Mr Raghu Pandey, the founder of iMature.in, led an insightful session focused on preparing students for the future in the context of AI readiness, internet maturity, and digital citizenship.
Key Points from Mr. Raghu's Session:
AI Readiness & Future Careers:
Mr. Raghu discussed how AI will disrupt traditional career paths and job structures. He explained the importance of students developing essential skills to thrive in an AI-powered world, including:
Continuous online learning is needed to stay adaptable and acquire new skills.
Online Reputation Management to effectively showcase their abilities and secure opportunities.
Mastering the "4 C's"—Critical thinking, Creativity, Communication, and Collaboration—is key to success in human-centred roles, even as AI evolves.
Online Safety and Internet Maturity (FAST CAR Method): Mr Raghu stressed the importance of students practising internet maturity and adhering to online safety practices. The FAST CAR method for online safety was highlighted:
Firewall, Antivirus, Strong Passwords: Basic tools for securing devices and personal information.
Trust with Caution, Confidence, Avoidance, and Reporting: Guidelines for online interactions while avoiding cyberbullying and antisocial behaviour.
Never Share Physical Location Online: Encouraging students to protect their privacy.
Be Cautious of AI-generated content: Always verify the credibility and source of information found online, as AI-generated content can sometimes be misleading.
Digital Citizenship Skills:
Mr. Raghu emphasized the importance of developing digital citizenship skills, including responsible, ethical, and safe use of technology. He discussed how these skills are essential for navigating the digital world and balancing emotional and moral growth in an AI-driven society.
In conclusion, Mr Raghu's insights provided a clear roadmap for ensuring students are ready for the future and well-prepared to responsibly navigate digital citizenship's challenges.
Book Reading
Chapter 14, "Misal Pao," fromMy Name is Cinnamonby Vikas Joshi
What skills does Cinnamon demonstrate while interacting with others in the chapter, and how do these skills help him navigate his relationships?
This question encourages us to reflect on Cinnamon's communication, empathy, and adaptability as he interacts with those around him.
How do the characters in this chapter use practical skills to express themselves or contribute to their family and community?
This question explores how specific skills, such as cooking, can represent personal expression and connect individuals to their culture or traditions.
In what ways does the chapter illustrate the difference between academic skills and life skills, and why might both be important for personal growth?
This question considers the value of academic achievements and life skills (such as social interaction, resilience, and emotional intelligence) and reflects on their balance.
How does Cinnamon’s perspective on the value of skills evolve throughout this chapter, and what does this reveal about his character development?
This question invites us to reflect on Cinnamon’s growth and how he came to understand the importance of various skills—both practical and personal—on his journey toward self-discovery.
Meet and Greet with Anika Singh, a social artist and the founder of VOYCE, as well as the director of DhunAnand. Anika is passionate about using art and creativity to drive social change. With over 15 years of experience, including six years with the World Health Organization (WHO) at both the Regional Office for South-East Asia and the WHO Country Office for India, as well as over four years in Australia, she has a wealth of expertise. At WHO, Anika developed and implemented engaging health promotion campaigns aimed at encouraging positive behavior change. She has also directed more than 30 advocacy productions, including animation videos, musicals, and documentaries. Before WHO, she worked in Australia mainly in the skills development and disability employment services network, assisting disadvantaged communities through employment, support services, community engagement and customised training programmes.
What does VOYCE do?
Content for public health and social change to create impact.
Work with the arts to create positive behaviour change campaigns.
Films, advocacy videos, animation videos, musicals and ad films.
Production of publications – including conceptualising, researching, writing, editing, designing, and printing.
Primary and secondary level research.
Events and festivals give an extra edge by leveraging the performing and visual arts to create impact. The company specialises in developing both online and offline events.
Facilitating training on values in action, authentic leadership, 1-Ness consciousness, and behaviour change communication for health promotion, gender equality, and social change messaging.
Organising staff engagement and team-building activities.
Conceptualising and implementing campaigns to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically for positive behaviour change related to health
SUMMARY ✨
With guest speaker Anika Singh, discuss oneness, love, and art for social change and reflect on gratitude and human connections.
