Creativity in Education Finland and India Partner in a Seminar

 A first ever educational seminar for KG to K12 on Creativity in Education.

175 Teachers, principals, B Ed educators and NGO’s from over 26 institutions from all over Mumbai, and also far-flung locations like Noida and Kerala,  turned up today for a creativity in education course, designed by the Council for Creative Education (CCE) Finland in collaboration with Mumbai’s premium group of pre-schools and schools under the umbrella of the Podar Education Network.

What is Creativity in Education?

We are now hearing the term “CQ” or “Creative Intelligence”, more often. Creativity in Education is social: We increase our creative ability by learning from others, collaborating, sharing. Creativity in education is about tools, not light bulbs.  It’s something we do, not something that happens to us.   Above all, Creativity in education is a way of expressing our humanity, our unique power to create, connect and inspire.

This seminar on Creativity in Education was about…

Creativity in Education is about KNOWLEDGE MINING When our own ideas are insufficient; we go straight to the source and partner with people who are embedded in a culture of education.

Creativity in education is about FRAMING – changing or reframing the lens through which we view our educational practices. There is Narrative Framing, which is how we interpret the world; Engagement Framing, how we interact with each other; and What-If Framing, how we imagine the unthinkable to innovate beyond our wildest dreams.     

Creativity in education is about PLAYING By adopting a more playful mind-set we’re more willing to take risks, explore possibilities, and learn to navigate uncertainty, without the paralyzing stigma of failure.  Moreover, new research is showing that playing can be a superior alternative to a problem-solving approach to innovation.

 Pavan Podar, Trustee, Podar Education network, welcomed all the educators to the conference and emphasized, “This initiative of ours, is to help educators create a seamless transition of pedagogy involving creativity in education from KG to K12. The role of art, music, innovation and their role in fostering creativity will be shared during the one day workshop.”

Why CCE Finland?

It’s globally accepted, that Finland has one of the most admired education programs in the world, where they do not teach reading and writing till the age of 6.

As per a Pearson Survey in 2012, Finland and South Korea had topped the list of 40 developed countries with the best education systems. The rankings were calculated based on various measures, including international test scores, graduation rates between 2006 and 2010, and the prevalence of higher education seekers. Interestingly, high ranking countries tend to offer teachers higher status in society and have a "culture" of education.

 Swati Popat Vats, President Podar Education Network added, “In Finland, being a teacher is the chosen profession as teachers are paid on par with doctors. In India, sadly teaching is rarely the first choice of all the people who end up as teachers. The CCE is a collaborative organization which provides customized educational solutions designed by Finnish experts, and we hope that they will give all our educators here food for thought.”

Key elements that are impacting teaching today

1. Technology has become a part of children’s’ lives. So while we cannot escape it, we have created innovative ipad projects involving apps like ‘pencilious’ which are interactive and allow children to communicate with the ipad and learn various concepts through integration of multiple learning styles.

2. The Boards prescribe a curriculum on their websites. Instead, they should prescribe learning goals, so the curriculum developed can be ‘goal-based’ and ‘skill-based’ and not ‘lesson-based.”

3. The curriculum in pre-primary is treated as a derivative of what the child needs to learn in primary. This is incorrect and detrimental to children.

4. Prof Kulkarni, Head of Strategy for CCE Finland shared, “learning by hearing alone ensures that the child will remember up to 70% after 3 hours, 10% after 24 hrs and only 2% after 72 hours. In contrast, learning by doing, discussing and seeing ensures that the child will remember up to 99% after 3 hours, 90% after 24 hrs and only 90% after 72 hours also! Hence, this is very important learning.”

5. Violent programs like Tom and Jerry make the children “remorseless” to Jerry going through a grinder, or getting hit by a car. The child loses sensitivity thus impacting emotional development

6. Excessive push-button reactive play on ipad gets the children to think that the teacher can also be made to shut up by the press of a button. The child has an absorbent mind- their mind is without reason for the first three years- it just absorbs all the impressions of the surrounding environment.

Its important for us as a society to share learning’s across public-private platforms. Swati Popat Vats, President Podar Education Network added, “We are happy to share our curriculum free of charge with BMC schools and train their teachers for a nominal fee. Also low salary levels mean that there are no men in teaching. Males bring their own unique energy to the classroom, and the system has to consider this vital ‘loss of experience’ that the children go through.”

ABOUT PODAR EDUCATION NETWORK

Educating 70,000 students through 57 schools across India, Podar Education Network has established itself as a leader in the Indian Education Sector. Established in 1927, Podar Education Network strives to create modern citizens who are ready to make global changes. The success of Podar is largely due to its trained, qualified and committed teaching team and the extensive use of technology in teaching.

