You receive what you believe in

Every challenge opens new avenues, so welcome it

Life is truly amazing. At one point it can elevate you to the highest pinnacle and the next second drop you like a sack of potatoes. The crests and troughs are truly mind boggling and sometimes the time given to you to digest the circumstances is so short that you just don't know whether to stand still, walk or run.

                                         We are all aware that change is the law of the Universe.  

I am sure everyone faces it every now and then. In fact have seen great survivors welcome it with open arms as once again it propels one to stand at the threshold, reflect on unique capabilities built along the way and make new decisions for oneself.

I know that the last time I took the plunge, it gave me the recognition of the Global Top 50 teacher. Thus stand with your arms stretched high and go with the flow. Let's see where the journey takes you. You are already at the ebb so there is every possibility that you will move up and never down. Look forward to some more learning about yourself and miracles will happen.

I have watched so many of my friends rise from ashes and wish to share few great lessons learned from their and mine mistakes and experiences so that you may not repeat our follies.

1. Love all but trust yourself.
2. You don't need to look strong always, sometimes it is okay to let your emotions run. The cleansing is important for you to begin afresh the next day.
3. Love your job but don't get attached. Attachments only pull you down.
4. Sometimes your best ally could be your biggest stabber so watch your back.
5. Have deep confidence in yourself. Don't let other people's opinion pull you down. It is their perspective, you have your own which is more important.
6. Chill, people can only take what they can access from you so guard yourself.

At the end, Murphy's law "whatever can happen, will happen" but the journey does not end here. The experiences make you richer, more beautiful and more forgiving. Who knows, but the next story could be written on you.

I DARE TO DREAM

Be happy and spread happiness

It was a normal day routine, getting up, going to work, come home and work on home chores and finally late in the evening peruse over the newspapers before watching TV. for some time and off to bed. That evening I came across news of a young student committing suicide as part of an online game, 'Blue Whale'. It was shocking and enervating. The very next day in school we planned for a talk by a Cyber crime expert for our parents and students. 

Coming across articles on violence, crimes, building collapsing, mass deaths, terrorism have become routine, you actually search the newspapers to read something good happening across the world. Sometimes when the day has been tough I prefer to give up the newspapers because it stresses me more than calming me.

It should not be difficult to mention good work done by people because the majority of people I come across wish to make a change. They are optimistic human beings contributing positively to the global community. Their very presence creates a serene atmosphere in the room. They are always smiling and turn a negative statement into a positive opportunity. Always ready with a helping hand whenever a catastrophe has happened within the city, country or elsewhere. In fact the number of people joining hands to spread the UN 2030 Sustainable Development goals are so many. All around the globe, people want to work towards peace, equity and excellence. Then why are we not promoting these constructive actions, thoughts and feelings on a grand scale?

Personally I count my blessing that I am surrounded by wonderful friends, family, educators and social workers whose contributions towards life has always been filled with gratitude and love.

When we adults get so affected by these disturbing news all the times, then what effect is it having on our children? How are they visioning the world and people around them?

Our children need to hear the good that is happening around the world, they need to believe that good triumphs over evil, that there is hope, love and happiness all around us. They need to see us smile more often, laugh wholeheartedly and connect with our near and dear ones more now than ever. 

Together we can alter mind-shifts on a grand scale if we stand united.

How? Simple few steps undertaken by both adults and children can make a difference:

1. Love yourself - Start with yourself. Believe you are special and beautiful then your self esteem multiplies. 

2. Law of attraction - What we give is what we receive. So send out positive thoughts to all and see how people start viewing you in process. Empower yourself with good books. 

3. Avoid people who are cribbers - You are influenced by the company you keep so check the set of people you mingle with.

4. Meditation and self time - Give yourself some quality time. Meditate to reflect on yourself and talk to yourself. You are missing knowing the best person you could come across. 