Key Takeaways
Oneness involves feeling connected to all living beings and the environment, transcending separateness.
Art can be a powerful medium for social change, public health messaging, and expressing complex ideas.
Gratitude emerges from recognising positive experiences caused by others; animals may exhibit gratitude-like behaviour.
My Good School will evolve to focus on the "Joy Of Giving" in 2025, with upcoming events celebrating poetry, art, and music.
Topics
Anika Singh's Background and Work
Started social work at age 14 and represented India at international conferences.
Worked with WHO and UN agencies for 10+ years on public health campaigns
Founded organisation VOYCE (Vision and Opportunities for Youth and Community Empowerment)
Uses art for public health messaging and social change
Oneness and Love - 1Ness (the way VOYCE says it)
Oneness is feeling connected to all beings and nature, with no separation.
Love emerges naturally from oneness and creates a sense of belonging everywhere.
Contrasted with artificial intelligence - oneness intelligence about higher purpose and connection
Art for Social Change
An art competition was used to explain depression through various mediums (dance, sand art, music videos, etc.).
More impactful than traditional messaging for sensitive topics
Upcoming "Returning to Love" event on Jan 12, 2025, to showcase art on oneness, love, UN SDGs
Inviting submissions of visual art with 300-350 word impact stories
Behaviour Change Approaches
Changing the environment is more effective than targeting individuals
Using "nudges" - subtle environmental cues to inspire positive habits
Consistency in messaging is key
Leveraging platforms like social media, games bookmarks to reach youth
Gratitude in Animals
Difficult to definitively prove, but anecdotes suggest the possibility
Examples: Rescued whale's acrobatic display, crows bringing gifts to girl who fed them
Gratitude is defined as positive emotion from an enjoyable experience caused by others
My Good School Updates
Website upgraded for 2025 at schooleducation.com
Four focus areas: the joy of learning, happy teachers, the joy of giving, youth engaging society
Upcoming New Year's Eve reflection session
Three retreats planned for 2025 (April, November, December)
Next Steps
Submit art entries for the "Returning to Love" event by Dec 30, 2024
Prepare reflections on 2024 My Good School experiences for next Sunday's session
Consider participating in upcoming My Good School retreats and community learning initiatives
Teachers invited to volunteer for the monthly professional learning program at Arthur Foot Academy
Reflections
1. What insights did you gain about the power of art and music as tools for social change?
2. How can you use creativity to contribute to your community or address social
issues?
Inner Life of Animals and the Theme of Gratitude as presented by Peter Wohlleben:
Reflective Questions
Understanding Gratitude:
How does Peter Wohlleben describe gratitude in animals? Do you think animals experience gratitude in the same way humans do? Why or why not?
Examples of Animal Behavior:
Can you recall an example from the chapter where an animal showed gratitude? How did this behaviour reflect the concept of gratitude?
Human vs. Animal Emotions:
Do you think human emotions, such as gratitude, fundamentally differ from animals? What examples support your view?
Personal Reflection:
Have you ever experienced a moment when an animal seemed grateful to you? How did that make you feel?
Critical Thinking Questions
Interpreting Animal Actions:
Some scientists argue that behaviours we interpret as gratitude are simply survival instincts. What is your opinion on this perspective?
Role of Environment:
How might the environment or upbringing of an animal affect its ability to express emotions like gratitude?
Ethics and Empathy:
If animals can feel gratitude, what implications does this have for how humans treat them?
Creative Thinking Questions
Imagining a Conversation:
Imagine you could talk to an animal. What questions would you ask to understand how they perceive emotions like gratitude?
Animal Perspective:
Write a short story or poem from the perspective of an animal experiencing gratitude. What event triggered this feeling? How do they express it?
Cross-Species Relationships:
Design a fictional scenario where an animal and a human share a moment of gratitude. How does this moment bridge the gap between species?
These questions will encourage you to connect the scientific observations in the chapter with your own experiences, fostering critical and empathetic understanding.
Next week - Chapter 13: The Bathroom Outside from My Name is Cinnamon Chapter 7: Lies and Deception from The Inner Life of Animals
These are some suggestions you can choose from. I'm looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections!
