Is The Secret To Transform Your School Out?

I strongly believe that we need to move away from the traditional methods of teaching and learning to better meet the needs of 21st-century learners. I believe that schools need to focus on developing students' critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills. In addition, I believe that technology can play a major role in transforming the learning process in schools

Some of the specific programs that I believe would be beneficial for schools to implement include the following:

Volunteering opportunities

• PBL projects
• SDG introduction
• Social entrepreneurship Program
• Transforming reading programs
• Implementing Citizenship program
• Introducing Global Perspective
• Tie-up with external programs

I started as a Cambridge science facilitator in a school. Later on, with my interest, I explored my capacity in different fields and worked in different profiles. Last seven years I have had the opportunity to try my hands in various roles.

As a Global perspective facilitator-

Teaching a Global Perspective was an eye-opener for me. It not only helped me to understand the society, cultures, and different systems prevailing in the world but also made me more aware of my own country and its potential. Through this, I could build a more global outlook and start working towards creating more responsible citizens.

The best thing was that young kids were capable of grasping the concepts and it was satisfying to see them grow with each passing day. We have had amazing discussions in the classroom ranging from education, refugees, and human rights, to digitalization and its impact.

Aha moment: Once a kid told me how she felt bad for the refugee kids who could not go to school and get an education. The next day she came with a bag full of clothes and books which she wanted to donate. Such small gestures from them make me believe that we are heading in the right direction.

As an activity coordinator for the social entrepreneurship program-

This was a unique experience where I worked with the school to start social entrepreneurship projects. The objective was to help the students become more aware of society and their surroundings while also developing their skills.

The students had to find a skill or activity that they were passionate about and then work on it to create a product or service that could be sold. This not only helped them to generate an income but also taught them the importance of social responsibility. The sum that was generated by the entire class was then donated to a charitable cause.

Aha moment: One of the students, who was extremely shy and introverted, came up with an amazing idea of starting a pet care service. She not only overcame her fear but also ended up being one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the class! This just goes to show that given the right platform and opportunity, anyone can shine. Another kid I remember could not find a skill but later she realized she could read books for the younger kids and so she started a story-telling session.

As a volunteering program coordinator-

In this role, I was responsible for coordinating different volunteering programs for the students. The objective was to help them understand the importance of giving back to society. I coordinated with various organizations and arranged for the students to do their volunteer work in areas such as teaching, environmental conservation, and healthcare.

Students have shared with me some amazing experiences of volunteering with the Blue Cross to take care of the animals. This has helped them to understand first-hand the needs of society and also feel more empowered to make a difference. Students have also volunteered in the beach clean-up programs.

Aha Moment: Once we worked on a project where urban kids and rural kids could work together towards a common SDG goal in a local language. It was a great way to break stereotypes and promote social inclusion. The best part was seeing the kids interact with each other and learn new things. They were so excited to share their experiences with me after the project!

As a responsible citizenship program coordinator-

The responsible citizenship program was another initiative that I was involved in. The objective of this program was to help the students understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens. This was beyond just discussions and debates in the classroom it included actual work in the school.

Students were involved in the canteen monitoring food shortage, energy conservation, and waste segregation. The students also monitored the cleanliness of the washroom, classrooms, and school premises.

Aha, moment: Once we had this meeting where kids met the bits of help in the school and they got to sit together and discuss how the washrooms could be kept cleaner. The kids were so excited to see that their voices were being heard and that they could make a difference in the school. It was a great way to promote active citizenship!

Reading Programs-

Working as a librarian gave me a chance to connect with students on different levels. I got to know them better and understand their interests. But I took this opportunity to study different books, the reading habits of kids, and ways to make it more interesting for them.

I started different reading programs and corners in the school which helped the students to connect with their favorite books and characters. This also helped them to develop a love for reading.

I also made a point to get funds for the library each month which I used to fill the library with diverse books in each category, I understood one thing that kids can develop a love of reading at any age.

Aha Moment: Once I got an opportunity to work with a government school. Though the school had a good collection of books, they were not properly maintained. I helped in arranging the books and trained the teachers on how to use the library. It was a very fulfilling experience to see the students using the library and enjoying it!

SDG content facilitator:

As an SDG content facilitator, I was responsible for creating and delivering lessons on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The objective of this role was to help the students understand the SDGs and their relevance in today's world.

I delivered lessons on different topics such as gender equality, climate change, poverty, and sanitation. Since it was COVID time I started creating weekly content for students on various topics to keep them engaged. We had discussions on Google classroom where the students were in different SDG committees.

Aha Moment- It was amazing to see the interactions and discussions that the students had on the topics. They were so eager to learn and share their experiences. It was a great way to connect with them and help them understand the SDGs in a fun and interactive way!

PBL facilitator-

As a PBL(Problem Based Learning) facilitator, I was responsible for guiding the students through the process of solving real-world problems. The objective of this role was to help the students understand the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The students chose their problems to solve, and I guided them through the process. We had weekly meetings where we discussed the progress of the project and brainstormed solutions.

Aha Moment- A team went around the school and identified that they could create a bin for paper waste. They worked on this project for a few weeks and finally presented their solution to the school. It was so fulfilling to see the students take ownership of the project and see it through till the end.

Tie-up with External Programs-

I was also responsible for tie-ups with external programs which helped in supplementing the learning of the students. I have always been very aware of the importance of exposure and hands-on learning for students.

I tied up with national and global programs, which helped provide the students with exposure to different fields. There are many free programs available online which can be very beneficial for students.

Aha Moment- Once we worked with an organization in Bangalore which brings urban and rural school students together for a common goal.

Create awareness amongst teachers-

Sharing resources with teachers and creating awareness about them is also an important part of my job. I believe that it is important for teachers to be updated with the latest resources and methods. There are many organizations creating amazing resources which can be very helpful for teachers. like Cool Australia, TED-Ed, National Geography, and many other websites. It is important to keep the teachers updated about these resources so that they can use them in the classroom.

Sharing resources with teachers and creating awareness about them is also an important part of my job. I believe that it is important for teachers to be updated with the latest resources and methods.

There are many organizations creating amazing resources which can be very helpful for teachers. like cool Australia, TED-Ed, National Geography, and many other websites.

It is important to keep the teachers updated about these resources so that they can use them in the classroom.

All these experiences have helped me develop a deep understanding of working with students. I have developed skills in content creation, facilitation, and project management.

But most importantly it helped me understand the pillars of education for today's world which are critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. These programs can be a great way to engage students and help them develop 21st-century skills. Imagine if this combination of programs could be used in schools to develop a love of learning in students! It would be an amazing transformation to witness!

Imagine if this can be packaged as a course for school students! That's what I'm striving to do.

I strongly believe that these programs have the power to change the education system and the way students learn. I would love to offer my services to schools and help them implement these programs.

If you are interested in learning more about these programs or implementing them in your school, please get in touch with me

I offer a unique perspective to schools, having worked in various roles that have helped me to understand the needs of students and society. I am passionate about education and its role in creating responsible citizens. I believe that every child has the potential to make a difference and it is our responsibility to help them realize their potential.

I am available for workshops, presentations, and discussions on various topics related to education, social responsibility, and citizenship. I can also help with the coordination of different programs.

Schools can contact me at [email protected]