‘Our focus is on the holistic development of students including their intellectual, social, and emotional development.’

- Insights from Ms. Punam Gupta, Principal, BGS International Public School, Sector 5, Dwarka, New Delhi

by Subeditor1

Commitment to both academic excellence and holistic development is essential in today’s educational landscape. With this in mind, we present an insightful interview with Ms. Punam Gupta, Principal, BGS International Public School, Sector 5, Dwarka, New Delhi. Ms. Gupta offers valuable insights into the school’s strategies for maintaining high academic standards, implementing innovative pedagogical practices, and nurturing holistic learning among students. Let’s dive in!

Q. How does your school define and prioritize academic excellence, and what strategies are in place to maintain high academic standards for students?

BGS International Public School (BGSIPS) follows high standards of teaching and learning and prioritizes academic excellence above all else. The school has set high academic standards and learning goals and there is a conducive learning environment for all students to strive to meet them. Our focus is on the holistic development of students including their intellectual, social and emotional development. Critical and creative thinking is encouraged, and regular assessment of learning outcomes is done to ensure that every student is making progress.

The strategies we use to maintain high Academic Standards for students are:

  • CPD: Our teachers are engaged in a Continuous Professional Development Program wherein they have to complete at least 50 hours of training in an academic session to stay updated with the latest educational practices and research.
  • Curriculum Design: Our curriculum is designed in alignment with the NEP 2020, and it focuses on incorporating teaching practices that ensure optimum learning outcomes.
  • Student Support System: We provide additional support and resources for students who need help in specific areas/subjects. Remedial classes are conducted on all working Saturdays.
  • Regular Assessment: Regular assessment in the form of periodic tests takes place to monitor student progress and identify areas for improvement.
  • Feedback: Student feedback in the form of an anecdotal record is provided to the students/ parents twice during a session.
  • Extracurricular Activities: Students are engaged in various clubs, competitions, and activities that enhance learning and foster a range of skills.7. Student Internship Program: Students are provided opportunities to do summer internships with various organizations/NGOs to give them hands-on work experience and develop empathy towards the underprivileged.
  • Community Service: The Sahayta Club at school encourages students to participate in community service to develop empathy and real-world problem-solving skills.
  • Parent-Teacher Partnership: Parents are engaged in the educational process through regular communication and involvement in school activities.
  • Workshops & Seminars: Regular workshops and seminars by renowned professionals are held on career building, health, hygiene and mental well-being to help and guide students to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

These strategies help us maintain high academic standards, and prepare students for future success in their personal, academic, and professional lives.

Q. Could you provide examples of innovative pedagogical approaches implemented at your school that have positively impacted students’ learning experiences and outcomes?

At BGSIPS, we follow innovative pedagogical approaches to positively impact students’ learning experiences and outcomes. Some of these practices are:

  • Project-Based Learning: Students engage in projects that require critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities. We have an annual exhibition where the best projects are displayed with the aim of promoting a deep understanding of subject matter, teamwork and enhancing communication skills.
  • Flipped Classroom: The content is delivered through videos, presentations and classroom activities. This allows interactive and personalized learning experiences.
  • Inquiry-Based Learning: Students are encouraged to ask questions, conduct research, and explore topics of interest to them. This develops critical thinking and research skills, promotes curiosity and independent learning, and leads to a deeper understanding of content.
  • Community Service: We Integrate community service with academics focusing on critical, reflective thinking and civic responsibility. The teacher connects classroom learning with real-world issues, promotes civic engagement and social responsibility, and enhances personal growth.
  • Experiential Learning: Learning through direct experience and reflection, often involving hands-on, real-world activities is encouraged. Students at all levels are engaged in activities and workshops from time to time for experiential learning.

These pedagogical approaches aid in creating a student-centered learning environment leading to improved learning outcomes and preparing students for future challenges.

Q. What does ’21st-century value and skill integrated learning’ mean to you, and why is it essential in modern education?

21st-century value and skill-integrated learning is an educational approach that incorporates modern values and skills essential for succeeding in today’s world. This learning approach helps students enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It emphasizes collaboration and communication encouraging teamwork and effective communication. It ensures students are proficient in using technology and understanding its impact on society through digital literacy. It teaches students to be adaptable and flexible in a rapidly changing world. It promotes understanding of global issues and diverse cultures and instils values such as integrity, empathy, and respect for others.

21st-century value and skill-integrated learning’ is essential in modern education. It is instrumental in preparing the future workforce with the required skills. This learning approach will ensure a future workforce ready to take on any challenge with confidence. They will be able to navigate technology to their advantage in their professions, address global issues such as climate change, and globalization, and make a positive contribution to society by being responsible citizens of the world.

Q. How does your school go beyond academic achievements to promote holistic learning among students?

To promote holistic learning, we follow a comprehensive approach that goes beyond academics to nurture the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of students.