Creative Intelligence - Do we care to understand its importance?

A recent newspaper headline in TOI caught my attention ‘Patna students plot to hunt Dawood, go broke and return’.  It got my attention because kids were involved and it also involved a ridiculous plan which I admired about the young kids. The gist- 3 students inspired by films and TV planned to make some quick money by apprehending Dawood. They ran away from home as they were bored with studies. They reached all the way to Kolkatta for their mission before they realized the futility and also because they ran out of funds. But the plot was quite intelligent, they even tried to approach Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal legislator for funding!

Their teacher on condition of anonymity said that these three boys were least bothered about their studies. This is where I would like to mention about creative intelligence and the weak teacher training that our teachers are exposed to. World over schools are now talking about a new intelligence CQ- Creative Intelligence. Steve Jobs, Mick Jagger and more have all proved that success can be gained through creative thinking and innovative ideas. These boys should not be written off, let’s look at what all these so called ‘not bothered about studies’, boys were able to achieve by creative thinking skills.

1.       They were quite aware about current affairs and were aware that they should chase Dawood for maximum benefit. They were quite sensible or else they would have chased a film star.

2.       Their plan was thought about for the benefit to both, themselves and society- getting rid of a Don.

3.       They planned well to approach for ‘funding’ for their idea.

4.       They travelled all the way to Kolkatta, showing independence, self esteem and determination.

5.       They ran out of money and had the common sense to head back home. They knew when to give up.

Yes, one cannot applaud them but one should not ridicule them also. They need to be made to understand about right and wrong of their plan. They had creative intelligence; they need to be groomed in creative planning and thinking. Think about it, if groomed well by a good teacher or adult these 3 boys can become a success story as innovative thinkers. But sadly these children will be lost in the education system and will be labeled as pranksters, bullies, run aways - a stigma that will only push them to the brink and maybe end up on the other side of the social structure.

But just for a moment I would like to imagine the scenario if they are helped to understand the right and wrong, the pros and cons of their act, they would be groomed into independent decision makers, kids who are confident of their ideas and who would now be more cautious about planning and implementation.

Its time our teachers and parents understand potential in children and learn to recognize, tap and nurture it at the right time, in the right manner. Teacher training courses can help train teachers and teachers can then be role models for parents. Think about the number of children who will benefit, think of the pool of ‘genius’, ‘gifted and talented’ that we will be able to nurture from the children presently in our schools and colleges.

If their teacher is unable to help these three boys, maybe other teachers and parents can use this example to talk to kids and help them understand that actions become good or bad with good or bad decisions. And decision making is a skill that can be learned. It’s time we stopped bringing up generations on silly grades, report cards and marks. Let us mark the destiny of our kids by gifting them creative intelligence but first let us all understand its importance. A wonderful book I would recommend- Creative Intelligence, by Bruce Nussbaum.

Is It Time To Warn Kids About Santa Claus?

Is It Time To Warn Kids About Santa Claus? Is It Time To Rein In The Santa In The Suit?

 

It’s that time of the year again. It’s the time when a big fat man with red chubby cheeks and white cottony beard, in red suit ho-hoes his way around with a large sack that has endless amounts of gifts. And who is this big fat man in a red suit? Well any little kid around the world can identify him. It’s Santa Claus.

 

He doesn’t simply leave just about anyone a gift; he leaves gifts only for those who have been good throughout the year. And how does he know that? Well, he has a gold book and a black book and he watches you all year long and makes his entry in the gold book every time you are good and you get a black book entry if you have been wicked or naughty.

 

But who is keeping track of whether Santa has been good? Let’s be practical, the Santa Claus that your child encounters is a hired man/boy who is just wearing a suit and trying his best to convince the kids he is Santa. How much do we know about these Santas that we so willingly ask our kids to go and hug, shake hands with, sit on their lap? In countries around the world there have been instances where ‘Santa’ has been arrested for drinking, touching kids inappropriately etc. so this means that there could be a pedophile lurking behind the beard and rosy cheeks? Isn’t it the perfect opportunity for them as  parents are urging their kids to ‘go to’ the Santa, ‘go kiss’ the Santa, ‘go sit’ on his lap.

 

Well, sad as it may sound, it’s time to either warn our kids about Santa or watch carefully when our kids are with Santa. But how would you be able to keep an eye on all the Santas that your kids encounter this year? There is the Santa in school, the Santa at the mall, the Santa at a child’s party, the Santa in your own housing society.

 

Santa Claus is considered safe by kids and their parents; well it’s time to rein in the Santa in the suit. Follow these 5 important points while bringing Santa in your child’s life-

 

1.     Teach your kids to only shake hands with Santa

2.     If you are clicking a photo of your child with Santa, be vigilant about Santa’s ‘hands’.

3.     Please do not ask your child to hug or kiss Santa. The suits that they hire are hardly clean so let’s not pass unnecessary germs to our kids.

