Sunday, April 7, 2019

Rich habits

In one of my activity recently in a class. I came to know most of my students wanted to be financially successful. Just getting them in correct habits/ 


Saturday, August 26, 2017

PBL - 'Open defecation - its impacts and solutions'

S's of class9 @rnpodarschool did an excellent #PBL on #SwachhBharat 
Going to villages, schools, slums. Doing surveys, interviews, looking at the global scenario and comparing with India. S's handled all topics related it. 

They covered rural and urban areas, working woman and man, facilities while travelling, facilities for Watchmen and slum dwellers. School going students, especially girls. 

Understanding how not having toilets at all or no separate toilets for girls in school forces girls to not use the toilet at all in school and holding on thus leading to health problems and when they reach puberty, problems become more grieve and girls tend to drop out of school. Making our country lose precious man power. Girls who could have been an asset to have in India's growth are lost. To understand that it not only about hygiene, health but also about dignity and safety of girls and woman who do not have access to toilets.

Students spoke about environmental and health issues concerned with open defecation.They looked at the socio-cultural and economic aspects of it.

Students even addressed the need for the sanitary pad and educating girls about their use and safe disposal. The need to make them cheaper. They even spread awareness about it in schools, villages they visited and gave information about the use of other options like tampons, menstrual cups and reusable pads.These newer options and eco-friendly and economical.  

Student addressed the situation of the number of toilets in urban and rural areas and proposed solutions for them. From pee poo bags to mobile toilets, from more signs on roads to mobile apps. (and with the DISHA app for toilets on station we see it happening already... :-) ) from fewer uses of water to waterless toilets and portable toilets. Students covered an array of options.

Students compared us with countries around the world. They looked at solutions that have been used elsewhere in the world and their feasibility in India.

Students are positive about the change that will be brought in India. Students shared how NGO's and the general public is working hands in hand with state and central government. Students shared information about the initiatives taken by the government. The excellent job being done under the Swatch Bharat Abhiyan. Yes, it's a lot of work at all levels involved and all are doing it. The young and the school Young's are motivated. The future is bright...!

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Google My Maps in Biology.

https://plus.google.com/116593647497725846702/posts/FPCSgki2CEb

Google My Maps in Biology.
Grade : 9
Topic: Diversity in living organisms.
Resources: Flipped video, textbook, reference books, the Internet.

Pre-work: Students watch the flipped video at home.
Students were encouraged to try their hands at Google My Maps and share their map with the teacher. (Tip: Give something they would love to share. e.g. Places I would like to visit)

Instructions: Students were placed in smaller groups of 3-4 with one or two Chromebook per group.

Task:
Using available resources find out different examples of various phylum.
Place photos of different organisms at their real habitat. (e.g. One horn rhinoceros at Kaziranga, Black dolphins in Ganga river etc )

They also added a name of the spp., video or related information to the marked place.

After creating the ' Google My map' it had to be shared with the teacher.
Outcome: Intrigued, interested, motivated and focused students. At the end of the task, a prompt and enthusiastic response from students that they enjoyed learning it this way... :)

Link for one of my such map:
Do measure the distance Siberian cranes used to travel.
Tip: Don't forget to zoom into the exact location. Use street view, use 3D map etc.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1yIDO-mH9yktNJV1q9KiTX3AmV28&ll=43.08455551646551%2C71.13194075000001&z=4

After kids shared their maps with me. I observed the way they utilised it. One group that took reptiles made a 'my map' on olive ridley turtle with images, info, videos embedded in it. The map had a marker placed exactly on the beach where they hatch. You could zoom into that place. Use street view to check images. One group took Echinoderms above and below Tropic of Capricorn.
Another group who had added photographs to the marker had real pictures of 'feather star'. It looked green and very different from their textbook. How much more such cases, to see things in their original habitats and in real forms, in different countries etc. One group added information and warning about a local place where crocodiles are found. A few days later one student shared his google map he made himself in history... :-) I am developing more maps to be used in a classroom, for my colleagues to be used in their own subjects. Should share them soon... :)