"Education Should Make the Students to Think Outside the Box" - Lourds Anita

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1. Tell us more about your experience as an educator.

As an educator, I find today’s students to be creative, innovative and inquiring. It is very much different from what it was on the first day of my teaching career years ago. My journey through many districts taught me that whatever is taught in the classroom reflects in the society. 

Students love my classes where I introduce them to life skills, moral values, and current affairs along with the subject. I read a lot of books and upgrade myself in all fields irrespective of the subject I taught. I discuss current topics with my students. I never hesitate to learn new things. 

I change my teaching strategies according to the level of the students. I learn much from my students. I enjoy this profession and each day gives me new experiences. I feel new every day. Be yourself. Never lose your originality. This is what I tell my students daily

2. What is your opinion of the Indian education system and how would you like to change that?

Today’s education system still depends upon the age-old syllabus and the grade system. It does not measure the creativity, innovation and the originality of the students. The education should be integrated with all life skills for the all-round development of the students. 

The education should make the students think outside the box and bring out their talents. Education should be life oriented. There should be uniformity of education throughout the country. Students from the rural areas should be given equal opportunities like those from cities.

3. What changes in the teaching methodologies have you seen in the recent times?

Teachers have moved from black board to white board, from textbooks to eBooks, from language labs to ICT labs. The chalk and talk method is replaced with SABL, ABL, ALM, ALM+ methodologies where the students are not passive listeners. Interaction or activity oriented learning is encouraged in these methodologies. 

These methodologies have improved their critical thinking and problem solving ability. All the students come forward to exhibit their hidden talents. In language especially in English, all the LSRW skills are given importance. 

Students have been given practice in spoken English, which has improved their communication. Platforms like TNTP, DIKSHA help in effective teaching and learning. The classroom atmosphere is completely changed. They now interact with the teacher, discuss with peers and do group activities including project works.

4. How does education help one do well in their career?

Without education one cannot progress in life. Education enables one to acquire knowledge and skill. Many a successful personality who has achieved in life without education has some educated minds behind them. Education gives confidence. 

It helps people to understand their goals and the ways to achieve them. It removes stress. It provides wisdom and guidance. It brings out their creativity and innovation. It boosts people to achieve greater heights.

5. Do you think teaching as a profession is viewed at par with corporate jobs?

Teaching is not viewed as par with corporate jobs. Teaching profession needs virtues like sacrifice, patience, service mind, willingness to share the knowledge, open mindedness to appreciate, etc. The teacher will strive only for the well-being of the students. Teachers impart the knowledge to the students.

6. How can we adopt technology to make teaching more effective?

Interactive classrooms, online video lessons, interactive e-content, video lessons, live sessions, ICT education, webinars, interactive evaluation can make teaching more effective. Many applications like google classroom can be used to send the materials to the students. Google forms can be used to collect the assignments and to evaluate the students. 

It is the need of the hour for the teachers to adopt the latest technology in the class room to make it more interesting and innovative. But can these be implemented in villages with little or no network coverage? What about the rural students who cannot afford the android phones and children from mountains and economically backward areas? These are some questions to ponder over.

7. Why does India need more educators like you?

Teachers like me understand our students even at the grass root level. We modify our teaching according to the level of the students. We inspire them. We are their friend, philosopher and guide. 

We impart knowledge, nurture them with good values and inculcate virtues in them. We help them to achieve their goals. We build confidence, perseverance and hard work in them. We strive hard to make their dreams come true.

8. Which is your favorite book and why?

Among the books I have read, the book IGNITED MINDS by our former president Dr.A.B.J. Abdul Kalam is my favorite one. It ignites our minds and instills a sense of pride in the minds of the readers young and old alike. In this book, the author presents his vision for a glorious future. 

The book informs us about the glorious past and the rich cultural heritage of our country. After reading the book, the reader will be eager to do something for the country.

Interviewed By - Sivagnana Manisa S V