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Ekya / July 12, 2022 Posted by : administrator

Learning at Ekya

“Education is not the learning of facts but training the mind to think”

~Albert Einstein

At Ekya, we believe that learning is a lifelong journey and  knowing how to learn is a skill in itself. Our learning process focuses on creating lifelong learners with the means to adapt and thrive in a constantly changing world.

Learning as a goal is truly achieved only when students are able to transfer their learnings to new situations. To enable this, at Ekya, we provide opportunities for students to nurture their curiosity, present ideas, explore authentic tasks such as  engineering and design challenges and research reports.

Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue?Are there more than 118 elements? Why did dinosaurs become extinct? The curiosity that lies behind these questions and the drive to find the answers is what learning Science is all about. Physics is one of the most fundamental science disciplines and its main goal is to understand how the universe works. Studying physics develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

At Ekya, the students delve into the world of Physics through problem solving tasks using light and sound, experiments with force and motion in the primary grades to tasks such as Reverse Engineering project, Air Bag Challenge and Hybrid Vehicle Design Challenge in the senior grades. These tasks help the students to engage with real world applications. Students engage with the scientific content through strategies such as  scientific sketching,CER – Claim Evidence Reasoning framework,IIC – Identify, interpret and Conclude,etc. Team work, empathy and reflecting on their own learnings play key roles in this process.

The culture at Ekya promotes collaboration, cohesive interaction and a safe space for students to voice their thoughts and queries. Teachers are trained to appreciate and acknowledge every student and gradually help them expand their boundaries. Every student has their own pace when it comes to learning. Teachers play an important role in levelling this learning graph by helping those who need extra care and providing hands-on sessions whenever necessary. Culture routines like affirmations, good things, centering and reflections induce value and empathy in the classrooms.

The objective for every stakeholder at Ekya is the success of students. Our learning and culture practices, processes and pedagogies allow students to achieve their goals, make a difference and be future ready.

Komathi  K

Physics Curriculum Designer

Ekya – CMR K12 Schools

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Ekya / April 03, 2024

The Power of Learning with Intent: A Guide to Purposeful Education

In a world brimming with information, the art of learning has evolved beyond the mere acquisition of facts. Learning with intent, a deliberate approach to education emphasises quality over quantity, depth over breadth, and purpose over passive absorption. It’s about cultivating a mindset that transforms knowledge into meaningful action and empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of the modern age effectively.

At its core, learning with intent involves setting clear objectives and actively engaging with the subject matter. Whether exploring a new language, delving into scientific principles, or honing a creative skill, intentionality infuses each learning endeavour with purpose and direction. As Albert Einstein aptly said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." This quote amplifies the importance of active participation and hands-on learning, highlighting that true understanding arises from deliberate engagement with the material.

Furthermore, engaging actively with the material is paramount. Embrace challenges and embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth. This proactive approach not only deepens your understanding but also cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for success in any field.

Moreover, learning with intent emphasises relevance and applicability. Seek out opportunities to apply newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios, bridging the gap between theory and practice. By contextualising learning within your personal or professional sphere, you enhance its significance and utility, making it more likely to stick.

In conclusion, learning with intent is a transformative approach that transcends traditional notions of education. By setting clear objectives, engaging actively, prioritising relevance, and fostering a growth mindset, individuals can harness the full potential of learning to achieve their goals and thrive in an ever-changing world. So, embark on your learning journey with purpose, and let each lesson propel you towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.

By Sweta Pradeep Rao

Senior English Educator

Ekya School JP Nagar

Ekya / April 02, 2024

Gadget-free Summer Break

With summer vacation around, I urge parents to explore various ways to facilitate children to make healthy choices during their vacation time.

Last week, when we asked our Early Years to visualise their characters and create a story, most of them came up with stories about ghosts and monsters attacking others.  When we had conversations about what gave them this idea, we understood that these story ideas emanated from their online games. While gaming per se develops specific skills and requires focus, it also stifles the imagination of young children. Since it is visually appealing, children tend to remember those images in their heads all the time.

