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Ekya / August 15, 2022 Posted by : administrator

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education board is a private, non-governmental board.  The board has a mission to serve the nation’s children by imparting high quality education to them. It aims to empower them to form a humane and pluralistic society.  The board revises its syllabus and curriculum to ensure that the lessons imparted are relevant and up to date.  

The history of the ICSE board goes all the way back to 1952 when the All India Certificate Examinations Conference was held  under the chairmanship of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was the Minister of Education. The conference wanted to hold discussions for the replacement of Cambridge School Certificate Examination by an Indian based Council. It was decided that the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations would be set up. The council was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in 1967. There are three examinations conducted under CISCE, the first is the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education for the high school class X board, the Indian School Certificate for higher secondary or class XII board, and Certificate in Vocational Education or CVE – Year 12. Over 2, 300 schools in India and abroad are affiliated to ICSE. 

ICSE Board Curriculum for High School 

The ICSE Board Curriculum has been designed as per the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986.  It is required that the candidates should appear for six subjects and also engage in Socially Useful Productive work. The revised syllabus for the ICSE examination includes subjects such as English, Indian Languages, Modern Foreign Language, History and Civics, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Commercial Studies, Classical Language, Environmental Science, Computer Applications, Economic Applications, Commercial Applications, Performing Art, Fashion Designing, Home Science and Cookery among other options. The ICSE board offers a wide range of curriculum. 

1.  Assessment Pattern for ICSE School

The ICSE board decides the syllabus, exam pattern and textbooks for each affiliated school. Among the ICSE subjects, Group 1 is compulsory for all students, these subjects are English, History, Civics, Geography and a second language. From Group II, students can select two or three subjects, the options given are Mathematics, Science, Economics, Commercial Studies, a Modern Foreign Language, a Classical Language and Environmental Science. From Group III, the student can choose 1 subject from 12 options. The examination pattern consists of essay type quotations, short compulsory questions and objective type questions. For Group I and Group II of the subjects,  assessment is done by taking 20% from the internal assessment and 80% from the external assessment, while for group III, 50% each will be considered from internal and external assessment. The students will also have to face practical exams in the subjects of Art, Physics, Indian Music, Home Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Computer Science, and Fashion Designing. The practical examination should be given as much importance as the theoretical examination as the marks will be considered in the final assessment. The student must prove to be an expert in the subject in theoretical as well as practical terms. To prepare for examinations, students can undertake mock tests and go through ICSE board sample papers which are available online. 

2.  Future post-ICSE Board Exams

The ICSE board focuses on the development of the students and helps them gain strong analytical skills and practical knowledge to prepare them for the future. Due to the vast syllabus offered, students can pursue their line of interests and focus on their future career right from the ICSE board.  The board focuses on helping children become skillful with the use of the English language, this in turn helps share their future course. It makes it easier for the students to appear for exams such as TOEFL( Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS(International English Language Testing System).  

The best ICSE schools in India can be found in cities and towns across the country. If you are looking for the best ICSE schools in Bangalore, Ekya Schools are one the best schools offering ICSE boards in a few campuses. Ekya is focused on a global mission towards Innovation in Learning, providing high quality education and making learning fun and practical for students across all ages.  The mission of Ekya is to empower young minds to make a difference in the world through technology-rich and immersive learning experiences. Whether you are looking for ICSE schools in Hebbal, ICSE schools in JP nagar, ICSE schools in Whitefield or ICSE schools in BTM layout, Ekya Schools can be found in each of these locations with state of the art campuses and skilled educators.

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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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How to Educate on Gender Stereotypes

Societies around the world have traditionally evolved and functioned around concepts of gender-based roles and responsibilities. Within most societies, the men are considered breadwinners, and the women as caregivers and homemakers. Though these defined gender-based roles started to provide communities with a functional format, over time these seem to have been put into airtight compartments that are not functional anymore as per the requirement of the present society. It is thus important for students to realise that every individual has their own unique qualities, aptitude, interests and life views, and to be able to realise one’s true potential, one cannot always remain within the confines of these strict gender stereotypes.  There are many ways in which children can be made aware of what gender stereotypes are:  One of the effective ways is to discuss how media and society sets expectations based on gender. For example, the advertisements mostly show men going to the office and the women cooking in the kitchen, or the women serving everyone meals and then eating at the end themselves. The media sometimes also shows that the decisions for women should be taken by men of the household and that men must always display being strong and powerful.  By openly discussing such stereotypes, the discussion can then be steered toward the harmful outcomes of such ideas for society. For example, gender bias deprives many talented girls of higher education opportunities or the exposure to grow into financially independent members of society. Men on the other hand are put under emotional and psychological stress by the societal expectation that they should not share their weaknesses or emotional aspects and must at all times appear stern and bossy. Both men and women lose out on expressing their true selves under such situations, and it puts them into compartments rather than helping them grow into fulfilled and happy individuals.  Within homes and schools, empathetic discussions on gender stereotypes and their consequences should be discussed early on in a child’s life and they need to be encouraged to break free from such restricting ideas and realise their individuality:
  • Exploring gender stereotypes through stories: 
 Through stories of real men and women who have taken up professions that are considered not fit for their gender, or through make-believe cartoon characters the student can be taught how they can realise what interests them, pursue that field and get satisfaction in what they do. Otherwise, the general societal norms will keep most girls uninterested in science-based professions and discourage boys from taking up school teaching jobs, which are considered appropriate for women. The stories can also bring forth the fact that facial beauty is not the only important thing for girls and being macho does not mean men need to subjugate women. 
  • Exploring gender stereotypes through art:
Art can be a great equaliser when it comes to exploring, discussing and breaking gender biases. Through theatre, painting, sculpture and music, students can be encouraged to spread the message for a more equal society for both men and women, boys and girls. 
  • Breaking gender stereotypes:
Once the students are involved in discussions and debating about what constitutes gender expectations, they must also be shown the positive ways to break free of excessively restricting and damaging gender definitions. This can be achieved in school by giving the same roles and responsibilities to both boys and girls; e.g. both can clean the classroom, set tables at cultural events, lead the event and manage teams. There can be an equal representation of boys and girls on the student council, and each student should be encouraged to adopt a stream of education that they like without the fear of societal expectations.  At Ekya, we break gender stereotypes by giving similar responsibilities to both girls and boys, inducting an equal number of boys and girls within the student council and holding debates and discussions on topics such as gender equality and equal pay for equal work.  Conclusively, through open dialogue and by showcasing examples of gender inclusivity and respect, Ekya plays an important role in helping the educational, psychological and social growth of children.

