Induction Programme – 2016
The teacher training programme in Shikshantar is an ongoing process, Induction Programme is a step in a continuum of professional learning for teachers. It empowers teachers to create an effective ‘teaching learning environment’ and also evolve as an individual. This year 30 team members were part of the Induction Programme. A well thought out plan was created taking inputs from the supervisory team members and the core team members. A holistic development of teachers is a pre requisite for the holistic development of children. Sessions were spread over the months of April and May.
Sessions included educational philosophies and work of educators and thinkers such as Erikson, Piaget, Lilian Katz, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Models for facilitation of sessions included sharing of classroom experiences, interactive discussions, reflective group work, case vignettes and power point presentations which reflected the application of theories and philosophies in classrooms. Children’s anecdotes and observations shared by the facilitators helped in widening the understanding.
As the programme progressed, teachers were able to analyse and draw linkages between different philosophies and their application in classrooms. What are the natural movements and changes which children go through as they move through different developmental stages, how we can address their needs through the curriculum and enable a sensitive and inclusive learning environment. As some of them shared,
Case vignettes were drawn from within the school context. Team members were divided into groups to reflect on the diversity of learners in the classrooms and deliberate on questions such as ‘Where is the child?’, ‘What should be the learning goals for the child?’
Teachers were completely immersed during the soulful experience of “Awakening the Psychic”, it evoked their spontaneous and intuitive self, “I feel connected with myself when I look at my shadow, there is a mystery and I feel I am that mystery.” “I connect with myself when I am in the hills, there is greenery all around and the sky is blue and clear.” “When I am near the water, I become the water and the water is me. I experience bliss.” Feelings, emotions and memories found their forms through strokes of brushes and colours as soothing music played and calmed the senses. They summed up the experience as, “Awakening the Psychic of Children begins with being in touch with our own Psychic.”
Art, music and yoga sessions were organised and teachers created an understanding of their integration in the curriculum.
The outcome of the Induction Programme was enhancement of the mental, vital and physical being of all team members and also awakening of their psychic being. It has also led to the expansion of our community of thinking and feeling individuals.
As expressed by a team team member, “We learnt about the true spirit of education where there is faith in the learner and education that respects the child as an independent being and provides space for each and every child’s growth. An education that is holistic, where there is a perfect harmony and synthesis in the physical, emotional, psychic being of each child.”
Session with Satyanand ji
