K12 Digest – India Edition – February 2021 – Most Innovative Schools in Delhi-NCR by Connecta Innovation

SCHOOLS IN DELHI-NCR SPECIAL

INDIA EDITION

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FEATURING INSIDE

DPS INDIRAPURAM

AMANDA AISEN, Executive Director of Education, Academic Approach AMIT AGRAWAL, Co-Founder & CEO, OckyPocky AMIT BANSAL, Founder & CEO, WizKlub ROHIT JAIN, CEO & Co-Founder, DUX Education

MOST INNOVATIVE

DPS RNE GHAZIABAD MODERN PUBLIC SCHOOL MRG SCHOOL PACIFIC WORLD SCHOOL TM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SUMAN MATCHA, Chief Executive Officer, Online Adaptive Knowledge System (OAKS) SURABHI GOEL, CEO – Aditya Birla World Academy, The Aditya Birla Integrated School & Aditya Birla Education Academy YESHWANTH RAJ PARASMAL, Co-Founder & Principal Director, 21K School

FEBRUARY 2021

K12 Digest February 2021

February 2021

Vol - 2 Issue - 2

Schools in Delhi - NCR Special Editor in Chief

Dr. Manoj Varghese

Managing Editor Sarath Shyam

Consultant Editors

Dr. Johny Andrews Andrew Scott Joseph Alex

Naomi Wilson Stanly Lui Emma James

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Art and Design Charlie Jameson

Sales & Marketing

Jennifer Anderson Rachel Roy

Monica Davis Annie Smith

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K12 Digest February 2021

London Connecta Global Ltd. 27, Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX, United Kingdom Bangalore Connecta Innovation Pvt. Ltd. Carlton Towers, Old Airport Road, Bangalore - 560008 India K12 Digest is a digital magazine published by Connecta Innovation Private Limited. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in the content and pictures provided are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Connecta Innovation Private Limited or any of its members and we do not assume any responsibility. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the advertisements, its content, pictures, and all representation of warranties made in such advertisements are those of the advertisers and not of the publisher. K12 Digest is a Free Subscription digital magazine strictly not for sale and has to be strictly for internal private use only. Publisher does not assume any responsibility arising out of anyone printing copy of this digital magazine in any format and in any country and all matters related to that. This cover page has been designed using resources from Freepik.com

MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE

Innovation in Education is More than Just Technology

he world around us is changing at an unprecedented pace. However, the way we teach our kids in schools remains decades old. The changing job landscape, automation, and technology mean that students need to be prepared for jobs that might not yet exist. However, many schools in our country are struggling to stay up to date. The pandemic that instigated remote learning has brought innovation in education as a discussion topic for the nth time. Unfortunately, it remains a hypothetical discussion in most board rooms, wrapped in mystery and often centred around technology far from today’s teaching space. A few schools around the world have proven that innovation does not need to be exotic or unattainable. Indeed, out-of-the-box thinking in school education

is about more than deploying cutting-edge technology. Learning in real-world environments, collaboration with the community, and rejecting social norms are also innovation methods in education and the classroom. By doing so, some of the most innovative schools in the world are breaking all the traditional education rules and are achieving incredible results. In this issue, we have hand-picked the ‘10 Most Innovative Schools in Delhi-NCR’ that are continuously raising the bar when it comes to innovation. In fact, schools in Delhi-NCR are renowned for their facilities and infrastructure, and they have contributed a lot towards making the schools in the city popular nationwide. We hope educators around the country can look at some of the concepts behind these innovative schools and learn from them. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

K12 Digest February 2021

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Chris Wright

Maarit Rossi

Former International School Principal, Former Group Project Director at a World Class Learning Group, Education Consultant - Wright Solutions, United Kingdom

Founder & CEO - Paths to Math Ltd, Former Mathematics Teacher and Principal, Global Teacher Prize Finalist, Finland

Dr. Stuart Grant Colesky Principal, Rundle College, South Africa

Zeljana Radojicic Lukic Exceptional Educator from Serbia, Founder of Association of the Best Teachers of the Former Yugoslavia, Founder of Magical Intercultural Friendship Network, Founder of Creative Magic - Children’s International Festival, Founder of Magic Village, Serbia

Asst. Prof. Dr. Poonsri Vate-U-Lan Assistant Professor in Education, Ph.D. Supervisor and Researcher, Thailand

Stephen Cox

Elena Shramkova

Chief Education Officer, New Nordic School, Finland

English and Literature teacher, Owner of “The Smart Teens Studio of English” in Belgorod, Russia

Liljana Luani Senior Teacher ‘Pashko Vasa’ school Shkodra, Exceptional Volunteer, Albania

Ralph Valenzisi Chief of Digital Learning and Development, Norwalk Public Schools, Connecticut, United States

Hatem Slimane

Servatius (Servee) Palmans Former Director School Administration & Business Operations (Large Education Group), Chief Operating Officer - BBD Education, Dr. Lilian Bacich Netherlands & UAE Senior Educationist, Author, Keynote Speaker, Co-founder Tríade Educacional, Brazil

K12 Digest February 2021

Founder & National President - ATAST, General director of IFEST² the international projects competition in Tunisia, General secretary of MILSET Africa, BRISECC member, Tunisia

Juan Manuel Pico Education Soul Co-founder & HundrED Country Lead Columbia, Columbia

Hidekazu Shoto

Dr. Venus M. Alboruto Angus Duthie

Master Teacher, Researcher, Innovator, Trainer, Philippines

Former Vice President Security (Large Education Group), Former British Army Officer (Airborne Forces), Senior Advisor – Resilience and Crisis Management (Emerald Solutions Group), United Kingdom & UAE

Innovative English and ICT Teacher, Author, Japan

Ian Deakin Deputy Head and Dean of Faculty, Dalton Academy, Beijing, China

Shady Elkassas

Rania Lampou Global Teacher Prize Finalist 2019, 15 International Awards on STEM, STEM Instructor, Educator, Neuroscience Researcher, Trainer & Author, Greece

Assistant Principal, Sharjah American International School, United Arab Emirates

Fethy Letaief Distinguished Senior EFL Teacher, ISA Coordinator with the British Council, Motivational Speaker, Tunisia

Herwin Hamid EdTech Specialist, Speaker and Teacher Trainer, Innovative ICT Educator, ICT learning multimedia developer, Indonesia

Ha Nga Revolutionary English Educator, Globally Connected English Studio - Hanoi, Vietnam

Dr. Leonilo Basas Capulso Master Teacher, Speaker and Researcher, Philippines

Kihyun Park Innovative Educator of Online Classroom, Pungsaeng Middle School, South Korea

Mr. Ngô Thành Nam Technology Academy Manager, Microsoft Learning Consultant, Global Trainer, Vietnam

Dr. Manoj Varghese Senior Director of Strategy & Partnerships – Connecta Education Ltd., Former Global Director - Technology & Risk Management - GEMS Education, Former Regional Committee Member – Varkey Foundation, UK, UAE & India.

K12 Digest February 2021

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K12 Digest February 2021

DPS INDIRAPURAM

Revolutionizing the Indian Education Industry Since Two Decades

MOST INNOVATIVE

DPS RNE GHAZIABAD

Making Self-Reliant and Productive Individuals

MODERN PUBLIC SCHOOL

Preparing students for the life that awaits them

MRG SCHOOL

Laying the Bricks to a Tech-Driven Student-Centric Education System

PACIFIC WORLD SCHOOL

A Happy School Imparting All-Round Education

TM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Educating Students beyond the Syllabus

CONTENTS

K12 Digest February 2021

INDUSTRY VIEWS

IMPORTANCE OF TRANSFORMING INDIA’S EXISTING K12 ECOSYSTEM

WHY IS EDUCATION MUCH MORE THAN JUST A LECTURE?

HOW KIDS CAN BUILD HIGHLY-SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND CAREERS THROUGH MULTILANGUAGE LEARNING

Suman Matcha, Chief Executive Officer, Online Adaptive Knowledge System (OAKS)

Rohit Jain, CEO & Co-Founder, DUX Education

Amit Agrawal, Co-Founder & CEO, OckyPocky

MENTOR’S OPINION

12 IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING SKILLS THAT ARE RELEVANT FOR THE COMING DECADE

Amit Bansal, Founder & CEO, WizKlub

K12 Digest February 2021

ACADEMIC VIEWS

UPSKILLING OF TEACHERS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY IN THE CURRENT TIMES

THE GROWING NEED TO REGULATE ONLINE SCHOOLING

Surabhi Goel, CEO – Aditya Birla World Academy, The Aditya Birla Integrated School & Aditya Birla Education Academy

Yeshwanth Raj Parasmal, Co-Founder & Principal Director, 21K School

BEST PRACTICES

16 THE TESTS MUST GO ON – BUT WE MUST MAKE THEM USEFUL

Amanda Aisen, Executive Director of Education, Academic Approach

CONTENTS

K12 Digest February 2021

MENTOR’S OPINION

Importance of Developing Skills that are Relevant for the Coming Decade Amit Bansal, Founder & CEO, WizKlub

K12 Digest February 2021

We would see more outcomebased learning with the use of more scientific assessments and use of online interventions to augment classroom learning

How do you view the Indian K12 domain? Where does it stand with respect to the rest of the world? Indian K12 space is by far the largest market in terms of the number of students. The Indian K12 education system faces the unique challenge of relevance and quality. While most developed nations have moved to an education system that focuses on developing core skills necessary to succeed in the coming decade, the Indian education system is still obsessed with “knowledge” instead of higher order skills like application, problem-solving, evaluation and productive creativity. Many EdTech players such as BYJUS, Toppr, Vedantu are mainly trying to address the issue of “Quality” by providing a better learner experience around learning subjects like maths and science, the issue of developing core skills for future are largely unaddressed. Studies around the world including the “Future of Jobs” report by the World Economic Forum” list the top skills necessary for being a successful professional

in future as Analytical Thinking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving and Critical Thinking. Unfortunately, in the Indian context, more than 99% of the parents don’t even know their kids’ development on these skills that are going to determine how successful the kids are going to be when they grow-up! As an ed-tech player yourself, how do you think you and your peers can create a difference in K12 education? WizKlub is committed to the cause of developing skills that are relevant for the coming decade. Most of these skills can be easily developed in the early years, starting as early as five years. The need of the hour is to be aware of what these skills are and how we can help our children develop these skills as parents and educators. I see that lot of our peers also understand how critical it is to develop these skills but sometimes tend to focus more on what the parent would buy easily compared to focusing on what is really good

K12 Digest February 2021

for the child. However, I see a lot of new-age edtech firms focussing on skill-based learning compared to rote or practice-based science and maths learning.

