Improve learning for 100,000 kids in rural India!

A Report for Global Giving-2013-2014

The Teacher Foundation planned Darpana programme to improve learning for 100,000 kids in rural India project. The programme 'Darpana' includes 5 days of training and 3 rounds of school based support including need analysis for teachers and 8 days of 'Samartha' programme for primary school heads.

Initially, we planned to train 250 teachers and 50 heads of schools during the year 2013-2014 with support from Global Giving. With the funds received we could train 50 teachers. Based on this we commenced the programme in the month of July after getting permission from Gulbarga Commissioner to work with teachers in the Yadgiri district.

We conducted 'Learning in Groups', 'Learning Spectrum', in the First Phase of the training and 'Tools for Teaching', ' Measuring Learning', which are one day sessions and 'Multiple Intelligence' and 'Designing Learning' which are half day session in the Second Phase for 2 batches of teachers (N=59) - which is part of 5 days of 'Darpana' training programme.

Teachers participated with interest and were involved in all activities, asked questions to the facilitators and clarified their doubts. Most of the teachers were eager to learn new ideas, strategies which we used during our trainings. They were enthusiastic and reflective on all the days. Teachers expressed happiness over the method of training and facilitation. They felt that the content of the module was relevant and useful.

Till date we have completed 5 days of training and 3 days of school based support including 20% need analysis teachers. 53 teachers graduated which includes only those who attended all the modules continuously and consistently. Remaining 6 teachers did not attend all the modules.

Teachers workshop participation is as below:

SL.NO

DATE

MODULE

BATCH

ATTENDED TEACHERS

1

19.07.13

Learning In Groups

1^st Batch

29 out of 30

2

20.07.13

Learning Spectrum

1^st Batch

29 out of 30

3

26.07.13

Learning In Groups

2^nd Batch

30 out of 30

4

27.07.13

Learning Spectrum

2^nd Batch

30 out of 30

5

16.09.13

Tools for Teaching

1^st Batch

25 out of 30

6

18.09.13

Measuring Learning

1^st Batch

25 out of 30

7

19.09.13

Multiple Intelligence (half day)

1^st Batch

25 out of 30

8

19.09.13

Designing Learning (half day)

1^st Batch

25 out of 30

9

16.12.13

Tools for Teaching

2^nd Batch

28 out of 30

10

17.12.13

Measuring Learning

2^nd Batch

28 out of 30

11

18.12.13

Multiple Intelligence (half day)

2^nd Batch

28 out of 30

12

18.12.13

Designing Learning (half day)

2^nd Batch

28 out of 30

School Based Support (Classroom Observation and Feedback process):

As per the plan we completed 3 rounds of school based support for the teachers who attended our 5 days 'Darpana' training. We covered 53 teachers during the third round of school based support. Remaining 6 teachers were not observed as they were transferred to other regions. We announce our school visit to conduct SBS during workshops, and also we inform via phone calls and SMS before visiting the schools for SBS.

We observed that during the last round of school based support teachers were quite happy, improved a lot and did not hesitate to present the lessons. They were very comfortable with the facilitators' observing their classes and took the feedback positively. They also gave students opportunity to speak during the classroom process. We observed that teachers were communicating politely with the students.

Some of the teachers gave excellent classes with total involvement from the students. They used many of the tools, techniques and strategies like group techniques, pair work, envoy, fish bowl, carousel, effectively used Black Board and outdoor learning in the training. They also used a variety of locally available TLMs to facilitate better learning among the students.

TTF administered “Classroom Observation Checklist”and Summary Sheet for teachers which includes observations and feedback during the process of School Based Support. These tools helped us to track the improvement areas of the teachers and also to evaluate our programme for the improvement in our processes as well. An evaluation report will be shared with you very soon.

Some of the teachers shared their views about workshop and School Based Support:

“I like the quality of training, using materials, maintenance of time for each sessions and also the way facilitators communicate with us”

Smt. Hanumavva. GHPS Halepeth, Shahapur.

“Really we are getting more ideas and methodologies from this programme. All the teachers who are working in govt schools need to undergo such training”

Shri. Vidyasagar GHPS (Girls) Sagar, Shahapur

“Facilitators helped me to reflect on my classroom practices and made me reflect on how I can incorporate all activities in the feedback session”

Shri. Bheemasankar. GHPS Itaga. S, Shahapur

“ In this training we reflect on our whole teaching practice and it helps us to think of more ideas, more activities and make our classroom teaching better”

Shri. Viswanath. GHPS Mamdapur, Shahapur

We recommend this programme for more and more teachers in this region with the support of Global Giving.

Thanks to the donors and the Global Giving for the support extended. We will upload the evaluation report and good snap shots of the programme very soon.

For any comments or suggestions do feel free to communicate with us.

Thanks..!