Improvement Plans

We are planning on following initiatives:

1. Roll-out e-Education initiative more effectively in the school now. The idea is to enable the faculty to teach better through the aid of e-Education tools.

Need – Good e-Training material options (at reasonable cost), a good trainer and a constant power supply at school.

2. Expand our mind games and puzzles collection at school

Need – Donors willing to donate such puzzles and games (used) & funds to buy new puzzles

3.  Create an e-Classroom where we can teach from a Jaipur based teaching center through web-camera interface

Need – A technical volunteer to set-up the system for us (including selecting the optimal IT solution)

Teachers / volunteers in Jaipur and other cities to participate in the program

Funds to set-up this e-classroom – Approx investment INR 50,000/-

We had set up water holes for the birds at School and got appreciated by the local press their..

Rural India is changing.

I am very happy, as it was not my (urban) idea, but my local team, who did it on their own.

From New Initiatives

At Sahaj International, our first attempt is to remove the anxiety against education. The learning process starts on it’s own, the moment children start getting comfortable with the teachers and their peer group.

The earliest batch started learning their counting on the swings, and most still do their mental maths while playing carom board.

We are planning a summer camp at our school at Devrala, 70 Km before Jaipur on Delhi-Jaipur highway. We want to teach children new games, training modules (ABACUS, Mental Maths etc) and other interesting things their urban peer enjoy.

Please do share this with any volunteers who might be interested in spending a few days at the school for this purpose.

Mail us at vigyan@sahajagrofarm.com

The post is dedicated to the book titled “Ignited Minds” by Dr. Kalam. It is certainly an eye opener and presents some of our own formative ideas about India with so much clarity. A must read for anybody interested in creating a stronger Indian society. Through this book, Dr. Kalam talks of creating strong spiritual and moral values in our children in addition to the current textbook knowledge.

It is something we have been attempting at our school (www.sahajinternational.in), and thoughts in the book give a better and clearer perspective. Our educational curriculum is focused on basic (fact based) knowledge, with a recent addition of a subject “Environmental Studies”. However, the pedagogy is still textbook education and classroom examinations. However, we believe we can spend some more time on specific personality traits like Punctuality, Sincerity and Honesty, strong work ethics, sports and respect for rules in a civil society, respect for fellow human beings, appreciation for social work, thinking beyond short term selfish gains to a larger pan-India perspective.

We at Sahaj Schools are still in the process of incorporating these traits of education in our DNA. The local masses are only slowly realizing the importance of such holistic education, and hence gaining their trust and support (for continued education at home) is also a slow but sturdy process.

We will be very happy to receive suggestions on pedagogy and volunteers willing to work with our faculty and children to train them in these very relevant areas of education.

I picked up this line of thought at http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/11-17-2005-81657.asp covering “The Nine Types of Intelligence” as explained by Howard Gardner.

Mr. Gardner talks about different types of intelligence which help us in understanding the environment around ourselves and react to them. Many of our specialized skills like music and sports are also linked to specific types of intelligence. Any individual has different level of adaptability to these different forms of intelligence.

As we grow these intelligence grow on their own accord, but can be significantly supported, and utilized in educating the children in the most efficient manner. Towards this effort, the intelligence can be re-clubbed into 4 major types of intelligence where a structured attempt can work.

1. Analytical Intelligence, or the ability to solve well-defined problems that require one answer and provide the basis for traditional IQ tests;
2. Practical Intelligence, or “street smart”, that provides the ability to adapt to and shape the surrounding environment and be creative;
3. Emotional Intelligence, or the ability to recognize one’s own emotions and those of others – a powerful tool in all human relations; and
4. Contemplative Intelligence, or the ability to look inwards and control one’s own emotions, like anxiety.

The last three are not easily captured by traditional tests for IQ levels, but equally (or more) important for overall well being of an individual.

We will need a lot of help and professional expertise to develop course curriculums and school programs to capture the essence of such thinking. This article is a starting thread seeking help in creating a stronger Indian society through our school initiative.