WizKlub is a Bengaluru based ed-tech startup that builds cognitive excellence for school children through its HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) and SmartTech programs. WizKlub’s Founder and CEO, Amit Bansal, is a serial entrepreneur with over a decade of startup experience across three Ed-Tech ventures; and ten years of corporate experience across strategy, business development, technology, product management and marketing for consumer and enterprise technology products across India and North America. His earlier ventures include Xcelerator and PurpleLeap. In an exclusive interaction with K12 Digest, Amit Bansal talks about the Indian K12 Education System, the impact of technology, his thoughts on NEP 2020 and many more.

K12 Digest February 2021

What are some of the trends that you predict the K12 education domain will see in 2021? We see that technology adoption even by schools and school educators in the coming year. Last year was the first year when parents actually got to see what happens in a classroom, and it was not a very rosy picture! Even the so-called marquee schools were exposed to mediocracy of learning imparted in the classroom. Most of the schools have realised the value of using technology to deliver a higher quality of learning experiences for the students. This year, we see the emergence of hybrid learning when schools finally re-open their physical classrooms to students. We would see more outcome-based learning with the use of more scientific assessments and use of online interventions to augment classroom learning. This year, we see the parents would be splitting their kids learning paths between online and offline learning. Extra-curricular activities that require high touch, such as sports and performing arts like dance and music, would largely be done in offline classes. However, in co-curricular programs such as critical and creative thinking programs, coding classes, robotics, the design would be done largely in an online mode. Essentially, programs that deliver higher value when conducted online would continue to be delivered online instead of moving back to a neighbourhood centre which has limited efficacy. What degree of impact do you think AI can make in K12 education? AI is going to impact lot of areas in education. In theory, all of us agree that each child is unique and has her set of abilities that can make her shine like a star. However, the only way to identify the unique set of abilities and create a custom path matched to the interest and abilities of an individual learner can only be done through AI.

At WizKlub, we start by identifying the ability of every child and create unique personalised learning path based on the same. This approach gives us an extremely high learning efficacy as each learner gets challenged at the right level making learning fun and engaging at the same time.

Personalised learning is the most effective way to make a learner realise her potential

There are lot of other areas where AI would bring in efficiencies as well. Automating tasks such as evaluating formative assessments to identify gaps in learning not only saves a lot of teacher time for more student engagement, it also provides high level of accuracy and predictability. Similarly, conversational AI also would bring in huge value where every student would be able to have an extended version of the teacher on voice assistants like Alexa. WizKlub predicts that conversational AI would be the next big wave in learning and is investing in making all its offering enabled through conversational AI as well.

What are your views on personalised online learning? How can we ensure its effectiveness when it comes to young students? Personalised learning is the most effective way to make a learner realise her potential. There are 2 primary aspects that need to be considered while personalising the experience- Interest and Ability. There need to be an ongoing assessment of both interest and ability and the learning path needs to be dynamically adjusted. Whether it is a young student or a person in fifties, the learner never realises that the path is personalised. The learner just keeps getting learning interventions that keep the learner interested and the learning efficacious. It is hard for an individual teacher to give such personalised learning experience without using technology. AI actually creates unique learner profiles and can practically create unique learning paths for each of those profiles. The role of the teacher needs to be reimagined to be that of a facilitator of learning than someone who is disseminating knowledge. Do you think NEP 2020 will create waves of change in 2021? Would you please elaborate your thoughts on this? NEP 2020 is a great intent in the right direction. The policy recognises the need to bring these skills at the heart of learning process rather than focusing on the amount of knowledge memorised. However, the current school system is designed for disseminating knowledge rather than build skills. The current format of the classroom is “teacher talks” and “student listens”. Skills, however, require the learner to “experience” than to just “hear or see”. Critical Thinking, logical and creative thinking are skills that a learner acquires by going through the experience of going through these skills. I take the analogy of swimming. One can learn about swimming by watching videos but in order to develop the skill of swimming, one needs to go through the experience of going into the water. Our current education system is more geared towards teaching students “about swimming” than “how to swim”. NEP 2020 is a step in the right direction. However, it is difficult to predict the timeframe by when it would be fully implemented in its spirit.

K12 Digest February 2021

BEST PRACTICES

The Tests Must Go On – But We Must Make Them Useful Amanda Aisen, Executive Director of Education, Academic Approach

K12 Digest February 2021

Unequal access to opportunities already exists in our educational system, and has been exacerbated by the pandemic

ducation unions, school leaders and state governments across the country are beginning to request waivers from the annual standardized tests students are scheduled to take this spring. These tests, which are mandated under the main federal K-12 education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, are designed to measure schools’ performance and determine which districts need more public education funds. The specific content, format, and usage of these tests may vary from state to state. However, the reason for requesting exemptions is the same: COVID. All states received waivers to eliminate these tests in spring 2020, and as we head into 2021, schools, districts, and states are considering their usefulness once again. Advocates for the waivers say that the disruptions the pandemic has caused in schools-beginning last spring and continuing this fall-make it impossible to get a clear read on how much students have progressed academically. As one superintendent in Colorado put it, “Our

assessments are designed for an education system that doesn’t exist [this year].” If students haven’t been able to learn, the logic goes, how can we hold schools and teachers accountable? Few can argue with that--which is why (presuming we can administer the tests safely for students, teachers, and support staff this spring), rather than issue blanket waivers to skip testing altogether, we should remove the “accountability” from these assessments and offer states more flexibility in how they are used. For example, results should not be used to determine which schools or teachers are failing or trigger any kind of “turnaround’’ or takeover process. For example, it’s not fair for a lowincome school district to have funding cut because students couldn’t access online classes because of connectivity or other access issues and scored lower on the tests as a result. Unequal access to opportunities already exists in our educational system, and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. We already know

K12 Digest February 2021

Amanda Aisen is the Executive Director of Education at Academic Approach, a tutoring service that empowers students and educators from all backgrounds to grow scores, skills, and confidence both on and beyond standardized tests.

K12 Digest February 2021

lower-income students are less likely to have access to high-quality instruction right now. Penalizing these students (or the schools and districts tasked with supporting them) for demonstrating this fact would be inequitable. Nevertheless, the tests themselves must go on. The tests can and should be used to collect and implement high-quality feedback on where students are compared to where we want them to be at this point in their academic careers. Teachers can use this feedback to support students’ success in the next grade and beyond in order to advance equity in our schools and respond to evidence of learning loss. Why? Standardized tests are one of the only ways we have left to monitor students’ progress during this critical time, when students are losing between seven and 14 months’ worth of learning. The National Assessment of Educational Progress tests, known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” were canceled last spring and canceled again this fall, leaving the country with little idea of how far behind typical progress students may have fallen. That makes it all the more important for states to administer standardized tests this spring, in spite of the challenges. Without them, how can we know how far down the COVID slide students have

Standardized tests can provide us with a critical window into new inequities and discrepancies in student achievement that are emerging in the COVID era

slipped? Or which students need the most help, and in what areas they most need it? We must make adjustments to the way the tests are given and used to make them more effective this year. Teachers need transparent and timely access to the test itself and students’ results in order to provide feedback to students, identify and interpret gaps, and adjust plans. Historically, many standardized test providers have blocked access to the test content and have not provided results until many months after the tests were administered. Given the critical need for information on student progress, this is unacceptable. In order for teachers to be able to use test information as productive feedback on their instruction (which research has shown can be a powerful instructional tool), they need to see student strengths and deficits clearly and quickly. Schools will need time and

support to develop specific, actionable plans for using the data they receive. Standardized tests can provide us with a critical window into new inequities and discrepancies in student achievement that are emerging in the COVID era. Of course, they don’t solve the problem, but they can offer directional insight for both instructional and governmental solutions that can. The tests will likely uncover more significant issues of educational equity than we have seen in the past; we must be prepared to provide the funding and policy solutions to provide schools, teachers, and families with the tools to address those issues. Standardized testing may not be the first priority for schools this spring, as they emerge from the tumult of last year. However, the potential cost of not administering these tests is considerable.

K12 Digest February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

K12 Digest February 2021

ndian has one of the largest K12 education sectors across the world, with about 24.61% of the total population of 1.33 billion falling under the 3-18 years range. With a gross enrolment ratio of 69.25% and the tally of students receiving school education in India standing at 230 million, the school education sector can be rightly identified as one of the most crucial elements towards the growth and development of the youngest population in the world. These details are quite visible to the various government arms in India tasked with ensuring quality education is easily accessible to all, and the government has been tirelessly working towards reforms in school education. With initiatives like the CBSE making board results directly available on Google, the Delhi government introducing the happiness, cleanliness, and special curricula in government schools, and the government removing detention and limiting the maximum permissible weight of school bags, it is clear that reforms in K12 education are a top priority for the Indian government. From noisy classrooms and fun-filled lunch breaks, group learning activities to extra-curricular activities involving arts and sports, schools have been synonymous with the bustling student-teacher activity, an aspect of school life that has been the cornerstone of education. COVID-19 has jolted that foundation for good. Just like work, travel, and entertainment, education has changed overnight due to the global health crisis-induced lockdown. The present situation has allowed the digital transformation of the education system and starting 2021, the future will not only witness virtual classrooms but also parent-teacher interactions on virtual platforms whenever needed. New-age schools and edtech players will be playing a big role in improving the overall learning experience of students and the efficacy of the education system. The coming future is not only exciting but also empowering, as it gives a promise of limitless possibilities for life-long learning for everyone. Paving the way for the rise of technological advances in education, K12 Digest brings to you “10 Most Innovative Schools in Delhi-NCR” that are transforming the K12 learning space in the North and the country as a whole.

