Bringing the outside inside

Remember wondering why you needed to learn this and read that? Of course it mostly happened the night before the finals, but the fact remains: If only our teachers had tried to "connect" algebra and other "subjects" to our lives, we might have understood them better, even enjoyed them perhaps. More importantly we may have understood their relevance - an answer to the eternal question - why?

At Ananda, it is our endeavour everyday to foster an atmosphere of "connected" learning i.e. experiences based on real life. Be it through innovative extended open-air classrooms or by learning mathematics, geography and science with the help of the local sabzi-wallah who walks once every month with a cart full of fresh vegetables!

We at Ananda take child's play quite seriously. We know that without it, skills like teamwork, mutual respect, cooperation and logic cannot happen.

Learning by doing — Vastu, kriya, vishleshan, naamkaran (VKVN)
Our model of imparting knowledge — Vastu, kriya, vishleshan, naamkaran or VKVN is actually a cycle of learning that makes your child her own teacher. It follows as:

Vastu or object - an object or idea is presented to fuel curiosity
Kriya or task — bringing to life he verb to do, through the senses viz. touch, feel, explore, examine just doing anything

Vishleshan or analysis — now analyse what you just saw, observed and did. Discussion, questioning, thought, reflection and seeking answers are best done in a group.
Naamkaran or classification - make sense of new information, attach a name to the phenomenon you just saw.

This simple pedagogic cycle - VKVN is a four-step process that when consciously imparted in learning can lead to the beginning of understanding. Learning accomplished! Absolute joy!