October 2024 Issue
We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to you since you have been a part of our programmes. It has been a delight to share ideas and insights with you during our events and webinars. If you wish to subscribe to our newsletter and get regular updates, please subscribe to our Substack.
Here is our latest edition for your information.
Editor’s Note:
Dear Reader,
As we move into October, our focus shifts to a crucial theme in education: The Power of Community in Learning.
Too often, learning is depicted as a solitary pursuit, where knowledge is gained in isolation. But the truth is, learning thrives in community. It’s within groups—whether small study circles, classrooms, or professional networks—that ideas are exchanged, perspectives are broadened, and deeper understanding takes root. Community learning fosters a sense of belonging, support, and collaboration that enriches the entire educational experience.
Research tells us that students who engage in learning communities not only perform better academically but also feel more connected and motivated. These environments—whether physical or virtual—nurture growth by providing spaces where learners can challenge each other, mentor one another, and build upon shared knowledge.
As technology advances, it plays an essential role in creating these learning communities, enabling collaboration across geographical boundaries. Yet, we must remember that while tools like online platforms help facilitate learning, it’s the human connections and shared experiences that truly make education powerful.
In this month’s newsletter, we celebrate the importance of learning together. We explore how communities, both in-person and online, can create richer, more meaningful educational journeys for everyone involved. After all, learning is not just about absorbing information—it’s about engaging with others to co-create knowledge and grow as a collective.
Happy reading, and here’s to learning together.
Featured Articles
The Power of Community in Learning
by Poojan Sahil
I recently asked Meta AI to "generate an image for learning," and what appeared was rather disheartening: a solitary figure, seated in isolation, immersed in books. This depiction, drawn from the data this AI assistant had access to, reflects a narrow view of what learning entails. Is this truly the essence of learning? When we take a step back and reflect on our own learning journeys, we realise that learning is far more expansive, rich, and multifaceted than solitary study. It is shaped by diverse experiences, interactions, and collaborative moments that go beyond just reading alone.
Enhancing Learning Through Community
Communities are fundamental to human life, providing a sense of belonging, support, and shared purpose. They offer social, emotional, and intellectual connections that nurture personal growth and well-being. Learning communities foster an environment where individuals can share knowledge, experiences, and resources. According to research, students who participate in learning communities report higher levels of engagement and achievement. For instance, a study indicated that first-year students in strong community settings exhibited more persistence and achieved better performance due to increased instructor engagement and course organisation. This suggests that the social dynamics within a learning community can significantly influence academic success.
Furthermore, a study on online learning environments found that elements such as trust and connectedness are crucial for effective learning. Students who perceive a sense of community are more likely to engage deeply with the material and collaborate effectively with peers. This reinforces the notion that learning as a community enhances not just individual understanding but also collective knowledge construction.
A Study of Skill Development Program in India with Special Reference to Rural India
by Dr. Anupma Kumari
Courtesy: International Journal of Research and Review
With a population size of over 1.2 billion, India is considered one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. Its working-age population is expected to grow significantly by 2030. This demographic dividend could provide India with an advantage over affluent countries in the future, but "this should not be taken for granted because" the majority of the working populations are still unemployed. If the majority of the working-age population continues to be unemployed due to a lack of skills, the demographic dividend may quickly turn into a disaster. Therefore, considering the unemployment scenario in the country and the need for a skilled workforce as required by the different industries, it is imperative to work to create a method to produce a skilled workforce so that it can be absorbed by the industry. This method to produce a skilled workforce is termed a skill development program launched through National Skill Development Policy in 2009. In this study we have investigated the implementation of skill development program in the Indian with special reference to rural India by analyzing secondary data, which has been collected from the different government reports and literature review. Saran district of Bihar is taken as a case study which acts as a proxy for the rural India. The study revealed that Skill development training center in rural India are skewed towards a particular industry. The majority of the Skill development training centers in the district are oriented to IT education. There is a mismatch between the industrial requirement and the outcome of the training center in the country. In order to meet the industrial need for trained labor, district needs to expand its training infrastructure as per their actual requirement.
Click here to read the full article.
The Rural Trap: India Must Train its Workforce on Skills for the Future
by Policy Circle Bureau
Courtesy: Policy Circle
Skilling rural India: India’s economic rise has been impressive, but it lags behind its South Asian peers on a crucial area – job creation in non-agricultural sectors. Data from the World Bank’s South Asia Development Update report reveals a worrying trend. While India’s working-age population employed in agriculture has decreased from 63.9% in 2000 to 53.8% in 2019, the shift towards non-agricultural sectors like manufacturing and services has been slower compared with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. This indicates a need for India to accelerate its economic development by creating more opportunities outside agriculture.
Despite India’s relative lag, most of its neighbours have experienced a lesser decline or even an improvement in the new millennium.
Click here to read the full article.
Introducing PLS Learning Portal
Your gateway to a wealth of educational courses, resources and opportunities
For more information about each courses, click here
Sign Up or Login to avail these online courses from May 3, 2024.
Past Events
Technology and AI in Education Part 2: Optimising Benefits and Addressing Challenges
This two-part webinar series was designed to provide a nuanced understanding of how students, teachers, and school leaders are using technology and AI in education, and how coders, IT specialists and policymakers are responding to refine its application in the educational field.
