Tejas And Shadowing

TEJAS and Shadowing

 ( Technology enabled Education through Joint  Action and Strategic Initiatives)
 

TEJAS

More than 200 Teacher Activity Groups (TAGs) are  running through 9 districts of Maharashtra as a part of TEJAS program. This is very innovative program of State government of Maharshtra with the partnership of British council and Tata trusts.

RAA,Aurangabad ( Regional Academic Authority, Aurangabad)  formerly known as State institute Of English (SIE) is looking administrative part of TEJAS on behalf of Maharashtra government.

The major interventions of TEJAS

•      To build the capacity of state academic resource persons (SARPs) through     face to face training and ongoing support through social media.
•      To help SARPs to take their own responsibility of CPD

·                        To establish TAGs at cluster level

•     To create a community of TAG coordinators to run tag meetings effectively and strengthen tag coordinators through face to face training and ongoing support
•    To create online communities of TAG Coordinators to develop sharing and learning atmosphere across 9 districts
•   To help tag teachers to gain more confidence in teaching English effectively,sharing their experiences ,learning new ideas and methods through monthly tag meetings
•  To enable learners more engaged , more confident using English and learn with fun.

 Classroom observation and TAG observation  

To ensure how tags are being facilitated  and how tag teachers are implementing new ideas from tag meetings , British Council  has planned to have

1.                Baseline observation  in year 1 of Tejas

2.                Midline observation in year 2

3.                Endline observation in year 3

Shadowing classroom and TAG observation  

As a part of Tejas program ,we SARPs have to shadow with British Council Training consultants (TC).

This will enable  SARPs to see

•         how an experienced TC observes classroom and TAG
•         how he/she gives feedback to teachers and Tag coordinators
•         how he/she motivates, helps and encourages teachers/Tag cs to reflect on        teaching  a  lesson and facilitating  a tag meeting
•          how he/she conducts TAG teachers’ and  learners’ focus group
•         how he/she  writes while observing a lesson and TAG meeting

My experience of shadowing

1.   Classroom observation

I am working as a SARP at DIECPD,Nashik.Many tags are running in Nashik district. It’s my  responsibility to support 14 tag coordinators and help them to run their tags without challenges. I am quite successful to fulfill my responsibility.

It was really knowledgeable experience to shadow with Mr Girish Mulani sir (British Council training consultant). Mr Girish sir is a very energertic,cheerful,humble  and modest person. He is a great human being as he loves children, teachers ,teaching profession   and his job of observer.

He is very devotional towards his profession.  I never saw him wasting a single minute during his visit.Talking on tejas,Tag,Tag resource book and knowing  everything related to TAG.  I also noticed that he is a very skillful teacher and teacher trainer.

As per the schedule we both visited Z .p.School,Chikadi and  Z.P.School,Shingarpada, cluster –Gandole, Block-Dindori ,Dist-Nashik  on 6^th oct 2017.  We started our journey at 8:15 am from Nashik by cab. We reached at 10:45 at Chikadi school.

We observed lessons conducted by Mr Pravin Varade (Pri.Tr. Chikadi and Tag teacher of NAS088) and Mr Kamalkar Raut  (Pri.Tr. Shingarpada  and Tag teacher of NAS088)

Both the schools are in tribal area and very remote from Nashik.  Irregular supply of electricity, no network coverage, mountains all around ,heavy rain occurs during monsoon, tribal children, no good roads ,but the surrounding is bestowed with green valleys, teak trees all around, cold weather and running water through rivers. Despite such conditions the schools are  well built and have toilets,fencing,flower plants and the decorated classes. There are grass lawns at Shingarpada school. Very beautiful location of the premises. Both the schools have smart TV and when there is electricity, teachers show educational videos to children.

