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Ekya / April 05, 2022 Posted by : administrator

Source: Budget Quote

The state of education is often a healthy predictor of the country’s overall development and well-being. Quality education holds the key to inclusive growth and education in India needs to be recognized as an equalizer especially in the context of the pandemic. This year’s budget will bring a revolutionary change to the education sector as it can support the capacity building of teachers and school leaders across the country. Investing in teacher education through the training of teacher educators and implementation of robust institutions for teacher training and education will create a high-quality education system in the country. Education is also a crucial instrument that can bridge the socio-economic divide in our country. The establishment of a Digital University and over 200 channels covering multiple regional languages under the ‘One class, one TV channel’ program are two very innovative and path-breaking initiatives that will enable students across the nation to access quality education through the hub and spoke model. The development of quality e-content to empower and equip teachers with digital tools for teaching and facilitating in order to achieve better learning outcomes is a welcome measure. Taking into account the challenges of the online learning arrangements, the government’s decision to enhance digital learning with E -VIDYA will be a boost to the education sector.

– Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder & Managing Director, Ekya Schools, and Provost, CMR University.

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Ekya / May 24, 2023

Fun in Sun: Ekya School Summer camps designed for children to Explore, Learn & Play

Source: Brain Feed
Summer camps are a great way for children to spend their holidays in a meaningful and productive manner. These camps not only provide a fun and enjoyable experience but also offer opportunities for children to learn and develop new skills. They allow children to learn new skills, make new friends and have fun while staying active and engaged. With this in mind, Ekya Schools and CMR NPS organized series of camps with an array of activities planned that cater to a range of interests and ages. The camps are being led by experienced and qualified instructors ensuring safety, enjoyable experience and engaging environment for children across ages. The camp began with a meaningful excursion to Munnar as a part of the Outbound Learning Pogram organized for children of Ekya Schools and CMR NPS exclusively, where children got to trek, go kayaking, watching and learning tea picking, and learning the process of tea making, enjoying the natural surroundings of tea estates, activities like raft building, watching martial arts of Kerala, etc. At Ekya Schools and CMR NPS, keeping in mind the benefits of organizing summer camps for its students, they have started offering a variety of courses and skill-based activities. Customized activities like LEGO Robotics / Coding and Robotics, Public speaking and creative writing skills, Art Courses like Drama & Speech, Theatre, Sculpturing and Art on bottle, Warli Art, Paper Mache Pots, etc. Performing arts like Hip-hop dance, Indian Modern dance, Sports activities like Swimming, Basketball, Skating, Karate, and many such personality development programmes have been a part of Summer Camps for students of Ekya, CMR NPS and others who wish to participate. Camps are held on several Ekya School campuses. The best part is that kids from any school may come to our campus, participate in camps and have a good learning and fun time by enrolling into the Summer Camps. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Anamika Radhakrishnan, Head – Student Development, Ekya Schools said, “The summer camps at Ekya School and CMR NPS are designed to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment for children to learn and grow. Our educational programs are specifically tailored to develop cognitive and social skills and focus on physical fitness and overall wellbeing. Through various activities, we aim to encourage children to be active and engage in physical exercise, which is crucial for their holistic development. With a team of experienced and qualified educators, we are dedicated to providing a high-quality education that equips children with the necessary skills to succeed in the 21st century. At Ekya Schools, we are committed to creating a learning environment that fosters children’s holistic development.”

Ekya / May 24, 2023

Bee-lieve it! Students of EKYA School introduced to the new Bee Hotel Initiative to promote sustainability

Source: Education World
While options for summer camps are aplenty, Ekya school in Bengaluru is offering its students an innovative summer assignment- to raise bees. To encourage sustainability initiatives and promote the importance of environmental conservation, Ekya Schools has collaborated with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in their one-of-a-kind ‘Bee Hotels’ initiative. Interested students from all five branches of Ekya have opted for the Bee Hotel and will be participating in the activity. These bee hotels will be looked after by the students during the summer vacation. This initiative targets studying solitary bees in Bengaluru. Experts believe that unlike honeybees, solitary bees do not build hives or display any aggressive behaviour, making it safe for children. Ekya School Byrathi hosted an interactive talk about conserving biodiversity in cities where students interacted with researchers from ATREE. Dr Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder of Ekya Schools and Provost, CMR University, said, “We have introduced the Bee Hotels as we firmly believe in the importance of transcending the limits of the classroom and raising our students’ awareness of the world they inhabit. Moreover, the Bee Hotel initiative engages the entire family by facilitating collective learning about sustainability and conservation”. “We believe that our students must understand the impact of their actions on the environment,” said Smriti Agarwal, Head of School, Ekya School Byrathi. “By implementing this initiative, we are not only creating a secure environment for bees but also educating our students about the significance of sustainability and conservation.” Students will be recording their observations on the Bee Hotel App. These observations will help further the research program at ATREE to integrate these important pollinators into urban life.