In the first part of the series, the panelists – consisting of a student, a teacher, and a school leader – discussed how technology and AI are transforming education. They highlighted the benefits, such as personalised learning experiences, innovative teaching-learning tools, and improved administrative efficiency. However, they also addressed the challenges that come with these advancements, including increased plagiarism, diminished social skills and mental health issues among students, a steep learning curve and potential burnout for teachers, and cybersecurity and privacy concerns for school administrators.
This second part of the series featured a diverse group of experts, including technologists, course content creators, and policymakers. This session focused on how these professionals are addressing the needs and challenges faced by those within the school ecosystem, and how they are working to optimise and actualise the use of technology and AI in education.
Click here to read the report. Watch the video, click here.
Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Education (Part 1): Exploring the Benefits and Unintended Consequences
This two-part webinar series is designed to provide a nuanced understanding of how students, teachers, and school leaders are using technology and AI in education, and how coders, IT specialists and policymakers are responding to refine its application in the educational field.
Technology and AI are revolutionizing education by providing personalized learning experiences, offering innovative teaching-learning tools, and enhancing administrative efficiency. AI-powered platforms have the ability to adapt to individual student needs with customized content and real-time feedback, allowing them to take ownership of their own learning. Through technology, Teachers can focus on personalized instruction and use AI tools for efficient and effective assessment and progress tracking. School leaders can streamline administration, improve decision-making, and enhance communication using technology.
Despite the benefits, challenges such as unequal access to technology, digital literacy issues, rise in plagiarism, and privacy concerns persist. Unforeseen consequences also include reduced social skills and mental health issues for students, job insecurity and burnout for teachers, and financial strain and cybersecurity threats for school leaders. These challenges highlight the need for a balanced and thoughtful approach to integrating technology and AI in education, ensuring effective risk management and support.
Click here to read the report. Watch the video, click here.
Calming the Mind: A Retreat with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Ritinjali and Centre for Escalation of Peace in collaboration with India International Centre, Nalanda Foundation and Pallavan Learning Systems successfully concluded its 4th annual retreat with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on the theme ‘Calming the Mind: Joy of Living - Level One’ on 16 & 17 March 2023 with hybrid mode with in-person sessions in Delhi. Click here to read the comprehensive report on the retreat.
ASSESSMENT: Valuing what matters
The webinar was held on Thursday, 7 September 2023. Pallavan Learning Systems, in association with Ritinjali and the Centre for Escalation of Peace, conducted a webinar on the theme Assessment - Valuing What Matters. The webinar was a part of the series 'On a Quest to Learn: A series on the evolving nature of one's learning journey'. The webinar sought to look at the evolving nature of assessment and gauge its effectiveness in helping people develop into persons of substance. Read the report, watch the video.
Harmony of Head and Heart with Venerable Geshe Lhakdor
Geshe Lhakdor was in conversation with a group of eminent individuals from the education field. During this exchange, Geshe la shared insights and experiences acquired over decades in diverse roles as he deliberated on the topic, ‘Harmony of Head and Heart’. Read the report, watch the video.
Teaching Mathematics with the Help of History
The webinar was held on 23rd November 2023 Mathematics is a subject that is often seen as abstract, complex, and detached from the real world. Many students struggle to find meaning and relevance in mathematical concepts, leading to disinterest and a lack of motivation to learn. However, at Pallavan Learning Systems, we believe that Mathematics is a language – language of the universe – that helps us make sense of the physical world around us. During this webinar, Dinesh Singh strove to make Mathematics accessible, understandable and relatable with the help of History. Read the report, watch the video.
The Purpose of Life with Venerable Geshe Lhakdor
The webinar unfolded as a captivating exchange between Geshe Lhakdor and the vibrant community of students and educators from Second Chance School and Ritinjali learning centres. The event seamlessly blended physical presence at Ritinjali’s Second Chance School with a vibrant online audience, featuring Geshe Lhakdor, a renowned Buddhist philosopher, as the focal point of a spirited dialogue. Read the report, watch the video
Services
Pallavanjali
The session with the mathematics teachers at Pallavanjali was focused on including a sense of invention, exploration and play in Mathematics. Some generalisations and misconceptions that come up in the domain were examined in detail. The teachers also learnt Geogebra and explored the tool for geometry.
Salaam Balak Trust
On 25 September 2024, a workshop was held with the Non-Formal Education teachers of Salaam Baalak Trust. The first session focused on "Aesthetic Mindset and Enabling Environment." This was followed by a discussion on the development of the English curriculum and corresponding worksheets.
Pallavan School, Jhalawar
The PLS team conducted a two-day workshop in person in Jhalawar, engaging both students and teachers in a series of interactive and insightful sessions.
On Day 1, the focus was split between sessions for learners and teachers. Students participated in a session titled "Approaching Mathematics with a Sense of Invention, Exploration, and Discovery," encouraging them to see mathematics not just as a subject, but as a field of creativity and inquiry. Meanwhile, teachers attended sessions on assessment strategies, which focused on Learning Objectives, Indicators of Success, and Recognizing Best Practices. A review of lesson plans was conducted, emphasising the integration of the Five Areas of Development (5AoD) into their teaching practice.
Day 2 of the workshop was dedicated to the teachers, with sessions centred on Effective Strategies for Teaching English and Mathematics. The teachers explored various techniques to enhance student engagement and understanding in these core subjects. Additionally, a session was conducted on the Role of Assessment and the Importance of Communication in the classroom, underlining their significance in fostering a productive learning environment.
The workshop provided valuable insights for both students and teachers, reinforcing key principles of innovative teaching and holistic development.
Connect with us on:
INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK X YOUTUBE