The Monthly Newsletter
Issue 106 | August 2014 | www.ei-india.com
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6 Inspiring TED Talks...
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Educators’ Zone
3 Mindspark World
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For Students
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Insight Story
DukeTIP
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Misconception Series
8 ASSET Poster
COVER Story
6 Inspiring TED Talks For Teachers by Sara Briggs The communication explosion reaches its peak when you explore the endless avenues running through TED Talks. Moreover, the title educator embodies many forms within these talks. So it’s precisely for this reason that any educator benefits from so many of these talks. Each speaker reveals his or her passion of a view or a subject with the enthusiasm of a first-year teacher. Using TED Talks to convey an important message or spark creativity might be more effective in teaching students than an individual agenda or preconceived notion of what should be said. Furthermore, TED Talks challenges educators everywhere to think differently and encourage the same in their students. These are the best TED Talks for any educator because they make us laugh, warm our hearts, break down barriers, and always inspire us to dig a little deeper and push a little harder, challenging your educator perspective. 6 Inspiring TED Talks For Teachers
1. 100,000 Tutors: One student described this Stanford University class on Artificial Intelligence as “sitting in a bar with a really smart friend who’s explaining something you haven’t grasped but are about to.” In the video, Peter Norvig pinpoints what it takes to create online learning at its best, how it should work and how it should feel. 2. School Cloud: Sugata Mitra won the 2013 TED Prize for his idea: Build a school in the cloud. After quite literally putting a computer in a wall in impoverished areas of India, he proved that children, people, are capable of learning without an agenda or even a teacher. Given the proper tools people will group together and teach themselves. They only need encouragement and positive reinforcement as a teaching mechanism. 3. Autistic Brothers: Another must-see for educators, Faith Jegede: What I’ve learned from my autistic brothers enlightens anyone who sees education as a one-way street. Faith Jegede shares her insights into the beauty behind the Autistic mind and urges us to change our view of “normal.”
4. Teacher Feedback: In this Ted Talk, Bill Gates: Teachers need real feedback, Gates talks about the need for teachers to receive valuable feedback so that they can improve and strengthen their skills and become better teachers. He brings the teaching field to technology and cameras, using videos to share and promote better and more effective teaching. 5. Bring On the Learning Revolution!: In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning — creating conditions where kids’ natural talents can flourish. 6. Teaching Design for Change: Designer Emily Pilloton moved to rural Bertie County, in North Carolina, to engage in a bold experiment of design-led community transformation. In this video, she talks about teaching a design-build class called Studio H that engages high schoolers’ minds and bodies while bringing smart design and new opportunities to the poorest country in the state.
EDUCATORS’ Zone surprise us with their maturity and responsibility.
Ms. Gayatri Ravindran, Principal, The Indian Community School, Junior Section, Kuwait
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Who has most influenced you to become an educator, and how did they influence you? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
I had no plans to be an educator when I was growing up. I only wanted a career where I could inspire people. In school I used to participate in a lot of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities - sports, theatre, music and dance, art and craft, NCC and trekking, debates and speeches - as many activities as I could possibly cram into my day. It was my father who encouraged me to consider the teaching profession because as he said, all the skills I had learned with my activities would be utilized as a Teacher and I could reach many students. When I was married, my husband encouraged me to continue with my studies. I can honestly say that I have been able to reach more people over the past 23 years than I thought possible! I am proud to be an educator. To me, teaching is not a job; it is a calling and my greatest passion.
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What is your approach to classroom management and student discipline? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Without any doubt, the teacher has to be in complete control of the class and students, otherwise nothing can be accomplished in the classroom. Communication has to be clear and repetitive for better assimilation. She has to know each child under her care personally, so that she can guide her students well. Students are wet clay and should be moulded correctly in the early years of life itself. As they grow older, they become set in certain ways and it is very difficult to change their behavior. Moreover every age has to be handled in a particular manner. Small children need to have that loving smile from the teacher and teenagers need to be understood and treated fairly. But everything begins with discipline in the class. When students understand the boundaries and rules within which they are expected to operate, they
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What are your views regarding the ‘Importance of Teacher Training and Development’ in educating Students?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Teachers today are facilitators of learning in students rather than just being teachers. Education is no more chalk and talk, but a dynamic process of teaching and learning with multiple options in methodology. In today’s context, a trained, tech-savvy teacher with the right tools can create magic in the classroom. The tools have to be kept ever sharp and teachers need to be given periodic training in their subject and in the latest teaching resources and technology so that they are well equipped to handle their increasingly well-informed students. More importantly, teachers need to be trained in the emotional handling of their students. With parents finding themselves ill equipped to handle their children’s changing attitudes, today more than any other period in time, teachers have to be friends, philosophers and guides. An untrained teacher cannot do justice to such a highly responsible job. The importance of Teacher Training and Development cannot be stressed enough.
