STEM land team attended the LNET conference in Bangalore. Here is the reflections about the conference as a team.
Arun
I learnt about games that can help children to be engaged in the class rooms, prove (a+b)^2 & Pythagoras, energizers which help children who come from holidays and breaks, Introduce decimals and place values, learnt thought break games.
I interacted with Padnaban on children’s exposure to different concepts. I realized that at a child’s level it’s important for them to work on abstraction and they have a beginners mind to learn. I talked with a creative teacher about sending children outside when they wanted to play for sometime. It helped children to be focused once they come in the class and engage with the children (younger children 3-5 years).
I conducted a session on Stewardship and 7 segment display along with my team. Include thought breaks in classes.
Logeshwari
The History and Geography session of Aruna really struck me. I learned the format of how to introduce a concept in History and Geography. First Do activities and cards of a concept (eg.volcano), second do words related to that concept, third show movies and tell stories of the concept. And now the students will now have got an idea of almost the concept. So finally tell the fact about the concept. The interaction that made me grow was the need to learn History. History gives us experience of many people and many different situations, from which we can learn. I am interested in Geography but not in History. After attending the session I was really interested and I felt like learning the history is very simple.
The activity of showing children the flash cards at the end of class and not to talk anything more about it on that day, it will make the children to learn that. For example Aruna showed five cards of valleys and mountain and didn’t tell anything more about it. I was really curious of what it is. Children will also feel the same. This will make the children interested, which I would like to use in my class.
By learning history I could come out of the myths that we all generally have. For example, British were ruling most of India. It built an interest in me to learn history.
The overall insight about the LNET conference is that I didn’t feel that we all were from different places, schools or organizations. I felt the same because the motivation and the reason for the development and growth of children is the same. As a teacher it was really helpful for me. I learnt the different activity based learning from the conference.
Poovizhi
I learned different ways of teaching a subject to children. I learned the relationship between math and art from Swathi’s session. I learned to introduce line and concepts in geometry using sticks. I learned the importance of History and how it is related to Geography. I learned the way to teach history and geography using flash cards. From Manjunath’s session I learned the activities to do with children to build a good relationship between the team and to be energetic.
I got an opportunity to meet people who are also keen in changing the rotten the education system and are really taking effort for an alternative education where children enjoy learning. I shared about STEM land and I felt acknowledged for the work we do here.
I participated in the sessions and we conducted a session on LIAP and seven segment display.
I will apply the methods I’ve learned to teach decimal values, geometric concepts and ask children to come up with their own booklets with short stories. I’ll do some activities with the children when the class feels dull.
I’ve got a sense that people are there around the world who are willing to make change in the education system and are doing it at their best from where ever the are and are always ready to share and support others to learn and grow together.
Pratap
What I learnt from the conference is, how to engage with the children with geography and history.
How to introduce in step by step and break it down into smaller problems and introduce to the children. Make the concept concrete by doing activity related the concept. I participated in the Math sessions where I learnt how to introduce decimal and visualize the concept to the children. I also learnt exponential series.
All the people who came to the conference were teachers and when I told about what we do in STEM land the teacher were impressed and was able to inspire them. I used some of the SFNE tools to talk with others eg. powerful speaking and committed request. I felt I am not alone trying to change the education system there are so many people who are trying to exchange various method that worked for them in teaching to children.
My contribution to success of the conference are participating in all the session. Presented a session on SFNE for the teacher and gave electronic session to the kids. It was really interesting. Participating in sessions beyond the conference like Sundaram session on decimal and Manjunath session on theater session.
While doing EBD I use to concentrate only on Math and science but now I will also concentrate in including history and geography. I will also do assessment for the children at end of each EBD.
By interacting and exchanging ideas with the teacher gave me clarity on how to teach and explore with the children to learn and retain the concept.
Ranjith
I learnt about creating arts and GP series by cutting a triangle(fractal triangle), AP series by cutting a square, prove (a+b)^2 & Pythagoras, Approaches to developing emotional intelligence in children (similar to identifying fear and take action with responsibility), Introduce decimals and place values, kirigami Math arts.
I interacted with Manjunath about thought break games for both children and teachers, I realized that making children feel better before starting class is important, because it helps children to focus.
I participated in other session and we also conducted session leadership in action and 7-segment display. Introduce Art in Math and Emotional Intelligence to children.
Saranya
I learnt new activities, how to introduce division,place value,patterns and types of pattern, learnt what is theater learning, (a+b)2 through dotted sheet.
I interacted with Emma she did master in education. She worked in different zone after few years she started teaching for kids. She focuses only on English. She shared her story with me why she took specifically English and etc..there I got an opportunity to share my experience with children and we shared what material we will use for to improve children communication.
I participated in other session and we also conducted session leadership in action and 7-segment display. Few children voluntarily came and learnt about 7-segment display and I had a grate time with them.Beyond the conference I had a session with Manjunath and Sudaram. That session was very useful for me. I had a different experience with different person. It helped for my growth.
Experience in theater learning session was interesting for me.
