MADHUMITA ROYCHOWDHURY
WHAT MAKES ME A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
I am an educationist having an experience over 18 years, a leader with values who is very much adaptable to change and who strongly believes in teamwork. I love to network with different people through which I enrich my knowledge day by day with latest developments and transpire those to my team of faculty who in turn transcends to the students who shall build a better tomorrow. I am a symbolic leader who can change the society by positive influence.
MY MISSION AS A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
I envision to create an institution which shall be unique by its culture and value, where in the love for learning will be predominant and the potential of every child would be pulled up to the maximum in whichever domain it is to make them best fit for 21st century.
To fulfill the vision I intend to take 3 steps as in creating a positive environment; building a strong team which is adaptable to change and be a role model to enable the change.
LEARNING BY DOING
This is accomplished by the following triad:
- Unique Lesson Plans: All Faculty members are to include a lesson per unit to be conducted outside the classroom
- Practicals: Experimental Science classes are taken in the Labs with suitable practicals
- Project Based Learning: Students are encouraged to participate in Project based Learning.
Other than that visits, research, program of inquiry are all included on regular basis which give a hands on learning experience.
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
The program of inquiry and the theme based learning are the examples of integrated learning. Primary Grades Teachers are made to create a central theme on a common topic. Every week 2 hours are devoted for the integration of the theme in 5 different subject areas including extra curriculars where all the different subject teachers sit and decide about the activities. Once in a term students present their research in form of a different medium. Debate session like MUN takes care of different arena of learning for faculty members.
INTEGRATION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTO EDUCATION THROUGH FACULTY
Faculty members are encouraged to enroll the students in different national and international projects where students are supposed to create a business with the available resources in the school. Faculty members are fully involved to facilitate the students. They are sent to different seminars and workshop to get a better idea of these activities. Students take initiative for fundraising to start up an NGO to teach the underprivileged students.
PROBLEM SOLVING & CRITICAL THINKING AMIDST THE FACULTY
There are lot of workshops which take place both in house and outdoor wherein a lot of problem solving issues are discussed. Moreover Faculty members train the students for Model United Nation session which enhances their problem solving skills. I as a Principal involve Faculty members to put their opinions for critical issues we face on a regular basis/occasionally in the institution. This helps them to use their critical and problem solving skills.
GROUP WORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS AMIDST THE FACULTY
All the activities and the programs which are held in school are mainly managed by Faculty members. Each piece of work is allotted to a group of teachers, which enables their teamsmanship. The thematic-integrated plan is made by the group of teachers which enhances and shows their unity. Teachers are sent to different workshops/seminars to increase their social skill by networking. Visit to different school also helps to develop their social skills.
UNDERSTANDING & ACTION BASED LEARNING
This includes the following
- Planning the lesson in such a way which involves some real time application activities
- Visible learning
- Showing different type of real time videos so that students can retain the knowledge
- Formative evaluation of the students
- Integrated Learning for example teaching Biology by Yoga skills.
COLLABORATIVE & COOPERATIVE LEARNING PROJECTS FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
Faculty is associated with different national and international associations where in they can share the resources. They are encouraged to do collaborative courses with different Universities which help them to facilitate the students take part in a global single project. We collaborate with different organization like Computer Masti by IIT Mumbai, Oxford Summer Courses etc to have better understanding of those organisations.
EDUCATION ACCENTUATING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY
Our institution follows an open door policy, where in every stakeholder can have a say about the welfare of the school. I encourage all the faculty members to put their views for any kind of issues/ concerns/policy making and take their feedback very positively. There are many cases where there were differences of opinion from teachers, parents and even from students. Decisions are taken with justification and unbiased manner.
DESIGN & DELIVERY OF A LEARNING ECOSYSTEM WHEREBY HIGHLY PERSONALIZED LEARNING ACCOUNTING IS DONE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONAL GOALS
Our institution being a unique one with 15 students per class, it is possible to make personalized learning goals. Ours is an inclusive institution where in multi-ability level students are taught. A general methodology is used for introduction of the unit. Activities and projects are made student specific using technology and other teaching aids. Shadow teaching, remedial, gifted learning lessons happen in parallel in a class. Extracurricular activities having 2 levels depending on the students’ potential are undertaken as well.
INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS INTO THE DAILY CURRICULUM
We have community service mentioned in our lesson plan one per term i.e. 4 in a year. Besides we invite the underprivileged schools during sports day to take part in sports and games. Our students go and teach the nearby municipality schools occasionally. Besides Students maintain the school garden by themselves. They take part in Fundraising for making shelters to homeless.
FUTURISTIC SELECTION OF SUBJECT CONTENT
I am updated with the recent development in education system. I am always in touch with my career counselors for the courses inland and overseas. I attend different conferences nationally and globally which helps me to update about the future employments. At the time of admission and subject selection I along with my Counsellors guide the students for opting the subjects mentioning the opportunities in future locally and globally.
LIFELONG LEARNING AND SOCIAL SKILLS OF FACULTY MEMBERS
Faculty members are exposed to the latest technological tools for making their lessons interesting. In order to make it successful everyone has to be adaptive and enthusiastic learners. Besides there are lot collaboration activities, seminar and conferences to network and update knowledge. Visiting different schools make the teachers socially strong and help them develop new skills.
FACULTY ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION OF THEIR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS & PRODUCTIONS
A team of Departmental Head, Head of Academics, Faculty Members and I sit together to have the feasibility study and cost effectiveness of the project under consideration. And accordingly it is approved. Besides, the school follows a 360 degree appraisal system periodically for the Faculty members from Coordinators, HOA, Principal, HR, Students etc. where the following criterion are embedded:
- The innovative methods of teaching
- Think and work Out Of Box
- Students participation and performance in National and international project and competition.
Faculty members are rated between 1 to 5, where 5 being the highest. The periodical evaluations are added to the Final appraisal at the end of the session.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY TO FACULTY EMPOWERMENT
For me it can be defined in as many as 3 points
- Motivation – for taking up challenges
- Professional development – for updating knowledge and skill at regular interval
- Appreciation – for successful work which initiates the next spark