K12 Digest February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

Name Delhi Public School

Faridabad, Haryana

Delhi Public School Indirapuram

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Delhi Public School RNE

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Doon Public School

New Delhi, Delhi

Jeevan Public School

New Delhi, Delhi

Modern Public School

New Delhi, Delhi

MRG School

Pacific World School

T M International school

Vasant Valley School

Location

K12 Digest February 2021

Rohini, Delhi

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Bharatpur, Rajasthan

New Delhi, Delhi

K12 Digest Sept-Oct 2020 K12 Digest February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

DPS

INDIRAPURAM REVOLUTIONIZING THE INDIAN EDUCATION INDUSTRY SINCE TWO DECADES

ax McKeown, an English writer, consultant, and researcher, once beautifully quoted, “Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, not many schools and educational institutions in India have ensured to master this art of adaptability. Standing tall amidst this crowd is Delhi Public School (DPS) Indirapuram, a premier school under the aegis of the Delhi Public School Society, which has adapted not just to cope but win over the drastic impact of COVID-19.

K12 Digest February 2021

Taken by surprise initially, DPS Indirapuram later soared ahead with success amidst the pandemic due to its two decades of legacy in the education industry, highly experienced faculty members, and a strong IT team that rendered seamless support. “On hearing about the news of Janta curfew, we decided to go online as we could foresee it would not end very soon. From 27th March, five days after Janta curfew, we started online classes for the 10th and 12th. From 1st April, online classes from standard 3rd to 12th were on in a full-fledged manner,” shares Sangeeta Hajela, Principal, DPS Indirapuram. Post a short summer

Established in the year 2003, DPS Indirapuram aims to provide a conducive environment to stimulate each child’s intellectual growth, thereby ensuring that their energy is properly channelized in the right direction

K12 Digest February 2021

Sangeeta Hajela, Principal Sangeeta Hajela, Principal DPS Indirapuram, is a dynamic academician with 34 years of experience as a senior English teacher, Headmistress, Vice Principal and Principal. After completing her BA (Honours) in English Literature from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, she post-graduated in English from Delhi University. She obtained a Degree in Education from the Central Institute of Education, Delhi University. She has an ear for music and a penchant for composing poems on specific situations and people in Hindi and English. Sangeeta’s ability to connect with people of all age groups and her willingness to reach out with empathy to one and all indeed make her a leader with qualities of the head and heart. Practical, down-to-earth and solution-centric, she is an approachable friend and a guide to all. An empowered woman of substance, Sangeeta inspires the school’s 6400 students and around 300 teachers to reach new peaks of success.

K12 Digest February 2021

break in June 2020, students from classes Nursery to 2nd were resumed with online classes with a maximum strength of 20 per class. No wonder the school resonates with its tagline – “Soaring High… We reach for the sky!” Hybrid Model Currently, DPS Indirapuram has adopted a hybrid-model were both teachers and students are equally comfortable with the technology. To make its students stand out from the rest, DPS adheres to a specific benchmark, and an academic curriculum (affiliated to CBSE) focussed on enhancing their skillsets and knowledge. The school plans on allocating extra hours in the form of doubt sessions every Sunday for students to engage more proactively on the academic front. “We even conducted one-on-one Parent Teachers Meetings as it became the need of the hour. We have a total strength of 6400 students, and a team of teachers managed and conducted these sessions with parents for 20-22 days,” claims Sangeeta. For the next session, the school has chalked-out PTMs that ought to be held alternatively online and offline across different time slots, lectures on Financial Management for students organized by willing parents who are Chartered Accountants, and motivational sessions for parents as well. This way, a combined effort is invested both from parents and teachers’ end to nurture students for a bright future. Beyond Just Education! DPS Indirapuram always focused beyond educational attainment for students! Even during the pandemic, the school assured to conduct co-curricular activities and

K12 Digest February 2021

physical education classes on Zoom successfully for its students to stay both mentally and physically active. Thanks to its ace team of 350 staff members who are well-trained for their roles in a larger aspect. The school also aims to overcome the challenge of fee collection from parents hoping that they would comprehend the struggles it was going through and the appropriate efforts taken by each staff member to overcome them. “With the gradual opening of school, we have also ensured COVID tests of our entire staff team at an interval of 10 days,” adds Sangeeta. On the other side, for students aspiring to pursue engineering, medical or any other course from foreign universities, DPS Indirapuram has a dedicated system that includes a 100% acceptance rate of students into colleges. From class 9th, its team of counsellors helps students differentiate between multiple higher education courses and opt for the best one based on their skillsets and interest. Besides, an exceptional group of experts guides the students for overseas education, competitive exams, and other aspects. Infusing Creative Instincts A fleet of clubs such as Photography, Music, Art, Digital Media, Sports, IT, TedX, and others at DPS Indirapuram allow students to engage in various extracurricular

K12 Digest February 2021

activities apart from academics. Besides, walls painted with graffiti art by creative students, functions like debates, sports matches, concerts, and others handled by young and enthusiastic photographers, digital media team coordinating with photography club during events and posting them on school’s social media, and editorial team handling content production, portray the creative instincts of students at DPS. Sangeeta opines, “There are endless possibilities for students in our school. Our teachers are always present to monitor their work and give it a better shape.” They say hard work always pays off! Many students from DPS Indirapuram are currently studying in reputed foreign universities such as CMU (USA), TUFTS (USA), MIT, and others with 100% scholarships. An All India Rank (204) Holder in IIT-JEE Advanced, All India 3rd Rank Holder in CBSE Class 10th and Class 12th Board Exams, National Level Gold Medallist in Badminton, International Winner in Swimming, and many more students have brought enormous fame to the school. Not just its students, DPS Indirapuram has also grabbed various awards and accomplishments. Recently, the school was awarded as the Top CBSE School in India for Individual Attention by an esteemed institution – Education Today. Besides, the school was awarded the Top School & Pre-School in International, Boarding,

DPS Indirapuram provides a comprehensive academic curriculum supported by an instruction system that encourages children to be logical, analytical, creative and communicative

CBSE, ICSE, State, Boys & Girls categories out of over 2375 Survey Forms received by the Education Today team. The participating schools have been categorized under 10 Parameters such as Academic Reputation, Individual Attention, Infrastructure Provision, Innovative Teaching, Safety & Hygiene, Sports Education, Value for Money, Holistic Development, Leadership Management Quality, and Co-curricular Activities. The Overall Picture DPS Indirapuram holds a class size of 40 students per class and a student-teacher ratio of 1:18. “Every department has specific categories of students wherein challengers, leaders and initiators are the major categories. A distinctive teacher focuses on these categories of students separately,” pinpoints Sangeeta. The school offers additional attention and doubt sessions for students who take time to grasp to achieve good grades. This way, every school activity occurs under a plan while diverse department coordinators strive to strategize the project based on students’ class performance and skillset. Behind DPS Indirapuram’s success lies its adept and experienced teachers whose qualifications ought to adhere to the government proposed norms. They are hired based on a structured screening process which includes written tests, class demo, and interview with

the management. “Only teachers with high calibre and potential to make a positive difference in the students’ learning are chosen. We give training workshops to our teachers in the summer break and also throughout the year, based on their subjects,” explains Sangeeta. The road ahead will be a year of implementation and execution for DPS Indirapuram as 2020 plans were slowed down or put on hold due to remote learning. But in 2021, the school aims to work on Saturdays wherein every weekend will be doubt session and conduct interactions, workshops and training sessions for teachers and students. “We have divided the coming two years in 2-3 phases. Phase 1 for our students will focus on preparing them in such a manner on the academic front that there remains no need for additional tuitions or coaching classes. We are aggressively working on teacher’s training and development as well,” shares Sangeeta. With an annual calendar in place to streamline the entire process, DPS Indirapuram is also envisioning to implement an initiative for parents. The school will ask parents to meet the school’s counsellor and engage in interactions for their child’s holistic growth and development.

K12 Digest February 2021

INDUSTRY VIEWS

Importance of Transforming India’s Existing K12 Ecosystem Suman Matcha, Chief Executive Officer, Online Adaptive Knowledge System (OAKS)

K12 Digest February 2021

Availability of affordable technology devices (gadgets) and connectivity(internet) has turned out to be the helping hand to students in this digital transformation era

If there was no lockdown due to pandemic, what would have been the situation of digital transformation in the Indian education sector? How has COVID-19 accelerated its growth? India has been heading towards a better place on a global pedestal by digitalisation. In the process, digitising education plays a crucial role in upgrading the nation’s stature, which remains an inevitable matter of fact. In the year 2020, when the pandemic hit a wave across the globe, eventually every happening has ceased at a point. With an idea to not let the situation show its adverse effects on students’ learning process, which would have drastic consequences, every academic organisation in India has enforced the online/digital learning atmosphere. COVID 19 have helped digital learning to leap forward by 3-4 years statistically. It has crossed a series of multipliers in a very short span. The areas brushed upon to drive this growth include improving the calibre of teacher, online adaptive education services, upgradation in the byte-sized video content of complicated topics. What are the benefits for educational institutions from digital transformation? Digital transformation helps in transforming the institution from a teacher-centric approach to studentcentric approach. It is the only means to implement blended learning/flip classroom, which helps impart 21stcentury skills to students.

