Stimulating learning by making better Schools

School is an institution developed for educating children. Schools play a major role in the development of the child. In general majority of the schools in India following a set-out curriculum. The major problem which we are facing with our school education is not what they have been told but how the children have been taught about their curriculum.  Present education system focus more on memorization than the creative and innovative thinking.  Here are certain ways; inclusion of it will help to make schools better which inturn will also help to improve the learning of the children:

Schools should go beyond textbook by focusing more on project based learning to increase students engagement in the classroom. Project-based classwork is more demanding than traditional book-based instruction, where students may just memorize facts from a single source. Instead, project based study will help the students to face real world issues by utilizing original documents and data that helps them to learn traditional courses in more meaningful ways. 

Students should be allowed to work together in project teams under the guidance of trained teachers which help them to learn the skills of collaborating, managing emotions, and resolving conflicts in groups. Cooperative learning helps to develop their social and emotional skills. This will help to make them a good and responsible individual for the organization, family and for the country.

Schools should focus on comprehensive assessment of the students. Assessment should be expanded beyond simple test scores to instead provide a detailed, continuous profile of student strengths and weaknesses. Teachers, parents, and individual students can closely monitor academic progress and use the assessment to focus on areas that need improvement. 

Schools should prepare teachers as a mentor to their students. Teachers play the role of intellectual and emotional guide of the students. As technology provides more curricula, teachers can spend less time lecturing entire classes and more time mentoring students as individuals and tutoring them in areas in which they need help or seek additional challenges.

Preparation for a teaching career should follow the model of apprenticeships, in which beginners learn from experienced masters. Students and teachers should spend less time in lecture halls learning educational theory and more time in classrooms, working directly with students and master teachers. Teaching skills should be continually sharpened, with time to take courses, attend conferences, and share lessons and tips with other teachers, online and in person.

Schools should adopt technology to transform and improve almost every aspect of school, modernizing the nature of curriculum, student assignments, parental connections, and administration. With online connections, students can share their work and communicate more productively and creatively. Teachers can maintain records and assessments using software tools and stay in close touch with students and families via email and social media. 

Schools should involve parents, Parents and other caregivers are a child's first teachers and can instill values that encourage school learning. Schools should build strong alliances with parents and welcome their active participation in the classroom. Educators should inform parents of the school's educational goals, the importance of high expectations for each child, and ways of assisting with homework and classroom lessons.

Partnerships with a wide range of community organizations such as business, higher education, museums, and government agencies, provide critically needed materials, technology, and experiences for students and teachers. These groups will help to expose students and teachers to the world of work through school-to-career programs and internships. 

The Author of this article is Assistant Professor, Pioneer Institute of Professional Studies