Thinking Skills Archives - Page 10 of 10

AVM Debating Club: an indefatigable impulse to say something new about the all-too-familiar.

“Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent.”

Ever since the inception of AVM Debating Club, students started experiencing thrill and excitement to involve in all proceedings of AVM Debating Club. With the kind grace and blessings of His Divine Holiness Param Pujya Swamiji, who is the ultimate inspiration for the foundation of this Debating Club, the students enthusiastically participated in Semi-Finals and Grand Finale of Inter House Debate Competitions.

Using Debate as a Mechanism for education, AVM Debating Club selected such topics to make it more of an academic debate. Research and discussion on these topics created an opportunity to train and develop students in the core academic skills of the language arts: reading comprehension, critical thinking, and communications skills. For Semi-finals and Finals three Speakers from each House made a team. Each House team of each group(classes) got one topic to speak ‘FOR’ or ‘AGAINST’. Competition for each group was between two House Teams, Unfolding two opposite sides of the same topic. Topics were given in prior, on which the teams were supposed to gather as much information as possible.

Semi Finals
Group	Topic	For (Points -earned)	Against (Points -earned)	Winners
6th and 7th Standard	Glamorising Cricket: Is affecting other sports?	Satyam 196 Points	Shivam 191 Points	Satyam
6th and 7th Standard	Restrict playing and selling of Violent Video Games	Sundaram 208 Points	Suhradam 206 Points	Sundaram
8th & 9th Standard	Voting Should be made Compulsory	Satyam 188 Points	Suhradam 226 Points	Suhradam
8th & 9th Standard	Indian Villages – Our Strength or Weakness?	Sundaram 209 Points	Shivam 198 Points	Sundaram
10th 11th & 12th Standard	Right-brain person enjoys life/successful more than the left-brain person.	Sundaram 223 Points	Satyam 233 Points	Satyam
10th 11th & 12th Standard	Science boon or bane?	Suhradam 177 Points	Shivam 216 Points	Shivam
Grand Finale
6-7 Winner	Newspapers are things of past	Satyam 215 Points	Sundaram 198 Points	Satyam
8-9 Winner	Internet brings more harm than good	Suhradam 228 Points	Sundaram 196 Points	Suhradam
10-11-12 Winner	Believes they should get a Masters Degree	Satyam 231 Points	Shivam 193 Points	Satyam

While preparing for Debate Competition, the students (members of AVM Debating Club) set up well for critical evaluation of ideas, arguments, and points of view. It is only through this critical evaluation that students learn to distinguish among competing claims for truth and thus determine themselves as autonomous thinkers.

The teachers trained the participants of the debate competition to learn how to analyze and critically think on the given topic to research relatively. The best outcome of the semifinals of Inter house debate competition was the team spirit, coordination and togetherness. It was quite satisfying for the trainers Prajval Sir, Prabhudarshan Sir, Chirag Sir, Saumya Madam and Seema Madam to acknowledge that teams in the AVM Debating Club are made up of Debaters who understand the roles and responsibilities as well as the complexities associated with each speaker’s position. With this understanding, the speakers can appreciate how the roles complement each other and thus put the team in the best position to win.

Finally, the much awaited event of Grand Finale of Inter House Debate Competition arrived. The knack of relevant references, contextual evidences, and reasonable arguments and the verbal fights among house contestants interspersed with lots of claps and nodding from judges. Following the set rules of Debating and quite sophisticated arguing techniques made students be in a position where they could argue with understanding and assertion.

It is a great pleasure to mention a deep sense of appreciation for [Harsh Sarda and Sachin Verlekar of Satyam House], for their explanation of Master Degree or Specialization in a subject is not good. Again refer to its opposite, were the arguments put forth by Shivam House’s Vishesh Mistry and Vishlesh Gondaliya.

Further, it was so amazing to listen to [Keyur of Suhradam House], for demonstrating his speech on Internet poses more harm than good. Referring and responding to this , were solid arguments by Rushi and Sahjik of Sundaram House.]