#TeacherBlogger: 4 Strategies to Manage Your Time Better! By, Ahlada Sudersan Head of Professional Development Institute Ekya Schools & CMR K-12

4 Strategies to Manage your time better!

Time is one of the most important resources we have, and the most scarce too! As educators, we have many priorities like instruction time, assessment planning, lesson planning, reviewing and grading student work  and more. When there are so many important things to do, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, over stretched and even miss out on a few key tasks.

This is where managing your time effectively comes in. Time management has always been important, but given the multitude of tasks that we generally have to contend with on a day to day basis, It has become a  key 21st century skill which increases productivity, reduces stress and helps achieve all our tasks and goals.

Let’s look at 4 strategies that can help you manage your time better:

  1. The Pareto Principle:  80:20 rule

As per the Pareto Principle our focus should be on the key 20% of our tasks that drive 80% of the impact.

For example, In the beginning of the year, prioritising building a classroom contract with students over finishing a lesson will yield better results, since the classroom contract will set the tone for the rest of the academic year, and eventually will result in more learning time.

Pareto Principle pushes us to think about our priorities and where we should focus our efforts.

Source

2. Kanban Board

A kanban board is a visual tool to identify things you have to work on, things you are currently working on, and things that have been completed.

It has 3 columns - To Do, Doing, Done.

Let’s look at how to create a Kanban board-

You can use a whiteboard or just a normal board to put this together.

Step 1 - Add all of your To-do list

To do Doing Done
Speak to Coordinator about a child’s issue Grade assessment papers Lesson Planning

Step 2 - Once you start doing an action item move it to Doing.

To do Doing Done
 Lesson Planning  Speak to Coordinator about a child’s issue Grade assessment papers

Step 3 - Once the action item is completed, you can add it to the Done list.

To do Doing Done
 Lesson Planning  Speak to Coordinator about a child’s issue Grade assessment papers

It is an easy visual tool to track your tasks and will also help you prioritise your tasks on a day to day basis.

3. The Pomodoro Technique

A simple technique to do deep work, once you have decided on the task you wish to finish, set a timer for 25 minutes, start as the timer starts, and until the timer goes off complete the work you have started without any interruptions. Put all of your distractions aside and just focus on the task at hand for 25 minutes and after 25 minutes, take a 5 minutes break and begin again.

Here are a few tips to help you execute Pomodoro Technique effectively:

i. Put all the distractions away

Phone, tablets, and any other gadgets should be put on silent or be put away, this is to ensure that you are not distracted and can't focus for 25 mins on the task at hand.

ii. Isolate yourself

To ensure that you are not disturbed during the 25 mins of working, isolate yourself from other people, and let everyone around you know that you are working on something and need the time to yourself.

iii. Take a break

Avoid extending the work time when you are starting to use this technique. Instead, take a break and relax before you start another round of focused work.

Use this online pomodoro timer to regulate the time spent on the tasks.

4. Urgent - Important Prioritisation Matrix

Before the start of the month, week and day, create a to-do list, add all that you need to do there, and bracket all the items into important and unimportant items, urgent and not urgent. This to-do list will help you stay in charge of your time and ensure that you get all of your work done on time. You can also build an urgent important matrix  that will help you stay organised and on top of your tasks.

source

A few additional tips and tricks that will help you save time and ensure efficiency:

Self-correction / Peer correction: Give students a chance, and time, to correct themselves, Students can also correct notebooks of one another. Peer correction often helps to create a positive class atmosphere as students realise teachers are not the only source of error correction and they can learn a lot from one another.

Avoid Reinventing the Wheel: There are plenty of lesson plans and teaching resources available online, you can use the same instead of reinventing the wheel. However, you can always contextualise the resources to your students' needs.

Give tasks to students: Engage your students in planning and executing morning meetings, closing circles, and other spaces that you think they can manage, you can give them a template and set standards for the same, and students can plan it around it and get the plan reviewed by you.

Use Technology: Use technology in processes that can be automated. For example, attendance can be recorded and score analysis can be easily done on excel or google sheets. Online tools can be used to assign and automate grading. This will help draw trends easily and process all the raw data.

Find time for yourself: Finally, find time for yourself to do what you enjoy and can relax doing it. A relaxed mind is more efficient in problem-solving and time management than a stressed one.

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