Hands-on approaches infuse freshness to education

New Delhi February 23:Rote learning techniques have long-plagued the Indian education system, where even "science is taught like history".

Infusing freshness into a system where earning maximum grades takes priority over understanding, experts have come up with solutions like teaching mathematics through video games - allowing students to go beyond the obvious.

"In our classrooms, science is taught like history - students are 'told' about the concepts but don't get to explore, experience or challenge! Our labs encourage children to find and verify what is written in the book rather than explore and challenge concepts," Rakesh Kumar, founder, Experifun, told IANS.

Started in 2012, Experifun designs and develops curriculum-based affordable, innovative and exploratory products for exploring in-classroom science concepts. They allow students and teachers conduct innovative science experiments and activities.

The offering contains various kits covering the entire gamut of science for curricula like Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), Cambridge, International Baccalaureates and state boards.

Agreed Priyadeep Sinha, founder, Gyan Lab - a start-up working in the K-12 (Kg-Class 12) education space striving for fun in learning - said education today needs to be more "application-based".

"What we deeply need to realize and understand is that a 90 percent in exams should not be the ultimate goal of learning since, in the real world, if you cannot apply what you have learnt, you lose out to others who may not have scored better but can apply knowledge better.

And to bring about a change in how education happens in this country, we need to realize that a child, not a teacher, should be at the centre of the learning process in a classroom," Sinha told IANS.

IANS