Challenge:
Transform the secondary education system in India from a theory-based set up to a holistic development institution.
Solution:
The idea is to develop an institution in schools where the core offering is a practical approach towards things in life rather than a conservative one. A paradigm shift approach is taken to transform the thinking methodology of the kid. Students are nurtured with inputs from different perspectives. Rather than rubbing the ideologies of the teacher on the students, they are given a platform to develop their own perspective. Open discussions are enabled through a learning environment. Implementation is given priority over preaching. Sensitive topics are discussed openly. I would like to name the school as "BeYou". At BeYou a student can ask whatever that pops in her head without a filter. Differences in individuals are respected. Chasing your interest is given precedence over running behind what is considered right by society.
The main offerings at BeYou:
⦁ No entry criteria or screening tests for students:
Anyone can join irrespective of their previous grades in other schools. Students are not type cast in a category based on mere marks from a single test. They are observed on a daily basis. Their interest, the character is gauged through a series of experiments. An understanding is formed based on the observation by the teachers.
⦁ A wide range of electives to choose from as subjects:
Instead of giving the students a set number of subjects, they are given an expansive number of courses to choose from. In a typical school, there would be 6 subjects and every student is obliged to study the given courses irrespective of their interests. At BeYou, a student can select the courses on her own. If the student thinks there is a topic that she is interested and there is no course available related to it, she can recommend the course to the management, so the same can be added to the curriculum.
⦁ No exams or grades:
The student's acumen on topics will not be judged based on a mere test. They will be given projects to work. Approach to the problems will be given importance over solution achieved. Presentations, discussions would be a way of learning. Experiments are conducted live to show science related stuff. Videos of famous personalities in the respective fields are shown to instill the seed of inspiration to learn more of the chosen course. Students are encouraged to question the set norms and have a healthy discussion about the same.
⦁ Practical assignments:
Instead of assignments given in regular schools, students are here are given tasks where they need to take to people outside their comfort zone. For example, the task is to create something out of the supplies they are given and create and utility and sell it to people. If one looks at the task, it could seem like a mere craft class. But there is innovation, creativity, communication and good convincing skills involved in there. This is basically a business model they just created. This can be looked from a different perspective. Students in summer holidays generally do some activity where they can earn, be it tuitions, working in a departmental store, etc., But instead of selling your time for money, they teach to develop a mindset where you do not have an investment of time is less than the effort, basically a business model.
⦁ An innovative way of teaching:
The blackboard and textbook method is a big turnoff. Instead, the teaching is done through discussions, direct interactions within small groups. Depending on the topic, students from higher grades mingle with the lower ones and teach them what they have learned. This teaches them to take responsibility and people management. Individual thinking is enabled by providing them an environment to develop things.
Storyboard for prototyping:
Prototyping:
At BeYou there would be allocated space for different activities. Apart from the usual classrooms where one on one discussions happen instead of a monologue, there would be assigned spaces for individual interests. Customized learning would be catered. Rooms like Make it from scratch (make anything from the supplies available), music room (design your own music), math room ( deep dive into the core of the problem), science room(experiments can be done live), art room (splash the color in you on the paper).
Low-cost experiment:
A comparison study will be conducted between a student who goes to the regular school and a student who has gone to a school which has a curriculum similar to BeYou. They would be gauged on different parameters like attitude, beliefs, confidence levels, knowledge on different things, communication levels, etc., Basically, their approach towards life will be assessed. This experiment will be done through the depth interview.
Hypothesis:
At BeYou students will turn out to be intellectual, curious and better individuals with a different perspective in life.
Plan of Action:
In collaboration with schools already in the path of BeYou, I would like to recommend the above-mentioned initiatives in their schools. A complete survey and report will be presented to convince the schools that this school will make their child a fantastic and confident person in life. Parents will be a key stakeholder. Sessions with the parents to clarify the path of their children will execute. In extension, the services provided will be extended till 12th-grade post which they can be placed in different universities abroad or colleges of the student’s choice.
Transform the secondary education system in India from a theory-based set up to a holistic development institution.
