RAGINI BHATNAGAR
WHAT MAKES ME A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
I always had a desire to work for the betterment of the society. And as a matter of fact, I believe that new aides and systems need to be brought up in order to develop any person or place. Being the principal of a school based in a rural habitat, I have constantly being implementing better ways to bring the students in contact with the developed world. It not only develops their interest in various activities but also motivates them the next level As presently I am working as a Principal at Modern Defence Sr. Sec. School – An institution based in a rural setting which is tirelessly working towards providing quality education in their area.
The union of academics, sports and extra-curricular activities makes it all the more better. The school has constantly been making efforts in providing the best possible facilities to the students. from inculcating virtues of loyalty, discipline and commitment to participation in various events ranging from school level to national level there has always been something around the corner. Among the many landmarks achieved the cultivation and support to girl education has been of major concern. A rural area now witnesses a rise of female literates along with their soft skill development. The school has successfully developed good communication skills, grooming habits and etiquettes in the students. Rallies, competitions, awareness campaigns etc. are organized to give the students a broader outlook. As majority of the students belong to the rural habitat, the school ensures that along with all other agendas, they also learn something which would help them to generate income in future. These include crafts, physical training, language development of the child.
MY MISSION AS A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
My mission for education has always been very clear. Education should be such that it makes a person independent. Education gives you a stand, employment and a base to do better for others. My vision is to help females get employment on the basis of the skill and knowledge they receive. I have always been striving to work for this and will actively continue to practice the same in future by becoming an example, as taught in school as examples teach you better.
LEARNING BY DOING
I am trying to impart latest knowledge and skills for teachers. We have taken some innovative practices as display of soft boards in classroom and out of class room on different social awareness topics and also related to science and languages. We have organized some workshops also to exchange projects created by students. Library is also used for references. We have implemented some new methodology for teaching pre-primary level like audio visual, clay moulding, puzzles, display soft boards with so many attractive design related with their curriculum etc. We have been continuously organizing some exhibitions to improve multiple intelligence of students.
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
We have been championing the above mentioned integrated curriculum by educational projects by way of dramas, talk shows etc. We have planned some extra curricular activities based on Indian Culture. Some Inter-School competitions have also been organized on current news, history, families, society. Some rallies also have been organized to raise social awareness.
INTEGRATION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTO EDUCATION THROUGH FACULTY
There is a need for integrating entrepreneurship with education. It is necessary to learn how to plan, how to decide, how to brave to face the adverse situations. We have organized vegetables markets, created shopping malls also for pre primary and for middle level students. We have given chance to students to convince others to buy their products so that they can become independent and they develop their communication skills also. And they learn marketing strategies also.
PROBLEM SOLVING & CRITICAL THINKING AMIDST THE FACULTY
We lay emphasis on thought process and de-emphasize rote memorization and make learning as fun. We try that teaching learning process should be student centered. We Promote Multi-Disciplinary projects in classroom. We discuss the problem among group members and spend top minutes deciding on to various solutions to the given problem. Any one group member keeps a note of all solutions. We then distill the list into at least three practical effective solutions. The group leader gives scores to his/her group members as per the descriptors for assessing thinking skills. We identify strengths and weaknesses and assess children’s progress over time. We introduce role plays as facilitator to students to explore and learn with students. We have more disciplined classrooms with robust, meaningful and authentic settings & practices.
GROUP WORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS AMIDST THE FACULTY
Without teamwork no event can be successful. In my school’s schedule every teacher is assigned for responsibility according to their ability. Leadership and responsibility are the two qualities that should be in teachers. Teachers have been responsible as house in-charge, activity in-charge, exam in-charge, note book checking in-charge, event coordinators etc.
UNDERSTANDING & ACTION BASED LEARNING
The school is running in a rural area and I accepted it as a challenge to impart innovative teaching techniques to avoid rote knowledge. Education today is based on technology. Lots of changes are taking place in the field of education. Apart from the regular traditional teaching we use smart boards, organize talk shows, drama, laboratories, download educational videos, workshops, act plays and outing etc.