  • Value Education / Happiness Quotient Sessions: Value Education is an integral part of our curriculum to instil basic values in students such as respect, integrity, responsibility, and kindness. Value Education classes are conducted by Principal/ Coordinators to guide and motivate students to become responsible citizens, and also to foster a positive school environment.
  • Physical Education and Wellness Program: Students are engaged in various extracurricular sports activities to promote physical health and well-being. Indulging in sports builds teamwork and discipline, and enhances overall student wellness. Regular workshops on physical and mental well-being are also conducted in the school.
  • Art Education: Students are engaged in art through visual arts, music, and dance. These activities foster creativity, enhance cultural awareness, and provide an outlet for self-expression.
  • Weekly Activities: Students participate in weekly activities like debates, quizzes, poetry, dance and music competitions. These activities act as a platform to encourage and promote students to follow their passions and display their talents in front of an audience.
  • Community Service: The Sahayta Club partners with various NGOs and engages students in community service projects like collecting donations to help the underprivileged. The club aims to build civic responsibility and foster empathy among students.
  • Environmental Education: Students learn about sustainability and environmental stewardship through hands-on activities and projects. The Green Defenders Club aims to encourage students to be the torch bearers of the cause to conserve, preserve, tend and mend the ailing planet. The activities of the club revolve around creating awareness and motivating other students to become responsible citizens and support the cause of keeping the planet clean and green.
  • Mindfulness and Mental Health Initiatives: The Teens Together Club organizes seminars and campaigns on Mental Health and related issues to create awareness among students and parents. The club aims at incorporating mindfulness practices and providing mental health resources to support student well-being. The Pioneer Club aims to create a value system for the students. Discipline, punctuality, empathy, compassion, respect, humility, courage and truthfulness are values the school believes in and expects its students to live by.
  • Extracurricular Activity Clubs: The Live Wire Club engages students in various technology-related projects and events like coding, robotics, and audio and visual graphic design. The Innovation Club aims to kindle the creative spark in students and provides them with opportunities and a platform to share and present their innovations at intra and inter-school levels. The Young Entrepreneur Club aims to educate students about the various aspects of the business world like financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skills, and train budding entrepreneurs to make and present business ideas, develop start-ups, generate funds etc. The MUN Club simulates Mock UN sessions. Students represent different nations and present their ideas in front of the audience. These activities enhance students’ critical thinking and analysis, public speaking, teamwork and leadership skills. The E-Gaming Club aims to engage students in digital gaming in the common space of a computer lab. The students are engaged in developing games and participating in various inter-school gaming competitions. The Orators’ Alley Club engages students in various speaking activities and contests like quizzes, debates, recitations, word games etc. The club aims to enhance confidence in public speaking and teamwork among students. The members of the Photography Club are responsible for photographing important school events and making videos for the school’s social media page. The Calligraphy Club organizes various activities to encourage students to improve their calligraphy skills and develop fine motor skills and confidence. The Sahitya Darpan Club organizes various activities to encourage students to improve their speaking and writing skills in the Sanskrit language and develop confidence in public speaking.
  • Leadership cum Orientation Camps: Students attend camps that help them develop leadership skills, build confidence, and learn proactive and responsible behaviour.

By integrating these approaches, we support the holistic development of our students, ensuring they become confident and well-rounded individuals.

Q. Can you discuss any interdisciplinary learning initiatives or projects that encourage students to apply their knowledge across various subjects and real-world scenarios?

Interdisciplinary learning initiatives or projects encourage students to integrate and apply knowledge from various subjects to real-world scenarios, fostering a more comprehensive understanding and practical skill set. A few examples of such initiatives and projects are:

  • Project on Environment: A project on Environment can integrate science, social studies, math, and languages. Students study the impact of human activities on the environment (science), collect and analyse data (math), suggest state policies related to environmental protection (social studies), and write essays on ‘sustainable practices’ (languages).
  • Re-enactment of Historical Events: A project that combines history, drama, and language arts. Students can choose a historical event like the Revolt of 1857 to research (history), write scripts and design sets for a reenactment (language arts and art), and perform the reenactment for the school  (drama). They might also analyze the event’s causes and consequences, exploring different perspectives and discussing its relevance to current issues.
  • Entrepreneurship and Business: A project that combines economics, business studies, math, technology, and language arts. Students create a business plan for a hypothetical startup. They learn about market research and economic principles (economics), develop a budget and financial projections (math), design marketing materials ( business studies) and a website (technology), and pitch their business ideas in a presentation (language arts). This project helps students understand the interconnectedness of different disciplines in real-world business scenarios.
  • MUN – Global Issues: An activity that integrates social science and language arts. A Model United Nations session can be organized where students represent different nations and present their views and stands on global issues, integrating social studies and language arts. Students research global challenges such as climate change, poverty, or healthcare (social science and science). They analyze data, study different countries’ approaches to these issues, and propose solutions. In language arts, they write research papers and prepare presentations. The debate allows students to share their findings and engage in discussions, fostering a deeper understanding of global interconnectedness.
  • Robotics and Coding Competitions: A project that combines computer science, engineering, math, and physics. Students design and program robots to complete specific tasks or solve problems. They apply coding skills (computer science), use principles of mechanics and electronics (engineering and physics), and perform calculations to optimize their designs (math). Students demonstrate their robots’ capabilities at the competition.

These interdisciplinary projects not only enhance students’ understanding of individual subjects but also teach them how to apply their knowledge in integrated, meaningful ways. This approach prepares students for real-world challenges and encourages them to think critically and creatively.

Q. In what ways are values like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and global awareness integrated into your school’s curriculum and teaching methods?

It is important to integrate values such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and global awareness into a school’s curriculum and teaching methods. We achieve this through various innovative approaches:

  • Inquiry-Based Learning: We encourage students to ask questions, conduct research, and explore subjects deeply. Students are made to investigate real-world problems, formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments, and analyze results.
  • Brainstorming and class discussions: Students are encouraged to discuss topics, give opinions and ask questions to stimulate critical thinking and analysis of situations.
  • Project-Based Learning: Students are engaged in projects that require innovative thinking and problem-solving.
  • Collaborative Learning: Students work in groups to complete prepare and present class activities. This fosters teamwork and communication skills.
  • Global Awareness: Global topics are integrated into various subjects, encouraging students to think about their role in a global context. In social science class, students study the impacts of climate change across different countries and develop proposals for international cooperation.
  • Technology Integration: Students use online platforms to collaborate on projects with peers, develop digital presentations, and access diverse resources for research.

By integrating these values into various aspects of the curriculum and teaching methods, we ensure that students develop critical skills and perspectives that are essential for success in the 21st century.

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