Play-based teaching-learning process

In recent past, the ministry of education has launched learning-teaching material that is best suited for the foundational stage of education under National Education Policy 2020; e-Jaadui Pitara was launched at the occasion.

It has been developed as a classic example of material that is required in any school for the foundation of stage 3 to 8. Under e-Jaadui Pitara, there are diverse categories of teaching and learning materials for the foundation of stage of education.

It has puzzles, games, toys, flash cards, posters, story cards, activity books for students and handbooks for teachers thereby accommodating the diverse needs of learners in the foundational stage. Basically, Foundational stage of education includes 3 years of Pre School or aanganwadi education accompanied by 2 years of primary education (classes first and second).

Across different countries including China, Canada, and UAE, we find a shift towards play-based teaching-learning strategies and materials in early education curricula. Playway method or play-based learning is a matter of learning while playing. There are two types of play that are rooted in play-based learning viz. free play and guided play.

Former is guided by the children themselves while as the latter involves the guidance of the teacher. Hence, free play is more pleasurable but guided play gives additional learning chances within the play itself. It is wisely said that maximum brain development takes place during early years of education and playway method of learning plays a major role.

Play fulfills a primary role in the development of a child and supports varied areas of learning and development. It is very unfortunate that we have a lopsided economic development which is why our education system is also lopsided.

There is no denying the fact that Indian educational system is full of flaws and a degraded learning-teaching environment is no exception. School education alongside home education develops fundamental learning. Indian schools lack teachers that are trained and technical.

As the growth of school education is going on, there is need of more energetic and trained teachers who have good teaching skills and educational background. Therefore, programs need to be developed that aim at training teachers at all levels of education particularly primary education. Hence, we need to increase expenditure at all levels of education. Per capita education expenditure among different states of India should improve.

Demographer Ashish Bose in mid-1980s coined BIMARU term, formed from the first letters of names of some of poorest Indian states, namely Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. These are basically sick states highlighting their poor economic conditions. Such states are poor on food security and  Human Develpment Index.

As compared to BIMARU states, states with good economic conditions such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana etc. spend higher per capita education expenditure. There are big disparities in educational opportunities between states resulting in the widening of the development gap. It is high time to work on the problems of the Indian education system and make it more stable.

Need of the hour is to frame a suitable learning-teaching environment that is more child-centric and pleasurable. Accordingly, e-Pitara aims at developing and enriching the learning-teaching environment and making it more child-centric, dynamic and, joyful for the Amrit generation.

More fun-based teaching-learning methods need to be incorporated in our educational system so that teaching-learning process of education becomes more receptive and  joyful. Learning that is fun-based is primarily the art which aids children learn and perform in a better way using fun activities.

Such artful learning stimulates the brain of children thereby helping in their overall development. Therefore, educational institutions should promote fun-based methods. Different types of fun-based learning techniques matching different age groups should be used. Such techniques include classroom theme, small projects, use of the real objects to teach etc.

Dr. Binish Qadri, Former, Assistant Professor, Cluster University , Srinagar