The Monthly Newsletter
Issue 125 | April, 2016 | www.ei-india.com
ASSET Summer Programme
Misconception Series
The Live Laugh Love Foundation (TLLLF)
COVER Story Slices of Gandhiji’s Principles Among 21st Century Children – A Recent Experiment Remember Lage Raho Munna Bhai, the blockbuster Bollywood movie that had created a lot of sensation among youth of India on Gandhian ideology in the last decade! In the 21st century we have not forgotten Gandhian principles in spite of all kinds of globalisations and technological advancement that have taken place around our lives.
mighty British Raj. One of his important ideas was the revival of charka, a symbol of India’s rural economy and national integration. Gandhiji used to spend a substantial amount of time on a daily basis in spinning at the Sabarmati Ashram. The tradition is still alive, thanks to the dedicated efforts of a few Gandhians who are using the ashram premises to spin and Gandhiji was an extra ordinary soul. educate visitors about Gandhiji and His experiment on Satyagraha had his ideology. been an outcome of India’s thousands of years, experiment in Recently I had accompanied a ideas such as compassion, nongroup of 30 young students of 6th violence, Sufism and Bhaktism. But grade from the Fountainhead they were all in bits and pieces. School in Surat. This was organised Gandhiji combined all and used it in by Anala Outdoor Camp, an the struggle of freedom against the Ahmedabad based organisation specialised in outdoor learning. The children were asked to sit and listen to a woman who voluntarily discussed the principles of Gandhiji and charkha. She also demonstrated spinning. Children not only listened to her carefully but
asked a number of questions on Gandhiji, his beliefs and actions. They extended their hands and minds to learn the craft of charkha spinning. A few also bought models of the charkha from the Ashram store to learn. It was a sight of innocence and curiosity, far from the 21st century mobile games to which children are addicted heavily. While interacting with the participant children I discovered
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that some of them had bought charkhas to gift to their parents and grandparents and make them understand how Gandhiji was right and why his ideas are important today. I was speechless. I left the Ashram with a heavy heart.
By Jitu Mishra – Educational Specialist, EI
ASSET Talent Search (ATS) is a talent identification programme that identifies, acknowledges and supports talented students at a young age and connects them with opportunities to enhance their potential.
ASSET Summer Programme - Challenging and nurturing academic talent Created for top scorers of the ASSET Talent Search from grades 7 and 8, ASSET Summer Programme is a 21-day residential academic and social enrichment programme that has been designed and developed with the objective of providing academically talented students of the ASSET Talent Search, opportunities to thrive. Combining stimulating academics and enrichment activities that provide exposure to cutting edge disciplinary and professional practices, ASSET Summer Programme provides academically gifted children a chance to enhance their potential to the highest possible level. Creating a space where likeminded individuals can collaborate and learn by working together, under renowned experts from the field, ASSET Summer Programme allows talented learners to explore the depths of their abilities IN A NUTSHELL the ASSET Summer Programme is • A 21- day residential academic enrichment programme for academically advanced students • A high-octane learning environment that is both challenging and nurturing • A programme that engages students in hands-on learning • A programme that exposes students to high-quality undergraduate learning The ASSET Summer Programme has been designed to provide academically talented students a balance of educational, cultural and recreational experiences. This is why, the courses chosen for the programme have been
carefully curated by a team of experts, keeping in mind, the need to expose students to a fast-paced, immersive, university-style learning model. The programme instructors have incorporated innovative learning styles that are rather different from the traditional classroom approach, such as the following: • Building prototypes • Discussions & debates • Field trips/external workshops • Role plays & skits • Guest lectures from experts EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPE IDENTITIES The ASSET Summer Programme is not just an ‘All work no play.’ learning programme. The creators of the programme understand the importance of creating an atmosphere where students can thrive academically and socially. Therefore, the programme has been structured in a manner to allow you to participate in activities that not only help you learn but also engage you in meaningful interactions with peers.
Residential Experience The residential component plays an integral part in giving students an educational experience similar to international universities. This is why; the ASSET Summer Programme has ensured that the residential hall creates a comfortable environment for participants to engage in academic as well as leisure activities. A team of residential assistants (RA) conduct a range of interesting activities to keep students buzzing with excitement. The activities include: • Dance • Library visits • Arts and Crafts • Talent night & Sports day • Improvs & Theatre • Sports like basketball, football, cricket, volleyball, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, etc. The ASSET Summer Programme 2015-16, will be held at REVA University from 8th May till 28th May, 2016.