4.     Teach your child about good touch bad touch and talk to your child that even Santa cannot be allowed to give bad touch

5.     Try to keep your child’s belief in Santa alive as long as possible but important that you also believe in safety of your child. Maintain a balance.

 

Let’s help kids have a merry and safe New Year.

U.S school suspends boy 6,for kissing girl

I was shocked to read this news in TIMES OF INDIA 13 December 2013, ‘US school suspends boy 6, for kissing girl.’ It has raised several questions that we should address as a society-

1.     Whether a peck should be considered sexual harassment?

Young children thrive on touch, touch is one of their most important senses in the early years and naturally they show and accept love using this sense the most. In this case is it necessary to paint this child as a ‘sexual predator?’ 

2.     The child said he had a crush on the girl and the girl likes him back. During a reading class the child leaned over and kissed the girl on her hand.

It is natural for kids to hug, kiss and show affection. Do we want to take this away from the childhood years too? Teaching them about good touch-bad touch or bullying is required, but should we be saying don’t touch each other at all? Will this not have an impact on emotional development as human beings? Should we not try and control the kind of programs that we expose these kids to? Sexual content on television and movies leads to kids becoming very comfortable with words like sex, lip kissing, crush, much before they have even understood the meaning of the word or are able to read or spell them. There is a new trend among parents, of kissing their kids on their lips.  Many find it quite natural but I am against it for 2 reasons- a) when you teach your child that kissing on lips is an acceptable way to show affection then they will accept it from all adults. Better to teach them then that only mummy and daddy can kiss you here. b) At this young age they are susceptible to a lot of infections and the mouth has the most bacteria. I think adults should refrain from kissing kids on their lips, mainly for health reasons. In fact I have made a Muppet video to educate kids and parents about this as we faced a lot of problems when kids started kissing each other on the lips and some parents found it a cultural shock and complained against it. View the video on http://youtu.be/KVgMTvmXeUA

3.     The mother of the 6 year old is shocked that a term as strong as sexual harassment is being used for what her son did.

The clarity here needs to be clear and sensible- kids in the early childhood years don’t commit sexual crimes, sexual crimes are committed against them. So let’s not make a mockery of the law and use it against them in the growing years. 

4.     Whereas the principal says he is suspended because of a policy against unwanted touching.

If we are going to define policies that take away the human element from kids in their growing years then we will be bringing up a generation that is bereft of all emotional feelings and have no emotional bonds. Schools can have clearly defined policies for bad touch or define which parts of the body cannot be touched by adults or an ant bullying policy.

5.     This is the second time the boy has been suspended.

Is suspension of kids the solution for schools to follow? In her Exchange article (May/June 2012), "Belonging”, Ruth Wilson writes, ‘While there are certainly many reasons why young children are having such severe behavioral issues as to warrant expulsion from school, one explanation is that their belonging needs are not being met.  This tends to happen when the structure of a program suggests that, in order to belong, a child must conform to a pre-determined set of rules and expectations.  These rules and expectations, in some cases, are not appropriate for young children’.

It’s time we nurture kids in school and give them schools that help them belong after all belonging is an important need of every human being. Let’s not strip away everything good from children’s lives on the pretext of keeping them safe.  I would never want touch to become trouble for any child. But having a touch less society is also not good, so let’s rethink about boundaries, barriers and get our distinction correct so that it helps kids and does not give them yet another label.

What are your thoughts on this?

Deadly Diets

Food is not just the energy for the body but for the brain too. In this new age world words like , ‘fitness’, ‘diet food’, ‘fat free’, ‘sugar free’, are actually dangerous because these words just ‘exchange the poison’. So we have fitness freaks that are constantly in an ‘air conditioned’ gym, gulping protein shakes that actually end up harming them. Sugar free foods have a very deadly chemical lurking in them and the list can go on.

We worry about our future financial safety and make investments; it’s time to worry about our family’s health safety and invest some time, effort and planning in the same. My advice to all parents- every year when you file your income tax returns, do also file your family’s health returns. Sit as a family and understand your health investment, because after all you need to be healthy and alive to enjoy the money you are saving for the future!

Here are 5 reasons why diet plays an important role in the ‘performance’ and growth of children of all ages.

1.     Maslow’s hierarchy of needs identifies food and water as the first need, it is only when this need of the body is met that we can focus, pay attention and learn.

2.     Foods impact our blood sugar levels and in turn our blood pressure. Incorrect fads like too much salt and sugar (one packet of movie theatre salted popcorn has one week’s requirement of salt!) can impact the ability to pay attention and can lead to increase in hyperactivity.

