Preschools

Well, it's not been reported in the business media, however, one of the fastest growing segment in the education sector is that of preschools i.e. teaching pre nursery school kids. Personally, I think this concept of pre schooling is ridiculous. One may come up with several arguments that these kids can learn a lot because they are really young. However, I firmly believe with some resounding evidence from other independent sources that these preschools are bringing a lot of stress on these kids.

The parents end up spending less time playing with their kids, and more time training/coaching them how to respond to certain type of questions. The situation has worsened to such depths that parents end up yelling at the 3 year olds because they were not able to clear the preschool entrance examination. The actions of the High Courts have definitely brought relief to some of parents, who ended up sending their kids to these pre schools because of the interview pressure.

However, the jury is still out on that segment that is extremely ambitious for their kids and wants kids to win races when they can hardly walk.

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning, a fairly recently educational concept doing rounds in the elitist echelons of the Indian education system. I have been attracted to the concept of experiential learning from the moment that I heard about it.

On wikipi'ing the word, I realized that there has been a lot of academic study and research that has been done on this particular methodology to teach tiny tots. Having experienced both the kinds of educational systems, instructional and participatory, I have been amazed by how the method of instruction can catalyze the agility and capacity of the learner.

Wiki says following about the historical context:
John Doewy, an American educational philosopher, was an early twentieth century promoter of the idea of learning through direct experience (action and reflection). Experiential education differs from much traditional education in that teachers first immerse students in action and then ask them to reflect on the experience.

In traditional education, teachers set the knowledge to be learnt (including analysis and synthesis) before students. They hope students will subsequently find ways to apply the knowledge.

Despite the efforts of many efforts at progressive educational reform, this movment has not really taken off.

A lot of what buildingBlocks is trying to achieve is pretty much on these lines.

Hope to write more on this topic.

What is teaching?

Sri Aurobindo once said that the first principle of teaching is "that nothing can be taught". J.S.Rajput comments on this profound statement:

This statement of Sri Aurobindo condenses a whole lot of theories of education and a new form of pedagogy closer to integral approach to education. It puts learning above teaching. It makes learning a self starting, self propelling process. It redefines the role of teacher as a possessor of information to a facilitator and guide for the learner.

This statement definitely has profound meaning and extreme relevance in today's times.