Should meticulous learning check happen in Primary classes.

My personal experience as a school Principal, I encounter many parents who for obvious reasons related to family functions or family get together's ignore classes and learning of their child during the formative years. Sometimes, it can be a tragedy that strikes the family that causes learning loss in primary classes. Sometimes, it is also as 'it is not serious learning' in the primary classes the absenteeism is on the high.  However, my outlook has totally changed after the 'learning gap' I personally saw, among the learners.

The confusion starts with recognition of '+' and 'x' to why use these operations.  This simple gap from the formative level has crept to the level where learner is not able to apply in their secondary level examination.  Reading is complicated as the learner was unable to blend and read or ignored in classrooms for reading during the formative years.

Observation on development of such a gap in the learning process led me to understand that the process of learning was unchecked during the formative years and combined with COVID - loss of learning due to online classes, this gap has widened.

A systematic check on learning should be mandated at all levels to see the learning outcomes has reached minimum learning levels.  These checks should not be ignored at the learning level and the next level where the outcome serves for prior knowledge.  Ignoring such gaps at the primary level accumulates and brings the locus on 'missing information build up'.  

Teaching should emphasize on this gap and permit absence only when such gaps can be overcome.  The year 1 gap develops to year 2 and so forth.  Moving forward the learner misses crucial information which helps build further learning.  A practical example that I have observed when one of my learner losses the clarity on basic mathematical operation is that the learner losses confidence in furthering the concept to addition and multiplication of fractions which then moves on to lack of competency in calculation of HCF and LCM which leads to the lacuna in solving algebra, trigonometry and further into deriving logical conclusions.

When and where should the check happen?

The learning gap formed during the academic year should be overcome during the year as it is less burdensome for the learner.  Imagine carrying a book and standing for 5 - 6 hours, it is sure painful!  However, if it is shortened by right intervention then the gap is overcome.  If it is extended the pain becomes frustrating which then turns fearful leading to other complications further if neglected.  Teachers are well aware of the curricular outcomes when the calendar is fixed, this can allow them to set 'minimal learning levels' which should be mandatory checked by the year end.  Schools as such should focus on training teachers in enhancing these MLLs for every year of learning which will develop learning to an enjoyable season rather than a certificate reason.

This June onwards when our new academic session begins, let us promise 'no child will be left behind' in attaining the minimum learning required in their class.  Looking forward to see every child being a champion as in the words of Rita Pearson, Let's educate!

ARE WE RIGHT ABOUT LEARNING?

Learning was always confusing from Pavlov to Vygotsky to  Hattie.  Theories have stated that learning happens in multiple ways, however, what if we are looking learning through the wrong lens?  

An age old custom in the Telugu speaking states, of India, which tests the choice of the new born during their 'Annaprasanam' reminds me the choice that we never give our learners.  The parents allow the child, during the event, to crawl and pick the items of their choice which ranges from money to gold to books to tools etc.,  Where are these choices as we move to the real school.  I as a teacher mandate students to learn basic Math, Science or EVS and English as fundamentals.  What if a student is not interested in all this?  What options does the school provide?  A teacher asks a lot of questions.  Well! I am a teacher, that can be the reason for my asking these questions too.   However,  I felt like I really need to ponder on these questions. 

Schooling and learning now looks like contradictory terms to me.  Opposite ends of the same rod.  We are indeed still in the process of making photocopies be it through Behaviourism or Constructivism or Visible learning.  We are not providing scope for individual-independent growth since 'every learner is unique'.   An open environment to suffice their needs, grow to pick their passion is rarely observed in today's buildings.  The learning, we speak about for the future, requires much open environment rather than closed blocks of buildings.  If, as a student, I love farming, I should be trained on the nitty gritty of farming.  The scope for developing such proficiency in the selected area of study is difficult in the current learning system.  Experts talk about education as a system rather than a self defining proficiency building process.  Education should become a process rather than a system.  Systems are susceptible to testing.  Process is more evolving and dynamic which accepts and adapts changes.  

To build such process oriented dynamics the outlook of education as standards needs to be changed.  Competition should be avoided at all costs.   Competition leads to all the negative traits which make us inhuman.  Industrialisation, has improved economical condition along with less empathetic society.  We look forward to build a more collaborating and self sustaining society as one of the important goals in UNDP 2030.  However, possibility of attaining such a status is only when everyone is a winner.  We cannot 'teach a fish to climb a tree' but we are still applying learning theories to reach standardisation.  Ironic as it is, we are molding all the interesting theories to the current system without changing the process.

Learning should be foundational to move ahead with a life a peace.  Mentoring should be the process to take the learner to the stride of learning and improving his interest.  Imagine, when a learner loves design is trained under a designer while a learner who loves cooking is trained under a chef.  Unnecessary competition avoided in the Grade 10-12.  Less stress as there is no compulsion to perform in algebra, trigonometry or in Waves and Periodic table.  Learning becomes more fun as they live their dream from the very early age.  Proficiency based on the performance displayed among the 'fishes in the same water'.  Life becomes more exploratory and experiential with lot of natural intrinsic motivation.  Are we ready for such a change in the learning process?  Can we find new vistas of learning from the learning institutions?  Dreams become reality when one become many in this belief.