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Though not an educationist himself, in the narrow sense of the word, Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, embodied, in both letter and spirit, what an ideal education may achieve. Through two books, written as letters to his daughter, Indi…
Prolonged school closure during the pandemic drove home (in this case quite literally) the point that kids hanker for school. But if you asked most children what they missed about in-person school, friends, fun and extracurricular activities typically topped their…
Whether a person is left-brained or right-brained is one of the neuromyths that pervade popular culture. Left-brained people are believed to be more logical and analytical, right-brainers are considered to be more creative and emotional. However, the…
That teachers are indispensable and irreplaceable was irrefutably driven home during the pandemic when children were holed up in their homes for two years. Most people would agree that kids are better off in physical schools with in-person instruction ….
According to UNICEF’s website, inclusive education “allows students of all backgrounds to learn and grow side by side, to the benefit of all.” While educational institutions may aspire to this laudable goal, being ‘inclusive’ in the broadest sense of…
What can students do to foster critical thinking in the classroom? That students may blossom into creative and critical thinkers is one of the main tenets of education. Yet, teaching in classrooms continues to follow an old-fashioned delivery model,…
Students should move beyond rote memorisation to “higher-order thinking”. This is a concept recognised by most school boards. Most Indian boards make it a point to include “higher-order thinking” questions in exams, while the IGCSE schools tend to fo…
Does your professor like you? Does he/she think you’re capable? Or, treat you as if you are incompetent? Does your lecturer appreciate your diligence or disapprove of your lackadaisical attitude? Does he/she believe that your tardiness is a personal character…
When Classes 9 and 10 enacted The Merchant of Venice, Tarun received a standing ovation. His authentic and nuanced portrayal of Shylock stunned the audience, who believed the kid was indeed gifted. But a week later, Tarun’s academic report told…
Though we generally believe that teachers teach and students learn, the two fundamental processes that constitute education — teaching and learning — are actually deeply interwoven. The best teachers are those who keep learning and stretching themselves by engaging and…
Aruna Sankaranarayanan is the author of Zero Limits: Things Every 20 Something Should Know. She was the Founder & Director of PRAYATNA, a centre for children with learning difficulties in Bengaluru & Chennai for 22 years.