can happen after detailed information processing in the mind of the teacher. This breaks down the subject and makes it easily comprehensible, he said. Most of these concepts were widely practiced in ancient India. We are only rediscovering them, he said. He gave examples of how education research was throwing up several methods that were tried and tested for centuries in India. Story-telling has been successfully tried through ‘Panchatantra’ and other fables. Case studies and role-playing were always used in the Gurukul system of teaching, Dr. Acharya said. Role playing is being used in universities in some European nations now. Poetry and stories are being taught through drama and opera. This approach is being used even in engineering colleges, he said. Essentially, every activity should be built in such a way that it leads to fun. The teaching-learning process succeeds only when the teacher and the learner both enjoy what they are doing, he said.
Gyanaraj Manik Prabhu, head of Manik Prabhu Samsthan, asked teachers to realise that teaching was an avenue of service and not just a profession.
CBSE South Zone Tennis Tournament
The CBSE South Zone Lawn Tennis Tournament, 2015-16, organised by Jubilee Hills Public School, got off to a colourful start at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad. About 400 students from 55 schools of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry are taking part in the event.
Chief guest A. Dinakar Babu, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Sports Authority of Telangana State, declared the tournament open and administered the oath to participants. He welcomed the participants to one of the best tennis courts in India where stalwarts like Sania Mirza and Martina Navratrilova had played. He quoted the Olympic Motto Citius - Altius - Fortius, meaning Faster - Higher - Stronger, and asked the participants to strive hard to become better players. Principal M. Varalakshmi thanked Mr. Dinakar Babu for gracing the occasion and for providing the venue.
She also thanked the sponsors – S.N.S. Green Project and Shradda Badminton Academy. In the opening sequence of the ceremony, the audience was treated to an energising aerobic performance. JHPS chairman A. Murali Mukund, managing committee members, ITF Chief Referee Shiva Reddy and his team of referees, JHPS tennis coach Neelakanteshwar Rao were present .
Workshop on
‘Positive Thinking’
An invigorating and reflective workshop on ‘Positive Thinking’ was conducted by Gaurav Behl at Meridian School, Banjara Hills on September 18. Mr. Gaurav, who is a transformationalist, talked about the book ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne. A short film, ‘Law of Attraction’, was screened on the occasion. It is based on the law of attraction and claims that positive thinking can create life-changing results like increased happiness, health, and wealth. The film screening was followed by an interactive session. The workshop was attended by Butta Renuka, MP and founder of the school; Usha Reddy, the CEO and senior principal of the school and faculty members from Meridian School.
Wild Life Conservation Week celebrated
Students of Sister Nivedita School celebrated Wild Life Conservation Week with great enthusiasm. The purpose of the programme was to create awareness about the extinct and endangered animals through mono-acting and skit.
