Notes from the 7th Ed Leadership International Roundtable, Lucknow 2014

I walk out of the Charbagh Station in Lucknow after a 30 hour train journey from Mumbai. I am excited. I am back in Lucknow to attend the 7th Ed Leadership Roundtable, 2014 that is being organized at the City Montessori School, Lucknow. The school has an enrollment of 45,000 pupils, and was even awarded the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. This post includes some of the notes I had taken down during the event. Event Website.
 

Notes from the Asian Summit on Education and Skills, Delhi 2014

In the first week of September 2014, I was fortunate to be part of one of India's top education and human skill development conferences in India. I was staying with a friend in Mayur Vihar and caught the morning metro to Pragati Maidan to attend the first session of the summit on 10th September. This post is about some of insights and notes I took down at the conference.

Dear Teacher,

I am a student,
One Among 500 Million in this country.
I want to be heard,
Will you listen to me?

The world is so big,
The world is so confusing,
I need a friend,
I need a guide,
I am scared,
Will you help me?

A gift worth all the riches in the world,
That only you can give me,
You may ask,
What is this wonderful gift?

Assessment from a Student Perspective - Projects or Grades

Our objective as educational institutes is too make a life long learner that has marketable skills that can be used to add value to society in a variety of ways. 

I am a student. 20 years old and I write this to present the student voice on education, which I strongly feel has not been represented enough on national platforms and discussions related to Education in India. I believe students have a valid opinion and are a vital stake holder in Education.

Assessment and Students

Let us look at one such aspect of education from the perspective of a student. Assessment. 

All the assessment I went through at school and college was for the institute and for the government and not for me? When we assess with Grades, we assess to keep a record not to check the real learning of the students. Because before you assess you have to analyze the perspective of the student towards a particular subject. 

-Has the student understood why the subject is relevant? 

-Has the student developed a genuine interest in the subject?

Learning from Videos 2 - Hrithik Roshan on Life, Philosophy and Happiness

It has been a while since I enjoyed an interview so much. Hrithik Roshan is an Indian Actor known for his work in films like Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Koi Mil Gaya and Guzaarish. I have always admired Hrithik's body of work. But this interview with the ever so impressive film critic, Anupama Chopra, made me admire Hrithik for who he was as a human being. A few highlights from this interview and my personal interpretation of it.. Watch it on the Film Companion You Tube Channel here.

Learning from Videos 1 - Walking, Writing and Acting

1) Hindol Sengupta - The Entrepreneurial Citizen - Question Everything. Change Your Ecosystem. Contribute to shift from measured democracy experienced democracy. You can be an entrepreneur too. In Hindol's words, 'I am going to speak about the idea of the citizen who begins to look at himself as an entrepreneur - which means that citizens realizes that he is no longer a by product of the mercy or angst of the state but is a by product of his own enterprise' Watch the talk here.