Learning Avenues With MarkSharks...

I recently came across MarkSharks, an App that is bringing about a complete transformation in learning and teaching. According to me, it brings a complete paradigm shift in the phenomenon, as Marksharks believes that learning will never be the same again. 

MarkSharks is creating a complete system that aims to teach secondary school students. To start with, it is focusing on Maths and Science. The innovative approach is to combine phenomenal pedagogy with the power of mobility. Students can learn on-the-go thus preventing waste of time. In addition, it creates a meaningful engagement and enables ‘learning by doing’. 

Although there have been many significant innovative advancements in Education Technology (EdTech), there is no remarkable change in the process of teaching worldwide. In fact, it is the same for decades. The main drawback of our existing education system is that it is mostly unidirectional. Whatever mode a teacher adopts, it is usually passive learning. 

The various modes are chalkboard, whiteboard, smart board, audio-visual broadcast on internet or offline. But it lacks interaction and seems to be ‘watch’ and ‘listen’. That is why I call it Passive Learning. It is like watching TV which is a purely one-sided affair. 

MarkSharks is a result of disruptive technology to end this unidirectional mode of teaching and learning. In fact, the younger generation belongs to the digital age. Thus they need to learn in a

different manner. 

Now there is a learning app evolving fast to help them. Students can use mobile devices to create there own knowledge mechanism. MarkSharks helps them in learning classroom concepts in a real immersive, multi-sensory, interactive, and meaningful way. And all this happens in a very interesting manner. So it is more learning with fun. They have games, simulations, interactive exercises, and virtual experiments. In fact, it is visually more enriching and is an interactive experience. And that too in a student's own style, as per their own convenience. That is what I call as Active Learning. 

If we look at the current learning and teaching mechanism, it is quite raw and mechanical in nature. Students easily get bored and dissatisfied. There is no fun. 

Students are of the general opinion - “I have to memorize everything that makes studying painful.” On the other hand the statement of a parent is, “How can I get my child to WANT to learn? I spend so much of my time and energy forcing her to study because I know that education is the only way to secure a bright future.” 

And, in general, an educator has an altogether different predicament to share - “Marks are important and my time in class is limited. So I just cannot devote the time and energy I need to individual students’ learning requirements. I KNOW there are students who are getting left behind”. 

MarkSharks, on the other hand, imparts a unique experience of learning that enhances a student's interest and speed. It provides a one-on-one experience thus introducing a personalized environment. This happens because a learner is using their own mobile device with a freedom of anywhere, anytime. It provides 100% hands-on and learner-driven self-paced learning experience that is quite enriching. There is CBSE Maths & Science curriculum for classes 6 to 12. The app is easy to install and modules are available for Class 8 and 9 on Google Play Store. I was able to download and install it quite easily. It was a hassle-free experience. 

There are features like voice-over and text in English which helps to grasp the concept intuitively. Since the content is modular, it enables easy adaption into various languages and curricula. Learn, Analyze, and Connect is the lifeline of MarkSharks. Learning is a fun because there are interactive games and interactive exercises. In addition, a learner can easily analyze performance in real-time. In fact, parents and teachers also have access to the same information. Connecting with friends in a constructive manner is another remarkable feature of this app. There is a feature - ‘Social Learning Network’ - where a learner can share notes with friends, request help from online tutors, and network with others on MarkSharks. 

You can download MarkSharks Class 8 & 9 Science CBSE content for Android devices on the Google Play store here. Also, you can watch videos of MarkSharks content being used here. 

I tried a few of their modules, those were available on Play Store. All the modules begin with this screen: 

Also, one can read the MarSharks story via the module by tapping on 'Our Story': 

Sliding Friction 

Phases of Moon 

Seismograph 

Lateral Inversion 

Air Pollution

All of them ran smoothly and an intermediate pace, neither too rushed, nor too slow. However, in the Lateral Inversion module, it got stuck at the following screen, for some reason. 

Other than that, it was a nice experience exploring MarkSharks, both as a learner and an educator. :)

The New School...

I've been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Yes, it's a never before and never will be opportunity,

What is it, you ask?

I get to revamp, or redesign the old school system in India, straight from the base.

Being a teacher, I'm being asked to redesign the entire academic build-up being followed in our country...

Well, I wouldn't want to take on such a magnanimous task all by myself, would I?

So, I've turned this into a collaborative post. So, I am not the only one authoring this.

My blogger - friends and team mates at Project 365 are there with me too... :)

I will get to my idea of what needs to be redone in our academic structure, towards the end of the post.

First, I am handing over this space to Salesh, Yamini and Rekha...

Salesh Dipak Fernando, who blogs at 'Scribblings', has the following to say:

"I was a special kid when I started out and hence needed individual attention. Every child is different. You can’t ask a fish to climb a tree. It would be absurd and stupid. Tweak the education system. Let be an environment where a child can nurture his unique abilities. Give the child the freedom to choose. Do away with the herd mentality."