3.     Brain requires oxygen for its functioning. Food Additives, beverages like too much coffee etc can dehydrate the brain and leave it coping with every day functions.

4.     The liver can store glucose for 4 hours only. Glucose is an essential requirement of the brain. The body requires food that can be converted into glucose, junk foods sadly are just junk and do not fulfill this important need.

5.     The brain requires important chemicals for its functioning. Chemicals like- Acetylcholine, helps with frontal lobe functions and in formation of long-term memories. Dopamine assists in focus, attention, and goal setting. Norepinephrine responds to novelty and aids in memory formation. Serotonin helps control impulsivity, calms the brain, aids in reflective behaviors. And how does the brain process these chemicals? From healthy diet and sleep. 

If you notice all the functions that these chemicals govern are required by a school going child and it is incorrect diet that reduces a child’s performance and also results in negative behavior issues.  Here is a test that you can take to understand about your food choices, it is a fun test but has some message in every question. You don’t need me to give you the answers; I am sure you will get the message, loud and clear.

1.             Do you think that your children eat unhealthy food?

2.             Why do they have such unhealthy food habits?

3.             How many of you feed the child while watching TV or eat on the dining table while watching TV or on the phone?

4.             Why?

5.             What kind of food do you send in your child’s snack box?

6.             Do you know the recommended food groups and their servings to be given at each age to your child?

7.             Do you follow them every day?

8.             Does your child have fruits daily?

9.             Do you know the benefit of the fruit that you serve your child or do you give the fruit because child likes it?

10.          How many portions of vegetables does your child eat every day?

11.          How many glasses of water does your child drink in a day?

12.          What junk food does your child eat in a week?

It is important that we understand that healthy food is fresh food, food cooked at home. Anything that comes in a package certainly has deep dark secrets! The occasional visit to the restaurant, or a pizza or noodles is not being written off here. But 80% of our food intake should be healthy without the fads! Especially for children.

WHAT DO GAMES AND RHYMES TEACH US

HERE IS SOMETHING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEADERS-

HOW TO TRAIN WITH GAMES!

Training early childhood leaders and teams in management principles with boring management quotes just does not work. Why not help these teams learn through games and rhymes?  

So here are some great management principles disguised in simple everyday games and rhymes. Play and sing while you learn and lead!  Become a better leader, more organized and be able to manage time, change and people, effectively and successfully. Try it, it is fun and it works too.

 

1. Passing the parcel- everyone knows how to play this game- but what team management lesson does this game teach us? - Simple, do not pass the buck, some day the ball will stop at you and you will get the forfeit. So do your work and your duty and if at fault take the blame, don’t pass the buck!
2. I spy game – a simple game, in which you hide an object and others have to find it. What does this game teach us? – It teaches us to be keen observers and look for the hidden quality threats in our centre. So play this game often as it develops keen observation skills which will help staff to seek out what’s wrong. It can be a miss spelt word on a chart, a cobweb hiding in a corner, a nail sticking out from the furniture, a water puddle that can be a potential safety threat.
3. Mary had a little lamb- and everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go- what does this rhyme teach us?- a simple management principle. Follow the leader. Be a good leader and train your team well, explain the reasons behind the rules and the systems  and then you will have stress free teams that focus and agree on quality, quality, quality.
4. Race around the clock with hickory dickory dock- the mouse knew what to do when the clock struck one- do you? Set an hour wise timetable for yourself. A beautiful way to teach and practice time management.
5. Little Bo Beep who lost her sheep and doesn’t know where to find them…….when teams go haywire or a day goes hay wire and nothing works, just go with the flow and slowly things will fall into place.  disorganized day schedules can add to stress levels and tears so just leave them alone and they will come home……!
6. Little boy blue has a job to do- but where is the boy? Fast asleep. What is every team members job description, and if they ‘sleep’ on their duties then what are  the repercussions, define the duties and define the repercussions or else you will have some team members always sleeping on the job and others bearing the brunt of it, and doing all the extra work.
7. Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet

Eating her curds and whey

Down came a big spider and sat down beside her

And frightened miss muffed away-

New teachers and new staff members are like little Miss Muffet, scared of the unknown! Prepare teachers especially new ones about the job and the ‘emergencies or things out of control’ that sometimes add stress to the job. Is she prepared or will she be like little Miss Muffet when faced with the spider? The biggest spider that we need to watch out for is staff gossip as it drives away many a Miss Muffet!

 

 

So you have a rainbow of songs and games to practice and play at your centre with yourself and your staff. And in each of the above is hidden a management principle or training, so in true spirit of developmentally appropriate practice even you are playing while you learn!

 

Enjoy.