For more information on the ASSET Talent Search and the ASSET Summer Studies, please contact us at +91 9558777541 (Monday - Friday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm IST) or write to us at talentsearch@ei-india.com.
MISCONCEPTION Series Properties of Matter
Q
Class 4: Science
Asmita takes a glass of water, adds a spoon of tea leaves and another spoon of sugar and stirs the mixture well. She passes this mixture through a kitchen sieve (filter).
A. 13% B. 6.5% D. 37.4%
What will remain on the sieve? A
water only
B
sugar only
C
tea leaves only
D
sugar and tea leaves
C. 41.5%
P
•
This question was asked to check whether the students understand the properties of common materials and whether they are able to relate scientific concepts to daily observations.
What did students answer? Around 41% of the students answered this question correctly by choosing Option C whereas 37% chose the most common wrong answer, Option D. Possible reason for choosing A: Students may have not understood the meaning of the question or the word ‘sieve’. The students are probably making a random guess. Possible reason for choosing B: Very few students have chosen this option and are probably making a random guess. Possible reason for choosing D: Students may not have understood the property of sugar in water (that it dissolves- especially a spoon of sugar, in a whole glass of water). Maybe students do not make a connection between sweet drinks they have and the solid crystals they are used to calling “sugar”.
3
Learnings Almost 44% of students have chosen options B and D, which suggests that the properties of sugar which are self-evident to adults may not be so for many children. Teachers should investigate what students are answering, and the reasons for their responses. Some of the possible reasons for the wrong answers could be•
P
Only 41.5% answered correctly
1 Why was the question asked in ASSET test?
2
No. of students 4959
4
They may be choosing option D which simply contains both the substances that are added to the water without understanding the question in detail. They may not have paid enough attention to the question and may also be looking for words like 'stirs till the sugar dissolves (completely)'. As a result, they may be thinking that there could have been partially dissolved sugar which might stay in the sieve.
How do we handle this? When students are studying states of matter and physical properties, it is imperative that they actually be shown common materials and how these can be manipulated or what simple changes can occur in them. At this stage, it is feasible to show them the changes in physical states through a number of simple experiments/displays. Encourage the students to play around with various materials (specifying the need for caution). The same experiment can be performed using different materials (both the solute and the solvent) and can also be modified by not stirring it, to compare results. This will help to emphasize the fact that stirring usually helps to dissolve things easily. This can lead to other discussions like the difference between melting and dissolving, which can be shown with small pieces of candle wax and hot/cold water. Different experiments can be compared and the results analyzed by the students themselves to see whether a substance can dissolve in more than one solvent. Recording these results will lead to grouping findings, and students can analyse characteristics of each group. This will encourage the children to observe, question and analyse physical changes in various substances.
Students are not aware that a spoon of sugar dissolves quite easily in water on being stirred well. This may be because they are not observing physical phenomena around themselves keenly, or are not aware of the properties of common materials like sugar.
For more information on ASSET, write to us at info@ei-india.com
TEACHER’s Zone The Live Laugh Love Foundation (TLLLF) The Live Laugh Love Foundation (TLLLF) is a non-profit organisation, founded by Deepika Padukone – with a goal to advance a nation-wide agenda for mental health, with a particular focus on depression. Mental health diagnoses in India are on the rise: the Indian government estimates that 6-7% of the population (i.e. approximately 70 million Indians) experiences minor to major mental health concerns. The Times of India recently shared equally distressing data showing that an average of 500 student suicides occur in Karnataka, per year! Despite such statistics, the professional healthcare resources available to help individuals with mental disorders are extremely finite. This is further compounded by the cultural stigma and discrimination faced by individuals and their families, interfering with their ability to seek the right help. Thus, as a society we need to ask ourselves – are we doing enough to support and enhance the mental health of the younger generation? One of our focus areas is to enhance the healthy development of all individuals by devoting attention to mental health education, especially in schools. We believe that schools can be the first line of defense for emotional and mental health disorders in our youth. Our Call to Action The TLLLF program, You Are Not Alone is an interactive and informative opportunity for both teachers and students, to increase their awareness of depression and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health. How You Can Join Our Movement on Mental Health All you need to do to join this movement is register your school for this two-hour program. Write to us at info@thelivelovelaughfoundation.org (Subject: School Program). There are no fees or any other requirements for a school to register.
The ASSET registration for 2016-17 has begun. For registration please call us on the toll free number: 1800-102-8885 or write to us at * info@ei-india.com. Bookpost
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