Self-Paced Learning: With blended learning, the learner can plan their learning according to their time schedule, which provides them with a lot more flexibility compared to a F2F classroom environment Increased Student Engagement: Blended learning can be empowered by digital platforms which leverage ML to identify “areas of improvement” and maintain “leader boards” for students, which would allow teachers to identify specific areas of learning for students, leading to a more personal learning experience Digital Resources for Blended Learning: Lesson planning backed with byte-sized digital resources and assignments. Digital educational resources mapped to the curriculum to be used by teachers and students. Customised learning: With the help of analytics, teachers can identify the strengths and weaknesses of each student and can make instructional decisions for differentiated learning of students with different learning curves. What is the most important factor that leads education institutions to successful transformations? Availability of affordable technology devices (gadgets) and connectivity(internet) has turned out to be the helping hand to students in this digital transformation era. This

K12 Digest February 2021

The vision of Suman Matcha, CEO of Online Adaptive Knowledge System (OAKS)), is to provide a quality education through advanced teaching aids enabled by technology to students worldwide. After spending a considerable time learning about new-age education tools by visiting companies across India and Singapore, he wanted to make a difference in the learning experience for students in India. A graduate from the University of West Virginia, Suman pursued his Masters in Pervasive Computing. While working with “Expeditors”, he found his true calling in education and returned to India to help make education better for young minds. In a conversation with Higher Education Digest, Suman talks about the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian education sector, benefits for educational institutions from digital transformation, digital transformation trends to follow in 2021 and much more.

existing option is now a boon for students who can access the widespread learning just at the click of the finger. Past COVID, as teachers will be digitally equipped, adapting to newer digital solutions is a cakewalk. Empowerment of prime teachers acquainting them to online education systems is an X factor in enhancing education strategies. Good teachers pave the path for the flying colours of students by giving undistributed focus to the students. Policy changes like NEP 2020 state that key overall thrust of curriculum and pedagogy reform all stages to move the education system towards a real understanding of any learning. To unlearn rote learning as it is largely present today. Spotlighting on imparting 21st-century skills, as 65% of children entering primary school would end up working in altogether new job frames that would mushroom in the near future. Critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving top the list of skills that employers believe will grow to prominence in the coming 5 – 10 years.

K12 Digest February 2021

Why should education institutions consider OAKS as a partner in their digital transformation journey? OAKS (Online Adaptive Knowledge System) is a tool for teachers, practice and learning tool for students. OAKS looks forth to empower teachers and assist them through the walk of the digital transformation. At the comfort of their own space, the teachers would be able to teach, assess the abilities and finetune students in the areas of highest potential by keeping track of students’ performance data and a lot more. The app makes it effortless for teachers to explain the most complicated topics of the academics. The byte-sized videos available are beneficial to the students considering the child’s attention span by making the topic consumable by the students within that brief period. Using OAKS practices /analytics, teachers can make instructional decisions for differentiated learning of students with different learning curves.

The accessibility and affordability to quality education have significant barriers to unlock the Children’s potential

OAKS immediate feedback and scores are helpful in the blended learning environment because it saves time for teachers. Based on suggestions of OAKS, they can design/ assign learning objects for the extension of learning for the students with multiple aptitudes. Teachers can assess and provide actionable feedback. With the help of continuous practices in OAKS, teachers have unlimited access to assist students through the entire process giving them feedback along the way. They have a flexible environment that allows them to make changes as needed. What inspired you to start an Online Adaptive Learning System? The accessibility and affordability to quality education have significant barriers to unlock the Children’s potential. India’s existing K12 ecosystem is not effective, and it needs to be disrupted. Parents and students started relying on supplementary resources to bridge gaps of academics from the classroom. Teacher shortages, poor teacher training,

and disparities in teacher-student ratios across geographies, disparities in access to quality education due to varying costs of education, and absence of pedagogy. 25% of students experimented cannot read basic text fluently in any language, including their own. 47% cannot read the basic text in the English language and an equal number of children struggle with foundation issues. Students cannot really solve basic divisions. Summarising, • Lack of personal attention and poor teaching pedagogy • Value relative to the cost of the education • Lack of standards EdTech can provide personalised learning paths and instant feedback on student performance besides allowing the flexibility in learning and Standard Content. Adapting the students to Digital education leads to the democratisation of education, bridging gaps in access to quality education and addressing key student pain points. Therefore, we have launched OAKS – Online Adaptive Knowledge System.

K12 Digest February 2021

The integration of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to the content to make the conceptual learning more interesting and engaging

What are some of the most innovative developments in Ed-Tech right now? What are the key digital transformation trends to follow in 2021? The integration of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to the content to make the conceptual learning more interesting and engaging. Deepened technology - Use of artificial intelligence for insights, predictions & recommendation is the apple of the eye among digital innovations shining the education technology. Few include, 1) ML to assess the subjective questions answered by students. 2) AI to assess the projects videos submitted by the students. 3) ML to accurately analyse and customise the learning path and design modules for the students to master the skill sets. TRENDS: In 2021, you can see blended learning models being adapted by schools in a big way, as they are set to reopen in this year after the pandemic. You can see a shift towards online coaching for competitive exams to continue.

K12 Digest February 2021

A surge in education budget 2021 for digital transformation to comprehend the new education policy introduced in 2020. What are the exciting things can we expect from OAKS in the next 5 years? As NEP 2020 focuses on vocational courses along with academics, to make the students harness their potentials, multidimensional skill set can now be acquired by the student with regards to their interests and skills required. NEP emphasises experiential learning for students with the help of internships being introduced from grades 6 – 12. OAKS offers various courses (academic + vocational) customised for every individual as per their interests and levels of understanding. OAKS is a one-stop-shop for students to gain mastery over the skill sets which meet their academic standards. In our roadmap we would be working closely with industry for designing the vocational courses alongside a platform for the students to apply for the internships offered by the industry based on OAKS courses, to bridge the gap between the human resources and the shortage of skilled employees. OAKS aims to eradicate unemployment by priming human resources, making them industry-ready.

K12 Digest February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

DPS RNE

GHAZIABAD MAKING SELFRELIANT AND PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS

ith its global network of over 200 English medium, coeducational, secular schools providing education from PreNursery to Class XII, the Delhi Public School Society has produced a long list of successful personalities. Society’s progressive approach and commitment towards excellence have helped the schools stand as citadels of learning and harbingers of quality, consciousness committed to developing young minds. Carrying forward the legacy of

K12 Digest February 2021

excellence in education, DPS RN Extension, located in Ghaziabad, rolls ahead as a progressive educational institution, keeping pace with the changing time and catering to contemporary society’s needs. When the pandemic disrupted education worldwide, DPS RNE could quickly find solutions, as it has always been in the state of preparedness and has a contingency plan for any problem. “The pandemic had affected all in the education sector, but DPS RNE was the first among the few to start the online instruction on the very first day of the new academic session,” shares Pallavi Upadhyaya,

Carrying forward the legacy of excellence in education, DPS R.N. Extension rolls ahead as a progressive educational institution, keeping pace with the changing time and caters to the needs of contemporary society

K12 Digest February 2021

Principal, DPS RNE Ghaziabad. When the doors of institutions were closed for regular classes, the instructions to students were switched to online mode. The teachers had to unlearn, relearn and upgrade their teaching techniques. Pallavi adds, “Our teachers had undergone technical training which involved teaching tools of conducting online classes. They were able to adapt to the new method with alacrity.” DPS believes in the motto of ‘Service before Self’ and follows that philosophy. The school has already reduced the monthly fees and has offered 50 per cent off for siblings with zero admission fee. Even though the students were at home and in confinement during the lockdown and after, the school and the faculty were in constant touch with them. “We counselled our students regularly and monitored their academic progress closely. The online classes were made as enjoyable as possible, and the syllabus was completed with ease. The activities and assemblies which had been planned before lockdown were carried out in an exciting and unique manner,” explains Pallavi. Education in the Post-Pandemic World As the pandemic has catalyzed the evolution of teaching-learning methodologies, DPS RNE has decided to adopt a hybrid method of instructions. “This would help us to avoid loss of school days due to closure on the grounds of religious or climatic reasons as whenever needed we can switch on to the online mode of instructions. We

K12 Digest February 2021

Pallavi Upadhyaya, Principal A postgraduate in Zoology, Pallavi Upadhyaya has more than 20 years of experience in the teaching and administrative department. Prior to the Principal of DPS – Raj Nagar Extension, she has worked as the Principal, Delhi Public School, Civil Lines Aligarh from April 2013 to September 2014 and continued as the Principal, Delhi Public School, Aligarh from October 2014 till June 2017. She was also appointed as a Member of the Inspection Committee to a number of schools and was a City Coordinator to Conduct the UGC NET from 2015 to 2017.

K12 Digest February 2021

have prepared our students to accept change and become strong enough to face adversities of any nature,” states Pallavi. The school also involves parents in preparing their children for various online cultural activities. Besides, DPS RNE arranges regular parenting and career workshops to keep them abreast of all the developments that are taking place in the educational sector. At DPS RNE, a class has 25 students, with a studentteacher ratio is 20:1. The school identifies slow learners and arranges for special classes to clear the concept they have difficulty understanding. Pallavi claims, “We follow different methods such as research, debate, art integration and many more to explain a concept. The students are

K12 Digest February 2021

allowed to choose the method that interests them most. In short, we have migrated from pedagogical (teacher-led) to Heutagogical (student-centric) approach.” DPS RNE has a pool of trained teachers holding postgraduate degrees. The institute also encourages the teachers to attend various professional workshops suitable to their profile. Finding Success in a Short Span At DPS RNE, the students are encouraged to take part in various intra-school and interschool competitions. With support from teachers who act as mentors to achieve good results, students have brought accolades to school through their achievements and innovations.

“Our students have made us proud by winning accolades in MUN conducted by other schools and have won the best school trophy. They have also won international event such as the World Scholars Cup, national debating events like Behes and IT related competitions known as INFINITUS,” shares Pallavi. DPS RNE students have also excelled in football, cricket, basketball, shooting, skating and swimming. On the other side, despite being a young institution, DPS RNE has won many accolades and recognitions. The most recent one is the International Dimension in Schools, an

accreditation given by the British Council on account of the school’s activities after being approved by the British Council. The school has also been awarded ‘Green Certificate’ by Green School Programme under the aegis of the Centre for Science and Environment. Now, the school’s focus is on preparing to bridge the learning gaps which had occurred due to the pandemic. “We are gearing up to hold each child’s hand to help him/her sail forward with positivity and new aspirations. We are dedicating this year to Waste Transformers and help the students to understand and appreciate the wealth of our natural resources and teach them to reuse, reduce, repurpose and recycle the resources available to us,” concludes Pallavi.