I agree.

It reminds me of this:

Also, Albert Einstein.

Our education system lacks, and lacks a lot on this front. We need to focus on the concept of 'inclusive education', and not just focus. Serious and feasible implementations need to be enforced, so that the children with special needs are treated as equals, in every sense of the word.

I'm again reminded of this:

And, the concept behind this, lies in the sense of fairness, and its interpretation by the masses...

This thought comes to mind, and resonates through...

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Yamini Vijendran, who blogs at 'Straight From The Heart', had this to opine:

"I would like schools that would provide only the tools, and encourage children to explore and gain knowledge by themselves. The teachers will only give a push whenever needed, in the right direction. You should also take a look at this and other talks by Sugata Mitra. Read about his 'Hole in the Wall' experiment - It'll change the way one perceives education."

Again, the concept of rote-learning and minimal practical exploration on the academic front, vexes me too.

The pressure of memorization, rather than learning and understanding the concept, must be done away with. Students must be able to inculcate a solid ground for exploration, and explanation of a concept by expression, within themselves.

Calvin comes to the rescue...

He knew the answer. But he also knew what's more important for him in the long run...

'I now intend to forget it forever...'

The system needs to be revamped so that our kids don't need to memorize, so that they may forget.

The system needs to be revamped so that our kids understand, and take it with them, forever.

The knowledge being imparted amid those four closed walls needs to be such that it is of appreciable importance in every day life-like situations.

Another gem, again from Calvin:

I'm not saying that rote must be completely done away with, but that it must not be of prime importance.

Well, you do need integers to form the basis of your Mathematics, but yes, the 'Big Picture' needs to be taken into account too, big time. :)

Pardon me for taking too many references of such kind but, the one which follows, must certainly NOT be the case!

This one goes out to the teacher, rather than the learner, too... :)

Then again, Mr. Sugata Mitra, Chief Scientist, Emeritus at NIIT, Winner of TED Prize 2013, had this to say, about his concept.

"Onstage at TED2013, Sugata Mitra makes his bold TED Prize wish: Help me design the School in the Cloud, a learning lab in India, where children can explore and learn from each other — using resources and mentoring from the cloud."

For the ones who don't know of the Hole  In The Wall experiment, this is it.

"In 1999, the Hole in the Wall (HIW) experiment in children's learning, was first conducted. In the initial experiment, a computer was placed in a kiosk in a wall in a slum at Kalkaji, Delhi and children were allowed to use it freely.

The experiment aimed at proving that children could be taught by computers very easily without any formal training. Mitra termed this Minimally Invasive Education (MIE). The experiment has since been repeated in many places; HIW has more than 23 kiosks in rural India. In 2004 the experiment was carried out in Cambodia.

This work demonstrated that groups of children, irrespective of who or where they are, can learn to use computers and the Internet on their own with public computers in open spaces such as roads and playgrounds, even without knowing English. Mitra's publication was judged the best open access publication in the world for 2005 and he was awarded the Dewang Mehta Award for innovation in IT that year.

The Hole in the Wall experiment left a mark on popular culture. Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup read about Mitra's experiment and was inspired to write his debut novel Q & A, which later became the movie Slumdog Millionaire."

~~~

Rekha Nair Dhyani who blogs at 'Dew Drops', stated this:

"I had the good fortune of working with Sugata Mitra on his book in this Hole In The Wall experiment. It was indeed a breakthrough experiment. Touch and Feel, Do and Learn."

~~~

Coming to my point of view, in this regard...

Education needs a fresh perspective, especially primary education. This is the stage when a kid’s foundation is being built. This is the stage when maximum learning can be adapted by a child. Instead of going for digital education at a later stage, I would prefer students to incorporate e-learning right from the first standard. 

This is because e-learning is the most interactive means, apart from group activities in today's time. Interactions pave the way for better retention of concepts in a fresh mind, thus minimizing rote - learning. 

There has been an instance when the move to implement smart classrooms was more than welcome by Charu and  her peers, in her school. The only regret she had, was that such an initiative should have been taken when they had entered school, at the age of six, rather than when they were to exit it, on the threshold of writing their Senior Secondary Board Examination. 

Skills and knowledge for a subject must be given equal importance. The practical, hands-on, application part of the theory being retained, must also to be revamped in a constructive manner, so as to benefit the learner in the long run.

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I would like to know your opinion in this regard too, either as a Parent, as a Student, or even as a Teacher. :)

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This post is a part of the WordPress Daily Prompts : 365 Writing Prompts program where the aim is to post at least one post a day based on the day's prompt.

December is the month when I officially Guest Author for Project 365, in partnership with Jaibala and Vinay, for our respective Guest Authoring Prompts, chosen beforehand.

