102 Not Out : New way of Learning

102 Not Out, screamed my wife on phone with excitement. I wondered. “There is no IPL match today. Then who has made 102.” My wife told me that there is life beyond cricket too. Don’t ask who. Ask when. She was talking about the Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor starrer movie - 102 Not Out.

Without further questioning, like a good boy, I reached the cinema hall in the evening. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I laughed, I cried and I came back. After the movie, my wife asked me when I’m going to write about the movie. I need to learn the art of asking such questions where the other person doesn’t get a choice of saying NO.

So here I am writing about 102 Not Out. I reviewed the whole movie carefully and found that if I was not tricked into writing this, I would have missed on an extraordinary perspective of ‘Challenge based Learning Methodology’ demonstrated by the movie. The movie revolves around the training methodology to build confidence. Amitabh Bachchan is the facilitator and Rishi Kapoor is the learner. And here is the ‘Challenge based Learning Methodology’ of 102 Not Out.

1. Create a Need

You can’t teach anything to anyone. Until and unless the person wants to learn it themselves. This task seems impossible but it can be achieved by creating a need that threatens the very thing person cares about.

Amitabh tells his son Rishi to pack his bags and go to an Old Age Home. Rishi pleads to stay. Amitabh gives Rishi certain challenges, and tells him that he will stay only if he completes them. Rishi accepts and the funny challenges start.

2. Challenge Based Learning

Gyan (Knowledge) has a tendency to get accumulated. Gyan never changes anything unless it’s applied. Hence, any gyan session (Learning) isn’t enough to change behavior. Behavioral change can only be observed when people are forced out of their comfort zone. A series of challenges can be designed to achieve the desired result.

Amitabh gives a couple of hilarious challenges to Rishi. They look weird, but they systematically destroy the artificial dependencies that Rishi had created around him.

3. Monitor Closely

You need two hands to clap. Any behavioral-change learning program requires close monitoring by a facilitator. Many times, multiple facilitators may be required to ensure that challenges are being completed, as per design.

 Amitabh appoints Jimit to accompany and ensure that Rishi is completing all the challenges properly. Amitabh closely monitors each and every challenge.

4. Give Choices

Learners are likely to get frustrated or even revolt when they are pushed to the wall and forced to do things. It is important to patiently listen to them, give them choices and relax rules to alleviate the pressure. When learners have choices, they are likely to play along longer.

Rishi expresses frustration and finally revolts, when he is not able to handle too much change in his lifestyle. Amitabh acts as a reasonable person and relaxes certain rules.

5. Encourage

Learners start seeing value being created by each challenge. Along the way, a facilitator must create opportunities for learners to succeed in the challenges. Celebration of success further adds to the growing confidence of the individual.

Amitabh ensures that the Rishi wins challenges and becomes confident that he is capable of doing anything.

6. Explain Objective

Once the desired behavior change happens, then the facilitator should share the end objective of the program. That makes it easy for the learner to appreciate the whole process. This is just opposite of the traditional training programs.

Amitabh tells the objective of the program in the end. I can’t say more else it will spoil the movie for you.

I hope you understand.

This is the Author's personal point of view and is not influenced by any person or organization. Image credit to Team 102 Not Out