It is unavoidable to mention Yathansh Joshi and Ravi Patel of Satyam House in Junior group for giving an excellent coverage to the topic “News papers are things of past”. Referring and responding to them was the opposite team of Rahul and Aakash of Sundaram House.

The gracious presence of honourable Vijay Sir and other teachers was quite motivating. AVM debating club feels proud to create such an event which was brimmed with podiums where students’ talent can not only reach the pedestal but acknowledge them with the very fact of debating: “Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.”

Exhibition on Acids, Bases and Salts by Std 10 students

August 20, 2012/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates, Thinking Skills /by AVM Teachers

I Hear And I Forget,

I See And I Remember,

I Do and I Understand.

Chemistry is a science of experiments. Scientific concepts can be easily
understood by performing experiments. Students learn how to handle the
equipments and develop a scientific attitude.

Students of Std 10 recently organised an exhibition on Acid, Base and Salt. They gathered the information about the topic from various books, encyclopaedias and websites.

Students presented experiments to the visitors (students and teachers)
to detect whether the given substance was an acid, basic or salt by
nature. They gathered many food items and checked their nature with
different indicators (litmus paper, phenolphthalein and methyl orange)
and also measured pH of the given material with pH strips and universal
indicator.

In the process, the students (both – the presenters and the visitors)
not only learnt about the topic but also understood the nature of the
food they eat daily. They also found out the three gunas of the food that is, Satvik food, Rajas food and Tamsic food.
Many students became aware that taking certain types of food (like soft
drinks, tea, coffee, spicy food, junk food, etc.) in excess is not good
for the health. They learnt about 10 different ways to maintain a
balance in our body by exploiting the neutralising nature of the
reaction of an alkali and an acid.

The presenters also gathered soil from different areas of the campus and
measured pH of these samples and understood the nature of the soil and
types of crops that grow in a particular type of soil.

The school principal, Dr. Vijay Patel, all teachers, especially the
Chemistry teachers (Anand Sir and Archana Madam) encouraged the students
and discussed with them about their selected topic(s) and gave them
some very valuable feedback. Their questions made the presenting
students think differently at times to find an answer and a few were
left unanswered on the day for the students to dig out an appropriate
explanation.

Overall, the “fair” turned out to be a great learning experience for both the participants and the visiting students.

Written by: Swayam Madam

Biology Lab-Skills Workshop

January 14, 2012/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates, Thinking Skills /by AVM Teachers

Scholar Theodore Roszak rightly said that Nature composes some of her loveliest poems for the microscope. The students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir had the opportunity to look at some of those poems through the microscope in the recently concluded Biology Lab-Skills Workshop.

Science has uncovered quite a few complicated phenomena but life still remains the most complicated yet simple creation of GOD. One of the purposes of studying science is to create curiosity amongst the young minds by helping them make sense of things around them. Science is supposed to be a hands on subject where students should be able to do different things and have fun. To create that enthusiasm amongst students, the Biology Department at AVM organized a basic lab skills workshop which allowed the students to learn some of the basic laboratory skills at an early age.

The secondary school Biology curriculum only allows students to observe different specimens and slides. It is only in high school that they get to prepare slides and do other activities on their own. To give a head start to the students of AVM, such a workshop was organized for the students of standard 10. Around 42 students took part in this week long workshop.

Mrs. Archana Patankar (M.Sc. Botany) – HOD Biology, explained the students how to prepare the slides of a plant and animal cell. She also explained the importance of materials used and showed them how to use different apparatus. Since the arrangement was such that each student would get their own microscope and other apparatus to perform the activity, the excitement in the biology lab was very visible. Mr. Sarvajeet Parsaniya (M.Sc. Biotech) was also there to guide and help the students. One of the heartening things to observe was the way such students who had found the theory class challenging, excelled in the lab. They prepared some wonderful slides with the correct techniques and proper methodology.

The principal of AVM, Dr. Vijay Patel, a keen science enthusiast himself, visited the Biology lab to observe the proceedings and more importantly to encourage students. At the end of the workshop, each student was given a questionnaire to fill. The idea was to see if they understood and learnt the basic skill set required, which they passed with flying colors.