The Prompt is, The New School - 'You get to redesign school as we know it from the ground up. Will you do away with reading, writing, and arithmetic? What skills and knowledge will your school focus on imparting to young minds?'

This is my Twenty Fourth Post as a guest author to Project 365 : We Post Daily!

When At SOIL...

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Thanks to SOIL, School of Inspired Leadership, where I got a chance to meet Mr. Anil Sachdev, the Founder and CEO of this unique innovative Gurukul to train professional youth in a direction to achieve new and impossible heights in their life.

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The main focus here in this temple remains of the student getting fully conversant with himself first. Because if you don't know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, you can never achieve your goals in desired manner. Without knowing yourself you cannot drive your life in your desired directions. And hence, in that condition, one surrenders himself to others, to get driven by them and that way all his ambitions, wishes and interests get buried inside and never see the light of the day. 

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We had a detailed interaction with Anil on his vision, mission and the goals he has set for this great institute with a novel cause. The students trained here, who have already a professional spread of 2-5 years, after joining, get transformed into someone they had never met with, never known and never thought of. 

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The transformation itself is a unique experience for each student in his or her own way. The curriculum is very structured to build the various pillars of strength within the student in such a way that the mind starts thinking in a unique innovative manner to achieve one's ambitions and goals of an individual's life.

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The Blogger's Expressway...

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This post marks my comeback after a month - long hiatus from the Blog-o-sphere.

You ask me, how I spent my May?

I was balancing professional commitments with personal responsibilities.

No more about a tiring May on the blog.

I'm back to relaxation, back to blogging!! :)

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I already feel Richer...

 For, the fact that the next two months, are my 'Free' Months, lights up my mind and heart...

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And yet, when I reflect on my year - long journey into Blogging...

I feel I've garnered a lot...

A Lot Of Experiences...

And Of Course...

There Are A 'Few - In - One'...

Keying In The Varied Pointers To The Activity, That Is Blogging...
Enhancing The Many Experiences, The Passion, That Is Blogging...
Yielding The Social Connect, A Circle Of Virtue, That Is Blogging...

To Know That It's Basic Human Nature, To Give And Take...
Acknowledging Another's Effort - Yet Not Only For Its Sake!
Knowing That Heartfelt Reciprocation Only Holds The Key...
Each Time, Rich, Richer, Richest - You Would, For Sure - Be!
And Then, See This Aspect Of 'Genres' To Blogging - Oh Yes!
Wealth Lies In Heartfelt Expression - It's No Work Of Guess!
Also, Criticism Is A Face, Of This Multifaceted, Vibrant Coin...
Yet, Take It In Stride - No Negativity - Dots You Mustn't Join!

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See Blogging As An Adventure Of Its Own - And A Social One At That!

And, You'll Surely Turn Out Richer...

As A Person...

Improving On Various Facets Of Your Personality...

Not As Rich On The Materialistic Front As On The Intellectual One!

Or Maybe, Equally Rich On Both The Fronts?

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This post has been written as a part of the IndiSpire initiative launched by IndiBlogger.

The IndiSpiring thought was #Rich...

This post is also a part of the WordPress Daily Prompts : 365 Writing Prompts program where the aim is to post at least one post a day based on the day's prompt.

The Prompt for May 7 was a 'Free Prompt' provided to all of us, Guest Authors.

The Prompt is, Key Takeaway - 'Give Newbie Bloggers One Piece Of Advice Based On Your Blogging Experiences. If You're A New Blogger, What's One Question You'd Like To Ask Other Bloggers?'

This is my Eleventh Post as a guest author to Project 365 : We Post Daily!

Making CCE A Successful Venture

Evaluation in CCE pattern of education can be successful if teachers, students and board work hand in hand. Students should take interest in developing the material with their creativity and not just for the sake of completing the work to get the grades. Teachers should guide the students properly to fulfill their ambition. Board must give due weightage to the efforts of both the teachers and the students.

The Board is washing its hands by saying that they are observing the material from the schools but that is senseless too. Trust should be on the teacher that he/ she knows better to develop various skills of the child which differs from child to child. Prescribed co-scholastic indicators are too theoretic to be true for all the children from all the sections of the society. How can we judge all the children with the same perspective? Teacher is bound to mechanically provide them grades arbitrarily even if the traits are not fair enough for his/ her group of children.

In today's scenario actually children have started idling their time and teacher has to do the work like a clerk that is keep on collecting files and keep the record of the data all the time which takes a lot of time at his/ her teaching part. If the practical learning is the motive, then Gurukul system is to be followed to the extent that the teacher doesn't need boundary specific parameters to be followed for his/ her children.

Similarly the new changes proposes at the university level seems to be a bit raw. There is a lot of gap in thinking of students, lecturers and administration. I just hope that the governing body has done a lot of home work and study on all the reforms they want to bring so that it does not mar the future of the younger generation.