5. Know our priorities - Ensure your work does not take you away from your near and dear ones. Learn to say 'NO'. 

All this will translate in you being happy even in states of unhappiness. Sometimes circumstances may make you unhappy but those moments will last for shorter times because you have learned how to bounce back faster, happier and more optimistic than before. Believe that you matter and the world needs you then the chain of good thoughts will translate into good actions across the world. 

Schools should connect STEM in School to Industry to develop relevant skills

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math will discover answers to current and future global challenges. Research shows STEM jobs are growing fast and will soon be 17% of the global economy compared with current 10% measure. Employers will look for workers with STEM skills and they will earn higher salaries due to demand. 

Knowing what the future demands, what do we offer students today?

Today’s adolescents are offered classes to prepare for exams. These turn the power and creativity of science into rote boredom void of opportunities to apply STEM skills to the wonder of maglev trains, rockets, spacecraft, autonomous vehicles and their interests.

What if we rethink school-industry systems? Reimagine industry and local business, this time communicating with teachers and schools as well as policy-makers, all attuned to real world challenges? What if older students applied their learning as interns with a variety of industries? What if cities, industry and schools collaborated to offer hands-on learning for future citizens?

Kathleen, Patricia, Beenish and myself envision a thriving, just and sustainable world energized by vibrant School-Industry relationships.

There has been exponential population growth since the Industrial Revolution

Now 25% of the world's population is under the age of 25

Since the 1969 photos of the Earth –  "me and you" awareness is replacing "me or you”.

This New Story is part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“Currently, if everyone lived as North Americans do, we’d need four Earths.

For everyone to live as Europeans do, it would take two and one half Earths.

In other regions, people are living beyond the capacity of one Earth as well.

China and India are presently living just around the ‘one Earth’ level, but

given the rapid industrialization and economic growth of both countries, that’s sure to change”.         

Nature cannot regenerate at the rate of current resource consumption and consequent pollution. It’s like we’re living off our credit card, but it is humanity living off its ecological credit card. Nature can’t keep up. We are now eroding the natural capital that all of life depends on.

Imagine industry linked with schools both awake to a vision of a thriving, just an sustainable world for children alive today and future generations.

"Where do we begin? What skills are essential?"

The 4C's skills need to be taught explicitly and as early as possible. As students approach each new level of their academic career, they use STEM skills to address challenges and make connections to their world.

What we can dream, we can create.

We created tools to help you, your students and co-workers dream big!

A Teacher Manual

Building Purposeful School-Industry Relationships in STEM

Please follow the link given below and share with us your experience and feedback.

http://prezi.com/ckxjwlmaza5k/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

We hope that in future schools do connect with Industry through various programmes like summer programs, internships, projects, fairs, workshops, boot-camps and much more to promote and develop relevant STEM skills. 

Aspire big dear students for we are with you

In this fast paced life everyone has an agenda planned for the day. The day begins with a hustle and bustle towards meeting deadlines, setting new parameters and always competing to get ahead. One would think this applies only to grownups but today's students are facing more pressures than even adults. 

Their day begins with rushing to school, going for additional classes from school, attending tuition's and then if there is some time left, doing homework or studying for the next day. Very few students are actually going down to play or just relaxing while reading a good book. When parents meet them, the conversations between them often drifts towards academics or importance of getting serious in life or their future plans.

Agreed, the student’s life is tough. Too many opportunities and competitions and all dear and near want to ensure that their offspring is equipped to deal with the future?

But today, I am asking the students. What do you truly aspire for yourself? What do you desire? What are your expectations of us? How can we help you to realize your dreams? How do we let you feel independent and worthy of taking your own decisions? 

Certain guidelines, attitudes and skills laid down and demonstrated by you will help us help you achieve your aspirations.

1. Think of us as your bridges and not obstacles - Feel free to share your opinions, thoughts even if we may appear irritable or uncompromising at times. When the matters will cool down, we will come to our senses and start seeing things from your perspective. We want to become your best partners and resources with time. 