COLLABORATIVE & COOPERATIVE LEARNING PROJECTS FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
I have been able to introduce collaborative and cooperative learning projects for faculty development. As I have organized some training programs in my school. We invited all the others school’s faculty members also to take participate. Training programs are like motivational teaching. C.C.E training. Training for smart boards with their own creative ideas to make curriculum more effective. My school was the host for state level Scout and Guide event where faculty members learnt to work with cooperation. As a host I have organized sports event for students of special need in National Coaching Camp by E KS .My faculty members learnt a lot in a different way of teaching from that event
EDUCATION ACCENTUATING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY
I have been the great supporter to do something innovative and practice out of the track. So, I introduced different ways of teaching and learning so that students and teachers can do experiments in the classroom which can improve thought process of the students. To impart social responsibilities some rallies on some emerging topics like save daughters, save water and save environment, cleanliness and Make In India etc. are organized as well.
DESIGN & DELIVERY OF A LEARNING ECOSYSTEM WHEREBY HIGHLY PERSONALIZED LEARNING ACCOUNTING IS DONE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONAL GOALS
I work in remote and rural areas where parents are not aware about the need of technology in education system. They are helpless to provide healthy environment at home also, that’s why they only depend on school for academics and complete personality development. According to surrounding area I design complete personal profiles with the specific observations based on child psychology. Faculty members teach the students according to the learning capacity of students and have been continuously in touch with parents during Parents Teachers meeting and discuss about every individual with the help of personal files and convince them about the importance of English medium school for girls.
INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS INTO THE DAILY CURRICULUM
My students are introduced to the underlying principles of charity and are provided messages on social awareness by organizing rallies and exhibitions. Some extracurricular activities have been organized from time to time also for community service. S.U.P.W (Socially Useful and Productive Work) is also the part of our curriculum. Students have been effectively taking participation in scout and guide activities as well.
LIFELONG LEARNING AND SOCIAL SKILLS OF FACULTY MEMBERS
All the National days are celebrated in the school with maximum participation. Anniversaries of National leaders and Important Days related to them are also celebrated in the school. Faculty members are very much efficient in the role of counsellor to select the subject to build the future of students so that they can earn best and become successful in life.
FACULTY ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION OF THEIR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS & PRODUCTIONS
I provide so many opportunities to the faculty to practice their teaching strategies. With enthusiasm they prove their ability. Freedom of work is given to them so that they can work without any pressure. I try to make my faculty members confident and try to motivate them. It is my experience that motivation works very effectively.
Assessment should result in improvement also. Teachers have to be answerable for the following questions
- Are the learners involved in the activities of the class?
- Are the learners who face problems in coping with the pace and flow of the teaching- learning process?
- What are their problems and how should teachers help them?
- Is there something in teaching strategy that has to be modified to make the class learn better? How should teachers go about it?
- Are there some learners who are not challenged by the materials and methods and hence lose motivation quickly? How should teachers respond to their special needs?
- Are some lessons/chapters/units that pose difficulty to many learners? How should teachers add value to these portions of the syllabus?
- Have teachers identified certain common errors/mistakes and instances of lack of conceptual clarity from the information collected and analyzed?
- How should teachers go about an effective programme of remediation?
- How effective is classroom time management of the faculty? What are the changes that teachers could introduce to make it more learner and learning oriented?
- Are teachers getting adequate support from the school management, their colleagues, the parents and the community? How can teachers involve all the stakeholders more actively in what teachers doing for the benefit of learners?
- What are the personal needs of professional development of teachers? How can teachers fulfill them in a continuous manner?
Such reflective questions helps the teachers modify and refine the programme of teaching to achieve the learning objectives as well as to enhance his/her professional competency continuously.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY TO FACULTY EMPOWERMENT
I believe that learning never ends. I use to send our facility members to attend educational workshops and seminars which have been organized by different companies and schools also for skill development As a Principal I am trying to make my faculty members virtuous and devoted personalities. I organize some special workshops by providing lectures based on moral values and invite some celebrities from nearby area.