Intelligence is modifiable

Dr. Reuven Feuerstein, an Israeli psychologist said 40 years ago, "Intelligence is modifiable". The statement shocked many at that time but today it holds so true. 

Having witnessed this in my own life I stand true to the comment. If I look back at my progress chart, obtaining 58% in my Grade X exam to distinction in my Masters program in Education and currently pursuing an online course in Harvard University, the learning graph has improved tremendously. Also through my 15 years of teaching and 7 years in Leadership position, I have seen students under performing in school out shadowing rank holders in future. 

So what was the secret of the phenomenal changes?  

Based on my personal experience and observation, I have laid out a few points:

1. Relation between student and teacher - If the teacher has already created an academic identity for the student at the onset on basis of prior assessments, hearsay, race or personal prejudice then the interaction between the two will carry hidden insinuations and not be fruitful. But if the teacher comes with an open mindset, believing that children have hidden potentials, creates tasks and opportunities for talents to emerge then the relation could be dynamic and purposeful. 

Also manner of feedback offered by teachers to students matter as very often teachers view academic output as related to intellect and as Howard Gardner has mentioned there are multiple intelligence thus focus on enhancing the child's innate potential and not on personal expectations based on individual academic identity. 

2. Relation between peers - Peers plays a crucial role in shaping each other's academic identity. A child considered smart by peers starts to believe in his smartness and exhibits confidence in his class interactions. Thus having friends who enhance your intellect and show confidence in you propel you to further your learning graph. 

3. Environment - If the environment in the home, neighbourhood or school is progressive, without biases or judgments then the child is unafraid of failing or making mistakes. He or she knows there is a hand waiting to pull them up every time they fall and this belief gives them innate strength to move on with head held high. 

Thus parents truly need to stop comparing their child to another and believe that their child is special and will succeed in their own time frame.

4. Response to Nature of experiences - 'experience is the best teacher' and every experience counts. Likely said, if it doesn't kill you, it only makes you stronger. Thus if every experience is viewed as positive learning for the future and carried as a shimmer of hope then strong character building shapes up which in turn makes you master of your emotions. Slowly and steadily people's opinion of you ceases to matter and you are equipped to move on with a affirmative image of yourself. 

The above were my personal opinions but thorough research has been conducted by specialized people and according to Yvette Jackson, author of the Pedagogy of Confidence there are 7 high operational practices codified within the Pedagogy of Confidence which facilitates student’s exploration of the ‘frontier of their intelligence” namely:

a. Identifying and activating students strengths

b. Building relationships

c. Eliciting high intellectual performance

d. Integrating prerequisites for academic learning

e. Situating learning in the lives of students

f. Providing enrichment

g. Amplifying student voice

If every school focuses on the statement that intelligence is modifiable and works on the above practices the world will be filled with constructive brimming faces collaborating together to create positive ethos in the world. 

Look forward to your suggestions and comments to make the blog more fruitful. 

  

 

Meetings should be centers of learning

In my 15 years of teaching career I have been witness to innumerable meetings. Meetings taken by my Heads, meetings by Board , meeting by Committee or associations. For the past few years I have been conducting meetings also with varied set of people.

If I were to do the Math :
Time spent at meeting x no. people x hourly income of staff member = Lakh of rupees

I feel we have all wasted huge amount of the institution as many of the meetings was a one dimensional flow involving noting of instructions which could easily have been mailed. Personally my presence did not matter, I was invited there to just nod at given intervals.

I realized the value of good meetings when I went through the book, 'Meeting Wise' by Dr. Elizabeth City and Kathryn Parker Boudett. It opened doors as suddenly meetings took on a scientific approach of purpose, process, preparation and pacing.

It could create platforms of engaged discussions, acceptance of varied perspectives, flow of innovative ideas, resolution of conundrums and so much more.

To make the meeting a rightly learning centre, you needed to ensure that the agenda was mailed way in advance which incorporated the time, venue, name of facilitator, note keeper, timekeeper. It needed to have a clear defined set of objectives; preparation desired by participants, linkage to prior meetings, the time schedule laid out clearly for each objective keeping a buffer time of 10 minutes. It should give platform for participants to offer suggestions and feedback. Finally, it needed a closure exhibiting linkage to future meetings.

As every important operation had checklist, the meeting should also have checklist which is readily available on the Harvard website http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1401741.files/Meeting%20Wise%20Checklist.pdf

I personally have made an attempt to refer to the checklist while creating my agenda and executing the meetings so that there is genuine takeaway for all. I have attached a copy of my agenda based on the checklist for reference. Please feel free to offer feedback on ways to improve.

I hope in future you do take note of the same and create dynamic learning spaces within your institutions.

 Meeting for Annual Day celebrations

Date:           03/10/2016                                                     Time:  3:15 to 5:00 pm

Venue:         S5 classroom

Facilitator: Kavita  [Main] / Carol Note taker: Reshma Timekeeper: Mahesh

Meeting objective: 1.      to review the past year’s Annual day celebration 2.      To create strategies to overcome the shortcomings 3.       To decide on this year’s annual day theme

Preparation: Please mail the below by 30/10/2016 1.      The strengths and shortcomings of the past years celebration 2.      Your suggested theme for the current year

Time	Activity
3:15 to 3:20 pm	Welcome	Kavita
3:20 – 3:30 pm	Mention the compiled strengths and shortcomings of previous year’s program	Carol
3:30 – 3:50 pm	Discussion on strategies to improve the upcoming program	Kavita
	3:30 – 3:35    break in groups of 4
	3:35 – 3:50 – To brainstorm on strategies for overcoming shortcomings
3:50 – 4:10 pm	To review the strategies through constructive criticism and noting down best workable ideas	Kavita
4:10 – 4:20 pm	To mention the suggested themes for current Annual Day  [shortlisted to 4 to 5 prior the meeting on basis of past year repetition, novelty, available resources]	Carol

4:20 – 4:40 pm	To brainstorm on the feasibility of each theme in same groups	Kavita
4:40 – 4:50 pm	To arrive at decision on the current year theme through open discussion	Kavita
4:40 – 5:00 pm	Closing – Reflect on how the meeting went and suggest changes for next meeting and decide date for further planning.	Kavita