VANDNA SHAHI
WHAT MAKES ME A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
We in collaboration with academia and community at large provide conducive and challenging learning environment. We integrate technology, innovative techniques, child-centered methodology, trans-disciplinary approaches and comprehensive evaluation to achieve our educational goals. We are dedicated to the quest for child’s excellence by infusing in him the 21st century skills.
MY MISSION AS A PROGRESSIVE PRINCIPAL
The real purpose of education is to nurture human spirit, instill power to embrace, learning to excel and own one’s future. We aspire to create aware, enlightened, progressive, productive, ethical and adaptable citizens of the global community. This title will be testimony of translation of our vision into reality and will motivate us further towards the accomplishment of our mission.
LEARNING BY DOING
By a combination of all. Lots of emphasis is given on skill development – be it a science experiment, history project, instrument learning or adventure trip. All sorts of real life objects are brought to classroom from pre-primary stage itself.
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
Once a month teachers teaching all subjects to a particular class sit together, work on interdisciplinary projects by giving inputs about their field. Any project, they transform into an interdisciplinary one by their innovation and evaluation pattern.
INTEGRATION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTO EDUCATION THROUGH FACULTY
Financial Market Management is the vocational course that the school has taken up. The professional faculty of the stream arranges seminars and workshops for students as well as faculty to zest for entrepreneurship among students.
PROBLEM SOLVING & CRITICAL THINKING AMIDST THE FACULTY
Faculty is made to believe that we do not have a prediction of how tomorrow’s market will look like, so we can train our students for future only by inculcating in them problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills and not just by text book knowledge.
GROUP WORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS AMIDST THE FACULTY
I try to lead by example. We create opportunities where teachers work in groups for the welfare of the students. Teachers have created a ‘Charged Brigade’ of teachers and students who have taken up duty of spreading awareness with the help of students in society regarding various issues from time to time.
UNDERSTANDING & ACTION BASED LEARNING
Emphasis is laid on conceptual learning. Problem solving Assessment test has been introduced which is meant to check the understanding and application of knowledge. Analysis of this particular result is shared with the teacher concerned and they are given tips to improve on pedagogy.
COLLABORATIVE & COOPERATIVE LEARNING PROJECTS FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
We are using social media & apps like whatsapp where teachers in groups ask question, discuss answers to various issues even after the school hours.
EDUCATION ACCENTUATING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY
School has a non-threatening environment where children are encouraged to speak. Teachers being non-judgmental about their opinions, try to instill inquisitiveness among students.
DESIGN & DELIVERY OF A LEARNING ECOSYSTEM WHEREBY HIGHLY PERSONALIZED LEARNING ACCOUNTING IS DONE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONAL GOALS
We have started a programme called ‘REACH – Remedial Educational Approach to the Child’ which is an attempt to re-teaching or redesigning a lesson to make instructions clearer or more personalized.
INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS INTO THE DAILY CURRICULUM
Regular visits by the students to old age homes, orphanages and schools for disabled children make our students sensitive towards service of mankind.
FUTURISTIC SELECTION OF SUBJECT CONTENT
Social intelligence and new media learning, lifelong learning, self-learning, adaptability would be the new skills required in future which are not subject specific. These will have to be integrated with each subject.
LIFELONG LEARNING AND SOCIAL SKILLS OF FACULTY MEMBERS
Teachers’ training programme lay a lot of emphasis on getting self-motivated towards learning. These programmes make them learn new things every time so they get motivated to learn and explore more & more. Panel discussion on various topics in staff meetings make them explore more.
FACULTY ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION OF THEIR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS & PRODUCTIONS
We promote innovation & creativity in our school. Good practices followed by different teachers are made a part of teaching practice by other teachers also. Classes are observed by Principal and senior faculty, Innovative teachers are appreciated & rewarded.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY TO FACULTY EMPOWERMENT
In the whole education system the most important point is the contact point between teacher and student. For the complete process to be effective, teachers’ empowerment is important. We can empower our teachers by clearly defining our vision, providing professional and personal development, promoting time spent in the activities outside schools & holding professional teachers’ training programme.