A three-day Teacher Education Camp on “Innovative Pedagogical Interventions & Creative Teaching Aptitude” was held from October 15 to 17, 2018, in Puducherry for In-service Primary School Teachers working with the Directorate of School Education (DSE), Puducherry. Twenty-six participants underwent a transcendental journey through this camp, held at District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Lawspet in Puducherry, on creative learning approach to Integral Education. The Programme was developed by Theatre Arts in Education practitioner Ravi Shankar and was facilitated, along with Arts & Craft in Education enthusiasts, Kiran & Hrishikesh, as an additional part of Sri Aurobindo Society’s transformative initiatives started as Rupantar.
The camp gave all the participants a broader perspective on aspects of Education and its role in today’s world. Participants enjoyed experiencing the process of creative teaching via project works based on theatre and visual arts. The entire process sensitized them towards their role as compassionate and creative teachers and elevated them to the summit of their consciousness. Exploring the contextual and creative approach to integrated learning processes connected them to their inner realm of unitive qualities. Finally, the programme was culminated in deeper reflection which resulted in chalking out their plan of action in regard to using all the innovative practices explored during the camp, to foster the integral development of their children. With the vibrations of renewed enthusiasm, joy and fresh perspective, the teachers celebrated their valediction.
Excerpts from Feedback
“The Pedagogical Interventions used in the training are relevant to today's needs. This type of interventions will be helpful in all round development of our students.” – J. Sathiamoortihi, GPS,Indira Nagar
“I like the way how they get into the content. I just enjoyed these three days . . . without using any TLM . . . we are the TLMs. Nice to have such a training. I liked the choreography method to teach a lesson . . . not only the lesson but it also enables the child to think beyond it. This training goes beyond the learning outcomes. I like all the Interventions you taught here . . . I would like to incorporate all the approaches.” – S. Suganthi - GPS, Nettapakkam
“It was a wonderful training, actually. It was powerful. Ravi Shankar sir had good knowledge in whatever he spoke. He speaks to the Depth of the topic. It was very good and lively. When we did things roughly; he took us to its depth. Really, had a very very good time.” – K. Shan Mugabe Priya - GPS, Nettapakkam
“I feel refreshed after attending this 3-days teacher empowerment camp. Usually in in-service teacher training programmes we sit and observe what the resource persons or the master trainers say. But here it is upside down. We didn’t sit idle even for a moment . . . we were always rolled in activities and came out with fantastic colours like a butterfly. In my opinion, I feel that each and every concept when done in a group, through a game, like we did during this Camp, our children would understand the concept joyfully. The sincerity of the resource persons somewhat touches our heart. They made me more energetic and conscious.” – K. Pouvity - GPS, Sinnaiyananpet
“A new and wonderful experience which I had in these 3 days. It was not a stereotypical training. The approach and the way they facilitated us is something unique. It was a soulful experience which I hadn’t experienced ever. . .The main thing I learnt from this is how to bring the hidden potentials of children.” – E. Sundar - GPS, Thattanchavady
“I really felt very happy and stress free during this 3 days programme despite the load of work I had to do at school & home. After a long time, I laughed a lot . . . I played and involved myself like a child, which I liked the most. I learnt to meditate before starting any work.
I have never attended this kind of training. It was perfectly planned . . . prepared us to execute activities in just 30 seconds to 3 minutes. . . .” – R. Gayathri, GPS ,Karuvadikuppam
“First of all, I would like to thank all the three resource persons for the divine environment that they created for us. And through their methods, our inner potentials got stimulated and through which we felt calmness. I learned to think and put into action, our observation and concentration in order to respond to our present situations effectively and immediately. These 3 days have empowered us and brought us into a new world of thinking and teaching.” – K Unnamalai – GPS Saram, Z-1, Puducherry