K12 Digest February 2021

ACADEMIC VIEWS

Upskilling of Teachers an Absolute Necessity in the Current Times Surabhi Goel, CEO – Aditya Birla World Academy, The Aditya Birla Integrated School & Aditya Birla Education Academy

K12 Digest February 2021

The tools to learning have evolved beyond recognition in the recent past and especially during the pandemic

Why should we upskill our teachers? I think this is the most redundant question we can ask! Would you agree to get yourself operated by a surgeon who uses age old methods of treatment? Or hire a lawyer who has not studied the latest provisions of law? Or let a Chartered Accountant file your returns if he has qualified 15 years ago and not bothered to upskill himself? Then why do we allow teachers to teach the same thing, in the exact same fashion year after year? Alas, that we are still asking this question itself highlights the problem. In India we revere knowledge. If someone accidently drops a book on the floor, you would often see the person touch the book to his or her forehead. Similarly, we worship our teachers, our Gurus. However, we do not want to invest resources- both time and money on them. Isn’t that really counter-intuitive? Why the need? The primary role of a teacher is twofold- to spark the imagination and creativity of a child and to provide a

safe and happy environment conducive to learning. This role has not changed over the years. Why then, one would ask, do teachers need to change their methodology? This is because the students have changed over the years. The challenges they face, both while growing up and in the future that we need to prepare them for, are a far cry from what our generation has grown up with. 1. The tools to learning have evolved beyond recognition in the recent past and especially during the pandemic. Virtual schools are a norm. The educators however are not prepared for this reality. Yes, it may be easy to deliver a lecture online but that would be a one-way interaction. The teachers need to unlearn and relearn the skills of virtual classrooms dynamics. They have to be exposed to a variety of online tools- both as teaching options and also to conduct meaningful summative and formative exams. 2. Students have to undergo a myriad range of issues such as depression, loneliness, single family and single child syndrome. Peer pressure, body shaming and cyber bullying is on the rise. School for

K12 Digest February 2021

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Surabhi Goel brings with her 18 years of experience across finance, project management, operations, budgeting, branding & marketing. She has worked at large multinational organisations such as Arthur Andersen and ICICI Bank. During her yearlong teaching stint at an MBA college, she realised that she was passionate about the education sector. Her keen interest in the field of education then drove her to work with Zee Learn, where she set up their first international school in Mumbai. Currently, she is the CEO at Aditya Birla World Academy, The Aditya Birla Integrated School and Aditya Birla Education Academy, ventures of the Aditya Birla Education Trust.

children is a home away from home. The teachers have a huge role to play in identifying the symptoms of mental health issues and providing support and care before the issue spirals out of control. Unfortunately, they are woefully ill equipped to manage such situations. 3. Further, there is data that ADHD are on the rise. I envisage that soon we will not have special educators or counsellors separately in school. In fact, every teacher would have to be encouraged to accept and deal with children with varied learning and emotional difficulties. Let us remember, ‘Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.’ We will need to continuously grow to embrace this change. Challenges 1. Paucity of time- Most teachers in India are young females, often between the ages of 25-40 years with a full load of responsibilities at home. Already trying to juggle these two roles they are left with little time to invest in self growth. 2. Financial Constraints- The teachers are often poorly paid and find it difficult to invest in expensive programs.

K12 Digest February 2021

3. No tangible benefits- The teachers often do not see any tangible benefits (promotion etc.) for doing a professional development course. The Way Forward The NEP has very rightly proposed that all in service teachers would need to undergo minimum 50 hours of training every year. While this too is inadequate, at least it is a start. I would urge schools and institutions everywhere to set aside time and money for training their teachers. Schools should conduct detailed school audits to identify the gaps at the school level and also at an individual teacher level. Even a good teacher could, with a little guidance and a little nudge become a great teacher. Teachers who display a growth mind-set and invest in professional development, should be celebrated and given a more challenging role or moulded to get into a leadership role. In the words of Brian Tracy, “Dedicate yourself to continuous personal improvement, you are your most precious resource.”

K12 Digest February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

MODERN PUBLIC SCHOOL PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE LIFE THAT AWAITS THEM

ver the last few years, the education sector has experienced a digital revolution that has transformed the lives of young learners. On the one hand, if flip classes have provided an added advantage. On the other hand, Edmodo, the open-source learning platform, has given leverage to the teaching-learning process. Modern Public School (MPS) has worked to incorporate the same teaching mechanisms over the years. “At MPS, we ensure that every student receives best-in-class content and personalized instructions. The school

K12 Digest February 2021

facilitates cloud learning so that quality education goes unrestricted in physically bound classrooms,” says Alka Kapur, Principal, Modern Public School. Other than digitization in education, MPS also lays stress on life skills teaching. Quality circle, Open House Discussions, Special Assemblies dedicated to Global issues, Exhibitions & Grand displays, Project-based Presentations are a few out of many teaching pedagogies that the school follows to let the students openly express their views and concerns on matters of contention. Setting up the Atal Tinkering Laboratories in the school under the aegis of the Government of India is a

Modern Public School provides a balanced environment through critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and intercultural understanding

K12 Digest February 2021

testimony that the motive of the deliverance of education at MPS is to ignite the spark of curiosity by reiterating how to think instead of what to think. The innovative pedagogies implemented in the school have paved the way from traditional rote learning to skill-based learning and hence, are preparing the students for life ahead. Impact of Covid-19 on Education Sector The entire education system underwent a complete overhaul in the wake of the pandemic. While the focus remains centred on providing top-notch education to students so they can realize their potential, schools will be adopting different and more efficient mechanisms for

K12 Digest February 2021

achieving these goals. The future education system will be an amalgamation of blended mode as well as experiential learning. The New Education Policy (NEP 2020) will also play a significant role in charting a new course for imparting education. Modular learning, academic bank of credit, focus on vocational learning, project-based learning, and an overall future-oriented approach to teaching will transform the education landscape forever. “As an educational institution that has always focused on preparing its students for the life that awaits them, we welcome these changes. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure they are implemented at the soonest and in the most effective way possible,” adds Alka.

Alka Kapur, Principal “Happiness quotient is the first prerequisite for a child to blossom,” says Ms Alka Kapur, Principal, Modern Public School. With an illustrious career of 32 years, Ms Alka Kapur has provided selfless service to Modern Public School and has taken it to new heights. She is among the Top 50 Edu Leaders in India, and her school, Modern Public School, has been featured in Forbes India Marquee Edition, The Great Indian Schools. Ms Alka Kapur is also well renowned for the CSR program, Roti Bank, and her futuristic initiative toward ‘Green’ school.

K12 Digest February 2021

For Modern Public School, the impact of Covid-19 was much lesser because even before the lockdown came into effect, MPS was a Microsoft School. However, students’ mental well-being remained the prime concern at MPS, as the lockdown was very difficult for some students to handle. To counter these adverse effects, the school organized webinars at regular intervals to interact with students and keep a check on their mental health. The school also established a counselling cell and launched Muskurahat, a 24/7 hotline, where children could vent out their emotions and feel better on an emotional level. Delivering the best for children development MPS takes pride in being a bridge for students’ progress. Shedding light on MPS’ journey to date, Alka says, “We always aim to direct and guide our students to excel at every level.

Under the inspiring tutelage and leadership of Ms Alka, the school has marched ahead in full stride, tall and proud, and scaled many peaks

K12 Digest February 2021

The teachers play the role of a friend, a philosopher, and guide, urging and motivating the students to always believe that nothing is impossible if you have unshakable dedication towards your goal. MPS is a great place to study as the happiness quotient of each child is the priority of every stakeholder of the school.” The school provides a balanced environment through critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and inter-cultural understanding. Project-based research, excursions, reallife case studies, simulation of real-life situations are just a few of many techniques employed to build core competencies amongst the children. Experiential learning at MPS caters to the overhauling of the 4 Cs, including communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity amongst students. Further, to ensure that parents are equally part of their children’s development, MPS conducts regular activities to keep the parents up-to-date with their wards’ progress and advises them on how they too can help their children realize their full potential. The MPS team periodically organizes webinars for counselling the parents and organizes parent-teacher meetings to make sure that parents are thoroughly involved in the different school activities. Also, understanding the important role that teachers perform for a child’s development, MPS offers regular workshops and in-service training programs for professional development to its teachers. This is a win-win strategy as it helps the teachers advance in their careers and helps the students as they get an opportunity to learn from the best teachers in practice. Marching on even amidst pandemic Shedding light on MPS plans for the near future, Alka said, “At MPS, we have already started working on the reopening process of the school. Reducing the number of students present inside the

classes is of utmost importance as it will aid in maintaining physical distancing. To accomplish this goal, we will conduct classes in a staggered manner, where only a few students will be allowed to be present in a class.” Operating schools in the postCovid era would be a challenge, and the schools will have to come to terms with the new normal. The schools would require a total revamping and restructuring of their policies to ensure the children’s safety. Post-Covid classrooms will be much different from what they were before the pandemic. Social distancing is something that the schools will have to practice even after the reopening. To tackle this challenge, MPS will resort to blended learning. The team at MPS has organized and reset the classrooms keeping social distancing in mind. Tables and chairs are placed at a distance as prescribed by the physical distancing norms. The entire school has been sanitized, and thermal scanners have been installed at the entrances to identify and isolate anyone who might show fever symptoms. “Regardless of whether the signs are noticeable or not, the extended lockdown and the current scenario of panic and fear has certainly taken a toll on the mental health of children. It is, therefore, the duty of parents and teachers to ensure that the children are not suffering from mental illnesses like anxiety, stress, and depression,” adds Alka. Under the inspiring tutelage and leadership of Ms Alka, the school has marched ahead in full stride, tall and proud, and scaled many peaks. Some of the MPS students have brought laurels home, both at national and international levels. Alka encompasses her vision of making the world beautiful by spreading the light of education through her pious efforts, meticulous work, infinite patience endowed with divine blessings. Sparkle in her eyes and the spirit of ‘miles to go before I sleep’ defines her invincible and indefatigable spirit.