I often see parents providing very young children (1 year to 3 year olds)  with gadgets as the means to keep children engaged and entertained. I see children watching phones in the waiting areas of clinics, hospitals, school lobbies and banks.

This brings us to a fundamental question “ Should children be engaged by parents all the time?” Not necessarily. What is likely to happen if children were not handed over gadgets at the waiting lounges? What would they do? Some of them may cry, some may throw a loud tantrum, and some may crib. If parents show resilience and allow children to settle down themselves, they will soon find ways to keep themselves engaged. Likewise, during summer vacation. What if this is a “no gadget” vacation and parents do not take up the responsibility to engage their children? What would children do? How can parents show resilience here and facilitate children to make healthy choices? I leave the readers with this thought for this summer vacation.

Mathangi R,

Head of School,

Ekya NICE Road.

Ekya / April 02, 2024

The Eye of the Storm

In the hushed embrace of an Indian evening, our journey began, a symphony of anticipation orchestrated by the hum of jet engines and the flutter of boarding passes. The promise of adventure beckoned from distant shores as we boarded our flight bound for the United Kingdom, our hearts aflutter with dreams of far-off lands and newfound horizons. But as we soared through the velvet sky, a foreboding shadow loomed on the horizon, a harbinger of the chaos that was soon to unfold. In the blink of an eye, the tranquil serenity of our airborne sanctuary was shattered by a deafening crack, a burst of purple lightning that danced across the heavens with an otherworldly fervour. The air crackled with electricity as the plane shuddered beneath the force of the storm, its metal frame quivering in defiance against the tempestuous onslaught. And then, in a heart-stopping moment of sheer terror, the heavens unleashed their fury upon us, casting our fragile vessel into a maelstrom of chaos and uncertainty. The sky darkened to a shade of ominous charcoal as the winds howled with a primal ferocity, tearing at the wings of our faltering craft with savage intent. The cabin was awash with panicked cries and frantic prayers as we clung to our seats with white-knuckled desperation, each passing moment stretching into eternity.

And then, as if mocking our feeble attempts at control, the plane tilted almost 180 degrees, its nose plummeting towards the earth with a sickening lurch. Time seemed to stand still as we hurtled towards the ground, our fate hanging in the balance as the world spun wildly out of control. But just when all hope seemed lost, a glimmer of salvation emerged from the chaos, a beacon of light amidst the encroaching darkness. With a mighty roar, the engines surged to life once more, their thunderous symphony drowning out the cacophony of the storm as we clawed our way back from the brink of oblivion. As the storm clouds parted and the sun cast its golden rays upon the horizon, we emerged battered but unbroken, our spirits buoyed by the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. And though our journey had been fraught with peril and uncertainty, we emerged from the crucible of the skies stronger and more resilient than ever before. For in the crucible of adversity, we discovered the true measure of our strength, our courage, and our unwavering determination to defy the odds and chart our course through the tempestuous seas of life. As we touched down on solid ground once more, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the world around us, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human soul.

Arjun Narasimhan Kuppuswamy

Grade 8C

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#TeacherBlogger: Singapore Math Methodology By,Teresa George Math Curriculum Designer, Ekya – CMR K 12 Schools