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What is your view regarding the ASSET Test? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ASSET is a complete test as it looks at encouraging the student to apply his knowledge rather than just memorize and reproduce the answers. Since it is within the scope of the CBSE, students do not need to fear the assessment. An ASSET Question a Day encourages out-of- the-box thinking, a lateral thinking skill which is becoming more and more important today. The type of questions which are asked, stimulate the student to practically apply what he has learned in the classroom. In fact, the pattern of questioning can be incorporated in the class assessment itself and increase the application skill in the student. In the years to come, youngsters will find competition harder to overcome unless they are trained today in higher order thinking and application skills. The ASSET test is a practical platform to train our students. There is a visible change in the thought process in students’ minds after incorporating its type of questions in classroom assessment.
ThinkCIQ 2014: Creativity & Intelligences Quest 2014, Bangalore Mr. Sridhar Rajagopalan, MD, Educational Initiatives was one of the speakers at the ThinkCIQ 2014 event held in Bangalore, on the 11th, 12th and 13th of July. Mr. Sridhar spoke about “Evaluation” The main problem that persists in evaluation today is that it is for irrelevant facts and not for understanding of the subject. Evaluation should not be of learning but for learning and even better, as learning. Understanding the science of learning through active research and using relevant technology to improve individualized learning are very crucial for evaluation. Assessment should be done to understand the understanding level of a child so that it can be improved using suitable techniques.
Mr. Rajagopalan, with the aid of many audio visual slides showed the audience how poor the understanding of basic Maths/Science concepts is, because of the pressure to just perform well in exams. Educators/teachers have to analyse the reasons from which this poor understanding stems and make creative/innovative teaching a priority.
MINDSPARK World Mindspark 7 Day free trial We love it when parents and students tell us how Mindspark has transformed the way they look at and learn Maths. As a small gesture of gratitude towards all our loving Mindspark users, we welcome you to try Mindspark for FREE for a period of 7 days.
their usage down to the number of questions answered with questionwise feedback. At the end of one week, students can choose to purchase Mindspark and they can continue where they stopped in the free trial!
During this trial, students will have full access to all of Mindspark's content. Parents will also get complete access to student reports from the Parent Portal. Students can try out all the games, questions and activities a regular Mindspark user gets to see and parents can track
Sign up today for this amazing offer and also receive a year of free 'ASSET Question-A-Day' services. Visit www.mindspark.in for registering with free trial.
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FOR Students Football Letter With the world cup just getting over in last month July, some interesting letter writing activities can be done in the classroom for primary students. Share the letter format with students and ask them to write a letter in response to the sportsman’s questions. This will be an interesting way of asking students to write things that make them feel excited. am David Beckh d n a gl En
ortant ery imp v a t u offered o b tly been n advice a e c r e u r o e y ask ol. My I hav iting to our scho ve and otballer, y fo r a le e fi I am wr n o r is o li a high p b which places t issue. As otball clu estigating new fo a o t r inv a transfe erefore area. I are th d in your n a s e e s u o wif h we are t o you, oking a t e lo e e g r a a we ilar herefor e are t of a sim W ea n v l. e a o r o h d o chil l. We ur sch w o o t o y e h u o c v t s a h our l if yo them As we ns of y ratefu nding o e g i s n g i ly u f e n p i er use l rem ur o consid be ext out yo e very b d ld l n l u i i f o w s dw g to nswer writin ons an your a questi s f a o r r e e lett hool? numb ns: to our our sc o i y y t l t s p e u e r bo r qu could ings a are ou ved? od th o like? g These e mpro i h t e area e b r l r o u o ta o ple? h a y c h 1.W s in r peo our s e e i y h t t i d l l o i ac to cou hool orts f 2.How ur sc he sp t o y e r tter. d at a men s ma i m h o t 3.Wh c in ou re help uld y your e t 4.Wo a ci rds, ppre am Rega lly a eckh I rea id B v a D
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THOUGHTFUL Story From Candles to Soap In 1879, Procter and Gamble's best seller was candles. But the company was in trouble. Thomas Edison had invented the light bulb, and it looked as if candles would become obsolete. Their fears became a reality when the market for candles plummeted since they were now sold only forspecial occasions The outlook appeared to be bleak for Procter and Gamble. However, at this time, it seemed that destiny played a dramatic part in pulling the struggling company from the clutches of bankruptcy. A forgetful employee at a small factory in Cincinnati forgot to turn off his machine when he went to lunch. The result? A frothing mass of lather filled with air bubbles. He almost threw the stuff away but instead decided to make it into soap. The soap floated. Thus, Ivory soap was born and became the mainstay of the Procter and Gamble Company. Why was soap that floats such a hot item at that time? In Cincinnati, during that period, some people bathed in the Ohio River. Floating soap would never sink and consequently never got lost. So, Ivory soap became a best seller in Ohio and eventually across the country also.
