Teachers bring innovation to class

BENGALURU: She recognizes the role of technology in education, has presented a paper on Edusat and using IT, taught a Kannada poem to CBSE school students. A panelist at the Isro Satellite Centre, she clearly does what she can do best – pioneer innovative methods to pass on information to students. A joint secretary at the Kendriya Kannada Adyapakara Sangha now, Manjula Nagaraj is among the 17 recipients of the Teacher Awards For Innovative Teaching (TAFIT 2014).
Mamatha H N, another winner, is a teacher at Prasiddhi School. A staunch believer in innovative ways of educating children, Mamatha hasn’t completely set aside conventional classroom teaching. Instead, she has created novel techniques to help kids learn better, enabling them to apply their experiences in life.
TAFIT awards are given away to those using new methods of teaching and inspiring students to learn and demonstrate exceptional subject knowledge. It has been conceptualized by The Times Foundation in collaboration with The Teacher Foundation and Gems B School. All the 17 awardees are advocates of quality and inventive teaching.
Two teachers were awarded for their attempt to bring Mathematics closer to students. “Mathematics with its ‘equal to’ sign signifies impartiality and through this subject young minds can be taught to develop a balance between thought and action,” said Sharada S K, a teacher at Army Public School ASC Centre and College. Sowmya Rajkumar, a teacher at DPS North, is also committed to eliminating the phobia of Mathematics from impressionable minds. She comes up with songs and nursery rhymes, among other methods, to help children retain mathematical concepts.
“Vision, value, clarity and content – teachers need to instill these in children. Making a difference is what teachers need to aim for,” said Ramanathan Narayanswamy, an IIM professor and the guest of honour at the awards ceremony on Thursday. “This time, we invited nominations from private, government and special schools. Unfortunately, we didn’t get an entry from special schools,” said Maya Menon, founder, The Teacher Foundation.
19 youngsters get certificates
Nineteen youngsters were given certificates for The Times Foundation’s Livelihood programme for the lesser-privileged youth. They underwent skill-based training and placement support. The youngsters are engineering and commerce freshers trained in commerce, aptitude, business English and soft skills.