How do we approach Math @ Ekya Schools? At Ekya Schools, we believe that what we learn depends on how we learn. Our methodology and pedagogy is student centric and we believe that students learn best when they are an active part of the process.We structure all our programs to equip our students with 21st century skills along with the  required content knowledge. We use the Singapore Math Approach in teaching Math at primary and middle school level. This is a highly effective teaching methodology originally developed by Singapore’s Ministry of Education for Singapore public schools. The method has been widely adopted in various forms around the world. It is a teaching method based on the national mathematics curriculum used for kindergarten through sixth grade. Through this approach, students are able to develop critical thinking and mathematical mastery of their work. At the crux of this methodology is the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract learning method (C-P-A) in which lessons are taught through scaffolding and students learn how to problem solve with perseverance. This method also enables teachers to convey math concepts progressively from introduction to understanding to fluency. It is where content meets pedagogy. We aim to raise our student performance to the expected international levels. How does this Approach help students? Math, for the most part, has been memorizing some steps and procedures again and again. To make it challenging, the numbers were made bigger. Bigger the numbers, higher the challenge was the rationale given. That mind-set has now changed. We now believe that this is not challenging, instead, it is just tedious.  Singapore Math focuses on the Concrete – Pictorial - Abstract approach. This makes it easier to link ideas to the concepts. 
  • In the lower grades students use manipulatives (which can be everyday objects like paper clips, popsicle sticks, toy cubes etc) to build on their concepts.
  • Students form number bonds in their minds to perform basic addition and subtraction. 
  • Students get familiar with the bar model approach to solve multi-step word problems. This further helps them to visualize the solution in their mind. Being able to solve mentally is one of the skills a student masters.
  • Students are encouraged to write Math journals to articulate their understanding of math concepts. The use of these journals helps fill in the gaps in those understandings and supports metacognitive thinking to enhance understanding and application. 
We aim to equip students with sound concept development, critical thinking and efficient problem solving skills. What do our students learn in Math classes? Here are a few things we do in our classrooms:
  1. Allow students to work on non-routine problems to improve their reasoning abilities
  2. Encourage students to apply a variety of strategies to solve a problem
  3. Heuristics applicable to mathematical problem solving used are:
  • Look for patterns
  • Use guess-and-check
  • Make a systematic list
  • Make suppositions
  • Draw diagrams/Use models
  • Restate the problem in another way
  • Simplify the problem
  • Solve part of the problem
  • Think of a related problem/ Think and create a problem
  • Work backwards
  • Number bonds
  • Act it out
  • Use before after concept
[caption id="attachment_10294" align="alignnone" width="300"] Number Bonds[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10295" align="alignnone" width="284"] Hands on Activity[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10289" align="alignnone" width="289"] Guess and Check[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10290" align="alignnone" width="300"] Use Manipulatives[/caption] Teresa George Math Curriculum Designer Ekya - CMR K12 Schools

#ELCBlog: ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳ ಪ್ರಾಮುಖ್ಯತೆ By, Paranjyothi Swamy Instructional Designer, Ekya Learning Center, Ekya Schools

ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳ ಪ್ರಾಮುಖ್ಯತೆ

(Importance of Standards-based education)

ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳು ಎಂದರೇನು? (What are standards? )

ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳು ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಮತ್ತು ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠತೆಯನ್ನು ಅಳವಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸುವ ಸಾಧನಗಳಾಗಿವೆ. ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಜೀವನದ ನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ ಹಂತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಂದಿರಬೇಕಾದ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಿಸುವ ಸಾಧನಗಳೇ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳು. ಈ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳು ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯು ನಿಖರವಾಗಿ ಮುಟ್ಟಬೇಕಾದ ಗುರಿಯನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣವು ಬೋಧನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕಲಿಕೆಯ ಒಂದು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ಅದು ಬೋಧನೆ, ಮೌಲ್ಯಮಾಪನ, ಶ್ರೇಣೀಕರಣ ಮತ್ತು ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯ ಶಾಲಾ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದ ಉದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ವರದಿ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಅನುಭವದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಅಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಂದ್ರೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.  ಈ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ಫಲಿತಾಂಶ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಎಂದೂ ಸಹ ಕರಿಯುತ್ತಾರೆ.

  

ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಏಕೆ ಅವಶ್ಯಕ? (Need for Standards based education)