K12 Digest February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

MRG SCHOOL LAYING THE BRICKS TO A TECH-DRIVEN STUDENT-CENTRIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

n 24th March 2020, the Indian government announced a nationwide lockdown to battle a pandemic, COVID-19. In curbing the disease’s spread, life came to a standstill in the nation, hitting several businesses and industries. One of the silent sufferers of this lockdown was the education sector, with over 32 crore students across the country. Several schools and students lacked the understanding of virtual education and no-touch studying. Schools faced a challenge like never before—a pandemic, varying internet

K12 Digest February 2021

connections, and the extensive use of technology to teach students and engage them actively. Across the nation, the gap between physical learning and virtual teaching has been a real and urgent one. While several schools and education foundations struggled to bridge the gap, MRG School, Rohini, Delhi has gone the extra mile to ensure regular classes for children and improved overall tutoring quality. This is the story of how MRG School strives to place itself in the crème de la crème when it comes to the quality of education and student development. Amid a fast-changing education landscape, MRG School focuses on helping the children

MRG School is set up in collaboration with Shri Educare Limited which is modelled on the pattern of The Shri Ram Schools

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in creating their identity. “Going beyond just imparting knowledge, we inculcate skills and values that are imperative for the present day scenario and tomorrow’s challenges,” says Priyanka Barara, Principal, MRG School. This includes, but is not limited to, empowering the students to attain, understand, articulate, and express the school’s core values—integrity, empathy, and courage. Together with ample encouragement, the ethical foundation will help the students prepare to embark on a lifetime learning journey while also contributing to those around them. These elements form the foundation of MRG School’s mission, allowing it to be at the forefront of the moral- and value-driven education system. Here arises the question—how is MRG’s system different from that offered by other schools? The answer is that in addition to creating harmony between teachers, students, and parents, MRG School places children at the centre of the education system. It implies that the

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school effectively involves parents and teachers in nurturing the children while creating an environment conducive to development and well-rounded nourishment. One of the most crucial stakeholders in a child’s growth and development is the parents, and MRG School understands this well. The school maintains constant contact with parents and collects their feedback in the form of surveys. The process not only helps the school understand how to reach out to the parents better but also to craft a sustainable and comprehensive development process for their children.

Priyanka Barara, Principal Priyanka Barara is a driven and a focussed individual who believes life is what you make it!! She started as a teacher in 1997, and this journey has been a great learning experience for her. From motivating students to handling teams of varied strength and abilities, she has developed an insight to make systems work and thrive. As a founding principal of Delhi International School Rohini, Priyanka has developed exceptional time management and organizational skills. Her proven ability to multi-task and think in an anticipatory way to be one step ahead of the process has helped the school acquire a prestigious position of top ten schools in North West Delhi in a short span of seven years.

K12 Digest February 2021

When it comes to teachers as stakeholders in the educational journey, equal attention is given while keeping the children at the core. With a teacher to student ratio of 15:1 in elementary classes and 20:1 for others, the teaching methodologies are as personalized as possible to suit every child’s necessities, learning pace, and overall academic progress. The number of students is then good enough to support a competitive spirit without being unduly large to reduce the attention received by each child. The teachers at MRG School are handpicked in terms

of their qualifications and experience. Apart from induction, each teacher attends a minimum of 10 hours of training and self-development sessions every month. As a direct result of the efforts put in by MRG’s faculty and staff, in liaison with parents, students have proven their excellence in studies and extra-curricular activities alike. The school’s infrastructure provides the quintessential landscape for the students to hone them in sports, arts, and other talents. With a cricket pitch, skating ring, swimming, and basketball

Being the sanctum of education, MRG School has arranged all the facilities that might come to use for an overall development of every student

K12 Digest February 2021

court, among several others, the school provides an atmosphere that helps students prepare and practice for competitions across the city. In the months to come, the school will develop a 20,000 square feet activity center, which will include facilities such as an indoor gymnasium, a 200-seater auditorium, and an e-library. And, the outcome? Students of MRG School have won several competitions and contests, such as the District Level Slogan Writing competition and the Gyan Kunj Award. The students’ performance supported by the faculty and parents’ tireless efforts has put MRG School in the limelight more than once. In fact, this has won the school several awards, such as British Council Award, Eldrok Award, and Zamit Award. “Despite the difficult times as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, MRG School has managed

to come out on top with its faculty and students not just striving, but thriving,” informs Priyanka. In the days following the pandemic, MRG is envisioned by its team to be at the vanguard of futuristic education. With unwavering efforts and meticulous planning coupled with a highly talented team and innovative teaching methodologies, MRG School aims to provide equitable and quality education to one and all. Through the pandemic and after, the teachers will continue extensive training by experts from ‘The Shri Educare Ltd.’ to promote smart, innovative, and quality education. These pieces of training empower teachers to effectively incorporate technology into everyday classroom lessons, thereby ensuring unhampered and consistent learning irrespective of the situation.

K12 Digest February 2021

ACADEMIC VIEWS

The Growing Need to Regulate Online Schooling Yeshwanth Raj Parasmal, Co-Founder, Principal Director, 21K School

K12 Digest February 2021

Today, the education sector requires a fresh new lease of life to survive, co-create and grow to cater to the needs of different segments of parents in a culturally diverse and socially sensitive country like India

he last few months, as the COVID 19 pandemic captivated the world, it brought nearly everything to a crashing stop. This affected businesses across sectors adversely across the globe. However, it has additionally given a push to EdTech organizations all the while because of schools and colleges being shut. E-learning has seen a boom in India, especially since pandemic, and therefore one can see a major transition from old school chalk and board teaching method to the one which is now driven by technology. It is important to allow online education (not just online schools) to grow at its own ecosystem guided by industry standards and self-regulation. It is a prime customer-driven approach and market-led assurance for online education. The entrepreneurs’ creativity and ingenuity must be allowed to flourish in the market, fueled by private investment. For long, the education sector has been chained in the myriad of laws and regulations, just like the industry was before the winds of liberalization announced in 1991 by Manmohan Singh in the epic budget. Today, the education sector requires a fresh new lease of life to survive, co-create and grow to cater to the needs of different segments of parents in a culturally diverse and socially sensitive country like India.

However, there are still a few concepts that are yet to be cleared to the Indian audience in light: Technology, knowledge and skills are equally important With the new advancements in technology every day, boosting the knowledge of the students with the help of machine learning, artificial intelligence and data available in online schools and e-learning platforms are growing, this leads to higher expectations from future professionals. An imaginative classroom environment gives limitless opportunities for innovative thinking, problem-solving and shared learning experience that can assist students in interfacing with others on an individual level. On the other hand, human life skills such as creativity, innovation, and collaboration are equally important. It encourages students to create strategies that help manage complex and unexpected circumstances. Understanding online schools Online schooling is still a new concept for some. It is time to understand that online schooling offers great advantages of an alternative education system without any limitations of a traditional physical school.

K12 Digest February 2021

Virtual schools are the future of the education industry that unlocks numerous opportunities, which helps leading students in the choice of the direction they wish to go. The concept of online education holds tremendous potential to ensure that no child is left behind; even the parents are increasingly focusing on adopting alternative schools education structures such as online schooling and e-learning.

A seasoned education management professional, Yeshwanth Raj Parasmal is the Co-Founder and Principal Director of 21K School – India’s first online school. He holds an experience of over two decades in designing and executing innovative curriculums and learning techniques that are directed at creating an ecosystem of application-based learning for students.

K12 Digest February 2021

Opportunities in future Like never before, education establishes the structure of future achievements. The most brilliant and best-educated have opportunities as compared to the less educated. While education was consistently important, it’s more valuable for today’s progress than it was before. A major reason behind this is that demand for those having specialized knowledge has developed massively. Furthermore, the education industry is majorly about shaping the future of generations further. With the growing knowledge and technology, it has definitely helped students to learn better, faster and conveniently. E-Learning has brought some major advantages of which one of the most beneficial is that students can choose courses from all over the world. This helps them explore and achieve their desired field to build their future. In conclusion, it is unlikely that educational organizations will struggle with the weight of advanced technology. However, to stay on track, successful educators will have to switch to the virtual platforms and add them to their teaching models as the days of using pen and paper are slowly taking a back seat. It is important to promote online schooling in India to keep students interested and more engaged in the formal way of education. Computer clusters, smartphones and interactive whiteboards are now becoming a fast feature of modern education. These methods bring a rapid advancement in teaching and learning methods.

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K12 Digest www.fusionvle.com 61 February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

PACIFIC WORLD SCHOOL A HAPPY SCHOOL IMPARTING ALLROUND EDUCATION

ith its motto of empowerment, empathy, and excellence, Pacific World School in Greater Noida was ranked second among all schools in Greater Noida by the Times School Survey 2020. Besides, the survey also recognized it as the top innovative school. However, what the institution prides itself on most is being a ‘happy school.’ While it serves as a space of academic learning, Pacific World School also focuses on bringing out each child’s innate capabilities through thoughtfully designed activities. The sprawling state-

K12 Digest February 2021

of-the-art ten-acre campus provides an environment that is highly conducive to learning. An experimental teaching method and the constant endeavour to usher creative changes into education have helped it attain its goal of excellence and bring the institution at par with DPS Indirapuram, its flagship school. Here, innovative seating arrangements in classrooms helped enhance teamwork, project-based learning, and the flipped classroom model. The Pacific World School campus boasts spacious, well-ventilated, and well-lit classrooms, which are fully air-conditioned. It recognizes the need for individual attention and offers a sparse teacher-student ratio of 1:15 to allow each teacher to identify and

Pacific World School stands on the firm foundation of experience and exposure gained by Delhi Public Schools- Indirapuram and Raj Nagar Extension

K12 Digest February 2021

hone the uniqueness of every child. “Our teachers analyze pupils’ learning gaps at regular intervals and provide remedial classes to clear any doubts. Worksheets and hands-on activities help us enhance their understanding as well”, explains Seema Kaur, Principal of Pacific World School. Besides, special educators cater to the needs of students facing difficulties in learning. Personalized individual education plans (IEP) are made for each special child, and the special educators work closely with teachers and parents to bring out the best in them. With teachers who are highly qualified and well-versed in their respective subjects as per CBSE