Check out our brand new signboard—it's here, and it looks absolutely amazing!
Sunday School No. 163
Guru Nanak Docuseries-
1. What was your takeaway from the session today?
2. What were the key points in the episode?
3. Wisdom, Right Knowledge, and Intellect- How can you connect with these?
- From Hidden Life Of Animals - 1. Did the story connect with you today, and why? 2. Find out about- a. biological automatons b. Leipzig and what it is famous for? c. magnetic resonance imaging 3. What is instinct according to you? 4. How can we compare animal emotions with human emotions? 5. How are humans different from animals?
Key Takeaways
The documentary series on Guru Nanak's travels highlights the interconnectedness of different philosophies and cultures across India.
Recent school visits, especially to Doon School, provided valuable learning experiences for students and teachers from rural areas.
There's an emphasis on regular reflections and sharing of learnings among the community members.
The group uses various WhatsApp groups and online platforms to facilitate communication and learning.
Guru Nanak Documentary Discussion
Explored Guru Nanak's travels through Assam, Nagaland, Bangladesh, and West Bengal.
Highlighted similarities between Guru Nanak's philosophy and local traditions in these regions.
Discussed the concept of oneness and the universality of emotions across species.
Recent The Doon School Visit
Students from Arthur Foot Academy visited Doon School, marking their first trip to an urban area.
The visit highlighted the disparity in exposure between rural and urban students.
Emphasized the importance of such experiences in broadening students' perspectives.
Reflection Practices
Encouraged regular reflections from all participants, including teachers and students.
Discussed various platforms for sharing reflections, including WhatsApp groups and online diaries.
Stressed the importance of consistent engagement and sharing of thoughts.
Community Structure and Communication
Explained the purpose and use of different WhatsApp groups:
My Good School: For general discussions and reflections
Teachers Academy: For teacher-specific content
Impact Team: For assessment and evaluation
Joy of Giving: Focused on Arthur Foot Academy project
Book Discussion
Reviewed chapters from a book discussing animal emotions and instincts.
Drew parallels between animal and human behaviors, emphasizing the universality of emotions.
Next Steps
Participants to send reflections on recent experiences, including the Doon School visit.
Continue regular engagement in various WhatsApp groups and online platforms.
Implement learnings from recent experiences in respective educational settings.
Improve the technical setup for future online meetings based on today's experience with new equipment.
Action Items
Create reflection piece with probing questions from The Doon School visit. Add to Joy of Learning Diaries.
Write/send reflection on The Doon School visit to Manisha. Post in My Good School WhatsApp grp.
Write/send reflection on Doon School visit to Manisha. Post in My Good School WhatsApp grp.
Post announcements for upcoming sessions in My Good School WhatsApp grp.
Students and teacher may create a school newsletter incorporating Joy of Learning content.
These are some suggestions. We're looking forward to your excellent and thoughtful reflections, which you can email to mk@learningforward.org.in
In case you missed the session today, reply the video:
To conduct a My Good School retreat session focused on discussing animal behavior and emotions through the book "The Inner Life of Animals" by Peter Wohlleben.
Key Takeaways
The group explored the concept of animal emotions, particularly maternal love, through the first chapter of the book
Participants learned about squirrel behavior, including their nesting habits, food caching, and interactions with other animals
The discussion highlighted how human perceptions of animals are often influenced by emotions rather than objective observation
The session emphasized that maternal love is not exclusive to humans and exists across species, though with variations in its expression and development
Topics
Book Introduction and Context
The group is reading "The Inner Life of Animals" by Peter Wohlleben
The book explores animal emotions and behaviors, challenging assumptions about human uniqueness
The author uses scientific research and personal observations to illustrate animal experiences
Squirrel Behavior and Survival
Squirrels demonstrate maternal care by carrying babies on their necks
They build nests (dreys) in trees, using soft materials for comfort
Squirrels cache food for winter, but often forget locations, leading to natural tree planting
Their survival strategies include spiral descent to avoid predators like hawks
Animal Emotions and Human Perceptions
The group discussed how humans categorize animals based on appearance and perceived usefulness
Squirrels were used as an example of how perceptions can shift (e.g., from cute to predatory)
The discussion emphasized that animals act primarily for survival, not to be "good" or "bad"
Maternal Love Across Species
The chapter explored whether maternal love is innate or learned
Hormones like oxytocin play a role in bonding for both humans and animals
Human capacity for learned love (e.g., adoption) was contrasted with more instinctive animal behaviors
Examples of interspecies bonding were mentioned (e.g., cats caring for human infants)
Next Steps
Participants encouraged to watch related movies/documentaries (e.g., Born Free, Lion King)
Research Jane Goodall's work with chimpanzees for further insights on animal behavior.