Ekya / May 24, 2023

Gautam Aravindan: A Compassionate Youth Paving the Way for Robotics With A Purpose

Source: Edugraph

The soft hum of electronics filled the air as Gautam Aravindan tinkered with his latest creation in his room. It was a 3-degree of freedom (DOF) camera positioning system for machine vision, and it was his most ambitious project yet. As just a second-year PU student at CMR National Pre-University College, ITPL, Gautam had already made significant strides in the field of robotics and electronics, driven by a passion that had sparked in him at a young age.

Recently, he presented his projects in electronics, robotics, and single-board computers at CMR National PU College. The session covered basic sensors and actuators, delved into the world of robotics using a robotic arm controlled using a Raspberry Pi and a remote control, and discussed the exciting potential of single-board computers. Gautam conducted the session to spread awareness to his peers regarding the amazing potential of the world of robots and computing and that there are no age constraints to building robots. He hoped to have inspired his peers to explore it further.

It all started when Gautam saw a robot on TV and was fascinated by its functionalities. From that moment, his interest in electronics and computing only grew, leading him to explore distinct ventures of robotics and ultimately becoming a field he wished to pursue when he grew older. With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping him indoors, Gautam utilized his time to learn the fundamentals required to build projects related to electronics, robotics, and single-board computers.

Amidst the pandemic, Gautam upskilled himself and expanded his knowledge, creating several impressive projects. From a Laser Security system for safety purposes to a reverse parking system using a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, he had done it all. He had even created several 3-D printed and designed home-based products, such as laptops and mobile stands.

During his journey, Gautam encountered various challenges that strengthened his persistence and determination to achieve his goals. For example - Amid the pandemic, when he couldn't access the required components for his projects, he dismantled his old toys and repurposed them for his work. And with every challenge after that, Gautam's unwavering dedication towards his projects sharpened his problem-solving abilities.

Amongst his numerous projects, Gautam had a particular social concern he wished to address using robotics and electronics - the growing necessity for elderly care. Gautam believes these fields have a wide range of applications and could be used to solve several real-world problems and assist in research ventures. He hopes to address this issue by building a robotic companion for the elderly based on their respective needs.

For people interested in learning more about robotics, technology, and computers, here’s what Gautam suggests - “Explore these ventures in-depth using the Internet. Take advantage of e-learning platforms that offer paid and free courses with certification. Get hands-on exposure by building projects - using beginner electronics kits which are easily accessible on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, etc”.

Gautam Aravindan's dedication to electronics, robotics, and single-board computers is impressive, and his work is an inspiration to many. His passion for these fields has led him to undertake several impressive projects and has given him a broader perspective on the role of these technologies in society. His work on building a robotic companion for the elderly is a testament to his commitment to solving real-world problems through technology. Gautam's journey in this field is one to watch out for, and we look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.

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Top Bengaluru Schools’ Mission: Catch ‘em Young & Educate Them Right

Source: Catch'em young

Bengaluru is another melting pot of India, with citizens from across the country as well as overseas living here, even as they pursue their career. Schools in the city are proud to teach their children values, moral lessons and set examples on how to live a happy and harmonious life in the school campus without any discrimination. News Trail reached out to some of the top schools in the city and this is what they had to say.

Shweta Sastri, Managing Director, Canadian International School, said, “Diversity is something that we always celebrate at Canadian International School (CIS). In an ever-changing global scenario, it has become imperative to equip children with adequate exposure to be worthy citizens of the country in the future. CIS is a top international school in India and has students and faculty members from over 40 nationalities. As a culturally rich mosaic, utmost importance is given to diversity and sociocultural awareness. Students are taught to share space with a diverse group of individuals from around the world in a multicultural classroom for a truly international experience.”

“To promote diversity along with educating students on the importance of equality, CIS hosts a symposium on inclusivity every year, which is aimed at understanding biases prevailing in the society and sensitising students on various societal issues. We have also been actively conducting other workshops and roundtable discussions involving participation from high school students and faculty members to educate students in areas of neuro-diversity, race, social class, disability diversity, LGBTQ, and gender as we live in a world of diverse cultures, languages, beliefs and customs. With a myriad of cultures and ethnicities, it is important to learn to accept all – irrespective of social class, caste, gender or sexuality. With such a large and diverse population, we believe that inclusivity helps students become a part of our community, develop a sense of belonging and become better prepared for life in the community as children and adults. We strive to create a community in which each individual is treated with dignity, compassion and fairness,” she added.

Sastri said they also have CIS Allies, a high school student-led group, a club that also tries to educate students to be more inclusive and morally responsible citizens. “We also organise a Multicultural Day every year to celebrate different cultures at the school, which is also a great way for the entire community to come together, share and celebrate the cultural diversity at CIS,” he added.