Solution:
The idea is to develop an institution in schools where the core offering is a practical approach towards things in life rather than a conservative one. A paradigm shift approach is taken to transform the thinking methodology of the kid. Students are nurtured with inputs from different perspectives. Rather than rubbing the ideologies of the teacher on the students, they are given a platform to develop their own perspective. Open discussions are enabled through a learning environment. Implementation is given priority over preaching. Sensitive topics are discussed openly. I would like to name the school as "BeYou". At BeYou a student can ask whatever that pops in her head without a filter. Differences in individuals are respected. Chasing your interest is given precedence over running behind what is considered right by society.
The main offerings at BeYou:
⦁ No entry criteria or screening tests for students:
Anyone can join irrespective of their previous grades in other schools. Students are not type cast in a category based on mere marks from a single test. They are observed on a daily basis. Their interest, the character is gauged through a series of experiments. An understanding is formed based on the observation by the teachers.
⦁ A wide range of electives to choose from as subjects:
Instead of giving the students a set number of subjects, they are given an expansive number of courses to choose from. In a typical school, there would be 6 subjects and every student is obliged to study the given courses irrespective of their interests. At BeYou, a student can select the courses on her own. If the student thinks there is a topic that she is interested and there is no course available related to it, she can recommend the course to the management, so the same can be added to the curriculum.
⦁ No exams or grades:
The student's acumen on topics will not be judged based on a mere test. They will be given projects to work. Approach to the problems will be given importance over solution achieved. Presentations, discussions would be a way of learning. Experiments are conducted live to show science related stuff. Videos of famous personalities in the respective fields are shown to instill the seed of inspiration to learn more of the chosen course. Students are encouraged to question the set norms and have a healthy discussion about the same.
⦁ Practical assignments:
Instead of assignments given in regular schools, students are here are given tasks where they need to take to people outside their comfort zone. For example, the task is to create something out of the supplies they are given and create and utility and sell it to people. If one looks at the task, it could seem like a mere craft class. But there is innovation, creativity, communication and good convincing skills involved in there. This is basically a business model they just created. This can be looked from a different perspective. Students in summer holidays generally do some activity where they can earn, be it tuitions, working in a departmental store, etc., But instead of selling your time for money, they teach to develop a mindset where you do not have an investment of time is less than the effort, basically a business model.
⦁ An innovative way of teaching:
The blackboard and textbook method is a big turnoff. Instead, the teaching is done through discussions, direct interactions within small groups. Depending on the topic, students from higher grades mingle with the lower ones and teach them what they have learned. This teaches them to take responsibility and people management. Individual thinking is enabled by providing them an environment to develop things.
Storyboard for prototyping:
⦁ Before Scenario:
After Scenario:
Before Scenario:
After Scenario:
Prototyping:
At BeYou there would be allocated space for different activities. Apart from the usual classrooms where one on one discussions happen instead of a monologue, there would be assigned spaces for individual interests. Customized learning would be catered. Rooms like Make it from scratch (make anything from the supplies available), music room (design your own music), math room ( deep dive into the core of the problem), science room(experiments can be done live), art room (splash the color in you on the paper).
Low-cost experiment:
A comparison study will be conducted between a student who goes to the regular school and a student who has gone to a school which has a curriculum similar to BeYou. They would be gauged on different parameters like attitude, beliefs, confidence levels, knowledge on different things, communication levels, etc., Basically, their approach towards life will be assessed. This experiment will be done through the depth interview.
Hypothesis:
At BeYou students will turn out to be intellectual, curious and better individuals with a different perspective in life.
Plan of Action:
In collaboration with schools already in the path of BeYou, I would like to recommend the above-mentioned initiatives in their schools. A complete survey and report will be presented to convince the schools that this school will make their child a fantastic and confident person in life. Parents will be a key stakeholder. Sessions with the parents to clarify the path of their children will execute. In extension, the services provided will be extended till 12th-grade post which they can be placed in different universities abroad or colleges of the student’s choice.
I must say it is in excellent idea and very relevant to the present state of education system. I believe that education has stopped moulding personality and has become a mere accumulation of knowledge.Few points to ponder are whether it can tested in a rural government schools. The kids there have the inherent connect and have relatively more maturity over kids of the same age in the urban schools and see whether this would add more value.
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