ಇಂದು ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಮಾದಂಡಗಳ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಒತ್ತನ್ನು ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.  ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಲ್ಲ ಒಂದು ಗುರಿಯನ್ನು ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಆ ಗುರಿಯನ್ನು ಒಮ್ಮೆಲೆ ಮುಟ್ಟಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಂತ ಹಂತವಾಗಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯು ತಾನು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡ ಗುರಿಯನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಬೇಕು. ಹಂತ ಹಂತವಾಗಿ  ಗುರಿಯನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಲು ಸಾಧನೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕೆಂದರೆ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯ ಪ್ರತಿ ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಹ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಆ ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ವಿಷಯಕ್ಕೂ ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾಧಾರಿತ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸಿದ್ದರೆ, ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಆ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ಓದಿಕೊಂಡು ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ವರ್ಷ ಯಾವ ಯಾವ ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ತಾನು ಅಳವಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು, ಮತ್ತು ಯಾವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಅಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯಬೇಕು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಕಲಿಕೆಗೆ ಮುಂದಾಗಲು ಸಹಾಯಕವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಇಂದು, ನಾಳೆ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಂದಿನ ಭವಿಷ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸುವ 21ನೇ ಶತಮಾನದ ಕಲಿಕೆಯ ಅವಕಾಶಗಳಿಗೆ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಕಲಿಕೆಗೆ ಅಡಿಪಾಯವನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸಲು ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳು ತುಂಬಾ ಅವಶ್ಯಕ. ಉನ್ನತ ಮಟ್ಟದ ಸವಾಲು ಮತ್ತು ಕಠಿಣತೆಯನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಕಲಿತದ್ದನ್ನು ಆಧರಿಸಿ ಮೌಲ್ಯಮಾಪನ ಮಾಡಲು ನ್ಯಾಯೋಚಿತ ಮತ್ತು ವಸ್ತುನಿಷ್ಠ ಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರು ಬೋಧನೆಗಾಗಿ ಸಿದ್ಧಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಮತ್ತು ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಕಲಿಕಾ ಫಲಿತಾಂಶ ಸೂಕ್ತವಾದ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊರ ಹೊಮ್ಮಿಸಲು ಇದು ಪ್ರಬಲ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವಾಗಿದೆ.

   

ಏಕ್ಯಾ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿಎಂಆರ್ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳು (Using standards at Ekya and CMR NPS)

ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯು ಪ್ರಪಂಚದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ಓದಿ, ವಿಮರ್ಶಿಸಿ ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಭೌಗೋಳಿಕತೆಗೆ ಅನ್ವಯವಾಗುವಂತಹ ಮಾನಡಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಅಳವಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಭವಿಷ್ಯವನ್ನು ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ನಮ್ಮದೇ ಆದ ಕೆಲವು ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ಸಹ ರೂಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಕಲಿಕೆ, ಮೌಲ್ಯಮಾಪನಗಳು ಈ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳ ಆಧಾರಿತವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ವಿಷಯದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಗದ್ಯಕ್ಕೂ ಆಯ್ಕೆಮಾಡಲಾಗಿರುವ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳಿಗನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಕಲಿಕಾ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ನಂತರ ಆ ಗದ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಪಾಠಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರು ಈ ಪಾಠಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ಓದಿ ಅಣುಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಪ್ರತಿ ತರಗತಿಗೂ ಸಹ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರು ಅಣುಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಪ್ರತಿ ತರಗತಿಗಳೂ ಸಹ ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳಿಗೆ ಅನುಗುಣವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತವೆ. ನಾವು ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಗು ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಬೌದ್ಧಿಕ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವನ್ನು ಆಧಾರವಾಗಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತರಗತಿಗಳ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಕಾಠಿಣ್ಯತೆಯನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಿ, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತರಗತಿಗಳ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಹಂತ ಹಂತವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಗತಿಯತ್ತ ಹೋಗುವ ಹಾಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಯು ನಮಗೆ ಯಾವ ತರಗತಿಗೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಕಠಿಣತೆ ಇರಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ತೋರಿಸುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಆಯಾಯ ತರಗತಿಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಬೌದ್ಧಿಕ ಮಟ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ಬೋಧಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಸಹ ತಿಳಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯ ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಹಾದಿ ಹಂತ ಹಂತವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಗತಿಯತ್ತ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ.

   

   

Paranjyothi Swamy

Instructional Designer, Language Program-Kannada

Ekya Schools and CMR K-12

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