IN-SERVICE ENRICHMENT: TEACHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

A ten-day In-Service Enrichment Programme was designed and implemented by Ritinjali for professional development of teachers teaching at the Army Goodwill Schools at the elementary level in Kargil, Siachin, Batalik and Leh. The programme was structured to encourage active participation, group work, discussions and participant presentations.

Programme Objectives

• Contribute to the personal and professional development of teachers at the elementary school level.
• Enhance the skills, knowledge and understanding of key concepts of the teachers in various aspects of education .
• Provide opportunities to explore, question and debate in order to integrate new ideas into their classroom practice.
• Develop effective learning models and frameworks for implementing activity-based teaching in the classroom.

Programme as Implemented

Day 1: Monday, 24 th May 2004

The training programme began at 9:30 a.m. on the 24 th of May 2004 with Mr. Arun Kapur, welcoming the teachers. A round of introductions facilitated by Ms. Abha Ranjan and Ms. Dilreen Kaur followed this.

The Teachers were asked to list out their expectations of the programme as well as their level of knowledge in the subjects taught by them. This exercise was carried out to enable the resource people to modify and finalise the programme based on the actual needs of the group. Thereafter, the teachers were taken through the detailed programme schedule and inputs invited from them for changes/modifications.

Following a short break for tea, the computer training session began with a pre-test in Computer Awareness (copy enclosed). The Resource Person then developed a framework within which the teachers received their first exposure to working with computers .

Lunch at 1:00 p.m. was followed by a trip to Cottage Industries and Emporia. The teachers were fascinated with the vibrance, variety and exquisitely crafted items they saw.

The group was extremely enthusiastic and excited about visiting every site listed in the itinerary despite the sweltering summer heat. Seeing their irrepressible energy, we began to wonder whether we would be able to match their zest and eagerness.

Day 2: Tuesday, 25 th May 2004

Following an intense and hands-on science workshop for teachers at primary level, (Report Enclosed) the trainees broke for lunch at 1:00 p.m. Mr. Arun Kapur joined the group for lunch and requested them to plan and cook a Ladhaki meal for everyone involved in the training programme. The trainees were happy to do so and all felt that this would add a cultural dimension to the whole programme.

The afternoon and evening programme included a visit to the National Museum, and India Gate. Since a strong storm was gathering and it started raining, the visit to India Gate was cut short. The participants returned back to the Ritinjali premises by 7:00 p.m. to relax and prepare for the next day.

Day 3: Wednesday, 26 th May 2004

The Social Science workshop included concepts on Environment, Responsible Citizenship and Time - Space relationships. Worksheets, activities and interactive learning was followed by an intense computer training session. The focus of this session was on exploring the internet and learning to send an e-mail.

The afternoon session continued as planned earlier with the group visiting the Gurgaon Malls. The dinner and cultural programme was rescheduled for Monday, the 31 st of May, as there was a brief electricity and water crisis – possibly a consequence of yesterday's storm!

Day 4: Thursday, 27 th May 2004

Today's workshop, full of activities for Nursery and Primary school kids, emphasised the relationship between activity planning, learning through doing, activity analysis and the importance of active engagement in the experience of doing for wholistic development.

Following the computer training session, the teachers continued on their Dilli Darshan. Today's itinerary included a visit to the National Art Gallery and shopping at Sarojini Nagar. The group was awe-struck particularly by the paintings of Amrita Shergill. They were thrilled with their visit to Sarojini Nagar and the abundant shopping choices available there.

Day 5: Friday, 28 th May 2004

Irfan from NAZ, India, provided the group with invaluable insight into the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, which is growing at an alarming rate in our country. The workshop included information on the difference between HIV and AIDS, mode of infection, route of infection, possible symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis and understanding of life post-diagnosis.

The post-lunch computer training session involved opening individual e-mail ids and practising the concepts learnt earlier. On popular request, the group was sent to Lajpath Nagar for shopping.

Day 6 & 7: Saturday, Sunday, 29 th & 30 th May 2004

The teachers left for Agra at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning. A worksheet comprising details about the history and geography of the city was given out to enhance their skills in observation, mapmaking, weather recording, fact finding and recording interpretation of their experience and interaction with the city and its people. The group felt that they travelled back in time while at The Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort and experienced the grandeur of the Mughal era. It was truly an exhilarating experience for everyone!

Sunday, the 30 th of May was scheduled for visiting the historical monuments of Delhi. But the teachers decided to relax and recuperate for the coming week.

Day 8: Monday, 31 st May 2004

Monday morning brought the group closer and was indeed a watershed in the relationship between the teachers in the group. Three resource people from the Gender Training Institute conducted a gender sensitisation workshop. The workshop was structured around creating awareness on issues related to gender roles, stereotypes, gender relations, gender violence, power imbalances and deconstructing biases, prejudices, myths and fallacies. Within its participatory, experiential, and reflective framework, the workshop generated stimulating discussions, knowledge and communication.

The post-lunch computer training session involved word processing skills practice.

Everyone involved in the training was eagerly looking forward to the evening since the teachers had promised a delicious Ladakhi meal and cultural bonanza. The trainees got together to cook delicious momos and thupka and gave a wonderful folk dance performance. The melodious Ladhaki music enticed everyone into joining the trainees in their dance. The evening ended with the trainers presenting a good luck scarf called Khataks to everyone present as a token of their appreciation. Everyone was overwhelmed by their warmth and affection.

Day 9: Tuesday, 1 st June 2004

The workshop on Hindi focused primarily on three skills – listening, speaking and writing. The process of teaching a language was an important component of the workshop. Besides, activities to enhance phonetics, grammar, comprehension and creative writing skills were also discussed.

The computer training session involved learning a painting application for drawing vector images called Paint Brush.

In the afternoon, on popular demand, a film ( Kal Ho Na Ho ) was screened for the participants. The participants reached the Ritinjali premises at 7 in the evening to prepare for the next day.

Day 10: Wednesday, 2 nd June 2004

The workshop on Mathematics was full of fun and games . The session began with the participants carrying out an activity on Tangrams and Estimating numbers (large numbers). They were then introduced to three concepts – multiplication, fractions and decimals. Worksheets on teaching the 3 concepts in their classrooms were also given to them. Thereafter, evaluation techniques through games and flash card tests were discussed. The participants were taken through the experience of working with Teaching Aids creatively using flannel board and flash cards. Group dynamics during games and exercises in 2's and 3's was also discussed. The importance of building values in children while teaching a subject especially Mathematics was also emphasized. This was followed by a feedback and wrap-up session (feedback forms enclosed).

Mr. Arun Kapur concluded the programme by presenting certificates to the participants. In his farewell address Mr. Kapur highlighted the fact that the participants were now a part of Ritinjali family and could reach us for any support – resources or technical assistance - without hesitation.

Conclusion

The Programme was implemented successfully according to verbal and written evaluation of participants. The programme was slightly altered according to participant's expectations and needs after the introductory session on the first day. The participants took an active role in discussions and presentations throughout the programme demonstrating new insights and knowledge both in their understanding of key concepts and learning new methods of teaching.