2. Be free with your emotions - There will be times when all might fail but never give up hope. Feel free to cry and let your emotions flow. Ask for a shoulder to cry on.  Rome wasn't built in a day. Every successful discovery and invention has had many failures and those failures were their stepping stones to new learning. 

3. Be ready to give your best be it any endeavour - Let every act of yours demonstrate that 100% of your mind and body is in tune. Therefore if you are playing cricket, football or carom, studying or cooking every move should resonate your interest and passion.

4. Create parameters that allow you to bounded autonomy to achieve your aspirations- If you know that you have to appear for a football selection the next day, and then take it upon yourself to restrict yourself from overindulging in food the previous day. Create your own tight schedules to exercise well so that you perform well. 

Thus it is upon you how you decide your day's schedule because every act will have a consequence. 

5. Know that life is beautiful, trust yourself - There are two sides to every circumstance. One can see it as an obstacle, the other an opportunity. Remember, every challenge will help to cut off rough edges and polish you like a diamond so open your arms to life and say 'I am ready, What else have you got for me?' Believe that you are capable of turning your failures to success. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0Gb2fvjKYo

At the end remember, we adults are all there for you. So aspire big. Think big, dream big. When you spread your wings and fly enjoying the world around you, we will be cheering for you. Be Happy always.

Do we need pit crews or cowboys in Education?

Dr. Atul Gawande, Surgeon at the Harvard Medical School and writer for New York Times, says “We are specialists now, even the primary care physicians. Everyone just has a piece of the care. But holding onto that structure we built around the daring, independence, self sufficiency of each of those people has become a disaster. We have trained, hired and rewarded people to be cowboys. But its pit crews that we need, pit crews for patients". 

https://www.ted.com/talks/atul_gawande_how_do_we_heal_medicine

So what do we mean by pit crews and cowboys relatively?

Pit crews, by their definition, are highly trained, highly selected individuals that work on a specially formulated race car that would be the envy of any race car enthusiast. These professionals understand the very real value of working as a team: so their particular race car can complete a certain number of laps around a single racetrack in the shortest amount of time. Pit crew members, then, are highly committed to working faster and faster while streamlining their processes.  They have an intimate working knowledge of their highly specialized race car; they know each lug nut, each brake pad, and each tiny screw down to its finest detail.

Cowboys are experts in their own area, free to roam, to place themselves wherever they are needed, even if it’s in the most remote region of the land. They are not bound to a single track or the big city. They are not governed by anyone. They take the call as per their wishes which could be crossing a few lines in the interest of their values. 

Translate this to Education and what do we have today?

Education is a dynamic process. People need to adapt to the changing times. Schools have attempted to transform to keep up with the increasing technology, knowledge explosion, transient values and global needs. 

In the past decade or so we have seen a steep rise in specific subject experts and visiting faculty in schools. They come at a steep price, offer their expert services, guarantee results and move out when their work is complete. Their work is efficient but asks them how the students are faring overall? Do they have intimate knowledge of the working of the school? Do they collaborate and coordinate with their colleagues? Ask them their contribution to the curriculum mapping process as a team? Ask them to give extra time for social work without pay?

Today Principals are wary of ruffling their feathers as they move on to a new institution immediately without remorse. So they are treated like egg shells, very delicately. 

When you look at this holistically, have these experts contributed to the education system as a whole? Are they concerned of their student's academic identity? Have they collaborated with the other teams? Are they concerned with the past and future academic classes of the students? Are they part of the value building system we need so desperately today? Are they concerned with building STEM skills or 21st century skills of students?

Today, In education we need strong strategic improvement plans to create 21st century skills, global values and attitudes in students, we need dedicated teams creating and executing these plans diligently using strong tools like logic model and AAR [After action reports]. we need strong monitoring systems and people willing to demonstrate responsibility, accountability and ownership.  

The concerns and work demanded is huge and we need all stakeholders to contribute wholeheartedly. 

Finally, I ask you "What do we need more today"? Cowboys or pit crews? Please send your feedback.