 Learners are the same all over the world, they are always curious to learn something new if they are engaged and provided with ample opportunities. We can’t categorize them as tribal, rural, semi-urban or urban . Each child deserves for the best. When we saw these children , they felt shy and afraid . When I clicked a photo of them ,they felt happy. Girish sir started to build rapport with them . We were given warm welcome by Mr. Namdev Gaikawad (KP), Mrs. Chhaya Kothavade (HM) and Mr. Pravin Varade .

Soon Pravin sir gathered all the students on the ground to conduct assembly. Everyone was looking nice and reddish.Sitting in four lines.This school is upto 4^th standard. There are nearabout 40 students and 2 teachers. One girl  of 4^th  was giving instructions to children and they were following her instructions. They sang national anthem ,pledge ,prayer together. One girl of 4^th grade told a story using her own local language. It was nice assembly conducted by children .

 Mr Pravin sir is very energetic and joyful person. He had many problems ,but he reached and conducted lesson with cheerful manner.  He took  a poem from 3^rd grade . ‘ Can you…..’. He sang and children repeated. Then they all sang together with actions.He practised ….can you hop like rabbit?,Can you jump like frog?, can you fly like a bird?. Children answered “ Yes, I can.” “ No,I can not”.

Girish sir  observed and talked to Pravin on lesson. He made him to reflect on the lesson and also suggested specific things so that learners can produce simple English. Girish sir conducted  one warmer with children. Telling one thing from the class . Then saying the own word before  saying our neighbor’s  words. It  was memory game. With the help of  eliciting ,showing or pointing at the objects ,pictures in the classroom and not using a single word in Marathi or Hindi or not taking support from all of us , Mr Girish sir and all the children succeeded to conduct the activity. Children really enjoyed the game and 2 children  told the whole words. Both were rewarded with Cadbury. Drawing activity was given to learners and they enjoyed it, too. I also conducted one warmer ‘ Fire in the mountain ‘ with rest of the children  and  introducing children with ..” I am …” All the children were given  biscuits.

 We moved to another school Shingarpada at 2 pm.  Mr Kamalakar sir had already left school for attending meeting thinking that visit had been cancelled . He had been waiting for us since 8 am. And we reached at 2 pm. Mr Gaikawad sir went to Gandole and he gave the messge to him as there was no range and so no use of phone. Meanwhile  Girish sir took learners’ focus group. Conducted warmer.

  After half an hour Kamalakar Raut sir came and conducted lesson as per plan. Using flashcards he introduced new words like crying,laughing,smiling,walking,eating,writing,reading etc. He felt nervous at first but Girish and I raised his confidence.

 We finished observations by 4:15 pm and began our return journey. We discussed a lot . Both the teachers have attended only one and 2 tag meetings. So the impact of Tag activities, we could find a little. Still we felt happy because  teachers are working in remote areas  and serving as per the needs of learners. In spite of many problems teachers  know the importance of English and students  are also  interested to learn English.

Today  I learnt without taking support of mother tongue, we can motivate and encourage learners to understand English and engage them in simple warmer like activities. All can learn English a little bit. Children can learn through fun and if they feel respected and rewarded.

 Be humble. Don’t discourage or criticize teachers.  

2     TAG Observation

Venue- Nanashi                                                                              Date:-  7/10/2017

TAG:- NAS088                                                                                 Cluster :- Nanashi/Gandole

TAG Coordinator :- Mr Atul pawar

Time:- 8 to 11

·        Journey to Nanashi from Nashik ( 6:15 – 7:30)

  We reached at Nanashi at 7:30 am. Mr Girish sir had pre-chat with Atul Pawar while reaching to Nanashi . Atul sir is very dynamic person. Fluent in English. Very energetic ,responsible. He conducted 3 Tag meetings in year 2. This was his 4^th meeting. 16 teachers were present for the TAG meeting at Z P school, Nanashi.

At the end of tag meeting 2 teachers joined the tag .

