3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV

Issue #20 / November 24,  2020

Have you ever lost sense of time while doing something? Chatting with a friend, playing a game, singing a tune… you must have then managed the 4 key factors of achieving Flow – Focus, Freedom, Feedback and Four percent challenge. This issue of 3-2-1 with Ms Niv is  about engaging your self fully, enjoying yourself, crafting a learning environment for your students to be active learners – no matter what, and achieving satisfaction and happiness. 

Read, enjoy, share and subscribe.

Three Images For The Week

For educator, parent and student. The Holy Trinity of Education

Two Thoughts For The Week

I am not a teacher, but an awakener.
– Robert Frost

They may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel.
– Carl Buechner

 

One Video For The Week

Have you been in the zone – where time stands still and yet it flies? While playing, making music, reading, writing, learning? if yes, then you must have experienced a state of ‘Flow’. What is ‘Flow’ and how can you create it for yourself or your learners? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced Me-High Chick-Sent-Me-High) the legendary psychologist is known for his famous investigations of “optimal experience” when one experiences a genuinely satisfying state. In his book Flow, he demonstrates how it can be attained and not left to chance. How do you get into that zone which is somewhere between boredom and anxiety?

What are the factors that generate Flow? While you are studying? While you are teaching? While you are cleaning your home? Writing an email?

Focus (when there is no distracting thought or multitasking)

Freedom (when there is no self-scrutiny)

Feedback (constant flow of information in some form to let you know you are closer to your goal)

 

Guest Column

A LEARNER’S QUEST FOR AN IB CLASSROOM

Let’s ask ourselves an honest question, “Are IB classes really “UNIQUE”? Or it’s just hype created for an educational board because of its foreign origin and/or for the reason that students from elite backgrounds take admission in IB. What could be the reason for considering IB classes as unique?

I went on board in an imaginary time machine and revisited all the classes I had been experiencing in my career as an IB educator and administrator in the distant past. While enjoying my journey in the time machine, I found few compelling reasons for IB classes being distinct from other educational boards. Interestingly, educators in IB classroom not only focus on “LEARNING” being imparted BUT they ponder upon questions like:

• How is learning imparted within the four walls of the classroom – here I refer to the methodology – Is the methodology chalk and talk OR Sage on the Stage – “I know it all attitude” Or Meddler in the middle – driven by inquiry and passion for learning?
• Has the classroom learning led to “STUDENT AGENCY & SENSE OF OWNERSHIP” OR to an attitude of “DEPENDENCE” among learners which manifests itself in various forms and at varied times during learners life within and beyond school.
• Has learning translated into lifelong skills and knowledge for finding novel solutions to problems in familiar or unfamiliar settings OR it is confined to few concepts or problems being discussed/solved within the class?
• Has the learning in class led to empathetic human beings who love to work in groups and respect other individuals having diverse and even sometimes conflicting opinions OR to self-egotistical monsters who believe in “I’M RIGHT EVERY TIME”?

The reason that IB classes are breeding grounds for learners who develop skills of thinking, research, communication and self management along with social skills sets these classes apart. IB classrooms enable learners to imbibe the attributes of water that easily adapts itself and takes the shape of any vessel in which it is poured.

During my investigation, I also asked myself whether learners are enjoying their learning?

As we all know, neurons (carrying memories of classes, teachers, school and sometimes content) in the learners’ mind might become weaker and eventually memory may fade over the passage of time. However as we know, memories are not about EVENTS but about FEELINGS (which learners experience during the time spent in class). I was sure that the concepts and skills learnt in IB classes will never be forgotten as I observed the inquisitive, deeply immersed, thrilled and fully glowing faces of innocent minds in IB classes.

After quenching the quest for uniqueness of IB classes, I programmed my time machine back to the present times and arrived at the destination as a proud IB educator and a parent, observing and smiling at my little cute daughter, who is also an IB PYP student.

Happy Learning!

Abhinav Awasthi is the DP coordinator at Ebenezer International School Bangalore and has been associated with the IB since 2007. IB has given wings to his passion. He cherishes the dream of being an IB educator. Therefore, the article is an attempt to motivate learners and parents to embrace the IB.

Showcase

 

And Finally…

3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms Niv  is a newsletter for you to subscribe and enjoy your learning journey with me. Most of you would have been too busy to track trends in education, ponder on most relevant thoughts or deliberate on career choice, parenting or pedagogy. Find it all here. This week, it consists of:  3 images, 2 thoughts and 1 video.

For whom? Students, educators and parents

When? Every Tuesday

Where? my blog post, register with your e-mail id, it is free.

If you want to contribute an article, are organising an event, have a product that you think can be reviewed and/or featured in this news letter, please feel free to write to me at : niveditamukerjee10@gmail.com 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment. See you next week.

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