Bibliography:

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/cowboys-and-pit-crews - Atul Gawande

MED PAGE today - Dr. Wes Fisher, M.D September 05, 2012

We are special and unique. Let's celebrate it

Very often I meet people who are so awesome in their work but refuse to come into the public limelight. They just refuse to be acknowledged or appreciated in front of people and you wonder why. Some start perspiring profusely or get very nervous. What is preventing this person from stepping into the public glare?

Talking to counsellors, I received many stories of what these people experience as students and how it impacts their personality in the older years. One counsellor mentioned that in a particular school, students from Grade 7 get categorized and labelled as per their academic performance. If the child receives less that 50% he or she is sent to counsellor for remedial work. In extreme case sent to hospitals to receive a learning difficulty certificate even though the child has not exhibited any such evidence. In few schools, divisions of a class are as per academic performance. Division 'A' is bright, division 'D' is below average and so on.  It was so painful to hear this, imagine the child undergoing this trauma. He or she in such a young age has been classified.
https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/jun/20/secret-teacher-too-quick-label-children-arent-perfect-adhd-dyslexia

In another instance, the child who has been labelled has been isolated by the rest of the class. The peers wish to have no interaction with that student as their statuses do not match. The teachers are aware but not taking up the matter with seriousness. What is that girl undergoing? What is her mental state?

Do you think these children will have the confidence to interact with people in future? Do you feel they will come out of the shadows? What is the self esteem of these students? How is their academic performance further impacted?
The PISA [Programme for International Student Assessment] has highlighted graphically few factors hindering learning.

I wish to ask all who label, who gave you this right to classify or label children? Why do you only focus on marks? Why do you discount other attributes? Why do you not promote other potentials of the child and make him feel a winner? What stops you from broadening your mindsets?

Our students are diamonds in the sky. Every diamond has different facets and faces which need polishing for their worth to be recognized and applauded. Give them that opportunity and help polish the edges. These students when they grow up will never be apprehensive of facing a crowd because their self esteem is so high that nothing perturbs them.  They will view the world as happy and progressive.

At the end we all are special and unique and we rock. We matter.

Great Teachers transform you

The word 'Teacher' holds so much value, automatically a sense of respect for that individual seeps over you and the look on the face expresses 'gratitude'. 

Recently, there have been times when the name has been tarnished, unfortunate incidents question your belief and trust bestowed on that identity but believe me, majority of the teachers are there because they 'care'. They wish to make a difference and I meet them everyday in the course of my career. 

Today, I stand tall because I had many great teachers in my life, my mother being the greatest of all but in the world outside, two particularly stand out because they came in my life where my confidence level was at the ebb.  

Ms. Mona Nanavati, my yoga teacher entered my life where my life was at crossroads and the future uncertain. I still remember her lovely face always showing so much love and happiness to see me in the class doing the asanas with devotion. Her regular efforts to know what I was planning to do with my future along with my action plan made me structure my actions. It was she who suggested that since I displayed a flair for teaching, I should go for a teaching course. She helped me secure admission as I was late in applying. The faith shown in me along with the Principal opened the doors of professional teaching to me.

The year was 1999 and I was back in college after a good 5 year break. All the students for the Bachelors of Education course seemed very young and excited and I felt older to them. I was nervous of exchanging introductions as I was in the process of getting divorced and was uncomfortable mentioning my status. 

I took my place in the class, smiled and made small talk. The first week was awkward as I could not break barriers of communication from my end. Thus students had formed groups but I was the loner sitting at one corner. 

One of my Professors, Dr. Usha Bhatia observed this and called me to the library during regular class so that we could be alone. Very warmly and gently she held my hand and told me to share my concerns. I normally don't open up that easily but the warmth in her eyes and patience to let me be in silence till I was comfortable got me talking. What I truly appreciated was there was no advice or judgement but interest to understand me. 