Reconvene at 5:30 PM for the Teacher's Academy session to continue book discussion.
Local retreat participants to engage in a treasure hunt during the break.
Think it over
1. Did the story connect with you today, and why?
2. Find out about-
a. dreys
b. nests of animals
3. How do animals prepare their nest? Which material is required by the animals to make their nest?
4. Winter, however, is more devastating than any predator. Who does the writer refer to ?
5. What will happen if there will be no food chain?
6. What is selfless mother's love according to you?
7. How do you think Cinnamon would feel if he met his birth parents
8. Between the head and the heart
- From The Hidden Life Of Trees –
1. Why is the chapter named "Not just a commodity?"
2. What is your takeaway from today’s session?
3. What did you learn from this book?
4. Do trees have a life of their own? How can humans learn to respect that?
5. Life from the eyes of trees
6. Taking care of trees and nature with dignity
7. We aren't a part of nature, we are nature
8. Lessons from this book
"I think writing a poem is oddly fulfilling and a unique art itself. Its unique how we're able to express our thoughts about something in a set of lines. I think it brings us to think deeper about what we're writing because we aren't just writing a paragraph but writing about our feelings and ideas about something in a few lines, choosing the right words at every step. And when you're done writing that poem, there's a sense of fulfillment when you read it again because it just opens a new perspective about it.
I don't write blogs that often now but when I'm bored at home, I take out a paper and pen and write poems because it truly is something that's so unique." - Rishona Chopra
These are some suggestions you can choose from. Looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections!
You can email your reflections at -
mk@learningforward.org.in
My Good School 10th Nov 2024
Reading My Name Is Cinnamon - complete the chapter 8; and complete reading the book "The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben, as well as plan for an upcoming retreat and initiate an "Impact Study" project.
Key Takeaways
•Trees are highly interconnected through underground fungal networks, forming a "Wood-Wide Web" that allows them to communicate and support each other.
•Helping children like Cinnamon from the book deal with difficult emotions requires providing a supportive environment, encouraging reflection, and engaging them in enjoyable activities.
•The upcoming retreat will involve spending time in a forest, connecting with underprivileged children, and continuing the group reading experience.
•The "Impact Study" project aims to assess how the Teacher's Academy program is developing students' 21st century skills like critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
•Practices like writing poems, maintaining reading logs, and reflecting on readings can enhance personal growth and reading comprehension.
Topics
Reading and Discussing "The Hidden Life of Trees"
•The group continued reading and discussing chapters from the book, exploring how trees communicate and support each other through underground fungal networks.
•The discussion focused on understanding Cinnamon's emotional journey and ways to help him deal with his feelings in a healthy manner.
Upcoming Retreat
•The group discussed the plans for an upcoming retreat, where participants will spend time in a forest, connect with underprivileged children, and continue their group reading experience.
•The retreat will also involve a visit to the "My Good School" studio and a city tour.
"Impact Study" Project
•The group initiated an "Impact Study" project to assess the impact of the Teacher's Academy program on the development of students' 21st century skills.
•The project will involve gathering feedback from teachers and students, and analyzing data to understand the program's effectiveness.
Next Steps
•Gurdeep will connect with Kunal to obtain the data from the previous impact study and use it as a starting point for the new project.
•The group will work together to develop a set of questions to gather feedback from teachers and students on a monthly basis.
•The findings from the impact study will be shared and discussed in future meetings, and the next meeting will be on the 24th of November 2024.