·        Introduction and felicitation

 Firstly the  tag teachers  felicitated  Girish sir and me with  bouquets on behalf of the school. Girish sir introduced the teachers himself and the purpose of the visit. All teachers were looking tensed but after a quick introduction ,they felt relaxed.

·        Review  and warm up activity  ( 8:10 – 8:26 )

Atul  sir started the tag meeting at 8:10 . He reviewed quickly by asking few questions. Teachers shared few answers .  Atul sir encouraged teachers to reflect on what they did in the classroom. After review  Tag  C conducted a warmer. A ladder race activity. The class was divided into 2 groups and they were instructed  to stand in 2 queues. Instructions were given clearly about how to play the game and  also translated in Marathi. Teachers enjoyed the game and time limit was given . After it i the spellings were checked  and declared the winner.  Reflection on warmer was  taken. Many were sharing their answers in Marathi. One teacher said  that this game is apt for grade 3 students. .

Teachers should be motivated to speak in Englsih.

 Meanwhile , Mr Namdev Gaikawad (KP) came and joined the tag for some time and started his official work. He also called some teachers to fill some important work during tag meeting.

·        Language development section( 8:26 -  9:09)

(Read,decide and select the topic)—Word train puzzle: Adjective

Teachers read the topics and selected  puzzle out of 17 topics.  Teachers explained the meaning of adjective, but in Marathi. Atul sir elicited a lot on adjectives. Coducted puzzle activity. Teachers tried a lot and came up with correct answers.

Clues were provided in the TRB.  Teachers found quite challenging  to solve puzzle . It needs preparation and more practice. Also puzzles should be correlated to the textbook. Many puzzles have been given for practice in the RB.

·        Learning by reading (  9:09 – 9:50)

Teachers selected making lessons motivating.

 How can we make our students interested in learning English ?

Tag C elaborated this question and very few teachers responded. The whole section facilitated by Tag c reading, explaining  and translating. Teachers were given chance to read paragraphs. Sometime teachers were engaged in talking English.

Teachers kept going out and coming in.

In reading section teachers should be  put in groups and let them read and understand themselves.  Few comprehensive questions should be prepared to increase interest.

·        Break (9:50 – 10:10 )

·        Learning by watching (10:10- 10:29)

Jump left and jump right

Atul sir started this section with before watching question..How do you get learners to answer ? He elicited and trs shared like raising hands,actions.

Atul  explained a lot  himself.  Due to no electricity , a video clip couldn’t be shown to teachers. Instead of it Atul sir and Girish sir used their mobiles. Teachers watched in groups. But it had a little impact. Tag c should ensure about this and provide video clip link on whats app before one day. They should decide the topic on whats app if there is a problem of electricity.

      Atul demonstrated the jump left and jump right activity. Teachers seemed happy and involved.

·        Reflection and action planning  (10:30 – 11)

Teachers solved reflection questions in TRB. They reflected and made action plan together. Atul sir explained the word native speaker.

·        Overview

Few points that we discussed together for the improvement of Tag.

Tag c encouraged ,motivated, explained and even translated . Very energetic throughout the tag. Self motivated person as he conducts tag and will continue meetings in future. He is always  in touch with the teachers.

     However,he  should reduce TTT and translating as it wastes much energy

Teachers should be divided in pairs and in groups

Be prepared.  pre-plan and go through all the sections quickly before the tag.

·        TAG teachers focus group

Girish sir took tag teachers’ focus group and made everyone talkative . He distributed 9 questions to 9 persons and motivated them to discuss on each. Everyone participated and shared their opinions. This was really interesting.

·        Return journey and overview on tag and dialogue with Tag c

While back to nashik ,  Girish sir discussed with atul sir .Gave productive and specific suggestions . Increased his confidence . 

 He  started with  Tejas and tag and come to an end for the best of Tejas and Tag……………………………………

Regards

Ashok Chavan (SARP)

( State Academic Resource Person )

DIECPD,Nashik

@ashok30chavan (twitter handle)