K12 Digest February 2021

Seema Kaur, Principal Seema Kaur is an accomplished educationist with a career spanning 24 years. She holds a Post Graduate degree in History from Punjab University Chandigarh and a Bachelor’s degree in teaching. Seema was a National level Basket Ball and Hand Ball player. She embarked upon her career as a Primary teacher at DPS Vasant Kunj in 1994. Ms Kaur joined DPS Indirapuram as the Pre-Primary coordinator in 2003 and brought in innovative pedagogical practices and ideas to equip learners with 21st-century skills. In a short span of two years, she was promoted as the Headmistress of the Junior school. Her long and enriching association with the DPS family, spanning almost two decades – 1994 -2018, saw her blossom as a teacher par excellence and an able administrator. Subsequently, in the academic session 2018-19, Seema joined Pacific World School as the Principal.

regulations, it comes as no surprise that the environment is apt for young minds to imbibe knowledge and life skills. Moreover, the faculty continually participates in webinars, training programs, and workshops to stay updated on the professional front. It then comes as no surprise that the school children have won several awards and accolades in inter-school, state-level, and nationwide competitions. Apart from academics, the school focuses extensively on sports as an integral part of its curriculum. As sports inculcates vital life lessons like discipline, resilience, time management, teamwork, sportsmanship, trust, and leadership skills, students at Pacific World School are encouraged to opt for one sport of their choice outside the mandatory physical education classes. The institution boasts of specialized coaches for various athletic options, including but not limited to badminton, basketball, cricket,

football, gymnastics, swimming, skating, and Taekwondo. The school offers professional training to its pupils thrice a week, within school hours. In addition to amping up their physical strength, the institution focuses heavily on student and staff safety. RFID cards, strategically placed CCTV cameras, mandatory verification of support staff, and GPSenabled buses work toward this end. A fully equipped clinic, dedicated medical personnel, regular emergency evacuation drills, and even a tie-up with a nearby hospital in case of untoward incidents keep the institution prepared for any medical crisis. These measures have been taken from the very inception of the school to allow students to focus solely on becoming the best version of themselves. In addition, it has partnered with organizations like Microsoft, the British Council, the Unified Council, and Scholastic so that its pupils can benefit from their influence during their formative years.

K12 Digest February 2021

While teachers form one pillar of a child’s educational journey, another significant role is played by parents. Pacific World School recognizes their invaluable contribution in ensuring students’ overall development and believes in complete transparency with them for best results. Thus, they have an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to encourage communication between teachers and parents. Regular parent-teacher meetings further enable the seamless flow of ideas and feedback, and parents can also set up appointments with staff to discuss their children’s progress. Even as parents and teachers worked in tandem to improve students’ education, the pandemic threw a curveball to their carefully laid plans. However, the faculty at Pacific World School did not accept

K12 Digest February 2021

defeat despite unprecedented times. As classes, examinations, sports, parent-teacher meetings, and annual functions were cancelled or postponed, the faculty took immediate steps in dealing with the crisis at hand. “We organized virtual online teaching sessions for our teachers and shifted from teaching in classrooms to digital classes, whereby our students embraced e-learning. We did have a few initial hiccups, but over time, we transitioned from Zoom to Microsoft Teams, which helped smoothen the process,” informs Seema. Seema believes that the changes brought into the education system owing to COVID-19 can alter the face of schooling forever. After a year of digital learning that opened up previously unthought-of possibilities, some parents might prefer

homeschooling as the virus is still not wholly leashed. Others might have qualms about sending their children away for study. “In the near future, parents are likely to prefer quality education, but in a closer vicinity. With fewer children in each classroom, the teaching-learning process is likely to become qualitative,” she muses. As knowledge remains a mere click away, a teacher’s role could become more facilitative. With technology playing a pivotal role, hitherto unimagined requirements will crop up—and be fulfilled. As classrooms have invisible walls and social distancing allows minimal sports, student safety will take priority, and all activities that would previously permit socialization are likely to be postponed indefinitely. Schools are also likely

to become paperless and use digital platforms to share information, test papers, or notes. With this in mind, Pacific World School is actively planning to go digital with online newsletters, brochures, almanacks, and worksheets. The institution is also actively preparing for change by focusing on the creation of blended learning platforms that ensure student safety while bridging educational gaps as the world comes to terms with the pandemic. With its readiness to walk the extra mile to provide the best educational experience, Pacific World School has succeeded in improving its processes even with the restrictions imposed during the pandemic. In the future, the institution will continue providing an exceptional foundation to its pupils, who consistently aim at excellence.

K12 Digest February 2021

INDUSTRY VIEWS

Why is Education Much More than Just a Lecture? Rohit Jain, CEO and Co-Founder, DUX Education

K12 Digest February 2021

With the power of technology, we can create learning platforms where teaching can be customized as per a student’s specific needs

How did you come up with the idea to create an online substitute for after-school tuitions? What are the loopholes you feel that need to be addressed? 55% of Indian students in the K12 segments opt for after-school tuitions. This number is one of the highest levels across the globe. However, our analysis pointed out that 99% of the market is still unorganized and that called for an effective solution. We looked at this problem from the ‘first principles’ point of view. We found that the only major limitation in the physical tuition space is the lack of quality tutors. As a parent, we are always geographically restricted over the choice of tutors. We can’t go beyond a 2-3 km radius to find one and so, most of the time, we end up compromising. That’s the main problem that we aimed to solve. We remained conscious of the fact that the solution we arrive at needs to have all the goodness of the physical tuitions while being delivered digitally. At DUX Education, technology plays a key role in helping us chart out the progress of every student over time. It provides us with multiple data points. For instance, it reveals data on which student needs to work more on geometry and who needs to focus on algebra. We can then use this data to modify their learning paths with intense personalization. Thus, technology can help maximize efficiency and drive the best results for every student.

What major advancements do you observe have come after the hybrid learning in the k12 education system? In the prevalent structure, online learning has both added to and reduced the impact of the offline education system. With the power of technology, we can create learning platforms where teaching can be customized as per a student’s specific needs. It has also given students the ability to attend class from anywhere at any time. However, engagement turns out to be the soul of education, which, somehow, has been ousted. Students are now learning from recorded content or attending classes in groups of hundreds. They even need to send emails when they have doubts. It can’t be called an effective system of learning. At DUX, our idea is to bring back the teacher into the spotlight again and make education more engaging digitally. We aim to accomplish this with as much technological influx as possible. In short, we combine the best of online and offline learning in one place. How do you find the quality of education in online learning? As mentioned previously, while the quality of lectures has gone up, the quality of education has spiralled off on a different trajectory. We have to remember

K12 Digest February 2021

A firm believer in transforming lives through education, Rohit Jain is the Co-founder and CEO at DUX Education - an e-learning platform that fulfils the end-to-end after-school tutoring needs of K12 students. In his role at the company, Rohit spearheads growth, operations, and product. With his focus on providing affordable and engaging education to all, Rohit envisioned DUX to be the one-stop destination for all afterschool education needs of students. Rohit’s goal for the platform is to make it the biggest after-school tutoring platform in the country. In a conversation with K12 Digest, Rohit talks about hybrid learning in the K12 education system, quality of education in online learning, trends that will shape education and much more.

that education is much more than just a lecture. A teacher needs to guide, push, motivate, and inspire students. Unfortunately, EdTech hasn’t focused on these aspects for a long time. At DUX, we intend to work on these parameters to enhance the quality of education. Our classes have a maximum of 10 students and are live and interactive. A student can boldly raise his/her hand to ask questions when in doubt. Engagement is one of the foundational pillars of DUX Education. What makes DUX Education different and unique from other existing startups? Our focus on engagement separates us from every other EdTech startup today. Our classes are live and interactive, with a maximum of 10 students in every class. Plus, we closely follow the school syllabus and prepare students for their unit tests and midterm exams. Our idea is to become a substitute for traditional neighborhood tuitions.

K12 Digest February 2021

Another pillar that’s very critical to the DUX ideology is affordability. Unlike other platforms, our packages are extremely pocket-friendly. We charge ~INR 500 per subject per month which is lower than what a neighborhood tutor would charge in a Tier-3 or Tier-4 city. How can students build a self-learning module when it comes to online learning? Irrespective of the amount of content you provide students, they need to be inspired to study on their own. Although there are exceptions, this turns out to be the thumb rule. Gamification can play a small part, but teachers need to remain at the helm. A good teacher in an engaging environment can inspire the students to start learning by themselves. That’s where technology needs to intervene and provide adaptive learning platforms, checks and balances, testing modules, and so forth to help students not just study but enjoy the whole process.

consideration, the start of their educational journey should happen in an offline world and gradually move to an online setup. A very tight student-to-teacher ratio is also critical in lower grades.

Irrespective of the amount of content you provide students, they need to be inspired to study on their own

What are the trends that will shape education in the coming five years? Some key online trends are going to change the way students have been studying so far. A student in the remotest village can gain access to the best teachers across the country. Teacher training and upskilling/ reskilling will also play a crucial role since they are the true drivers of change. The government’s focus on NEP will pave the way for more analytical and logic-based learning rather than rote-based learning. How effective do you think virtual learning is for children in primary education? Students who are just starting their academic journey need a lot more attention. Building a strong educational foundation is vital at that age. They require constant guidance as well as an environment in which they can interact with teachers. Especially when it comes to writing skills and other basic learning values, the offline approach has to be at the level required. Taking this into

Your views on union budget 2021 for the education sector, how do you see it in the long term? The budget did not have much as far as education is concerned. In terms of the government’s initiatives, the New Education Policy is the game-changer. The whole intent is so positive and that shows in how openly it was welcomed across the length and breadth of the country. Execution will happen in its own time but for now, it’s a major boost for the whole ecosystem. Tips for students opting for online education, how they can utilize the ed-tech platforms available? We would say ‘stay curious’. Their ideal platform isn’t different from the way they have been studying so far. It just has better teachers and a more structured learning path. We would also encourage students to ask more questions and don’t stop till they get their concepts straight. Also, there is so much content available online. Being a tech-savvy generation with easy access to mobile devices, they should go ahead and take a deep dive into it! How technology is supporting education on a large scale according to you, how do you see affordable and accessible learning for all? It’s so good to see affordability and accessibility being a key focus here. We have mentioned some of the pillars on which DUX’s ideologies are based. There are three pillars in all, i.e. accessibility, affordability, and engagement. Quality of content and good teachers are imperative for everyone, and there should be no compromise on these fronts. Affordability becomes important because education is also a right and should never become the privilege of a few in society. This is one of the key reasons our package starts from INR 500 per month. We even aim to reduce prices shortly if required. The agenda is to reach every nook and corner of the country. Remember, none of this matters if the child is not learning on an engagement-based platform.

