REPORT
WORKSHOP ON ‘EDUCATION THROUGH MONUMENT’
On 8 October 2024, The Air Force School, in collaboration with The City Palace and under the aegis of the IAF Educational and Cultural Society, hosted an innovative workshop titled "Education Through Monument." This event aimed to explore the integration of monuments into educational practices, fostering cultural awareness among students and adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching.
Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Director of Education at the City Palace, Jaipur, and an alumnus of Jamnabai Narsee School and Narsee Monjee College, was the keynote speaker. With extensive experience in teaching Mathematics, Accountancy, Business Studies, and Entrepreneurship, he has developed 28 exhibitions and seven theatre productions under his initiative Education through Theatre. Notably, he leads projects like Education Through Monument and Financial Literacy Through Folk Art, and has created over 200 NCERT-approved graphic novels, used in schools nationwide..
The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from eight esteemed schools: Air Force Bal Bharati School (AFBBS), Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute (AFGJI), Air Force Senior Secondary School, Racecourse, AF School Hindan, AF Bal Niketan Middle School Tughlakabad, AF School Gurugram, AF School Panchwati, and The Air Force School (TAFS).
The event began with a Welcome Address by Ms. Lomina Rajiv, Principal of The Air Force School. She extended a floral welcome to Dr. Krishna Bhati, an educationist, Mr. Sandeep Sethi, and Mr. Tanishk Saraswat.
Session Highlights
Session 1: "The Red Elephant" Play
Mr. Sethi presented a psychological play titled "The Red Elephant," which offered a reflection on the modern education system. Through the play, he emphasized the importance of creating inclusive environments in educational institutions that nurture various forms of creativity.
Session 2: The Importance of Graphic Novels
The second session highlighted the educational value of graphic novels. Mr. Sethi showcased how these novels make complex topics more accessible, with a live enactment of a graphic novel on Coordinate Geometry. This illustrated how visual aids can simplify abstract concepts. He also engaged participants with a captivating audio-visual presentation on the Rise of Nationalism, discussing historical insights and the role of AV aids in education.
Hands-on Activities and Reflective Session
The final session featured various interdisciplinary activities that emphasized the benefits of integrating different subjects. The day concluded with a reflective session where participants shared their thoughts and ideas.
Address by ACAS Education, Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Sharma VSM
The workshop was graced by Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Sharma VSM, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Education), Air Commodore HS Sidana VSM, Chairman School Management Committee, Gp Captain Tarun Khare, Deputy Chairman, The Air Force School, Gp Captain VK Thakur, Gp Capt (Education), Schools, and Wing Commander Alka Chaudhary, Executive Director, TAFS.
In his address, Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Sharma spoke on the concepts of Modified Learning (ML) and Awakening Inquisitiveness (AI), highlighting the need to adapt teaching methods to diverse learning needs and inspire curiosity in students. Referencing Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn,” he encouraged educators to engage deeply with students. He advised teachers to be empathetic, cautioning them not to act as "lawyers for themselves and judges for their students." He urged participants to apply the lessons from the workshop in their classrooms.
As the workshop concluded, Group Captain Tarun Khare, Deputy Chairman, The Air Force School, presented participation certificates to each group as a token of appreciation for their commitment. The event ended with a sense of fulfillment, as educators left with new insights to enrich their teaching practices.