As for status, her perspective of mentioning my status as 'single' seemed very logical as she felt that people would not connect my progress to 'sympathy tag'. The success could be owned by me for my hard work.  Therefore I took to it with excitement and projected it. In the course of the year, I had made many friends and able to work collaboratively. Along the way, I recognized few genuine friends like Bhavika and Sudha who became my confidantes and are still my very close mates.

The driving force and trust bestowed by my teacher was so deep that at the end of the year I was awarded 'Miss H.J' student of the year award. Also I passed the year with distinction, happily progressing towards my M.Ed course. 

Thus it is not content or teaching that truly matters but the profound bonding between teacher and student which develops the individual to reach maximum potentials and my teachers helped me realize my strengths. 

These teachers had the special touch to transform me because they cared and I will forever be in gratitude to them. 

Today, I feel blessed that I am a teacher, in the same position of transforming lives and if even one life under me has flowered and blossomed then the purpose of my life has been fulfilled. God bless all teachers who 'CARE' and 'SHARE'. 

Leadership needs to be transformative

Every true leader aspires that he creates leadership skills in his team so that together they form a formidable team. He desires that his vision and mission is shared and ascribed by all with equal passion and all are dedicated to achieve those milestones. To achieve this, he sets out empowering his colleagues to discover their potentials and pushes them to excel beyond their limits.

The global scenario today demands such leaders and as committed educators we have an onus of creating these transformational leaders. A good example of such a leader is Nelson Mandela who in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1993, urged the rest of the world to “fight racism, wherever it occurs and whatever guise it assumes” (Nelson Mandela-Nobel Lecture). 

Nevertheless wherever I go or have opportunities to meet many present leaders, I observe that the leadership is more centered towards them. Most are wary of giving acknowledgements to their team counterparts, offer enhanced training to team leaders for the fear of losing their positions to others. This insecurity prevents them from empowering others and the scenario is miserable as they miss out on the possibility of taking their leadership to greater heights. They could become leaders of leaders.

In this struggle for internal power and politics and lack of transaction of leadership skills, more often the teachers lack the headship skills themselves. When these teachers are expected to create leadership skills in their own students, they lack the knowledge and understanding of the concept 'leaders'. To most of them, inculcating leadership skill in students is synonymous with making monitors, or offering captain ship or making project Heads. They feel that giving responsibility and making students accountable will make them leaders which are alike to scratching surfaces but creating no deep impacts. 

Few simple tips to create transformational leadership which transcends from Head to teachers to students are:

1.    People believe what they see and not what they hear. Thus be a living example of your beliefs and vision and abide by it.

2.    Encourage participative leadership during meetings allowing teams to justify their perspectives. Being like a ball at a height gives you a 360 degree vision of the scenario and aids you to better decision making.

3.    Be a lifelong learner. Regularly update yourself with new technology, methodology, techniques so that you bring something constructive on the table. Encourage your team to be the same by enrolling them in summits, conferences, workshops, online learning and books.

4.    Allow yourself to be wrong at times. You are not a ‘be it all’. Appreciate the strengths others demonstrate and add it to your learning curve.

5.    Give tasks with deadlines to your teachers without formatted structures, offer guidance when asked and wait patiently for the result. You might get surprised with the creativity or you might have to recreate strategies. In both cases there is learning for all parties.

6.    Have it mandatory that all learning by the teachers is to be shared to entire staff on regular basis with regular monitoring.

Once your team is made powerful, the same power will flow to the students and from them to the community which once again powers you to excel. 

More tips could be achieved through the books mentioned below.

Also every situation is unique and may demand leadership which is more adaptive than technical. Thus one has to tread with a very open mindset and sometimes rely on gut and instinct.

Hospitals should have recreational centres for attendants of patients

Like every Head teacher the month of January has been laden with heavy academic and cultural events. Also as MISA Secretary, we were in the midst of MISA velocity and planning of upcoming MISA Conference. Suddenly on 18th January, my Father in law complained of chest pain and had to be rushed to the hospital and they immediately put him in ICU. The next few days were a whirlwind of tests, interactions with surgeons and understanding health implications and intricate procedures. 

