7Es on constructivism...Reflection on 1st day session attended at Bhopal, RIE Date-14th jan 2019

It's indeed a great and insightful experience to be part of Communication skills development training programme at RIE, Bhopal.
Today on 14th Jan 2019, we KRPs from Maharashtra attended day 1 sessions which were conducted by Prof.Manojkumar Mishra, Prof.R.P.Saxena and Prof.Pandagale.
Each resource person provided their rich knowledge. They not only imparted knowledge and skills, but also filled our brains with eye opening insights.
Firstly the inaugural programme was conducted in which all the authorities congratulated us for 100% attendance. They mentioned why maharashtra is called developed state.
Hon.N.Pradhan sir, principal of RIE, Bhopal touched every aspect of communication skills in his inaugural speech. He also stated the importance of soft skills. Soft skills are required for any activity. Communication is one of the soft skill. Even 21st century skills, effective communication skills are mentioned. Further, he talked about 10 life skills like self awareness, critical thinking skills etc. Theatre pedagogy is the innovation of RIE, Bhopal and it should be learnt and taught everywhere.
Hon.Mishra sir asserted that हर फसाद की जड़ communication हैं। Listening is very important to communicate, but people have stopped listening to others.
Dr Nidhi ma'am and Dr Rizwan sir anchored very delightfully.
Session 1
Constructivism ( Hon.Prof.Manoj Kumar Mishra)
Most of the times I've heard about constructivism, but this was a golden opportunity to hear Mishra sir, talking consistently on constructivist approach as if a real and authentic personality was sharing original aspects of Constructivism in a lucid and simple language. I was very much impressed by his effective session.
Initially, he started with SR theory. Stimulus response theory.
When teacher snubs or scolds a child, the child frightens or gives response. Many times S is same but Rs vary. He explained the SR  theory by giving many examples.
If a child gives the same answer, he is rewarded otherwise punished.   So Stimulus and response theory is based on rewards and punishment. Here, learners have to give the same answers what his or her teachers expect. Otherwise they are scolded or punished. This is memory based theory. Learning is controlled by the teacher.
Mishra sir gave one example.
Teacher asks, " What colour is a leaf?"
S: A leaf is green.
If a student says,"A leaf is brown or a leaf is yellow." These answers are not accepted.
Right answers are decided by the teachers themselves. Teachers are the bosses of their classes. They hardly respect the ideas of children. So such classes are disciplined one. Means no noise, no discussion, no sharing and hence no learning.
For them, memorising the answers, keeping the answers for long term in mind and recalling and writing in exams is a definition of learning. And one who follows this rule is called a learner.
2. Knowledge is misunderstood.
The capital of Japan is Tokyo.
This is just information. But it is believed as knowledge.
So information and knowledge these two concepts are misunderstood. They are used interchangeably. Actually what we are imparting in the classrooms, is not a sort of knowledge, it is just an information. But we are thinking that we are giving knowledge to students.
3. How a learner learns
A person constructs knowledge interacting with the socially rich environment. Anybody communicates in the society first. Many persons or components from the society like friends, parents, relatives and other people in socity help persons to build his knowledge.
He learns at 2 levels.
1. He gathers new information at social level.
2. He tries to understand using his previous background or what he knows already at individual level and interprets or constructs in the light of his previous experience.
When something is provided, first reaction is , if it fits to his reality, he accepts it and if it doesn't fit to his context, he rejects. This is a process of learning.
If new thing or new knowledge is given to learners, they become restless. When they are able to assimilate, then they want to know more. They start exploring. Learning happens at that time.
Readiness to learning new things or willingness to learn is also equally important for learning independently.
The learner's culture or his background is important, too while teaching. He is a student, but he is the representative of his community, culture, context. He brings his language, customs in his class.
So a teacher must know the culture of a student.
Knowing to each learner means knowing his culture, language, habbits, food style, context and everything.

7 Es constructivist approach


1. Excite
Teacher should put learners into groups or pairs. Arrange group discussion. Help them while discussion. Let them  think, share and come uo with conclusions.

2. Explore
Provide limited information. Let them imagine, predict and certainly they will come up with something. They will start exploring new things. In such a way learning will happen.

3.Explain
Teacher should explain a little bit and he should ask learners to explain themselves. They will explain using their own vocabulary. They begin to think and construct new things.

4. Expand
Provide some clues or questions to think them.
For example, How can we be happy ?
Do you think you are happy? Why ? Why not?
Learners come up with their own ideas. Let them discuss, share and debate.
Provide them sime information. Monitor, guide, don't spoon feed.

5. Extend
Corelating information. It is expected to corelate what we have already learnt.

6.Exchange
Exchanging our ideas
 Sharing and learning through exchanging innovative ideas and solutions on given topics.

7. Examine
Learning is the process. In constructivism understanding the process is more important.

Some key features of consyructivist class.

Not focussed on identical answers.
Intelligent guessing is accepted.
Reflect
Debate
Share and learn
Analysis
Disagreement

It was really fruitful learning through this wonderful session.
Got the vivid idea about constructivist approach.
Truly it was rich, knowledgeable and insightful session by Hon.Prof.Manoj Kumar Mishra sir.
Thanks..