K12 Digest February 2021

MOST INNOVATIVE

TM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, BHARATPUR, (RAJASTHAN) EDUCATING STUDENTS BEYOND THE SYLLABUS

hanges in education are expected yearly because of its dynamic nature that is dependent on many components from upgrades in technology, mandates of the department of education, available resources, educators’ motivation, parental influence, and the students themselves. These changes can influence the perspective towards the acquisition of knowledge, as well as learning outcomes. A renowned educational institution established under the magnificent aegis of “Gyan Mangal Educational and Charitable Sanstha”, Bharatpur,(Raj.), TM International School (TMIS) aims to help children

K12 Digest February 2021

from far-flung rural areas to have easy access to the modern education system. TMIS aspires to provide an exciting all-round education at the first stage in a personally fulfilling and socially useful life and prepares students for university studies worldwide. The school benchmarks on exclusive upwardly quality CBSE board results with toppers of the town and region being edgy over others. TMIS imparts career counselling insights from class 10th onwards. It helps students choose career options based on academic merit, aptitude, confidence level, and leadership skills to edit and upgrade higher education and life education to settle in elite jobs.

TM International School is an eminent educational institution established under magnificent aegis of Gyan Mangal Educational and Charitable Sanstha, Bharatpur, (Rajasthan)

K12 Digest February 2021

Besides, TMIS management incentivizes the students’ morale and motivation by providing scholarships to students. “We equip our students to become well rounded, useful and fulfilling learners with emphasize on character building, ethical formation, rational, compassionate, and caring. We prepare them for gainful and fulfilling employment so that they are led to include quality, equity, integrity, and developmental imperatives into the system, society and country,” shares Satinder Kaur, Director, TMIS, Bharatpur,(Raj.) Evolving with for the Education Sector Following the philosophy of ‘doing is believing,’ TMIS team headed by professionals has prepared the digital competence, empirical, experiential delivery and outputs of a well-thought-out education curriculum. In this pursuit, the school has included parents and stakeholders who contribute their best to their wards by the baggage and background of their wealth of knowledge, empirical insights and sacramental values to the institute’s

K12 Digest February 2021

Satinder Kaur, Director A graduate in B.Sc. (Bachelor in Science) ( ZBC ) and B.Ed. (Bachelor in Education) from Kurukshetra University, Haryana(IN), Also C.S.- I from ICSI, Delhi. Satinder Kaur has been in the education sector for over 11 years. She says, “I am conditioned to unconditioned developing unspoken compatibility for healing, holistic and hedonistic fulcrum of outlandish propensity to explore roads less travelled and the world unexplored to the logical culmination of the superiority of human beings through education at the rate of educare.” A visionary, Satinder delves deep in the dynamics of thought, actions resulting into the insightful understanding of healifying body and mind attuned to her commitment and fulfilment towards the responsibilities to take TMIS, Bharatpur, (Raj.) treading surefooted, a notch above the rest ahead in full stride to the realization of the educational goals, emotional competence, social compatibility, with glocal mindset.

K12 Digest February 2021

educational edifice and eduventure. The management and team of teachers are proactive and reciprocating mutual partners into the development of cognitive capacities, accountability for realization, and liberation of the self in a selfless manner. “There is a mutual partnership based on an interpersonal understanding with the parents that put the TMIS in the league of school with a difference along with its students carrying deference to diversity and adversities,” opines Satinder. Having been impacted academically, physically, emotionally, and socially during the pandemic outbreak, the institute took it as an opportunity to grapple with adversities with a 360-degree turnaround for re-emergence and renewal with the digital competence of online classes well afoot in place. “All the teachers resumed virtual classes with co-curricular activities, periodical tests, exams, PTMs duly conducted, continuous and ceaseless interpersonal communication being hallmarked by the ‘Change’ as the only constant,” says Satinder.

K12 Digest February 2021

Facilitators of Learning – Faculty of TMIS The highly qualified, talented and experienced teachers at TMIS are in-house trained to pay micro attention to individual learning in customized methods and manner of educational instruction, resulting in differentiated meaningful outcomes. “Our well-calibrated planning and implementation of the inputs are highly enthusing and rewarding. It promotes the hidden potential of students for self-knowledge and critical application of the acquired knowledge for the way forward in the timeless journey of their growth and glory,” points out Satinder. The school espouses to serve and provide the in-house preparation of aspiring students for AIEEE,JEE, Olympiads, NTSE, NSTSE,NEET and other professional training under highly professional team of educators to equip them fair for flaring career grooming with incremental value addition and exposure for future-proof timeless avenues for employability and career compatibility. “We have in-house customized professional development schemes and programs for the professional periodical training of all teachers apart from the CBSE sponsored staff and teachers

K12 Digest February 2021

The School’s education system besides providing an all round education intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically, also offers guidance in critical thinking, social openness and in purposeful research

training imparted by the centre of excellence CBSE regional office Ajmer, Rajasthan. Teachers are led to the professional ambience to profess, inculcate and impart self-training for self-learning apart from intrapersonal, semi-personal and interpersonal learning experiences for excellent professional exposure,” explains Satinder. Encouraging Education and Creativity Considering their students’ achievements as a reflection of themselves, TMIS takes great pride and celebrates their achievements. Apoorva Goyal, (Class X ) a student of TMIS, topped the CBSE Board Exams with 99% in 2018-19. Another student, Riya Sharma,(Class VIII) represented the institute and country in the International Level Gymnastics Competition in Singapore and the Softball Competition in China. “We encourage growth and creativity here, and we have Pranjal Tiwari, who came second in the Essay Writing Competition organized by Digital Baal Mela, Municipal Corporation Bharatpur(Raj.) , to show for it”, points out Satinder Self-talking, Self-knowing, Self-addressing before the mental homework and academic planning and organization are the recipe for creative competence and innovative excellence in the TMIS. The school

K12 Digest February 2021

prides itself on its outlandish creative inputs and logical insights for its students’ holistic and hedonistic growth and exposure. “Our in-house ATL is the centre of creative interaction for creative wonders thrusting on handson learning rather than minds-on learning. Different labs in school promote the unflinching mind-set among students to be conditioned for unconditioned learning situation and mechanism for logical outputs conducive to their ageless and timeless journey to the scientific and technical pursuits in particular and multiple intelligence exposure in general”, points out Satinder. TMIS carries the reputation and claim to fame based on its academic reputation and distinguished credentials based on the mutual and collective all-pervasive acceptability since it caters to the academic quench and time-bound periodical support, guidance, and career counselling to its students roll out to experience and excel in the environment of higher education in universities. The trust and thrust combined result in timeless confidence and time-bound cognizance of their test and implicit merit and worth. “We are raising the bar for self and institutional growth day in and day out in all aspects to stay true to our forte and become the most sought after school for the children,” concludes Satinder.

K12 Digest February 2021

INDUSTRY VIEWS

How Kids can Build Highly-Successful Lives and Careers through MultiLanguage Learning Amit Agrawal, Co-Founder & CEO, OckyPocky

K12 Digest February 2021

Studies have proven that multi-language learning can go a long way in personality development and building successful professional and personal lives

ogic philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, “If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world. Because the limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” This age-old observation still holds water today, when the world has become a global village, and learning multiple languages, especially English, has become more important than ever before. In India, knowing more than one language is quite common. People may speak Hindi along with their mother tongue which could be any one of the country’s 1000 living languages. Along with this, a lot of Indians are also keen on learning and speaking the English language, since it is the most commonly spoken language in the world. Did you know that learning multiple languages has many benefits other than knowing the language itself? Studies have proven that multi-language learning can go a long way in personality development and building successful

professional and personal lives. Additionally, it is believed that early childhood is the best time to learn different languages. Why? With their nimble minds and natural curiosity, kids can pick up new languages much faster than adults. On that note, here’s a look at some of the benefits of teaching new languages to kids. Higher confidence levels Imagine being able to speak to individuals from different regions and cultures confidently and fluently. It is sure to help you feel smarter and more confident. The same is true for young kids. This ability to speak smartly with other kids will also encourage them to learn further, and continue to bolster their confidence levels well through their adult lives. Boosting cognitive abilities Language learning can be a great foundation for improved intellectual and cognitive development.

K12 Digest February 2021

Grasping new languages can lend to the brand’s executive functions, making kids sharper and better at concentrating. It can also help them gain essential skills like problem-solving, planning, multi-tasking, among others. Additionally, kids who speak more than one language often have higher IQs, improved reading and writing abilities, greater levels of creativity, and enhanced verbal ability.

Amit Agrawal is the CEO and Founder at OckyPocky, India’s first interactive learning app for kids. At the innovative start-up that uses cutting-edge technologies like NLP and AI to devise a self-paced learning program for kids, Amit primarily spearheads the culture, strategy and fundraising aspects of business. Having completed his Maths Hons from St. Stephens College and MBA from IIM Bangalore, Amit went on to chart a stellar career graph with highly successful stints at Infosys and YouTube.

K12 Digest February 2021

Raising empathetic kids Today, every society is an amalgamation of people from different religions, cultural backgrounds, and beliefs. When kids learn multiple languages, they are likely to also learn about several of these religions and cultures, becoming more empathetic, tolerant, and understanding of differences between themselves and others. This can help them gel well in a cohesive society, which is a characteristic of great leadership. Long-term career success When kids learn a new language, they absorb sounds much better than adults and naturally adapt to the various accents they hear. This gives them an edge over adults, who tend to mimic the accent that clearly deptics what they are trying to say. Therefore, kids can easily learn to speak like native speakers to utilize their language skills to build long-term success in their lives and career. In fact, considering the rising importance of soft skills like good communication, confidence, problem-solving and empathy, teaching kids multiple languages can become the very beginning of a highly successful future.

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K12 Digest February 2021

K12 Digest Higher Education Digest February October2021 2020