What is more important nowadays is that sense of responsibility that needs to come in the younger generation, say experts. Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School, said, “We believe in encouraging intellectual and cultural diversity and aim at developing our pupils’ sense of responsibility towards the wider community. We also offer a dynamic environment where each student is encouraged to become a critical and compassionate thinker, dedicated learner for life, a contributing member of the local and global community, showing respect and understanding for other cultures and acknowledging that others can be different and also right. We also conduct various activities that enhance the moral conduct of the students and our teachers impart knowledge on moral science.”

“We always try to educate young people in ways that prepare them to be active, free-thinking and socially responsible citizens in a democratic society. Our mission is to develop the intellectual, moral, social and emotional potential of the students among others. We have built an ambience that fosters the allegiance of our students to their cultural heritage and promotes respect and tolerance. The students are rooted in their culture and are ready to accept any new challenge with a fresh approach towards learning,” added Agarwal.

Teaching students about culture, unity in diversity

Ms Pravitha Nair (Middle School Academic Coordinator, CMRNPS)

“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Those are the powerful words by the Father of our nation. We are citizens of the powerful country India, enriched as it is with diversified cultures, traditions, practices, races, castes, creeds, languages, religions, and unending empowerment. In that sense, undoubtedly we are responsible to build a generation that understands the importance and passes on the heritage to young minds. That’s the belief we educators in the National Public School carry on our sleeves.

In this present day, our school has a beautifully designed and structured curriculum that not only focuses on the exploration of new ideas but also on imbibing the history of each one’s existence. To begin with, we believe in the practice of knowing and understanding each other. It involves respect, acceptance and adoption of each other’s variations. Life skills and SEE learning has helped our students to be tolerant and respect each other. Celebrations of festivities and discussion about what is being followed, competitions and activities are some of those best practices that we follow with pride. The beauty is enhanced when our children imbibe these aspects into their minds through what they learn. They learn how wonderful it is to be different from each other, yet simply be called one.

Affirmations have been a unique feature and practice in our school. Be it from the school head to staff or teachers to students. Apart from these, there is a lot of exposure given through varied books in different genres. Top schools now encourage different languages in the curriculum, namely English, Hindi, Kannada, French and Sanskrit. Languages definitely play an essential role in the unification of diversities regardless of barriers that are created. Our activities (debates, storytelling, role-plays and many more) that shape the upcoming generations through our curriculum are something that we genuinely take pride in. To conclude, today we believe that true learning lies in presenting and enriching one with vast pieces of information and experiences.

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Tips to boost memory in children

Source: Tips to boost memory

A healthy memory is important for children’s development. Abilities to remember and perform task are all related to memory. Memory plays an important role in concentration and in following instructions. Weak working memory skills can affect learning in many different subject areas including reading and math.

Tips to boost memory in children

Make learning an exciting experience 

Encourage your child’s interest to study by visiting the library and read books on various topics. Visiting to a science museum or an art gallery can also helpful for visualizing and remembering the latter. Visualization of any form of content will help the children to remember the tasks faster. Restrict the screen time of your children. Instead, encourage them to involve in reading and other outdoor activities.

Exercise 

Exercising is another habit that must be a part of everyone’s daily schedule. The earlier the kids develop the habit of exercising daily the better it is for them. Being physically active helps the brain to stay sharp and boost their brain function.

Make mind maps 

Make a mental map of different thoughts and how they relate to one another. Making links between words and themes encourages children to actively interact with the content and build better knowledge, which is a crucial aspect of memory.

Encourage kids to read actively 

Taking notes and underlining or highlighting the words might help children retain information for long time. Reading loudly is another form to boost working memory. Reading and writing along strategy help in building long-term memory.

Use patterns whenever possible 

Helping your child use patterns is another approach to improve their memory, from learning the alphabet to categorising objects. Going through the exercise of coding and categorising information into patterns can dramatically improve your child’s long-term memory because this strategy involves recurrent effort.

Taking short breaks in between 

After concentrating on lessons for a length of time, it is necessary to take a mental break. In order to efficiently take in new knowledge, the brain requires replenishment of its reserves. Simple actions like drinking water, standing, walking around, or stretching help revitalise your child’s brain and prepare it to accept and process more information.

Bright Colours 

Making use of bright colours while teaching your kids is another tool to ensure that the information stays in their brain for a longer time. Bright Colour is something that gets through our mind easily and thus should be used tactfully. Highlighting important passages with different bright colours and using sticky notes on the textbook can be beneficial.

Nutrition 

Memory is substantially enhanced when children consume a well-balanced diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid sugar and high calorie food. This will further help in the development of a child’s memory.

Incorporating these activities and habits into a child’s everyday routine will surely help with memory improvement. Make time to study and learn new things with the child in a pleasant way. This will undoubtedly build a great atmosphere. Child will be more receptive to learning new things with parents encouragement and support.

- Authored by Ms. Shubhra Johri Sinha, Head of School, Ekya Byrathi

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