Is Exam really a matter of concern?

September 9, 2010/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, Thinking Skills /by AVM Teachers

Every exam gives you an opportunity to prepare, to plan, to overcome your shortcomings so that you are well prepared for the problem next time.

At every level subject changes, but what doesn’t change is the skill that you learn to tackle the (Challenge) problem.

More educated you are lesser chance of failing in future challenges.

Education and success is not one time achievement, it is a journey that one lives and influences others.

Education does not guarantee you employment of a business empire, but guarantees happiness regardless wherever you are, whatever you do.

By

Just pass.

Written by: Shailendra Sir

Key to Success

June 17, 2010/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, Thinking Skills /by AVM Teachers

Success is an inevitable aspect of human life, but it’s a bitter truth of life that not everyone gets success. The ladder of success has only three steps. If a person climbs these three steps, definitely he will get success.

1st Step: Set your Goal. To achieve something, first we have to define what we want to achieve. Before starting the car you must have to define your destination, this is the first step to get successful, define your target. Write down your goal on a piece of paper. First thing is to write down the goal you want to achieve without putting any limitations.

2nd Step: Visualize your Goal every day, whenever you get time think about your goal, think how you will achieve it, think what you will do after achieving it. Don’t put any limitation as you don’t have to pay to visualize it. The best way to visualize is to stick your goal on soft board so you can see it every day every time.

3rd Step: Take consistent actions every day to achieve your goal. Rome wasn’t built in a day; if you want to climb 1000 steps you have to start with one and you have to climb one by one. You cannot climb 1000 steps at a time.

As Robin Sharma rightly said, “Success is created through the performance of a few small daily disciplines that stack up over time to produce achievements for beyond anything you could have ever planned for.”

Creativity is “Possible”

February 3, 2010/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, Creativity, Thinking Skills /by AVM Teachers

In modern age, creativity has its unique space and importance literally everywhere. Corporate houses and most industries have now accepted that creativity in their business is the way forward. Most of the employers want their staff to be creative. To be able to achieve that staff members have training, workshops, seminars on creativity. Even education system is also no exception to that (which is a very good thing).
But the question is; what is creativity? Plenty of efforts have been made to define creativity. But the most accepted definition comes from the father of ‘creativity’, Mr. Edward De Bono. As per him Creativity is all about generating alternatives. Creativity enables us to be able to acquire more options or solutions for a particular problem.
Creativity tells us that there is always an alternate course of actions. There are always more answers to a question, there are always different approaches to a problem.
Now the million dollar question is how to become creative. What could be the first step? As far as I am concerned, it is the sense of possibility which opens up the door for creativity. You must have been thinking, is it some language teachers trying to solve a math or a scientific problem? But before you make any conclusions, hear me out.
Most of us would consider scientists, mathematicians, painters; sculptures and musicians creative in their work. So do you think any of their work could have been done without them thinking it is possible? Thinking possibilities is a necessary skill to become creative. Most of the people stress on critical thinking which only teaches us what is wrong and what is right. But for being creative, critical thinking skills are not enough. To generate new ideas one needs to be thinking about the different possibilities.
In the field of math, proof is very integral part of the process. But at times proof is nothing but the lack of imagination.’ A’ causes ‘B’. We get the proof for it and once we prove it, everyone has to accept it and we are very happy. But there could be more reasons for B to happen. Unless you think there is a possibility for an alternate solution, there is no way you can come up with the alternate solutions. If Wright brothers did not think that we can travel in air we would not have air planes today. I know it was a very boring example but it is very fundamental and no one can deny that.
How can I conclude my article without talking about this topic in context of education? Being a teacher, sometimes it becomes very frustrating when our students do not understand the simplest of the things. No matter how many times we teach them the same topic it may seem impossible to teach them and we choose to believe that the student is dull and doesn’t make efforts to learn. What can we do? Well I believe we need to develop the skill of thinking possibilities. Unless we believe it is possible to make students understand, we cannot come up with alternate explanations. That is what I call being a creative teacher. So next time someone asks you how to become creative, just tell them it is “POSSIBLE”.

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