Like Procter and Gamble, never give up when things go wrong or when seemingly unsurmountable problems arise. Creativity put to work can change a problem and turn it into a gold mine.
INSIGHT Story Tips to Engage Your Students with Science Tip 1 - Teach Them What They Want to Know Children are inquisitive by nature. They are constantly trying to make sense of the world around them and are eager to understand how natural processes occur. Science teachers should make use of that inquisitiveness in order to engage students with the subjects being explored. Research suggests that students are more likely to get interested in a subject or engage in an activity if they consider what they are learning to be interesting or relevant. Thus, you must learn what interests your students and explore these interests in class. Finding these interests may seem more difficult than it actually is. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask for your students’ opinions, giving them the impression that what they are curious about matters. When choosing an activity for the class, you should avoid simply imposing an exercise you have selected. You can have your students come up with questions they want to know the answer to, or prepare two or three activities/subjects to explore in class and allow your students to pick the one they find most interesting. You might even let them plan and conduct an investigation on a subject the class has been studying. Allowing students to choose what they want to learn will help keep them focused and enthusiastic throughout the entire task. Tip 2 - Connect with Their Everyday Lives How many times have you heard one of your students say “I’m never going to need to use this knowledge?” Many, many times, right? Students often feel that the subjects approached in science classes are disconnected from real life and have no interest outside the walls of the laboratory. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Science has an increasingly preponderant part in today’s society. From our industries to our hospitals and to our houses, the products of science are everywhere and affect every
aspect of our lives. Showing your students the connections between science and society and making them understand how much we depend on science can be a very effective way to increase their interest. By realizing how science affects their daily routines, students become aware of the importance of understanding science and are more likely to get engaged in science activities. Furthermore, finding out the science behind the objects they use daily can make children feel more connected to the subject. When explaining a scientific concept or when conducting a science investigation, try to connect it with an everyday event. Encourage your students to think about the uses of science in their lives. Ask them practical questions: What are cellphones made of? What’s in your toothpaste? By trying to figure out the answers to these questions, students will understand how much science affects human lives. Then, ask them more profound questions: How would our lives be without scientists? How important is science for us? These questions will get your students thinking about the importance of scientists and scientific literacy. Tip 3 – Tools, Tools, Tools! Science tools are essential in any scientific investigation. Without the proper equipment, both in the field and in the laboratory, scientists would have a hard time conducting successful investigations. Laboratory equipment and field equipment help scientists observe, collect, measure, and gather data during an investigation, as well as analyze and interpret it. Scientific tools are utterly
important in assuring the rigor and accuracy needed in the scientific work. To learn science successfully, students need to understand how real science is made and how real scientists work. This is why students must learn how to use the proper tools in their classroom investigations. Furthermore, using science tools helps keep students focused on and involved in what they’re investigating by making them feel like real scientists conducting real scientific work.
To teach your class about the importance of science tools, you can start by having a lesson about science equipment. Introduce your students to the basic tools from your school’s laboratory, and explain how they work. Then, with the help of the class, assemble a classroom kit that includes those tools that your students will use the most throughout the year. If you have enough supplies, divide the class in small groups, and have each group assemble a science kit. This kit then becomes that group’s responsibility. The group will use it every time the class engages in science activities throughout the year, so the group members will have to take care of it. Source: www.openequalfree.org
DukeTIP ASSET Talent Search Amazin’ Memories Duke Tip ASSET Talent Search It all started with the ASSET test Where all of us tried to prove that we were the best. Some of us were chosen for the second round, The difficulty was much more – a difference of the sky and ground. Only three of us from GBMS (Gopi Birla Memorial School) chosen for the summer studies We’re excited to be going as buddies (Sanjana, Urja and me!) After anagonizingly long wait, the 11th of May was finally here I hoped I would make lifelong friends and rid myself of a few fears I was really, really, REALLY excited but also really, really nervous How would my room be? Who would my roommate be? But now I realize I was being Ridiculous! The new routine, food and people made me homesick for the first few days But, what can this huge place be -- O P Jindal – A University or a Maze?!
