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Showing posts from May, 2017

Cognitive and Intellectual Faculties

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Cognitive and Intellectual Faculties - Dr.  Ajit Sabnis Hi. I was on my vacation immersed in the Himalayan Splendour of Kashmir valley in the north-western parts of India- The Pir Panjal Range. Experience of a lifetime, unforgettable. So be it! Let us get back to some serious things now! Today, let us talk on Faculties and Skills of a child so that it can become an independent learner and engage herself more meaningfully and creatively with the world around it and come to the full flowering of its innate intelligence and understanding. An important objective of integral education is to develop the student's Cognitive and Intellectual faculties. For this, it is necessary for parents and teachers, as primary stakeholders in education, to know as to what faculties are to be developed. The following is a list of faculties that may be developed through project work. The list is not exhaustive and more may be added to it. 1.        Faculty of Observation:

Three Fundamental Principles of Education

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Three Fundamental principles of education - Dr.  Ajit Sabnis “Empowering the young minds to become socially responsible global citizens is our Goal.”             Till now, we have seen as to how teachers, parents play an important role as primary stakeholders in the process of education. We also talked about the Role model conflict arising in a child due to constant exposure to different surroundings and five basic elements of education juxtaposing them along with five gross elements of the nature. In the last two postings, I have shared about eight types of intelligence through which a child can be understood and pedagogy strategized. Three types of learners, three types of temperaments and three types of natures have also been illustrated. Today let me share about three fundamental principles of education thru which a child’s imagination can be taken beyond the horizons present rote method of learning.             Each Child is a soul in evolution and the

Nature, Temperament and Learning

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Nature, Temperament and Learning  - Dr. Ajit Sabnis It is an established fact that left brain, as a faculty, handles  logic, analysis, numbers, grammar, abstracts etc.  This part of the brain divides the total picture into small bits, analyse them and interpret.  The Right Brain,  handles creativity, emotions, imagination, comprehension, synthesis etc.  This part of the brain unites all the information to understand the   totality. While educating and understanding a child, the age old Indian Gurukala System of education considered the following. Even in the present times, these are applicable. Three types of Temperament among children: 1.  Intellectually Oriented Children : These children understand by explanation and would proceed further on their own. They only need proper guidance. 2. Emotionally Oriented Children: These children  should be taught through emotions. For example, this behavior is bad – it will hurt you and him – how do you feel after doing b

Eight Types of Intelligence

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EIGHT TYPES OF INTELLIGENCE - Dr. Ajit Sabnis Hi. Hope it is getting interesting! And, you now believe that 'Learning is a joyful experience' Let me talk you today about the types of intelligence children possess. Before that, let us understand Eight Door Concept taking auditorium as an example. We may enter the auditorium through different doors (say D1 to D8) depending one's choice and affordability (capability). All said and done, when we start watching the play or a movie, all those who have entered through different doors will focus on ONE common source (the stage or the screen).  This is exactly what it is with education and knowledge. Children with different capabilities, different temperaments, different nature, different intelligentsia, enter the classroom and learn the same.  Will it Help ? is the question. AND it will NOT- is the answer. True role of a teacher or a parent is to first understand from which door the child is entering and that

Five Elements of Education

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Five Elements of Education                                - Dr. Ajit Sabnis Teacher, Student, Communication, Knowledge and the Environment. All these are intricately connected and  can be easily understood by placing them alongside with the five gross elements as indicated above.  1. The  Student ( Earth ) Here, Student becomes the 'conscious foundation' Capacity to think grows from certain types of  activities. For example, our logical and analytical ability improves by studying Maths and Science. After some time we may not remember all the portions we have studied but the developed faculty remains. Thus what is important is the enhanced capacity of our faculty and not the subject we remember or forget.  The development of   faculties in children is a slow process and mostly in sequence. Ex. Faculty of observation leads to faculty of comparison and then to Association. 2. The Teacher ( Water ) as a catalyst We generally compare the chi

Role Model Conflict - RMC

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Role Model Conflict - RMC - Dr. Ajit Sabnis RMC is a common phenomenon among school going children. Analytical capabilities are not yet fully developed among children (Age group 5 to 10). Most children of this age group spend their active time in school. They observe, they assimilate and interpret what they understand. At school, they generally identify themselves with a particular teacher who makes them very comfortable and subconsciously, he/she becomes their role model. This role model now becomes their baseline personality for measuring other influences. Be it a teaching methodology or solving a maths problem or mannerisms or behavior. Now, the scenario changes to Home, when the child returns from school after school hours. At home, the child generally sees his/her role model either in a father or mother. Whatever they do also is right for them. So the Child now has two role models- One at School and one at home. Who is Right? Whom to follow? This is the confli