Classroom learning could be more interesting when it is activity-oriented. Or so believes the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) which has come up with worksheets for elementary students in government schools for better understanding of the content of textbooks. The worksheets, developed under the Learning Enhancement Programme (LEP) would reach schools this week.
Though there have been worksheets earlier, so far it was applied as an additional activity in a particular subject. This time, the emphasis is on lesson-to-lesson activities for all subjects in English and Malayalam medium. The idea is to create simpler versions of a lesson which are better understandable to students through activities which will also enhance their learning and writing skills.
‘’It is a unique concept - almost like learning a subject through activities. As of now, learning is a casual exercise but with the introduction of worksheets, it would be a qualitative exercise in classrooms,’’ said L Rajan, Additional Director, SSA.
The Learning Enhancement Programme of the SSA had been promoting activities and projects aimed at creating simpler methods of classroom learning. In the last couple of years, the thrust had been on English learning.
However, the teaching community is apprehensive of the new experiment since a month has already progressed in the academic year. ‘’We have not had any cluster training or given any guidance with regard to the worksheets,’’ said a UP School teacher in Thiruvananthapuram.
However, SSA officials say there is no need for a cluster training as such for getting to know the worksheets. ‘’We are bringing out a handbook for teachers to provide guidance in making children do the activities in the worksheets.
How to schedule the worksheet and how to finish the activities within the time slot of the academic timetable are given in the handbook,’’ said a SSA official.
The handbooks would reach schools in a couple of days. The printing of the worksheets and handbooks have been completed, officials said.