-By Rhea Panchmatia Gopi Birla Memorial School. Mumbai
Activities like Frisbee and Capture the Flag were AWESOME fun And though we were all nerds we spent our time beneath the sun. My Residential group, the Tinkerbells, were definitely winners Victorious were we in the Clash of the TiPsters (lip sync too), but we weren’t cheats
But soon I fell in love with it all- the lifestyle, the classes, the campus, the mess: At least 50 BFF’s in the 1st week itself The memorable DJ parties every Saturday night underneath the stars, And the Talent show where we sang, danced, acted and played guitars… Leaving Duke TIP was the saddest thing that’s ever happened to me I couldn’t believe three weeks passed so fast – with all the things we got to see Social Entrepreneurship classes were such a dream Business dealings and companies created in the conference halls Our daily schedule was packed with fun activities Not like the usual classes at all
I didn’t want to come home, It seemed we hadn’t had enough to take home, At the place that had changed my life, But, I am sure we’ll all stay friends for life!
FUN Zone Teacher: Tell me a sentence that starts with an "I". Student: I is the... Teacher: Stop! Never put 'is' after an "I". Always put 'am' after an "I". Student: OK. I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.
MISCONCEPTION Series Living Organisms – Form and Function
Q
Class 7: Science
In a rain forest, the thick forest canopy restricts the amount of sunlight reaching plants at the lower levels. Which of these characteristics might help a plant at the lower level survive in a rainforest? A
Bright flowers
A. 10.1%
D. 42.6%
Large leaves P B
C
Short stems
D
Long roots
No. of students 3817
B. 35.7%
P
C. 11.1% Only 35.7% answered correctly
Moreover, it seems that students are not giving any importance to the information provided in the question. The question talks about the low availability of sunlight at lower levels of the canopy. From this, students should realize that the issue of sunlight is important in the question and think in terms of what part of a plant uses sunlight etc. Instead they seem to be treating the question as just “what characteristic is required in rain forests”, and ignoring the information about sunlight.
1 Why was the question asked in ASSET test? Students at this level know that food is one of the key requirements for survival and for plants, sunlight is a key requirement to make their food. We asked this question to see whether students realize that sunlight is indispensable for survival and that a large surface area of leaves will help plants to get the maximum sunlight when sunlight is scarce.
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What did students answer? 36% of students have chosen option B correctly. 43% of students have chosen the most common wrong answer- D. Possible reason for choosing A: Very few students have chosen this option and they are probably making a random guess. Some of them may also be thinking that bright flowers can give out light that can help plants make their food. Possible reason for choosing C: Very few students have chosen this option and they are probably making a random guess. Possible reason for choosing D: It would be interesting to investigate why students choose this option- “long roots”. Students may be thinking that the sun provides some nutrition to plants which can be replaced by nutrition from the soil. In some interactions with students, we found that they have the idea that “roots are more important” because they contain water. Another possibility is that they learn that trees in a rain forest have long roots (for other reasons) and they are just relating “long roots” to ”rain forests”.
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Learnings Light is essential for plants to survive. The reason behind this is that light is the source of energy that makes the process of formation of food in plants possible. Students learn at a lower level that without water, plants die. It seems that they form a misconception that only water, or only water and soil, are essential for the survival of plants. These are the prior ideas that hamper students from understanding life processes in plants.
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How do we handle this? Food, oxygen and water are essential for every organism for survival. Ask students, where plants get energy from, and how they make food – and explore their ideas. Guide students towards a reasonable understanding that plants make food using minerals and water from the soil, using CO2 from the air and with the help of energy from the sunlight. Ask students what all information is given in the question and what concept is the question based upon? What life process is involved in this question? Guide them towards what exactly is given in the question and what is being asked. Large leaves are a kind of adaptation in the conditions of a rainforest where sunlight is not very abundant. Introduce students to other kinds of adaptation in plants and ask them what adaptation might help under different environmental conditions. Ask them why desert plants do not have leaves and why aquatic plants develop a waxy coating on their leaves (this is to protect the leaves from rotting). You could also ask whether underwater aquatic plants should have small leaves or large leaves (again they need large leaves to gather sufficient sunlight inside water). There are other such examples in Useful Resource No. 2. Asking questions like the ones above and allowing children to internalize the concepts by exploring their ideas, will help students to apply their prior knowledge in making reasonable predictions. More detailed teaching tips and lesson plans are included under “Useful resources”. 1. http://wow.osu.edu/experiments/plants/enviroplant.html 2. http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/adapt.html
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