3-day teachers’ capacity building workshop concludes in Anantnag

Srinagar, Dec 12: The three-day workshop organised by Samagra Shiksha, J&K (UT) in collaboration with IIT Kanpur- Foundation for Advanced Consulting, Education & Training (IFACET) aimed at enhancing teachers’ capacity for scientific temperament towards astronomy concluded today in Anantnag.

Nodal teachers from more than 150 government schools where Aghaaz Labs are being established were the participants of this workshop. The workshop was organised at Higher Secondary School, Furrah, Anantnag. The previous two-day workshops were held in Srinagar and Baramulla on 7th and 8th December respectively.

This three-day workshop was facilitated by faculty members of IIT Kanpur, officials of Samagra Shiksha, J&K, prominent personalities from the field of astronomy and educationists having direct contact with school children and teachers.

Opening remarks were provided by Anurag Pandey, Associate Faculty, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur, wherein, with fun activities and ice-breaking games, he explained why teachers and teaching sessions need to be interesting and out of the box. Pandey gave a brief introduction about Aghaaz initiative and its objectives.

Training teachers about the working of telescopes was the most illuminating part of this workshop. Amitabh Pandey, having a vast experience in the field of astronomy since 1992 and being actively associated with organisations like VigyanPrasar, Antriksh, Stargate India gave a very interactive session on the basic principle of working of telescope and its various components. Teachers were later provided the opportunity to operate the telescope. The same telescopes, along with other TLMs are given to each of the government schools which fall under Aghaaz Initiative.

State Coordinator of J&K UT, Ajeet Sharma, highlighted and shared his thoughts about Aghaaz initiative as a distinct move taken by Samagra Shiksha towards innovative education and made educators aware of Aghaaz Labs’ potential.

The idea of establishing the AGHAAZ labs was presented by Er. Deep Raj Kanethia), Director, Samagra Shiksha, J&K, and the established AGHAAZ labs are now closely monitored by Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, School Education Department.

Ishant Dubey, who worked in the field of Astronomy and has actively worked with students provided his inputs on child centric education and performed hands-on activities based on solar system and other astronomical concepts for which working models are already being provided under Aghaaz Labs.. Mushtaq Qadri, Chief Education Officer, Anantnag, also marked his presence on the third day of the workshop.

Ajeet Sharma State Coordinator, Samagra Shiksha, UT of J&K facilitated by Kaifat Sidiq, Programme Manager Aghaaz Initiative visited the Aghaaz Labs established in government schools in three locations. The visit included showcasing each and every aspect of the initiative as TLM Models, Laser light, LED, Telescope, innovative posters for providing a print-rich environment and child-centered curriculum.

Towards the end of the workshop, teachers’ feedback on the Aghaaz Initiative. Session ended with closing remarks and vote of thanks by Sidiq, Programme Manager, Aghaaz Initiative.