Leading neuroscientists state ‘how schools teach is the opposite of how and why we learn’. While this may come across as a provocative statement, it is largely true. Primary education model in India is a legacy of our colonial rulers and has very little to do with research supporting’ how and why’ we learn. Primary education is far more critical than later years, because a large part of brain formation takes place during our primary years.

To solve a problem we need to articulate it, to assess its impact and to provide a solution that will truly work. We also need to provide evidence that it works. Therefore, I shall not only focus on problems but also come up with solutions that are backed by research and have been successfully implemented.

Please Ask Me How I Want to Learn

Starting with ‘why we learn’, neuroscience says we learn because we want to learn, when we are interested in something and when learning has a context. The present classroom model, by design, ensures the teacher teaches everyone everything in the same manner and at the same speed. However, each one of us has different learning interests, styles and speeds. Therefore, the present model is deeply flawed and ensures most learners systematically lose interest in their classroom learning. Do we usually relate our classroom experiences with the word fun or boring? So can we fix this? Yes, we can fix this by introducing project based learning (PBL) model where children learn by doing. PBL, if implemented well, creates hooks into learning whereby everyone learns for a reason and to solve a real world problem i.e. defined as the project. The teacher, instead of lecturing, becomes a facilitator, factoring variety of learning interests, styles and speeds of the learner. This is very similar how we learn and work in the real world. It’s simple, when we learn to apply, our concepts get embedded deeper and we are more likely to remember what we have learnt.

A recent Harvard University study shows learners do better on a test when they are not bored in class. PBL has been successfully implemented around the world, in both public and private schools, and in both high and low fee paying schools. PBL can be successfully learnt and implemented in low fee earning/rural school systems via intelligent use of cheap internet and by crafting projects out of recycled materials. PBL works across all age levels.

As learners find it great, teachers find it fun too! PBL learners imbibe skills that are relevant and will make them successful in the real world. It makes both learners and teachers more confident, engaged, resilient, better at researching and working with each other, and far more adept coming up with new ideas or in finding solutions to difficult problems. This style of learning will create a new workforce that will drive innovation, new ideas and business that would generate large scale employment and economic growth for India.

Instead of focusing on lectures, note learning, homework and excessive content, we need to find ways to link learners’ strengths and talents to their learning

Trigger My Inspiration

In ‘the last lecture’, the late Prof. Randy Pausch shares that U.S. spent billions of dollars on sending man on the moon and asks if it was a good idea. Would the same money have been better applied towards healthcare or education? His answer is yes, it was a good idea because it triggered inspiration in millions of people around the world, and made them dream big! Money spent directly on education and healthcare would have also helped, however, perhaps only on the fringes. A Gallop Study says one of the two most important triggers of success is for a learner to connect with a real world mentor.. Schools need to find ways to attract role models from the real world who can trigger real inspiration. Thanks to technology this has become easier, role models can also be ‘virtually’ brought into the school to trigger inspiration in children. This practice needs to be embedded across all schools.

Help me find my Passion

India’s leading child psychologist, Dr. SheljaSen, says children are being pushed too hard in schools, thereby losing self-esteem. She says ‘our schools are damaging the present and future generations’. The present model ensures education is dull and boring and does little to help learners find their strengths and hidden talents. Instead of focusing on lectures, note learning, homework and excessive content, PBL finds ways to link learners’ strengths and talents to their learning. This ensures specialization (doing deep) rather than generalization (going wide). This boosts self-esteem and in turn creates a highly motivated and skilled learner.

Help me to Help Others

In India, the gap between rich and poor is widening. This is a recipe for disaster. If not addressed immediately, this is sure to lead to social unrest, civil wars rise in crime, and several other ills. A solution to this problem is to create empathy and compassion in children. Dr. Michelle Borba’s in her research shows that empathetic children perform better in academics and are mentally tougher. Empathy is also key to allowing people to collaborate, problem solve and innovate. Empathetic people create a world that is less divided and a safer place to live in. Here again, empathy needs to be embedded in the curriculum, across all years, not as moral science class, but as a part of real projects, for ‘empathy in action is real empathy’. India’s leading brain scientist, Nandini Singh (UNESCO-MGIEP) is also working on research and models that will help bring empathy to our children.

India is at a crucial stage where due to automation, artificial intelligence and global economic downturn millions of jobs shall be lost over the next decades. Recent World Bank/ILO studies indicate the future of employment looks bleak, both globally and in India. To fix the ‘first principle’ of the problem, we need to urgently rethink, reimagine and redefine the primary education model in India.