The highest education is that which does not merely give us information, but makes our life in harmony with all existence- Rabindranath Tagore

Children are explorers, energetic and creative. They demand care and attention to learn more from the facilitator. They also teach their teachers how to be concerned about them. Children learn by observing, listening, thinking, questioning, exploring and participating in various activities. They learn by being attention and by observing. Hence, facilitating a student is about drawing and retaining their attention through an interesting concept. Sustaining their interest can be done by sharing effective content, using audio-visual resources, and providing opportunities to demonstrate application of these concepts.

Children like choices. They like diverse learning choices and ample examples. Children who are flexible and open learn more, as openness enables them to be creative. Creativity is the ability to make new things or come up with new ideas. All children have this ability.

Children learn by:

  • Collaboration- Man is a social animal
  • Communication- Overcome all the barriers
  • Critical thinking- Problem solving ability
  • Creativity- Doing things differently with enhancements

Children and Learning:

Education is not just about learning facts. It is also about training the mind and body. Children learn to think. They enjoy taking up engagements and showcasing their talent as well as want to be visible and heard.

What do the children learn and how do they learn?

Earlier class rooms were teacher centric and used discipline as a tool to shut down any communication or talking. Now with the shift to ‘child centric approach’ children learn more. The current trend is to not merely teach, but to coach, mentor, nurture, inspire. Children learn when there igniting thoughts and stimulation to their minds.  They prefer collaborative learning more than lectures.

One Step Ahead of the Rest- Children learn from field trips and observations as well because it helps them observe and connect to the real-world scenarios. Role play, conducting research, problem solving and predictions inculcates interest in them. This helps children overcome inhibitions. They learn and retain concepts when they are involved in it directly rather than being passive. Children must be encouraged to assess themselves about what they have understood and then explain any missing links. Self questioning also makes participation of students in learning engagements easier.

Learning is a continuous process. Children being inquisitive need to be in the best hands during their schooling days to nurture them, stimulate them and guide them in their learning. This happens by having the resources which makes learning meaningful and contextual without stressing them.