EDU 102 – Initiatory School Experience (2 Credits – 20 marks)

The purpose of Initiatory school experience is to provide the student-teacher an opportunity to have primary experiences with the functioning of the school. This school initiatory programme is for a period of four continuous working days (28^th Jan 2014 to 31^st Jan 2014), You should use this opportunity to acquaint with the school environment and the day-to- day functioning. Let all of us consider it as a pre-requisite or a necessity for our own development as an effective teacher. Keep your minds free and let us enjoy this experience to be back to our old school days and watch it from a new perspective.

We have to jointly do the following; Let us learn together for the betterment of future generation

1         Observing the Lessons of Senior Teachers Individually or in Small Groups:

This is to provide you a direct experience of a class in school. You have to observe the class keenly and identify the methodology, strategies and techniques used by the teachers in school, the communication style and types of interaction (Teacher – pupil, Pupil – pupil), class management, etc., and make a note of the aspects that you have observed. You can also have a discussion with the teacher outside the classroom.

2         Meeting the Students Informally:

You can get prior permission from the concerned teacher and have an informal discussion with the students to understand their social and cultural background and their interest and preferences in learning.

3         Identifying the Learning Facilities in the School and Observing the Social Climate in the School:

With the permission of the head of the institution you can have an overview of the facilities of the school and the extent of utilization of the facilities. You can use a checklist if necessary. You can also try to understand the social climate of the school. Make sure that you don’t make any comments or remarks on the utilization of resources or social climate to either the faculty or students of the school.

4         Engaging Lessons:

Each student-teacher has to engage 3 lessons individually or as Shared Practice.  In Shared Practice, student-teachers will be in small groups of three members. The lessons will be divided into three parts and each student teacher will practice one of the parts by rotation in the natural classroom situation. Lesson plans need not be written with the rigidity employed for Practice Teaching lesson. You can also act as a co-teacher along with the concerned teacher of the visiting school if they permit.

5         Maintaining a Detailed Diary:

The student-teachers have to maintain a detailed diary as record of the visit. The diary should contain a brief history of the school, the learning facilities, the social climate, the observation note of the classes observed and engaged, and a reflection of the activities especially the class engaged. Let the entry in the diary be reflective than judgmental.

6         Reflection:

After the four day initiatory school experiences, a reflection session will be organized in the college in which the students will have to give their experiences and reflections of the programme.