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Keywords
Language, English, Math, Primary, Elementary, Upper primary, school, drop-out, rural, resource center, teacher training, learning aids
Geographical Location
Auroville, Pondicherry
Languages
Tamil, English
Philosophy/Beliefs
Isai Ambalam is one of the several schools run by Auroville based on the educational philosophies laid down by the Mother and Shri Aurobindo. According to Aurobindo and Mother Education should bring out the divine element in all human beings. For this, our mental faculties should be strong, intense and wide enough so that it can receive the knowledge coming from the psychic or divine and organize the knowledge in the world well. Our physical faculties should be strong and enduring enough the support this endeavor. These are the basic goals of education. Real education should bring out the psychic being in all human beings.
Isai Ambalam believes that everything is within the child and that we can only help bring out the best, that the child is always ready to learn and is naturally joyous. There is an attempt to create an environment where the child can learn not just from the teacher but becomes self directed and can learn by himself. The environment has to help the child grow freely and explore things around. The teachers become facilitators in this process. An environment is created where active involvement in learning, curiosity and thinking power is encouraged. These help the child grow in a natural spontaneous way.
Work Description
Isai Ambalam caters to needs of village children who are first generation learners. There are 50 children, who are drop outs and 70 pre-school children. In the case of children who have dropped out, instead of teaching lessons there is an assessment of where they are and then proceed with each child.
Several techniques that help with imparting skills to the children are followed. At the pre-school level an adapted Glenn Doman method for teaching languages is used. For children who have dropped out of school project works (thematic project works) to involve them fully in exploring topics is used. This increases their awareness and general/subject knowledge. "Education by design" method where the children are given challenges/scenarios and teachers (observe) how they can solve them is also another tool. The children come up with solutions to these problems using different skills involving their problem solving and creative abilities. Such activities encourage good teamwork. For children who have older than 16 years who want to improve English the basic sentence structure method is used. An English kit procured from Central Institute of English as Foreign language which is a set of 400 word course for learning English supplemented by cards is also another learning aid. The Rishi valley method is used with children to help them with self directed learning. Even above all of this some spiritual methods are also used in learning.
At Isai Ambalam, English is introduced in the 1st standard itself and this is supplemented with phonic sounds to help the students learn English. The teachers are trained on an on-going basis and this makes them well versed with adapting/creating learning aids based on the needs of the children. This is important since the teacher should be able to adapt/be flexible.
Resources Available
Training in various educational methods like Education by Design, Glenn Doman Method, Phonic Sounds, Audio Tape Method etc.
Contact Information
Subash,
Isaiambalam School,
SAIIER, Auroville 605101
Phone: 0413-262 3350, 262 2793
Website Links
Multi Grade Multi Level Study Cards Educational System
New Methods at Isai Ambalam School
Educational Endeavours In Auroville Tamil Schools
Significant Aspects of Methods Used in Auroville Tamil Schools
Audio Tape Method
Education by Design Method
Glenn Doman Method
Article in Revive 2003
Learning Experiences in using Education by Design - Article
Presentation at January 2003 conference