EdExcitement

I find it always exciting when people experiment with teaching methods, medium and form. I just came across a bunch of traditional IIT JEE teachers who have tried experimenting with existing medium and methods but with a fresh new form. The structured day-wise video lectures is supplemented by day-wise reading material assignments and online tests. All of this topped up with email and phone support. Looks promising, need to find out how good is the 'execution'. Coaching for an age-old examination in a new form needs courage, given that there are entrenched players already being successful. The challenge is not limited to creating the form, but also the right-mix for a flawless execution. However, starting with the right intent, with the right effort and the right dosage of luck can actually create a 'Just Dial' of IIT JEE coaching (it is always inspiring to hear about successful entrepreneurs.....ref Just Dial IPO which closed today).

As I spent half a day with the music, dance and painting teachers of our school at Dwarka, it was interesting to hear that the perspective of the trainers in these skills are no different from other skill trainers. It all starts with a natural refrain of trainers: "it is difficult to learn ". And when you discuss, you realise everyone is talking about the same thing, across skill domains. One of the fundamental challenges is the attitude of the the learner and a certain sense of "helplessness" on the part of the trainers that a learner is naturally not willing to put in the hard work required to learn a skill - whether it is repairing computers or learning bharatnatyam. However, the trainer fails to understand that their own attitude to such learners need to change. During my personal experience of training 1000s of learners, one thing that I quickly realised was that most of the students are not keen learners unless you can generate enough interest for them in...

I met an interesting profile today which has led me to raise this issue here. This young lady in North India actually aspires to be a teacher at a government school. However, after she completed her B.Ed she has not been able to qualify CTET (entrance qualification for teachers seeking govt jobs). She did qualify for the state TET, still she has not got a job as there has been no vacancy. So, what has she been upto? She qualified some state police and works as a constable.....amazing to me! So what does one do when wants to get a job in this country? Shoot in the dark and keep as many option open as possible.....no wonder, we never had trouble selling the MBA dream......Kees option open! CBSE and MoHRD has undertaken initiatives to reform school system.....one of the first things that need to get fixed is the whole concept of career counselling and goal-setting. If I look back at my own career path, I feel I am blessed that I always had clarity of goals that I wanted to achieve......