Vaibhav Kapoor is at the helm of Ajanta Public School for the last 14 years. He has been instrumental in steering the school to scale heights in academics as well as sports. Armed with a Masters in Management from UK, M.Sc. Computer Science along with B.Ed., Diploma in Entrepreneurship from USA and Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE); he has endowed his skillsets in refurbishing Ajanta Public School.
Ajanta Public School, Gurugram has been in the forefront for using technology. Even during the pandemic it was not hard for teachers and students to make the transition to online mode as the school has been a Microsoft Showcase School since 2017. Teachers and students were well-acquainted with numerous applications namely, Microsoft, Adobe Spark, Minecraft, Wakelet, AI-based tools like Semantris and so on. We are one such school which initiated the hybrid teaching technique as early as 2018 and are continuing with the same. Since 2022, many innovative practices were introduced in the classrooms. Most of these innovations have benefited the students immensely.
Flipped Classes
The Hybrid mode of teaching gave way to flipped classes. Students learn best when they are engaged and have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned. By shifting traditional lecture-based instruction outside of classroom, students have more time and support to work on assignments and projects during class time, with the guidance of the instructor and the collaboration of their peers. Pre-recorded videos or study material go a long way in helping with the reflection process and also become a mode of classroom discussions. By providing students with a more active role in the learning process, they are more likely to stay engaged and motivated throughout the course.
Audio books and dictation software
There has been a large scale use of audio books recently. Both audiobooks and dictation softwares can be a valuable tool for promoting accessibility and equity for students with different learning needs. If on one hand, Audiobooks help students having dyslexia or extreme vision issues, the dictation tool helps in taking notes and is beneficial for those with physical disabilities.
Gamification as a mode of learning
Minecraft Edition is extensively used by students of Ajanta Public School for application of concepts and for carrying out project-based learning. They collaborate as groups and create a greater understanding of various subjects for one another. Minecraft Education, a game-based platform for learning through play has been a favorite tool among the teachers and students particularly when students undertake STEAM related projects.
Peer tutoring
The institution promotes child-centric learning. Peer tutoring emerged as a great tool for promoting the value of knowledge sharing. Students who have a good understanding of a subject serve as tutors for their peers who may be struggling with the same content. They are able to receive support from someone who is of the same age group and has a similar level of understanding of the material. This creates a supportive and collborative learning environment where students feel more comfortable asking questions and seeking clarifications from their peers.
Minecraft has been a favorite tool for both the teachers and students when subject integrated or STEAM based projects are undertaken by the students. It is extensively used at Ajanta Public School to apply concepts in project based learning
