In this fast changing world, the dynamics of education is also changing. Knowledge and curricula, especially of sciences and technology, are becoming obsolete at a faster rate now. To keep the future open children must be taught not only what to learn, but how to learn, how to observe and how to analyse. We should always guide and train children towards self learning. By right tools and techniques a child can be catalysed towards creativity and innovation.
Due to busy life schedule it has been observed that the communication gap between parents and child is widening. Week-ends and vacations should be used to strengthen the parent-child bond or grand parent–child relationships. The child can be accompanied to museums, scientific labs, public libraries, power plants, water purification plants, factories, workshops, industrial exhibitions, fields, nature walk, bird watching trips, fish farms, dairy farms and hatchery etc. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once remarked; ‘In formative period of childhood and youth it is essential that people should come to museums and learn. Their minds will be affected by the objects which they see there. I should like this aspect of education through museums to be developed’. Alas there are very few takers of this nugget of wisdom of Pandit Nehru. There are science museums in almost all state except Jammu and Kashmir. National Council of Science Museums has about more than two dozen science museums and Planetaria at various locations throughout country. Government should open museums, science museums, energy and technology parks in all districts of the country. There are various scientific laboratories throughout country which observe open house for public on important days like National Science Day or National Technology Day. Indian Metrology Department’s lab at Rambagh is thrown open for public on National Science Day on 28 February every year. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre also encourages student’s study tour at their premises in Zakura and at their high altitude laboratory in Gulmarg.
Due to busy life schedule it has been observed that the communication gap between parents and child is widening. Week-ends and vacations should be used to strengthen the parent-child bond or grand parent–child relationships. The child can be accompanied to museums, scientific labs, public libraries, power plants, water purification plants, factories, workshops, industrial exhibitions, fields, nature walk, bird watching trips, fish farms, dairy farms and hatchery etc. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once remarked; ‘In formative period of childhood and youth it is essential that people should come to museums and learn. Their minds will be affected by the objects which they see there. I should like this aspect of education through museums to be developed’. Alas there are very few takers of this nugget of wisdom of Pandit Nehru. There are science museums in almost all state except Jammu and Kashmir. National Council of Science Museums has about more than two dozen science museums and Planetaria at various locations throughout country. Government should open museums, science museums, energy and technology parks in all districts of the country. There are various scientific laboratories throughout country which observe open house for public on important days like National Science Day or National Technology Day. Indian Metrology Department’s lab at Rambagh is thrown open for public on National Science Day on 28 February every year. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre also encourages student’s study tour at their premises in Zakura and at their high altitude laboratory in Gulmarg.
These days there are many cost effective learning aids available in the market. There are several government organizations which specialize in quality and cost effective children learning resources and literature. NCERT, Vigyan Prasar, National Book Trust and Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education are among the few organizations to look upon. Vigyan Prasar brings out publications, activity kits and CDs on a variety of topics of science and technology. Popular science classics, India’s science heritage, natural history, health and Do-it yourself are some of the series that have evolved over the years. Parents can log on to Vigyan Prasar’s website to download the catalogue or they can write to them for catalogue through conventional mail (A-50, Institutional Area, Sector 62, NOIDA UP 201 307). Although purchasing through web is easier and fun. If internet access is available at home children can themselves log on to the website, select the book after going through its cover and preview then adding it to the cart and generating the bill. The requisite amount can be sent to Vigyan Prasar in the form of DD and the book will be received by post. The whole exercise will be a good learning experience for a child. I love almost all Learning Resource of Vigyan Prasar but my pick of the lot are Hands-on by Arvind Gupta and Origami – Fun and Mathematics by VSS Sastri. Both these books are modestly priced at Rs 55 and Rs 65 respectively. Hands-on is a collection of some interesting activities, geometry by paper folding, toys, tangrams, pumps, caps, experiments, simple science models interspersed with inspirational poems and stories on education, peace environment and mathematics. This book shows the possibility of doing science with simple things. Making patterns out of tangrams, seeds, stones, thumbprints apart from being fun are deeply creative and satisfying activities. Film-roll cans, mineral water bottles, rubber slippers, crown caps make lovely action toys. Origami–Fun and Mathematics demonstrates how children can learn to make different geometric models through paper folding in an enjoyable manner. Origami is a wonderful way to learn practical geometry. The book also serves as a manual for developing teaching aids in mathematics. The author conducts workshops on ‘Maths through Origami’.
The Biodiversity, Weather, Astronomy and Earthquake kits of Vigyan Prasar are also a must buy for Kids. Groups of kids residing in a locality may be encouraged to open science clubs and get it affiliated to VIPNET- network of Indian science clubs of Vigyan Prasar.
Interested child may be initiated to Philately (stamps collection) to supplement formal education. . Apart from stamps (both mint and used) the other related items to be collected are special covers, first day covers, miniature sheets, postcards, special cancellations and information brochures. Almost every child can find a subject that interests him/her and become an ardent stamp collector on that subject. Themes may be sub-divided into smaller groups. A philatelist collecting on birds may divide them into land and sea birds, game birds, endangered birds, birds of Jammu and Kashmir and so on. Sports loving child may start their collection on sports which may be specified as Olympics, Asiad or cricket etc. Small children can start their collection with children’s day stamps. Every year, on 14th November colourful stamps designed by children are released. Stamp popularity poll and stamp design contest are also conducted around November 14. Philately seminar, workshop, congress and exhibitions are also organized at grass roots level. There are philatelic museums at several circles which regularly organize philately related activities. Philately clubs can be opened in schools, colleges and other educational Institutes to organize activities related with philately at local level. The philately Bureau at Srinagar may be motivated by local philately clubs to organize philately exhibition and to set up a philately museum.
Interested child may be initiated to Philately (stamps collection) to supplement formal education. . Apart from stamps (both mint and used) the other related items to be collected are special covers, first day covers, miniature sheets, postcards, special cancellations and information brochures. Almost every child can find a subject that interests him/her and become an ardent stamp collector on that subject. Themes may be sub-divided into smaller groups. A philatelist collecting on birds may divide them into land and sea birds, game birds, endangered birds, birds of Jammu and Kashmir and so on. Sports loving child may start their collection on sports which may be specified as Olympics, Asiad or cricket etc. Small children can start their collection with children’s day stamps. Every year, on 14th November colourful stamps designed by children are released. Stamp popularity poll and stamp design contest are also conducted around November 14. Philately seminar, workshop, congress and exhibitions are also organized at grass roots level. There are philatelic museums at several circles which regularly organize philately related activities. Philately clubs can be opened in schools, colleges and other educational Institutes to organize activities related with philately at local level. The philately Bureau at Srinagar may be motivated by local philately clubs to organize philately exhibition and to set up a philately museum.
TV watching under parental supervision can also be used to augur the creativity of child. Programmes like MAD on POGO, Backyard Science on Hungama and Big Bang on National Geographic can really enthuse children.
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