As he had suffered a massive heart attack, he was placed in the I.C.C.U section and the surgery was to take a week later. Thus in all, we were around 18 days in the hospital. 

Our days began with deciding who would sleep the night that day, then both my sister in law and me leaving for the hospital. As my work area was close to the hospital, I dropped in to the school and her to the hospital. As the day progressed my duty shifted from school to hospital and then later in the day to the house attending to my son and house chores. 

While sitting in the ICU waiting area day after day the faces sitting around you become familiar and the conversations begin. You witness the uncontrollable tears, the helplessness, the huge financial burden faced by relatives of the patients and at that time you feel grateful for your health. It is true what people say, 'If you ever feel life is too constricting, visit an ICU section of a hospital, you will count your blessings'. 

While sitting in the hospital idling away time and feeling depressed I felt the time could be better utilized if there was a spa section only for 24 hour attendants of patients around and why not. Instead of feeling low why not feel relaxed and have a stress free spa or if my body is aching with hours of sitting on an uncomfortable plastic chair, have a body ache removal spa. Also a change of seeing beds with immense machines and tubes, a bed laden with flowers is a welcome sight. All the relaxation gained could make me more positive and energetic. 

At the same if they had a small library where we could access motivational or humor filled books. Also having a indoor sports area could keep our mind more fresher and make us more energetic. If given these facilities, I definitely would have better things to discuss than only sad truths and facts because life is finding glimpses and rays of happiness in the midst of turmoil. Yes, we do have places of worship within hospitals to make us feel positive but honestly there are moments of pain and anguish which get passed over to the deity and therefore I refrain from entering the place at that moment.

So as experimentation is the key to new discoveries and inventions, currently one hospital could start it as a pilot project, do an action research on people’s demeanour before and after having a recreational activity and their impact on the patient’s mental health as a consequence. 

Why should hospital spell doom and unhappiness? Why not offer few retreats to short flashes of joy as I met few people who had been part of this hospital journey for more than few months and that is a pretty long time. They need to feel special. Also one needs to feel calm and refreshed to take care of their loved ones. 

Wake up to create a better world

I wake up beyond my normal hours as it is Sunday, 15th January and hope to line up few fun activities to elevate our family time together. Going through the customary routine, I take my cup of tea and open the morning newspapers to read the latest happenings. The front page speaks of  3 men raping a four year child and smashing her head after the act. Also they had no remorse after their heinous act but went for dinner together to celebrate.

http://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/4-year-old-gangraped-murdered-in-bhayander-on-outskirts-of-mumbai-3-accused-arrested-1648970 

My hands start shaking and I put the newspaper down. I don't feel like reading anymore. Somewhere deep down, I feel let down again by the world. Where have we arrived? Where are we headed? How are we behaving? What is our future?

That 4 year old was innocent, she had no knowledge of the world, her entire life was in front of her, all that she was doing was playing and got enticed by a chocolate. That simple act of trusting led her to her grave and in what gruesome manner. 

My pertinent questions to all of us are given this is one brutal aspect of society we live in:

Q. How do we protect our young children from these devils?

They could be lurking in our own neighbourhood and in our fast paced lives we would completely ignore them.

Q. How could we help create a safer society?

 We all are responsible and accountable for those terrible acts if we don't feel and help others.

Q. How could we help the parents who might be going through tremendous agony?

I am sure the parents might be feeling guilty for allowing her to play when it is no fault of theirs. They must be revisiting the event time and time again hoping they could change something in the timeline.

Q. MOST IMPORTANT: What punishment should be given to these culprits who have no shame, guilt, values so that no other person ever feels like repeating this cruel act again?

These acts are becoming commonplace now and slowly people might get accustomed. That is my biggest fear.

I urge the government as a common concerned citizen to take very strict action against them as we are proud of our police force for working so fast and finding the culprits. Please ensure that they never receive bail or even in their wildest dreams think they could get away. THEY NEED TO PAY