Page 24 - CBSE Cover Jan-March 2014_16-07-2014 FINAL

Learning is a Constant Rooma Pathak * “Live as if we were to die tomorrow Learn as if you were to live forever” - Mahatma Gandhi Learning is constant. It never ends. It is a process of progressive change from ignorance to knowledge, from inability to competence and from indiference to understanding. Learning nowadays is totally diferent from what it was in previous years. Students are the biggest asset of a nation. Tey are the future generation and if we provide a collaborative and conducive environment then learning will not only be holistic but also provide a platform to expand the knowledge. In fact collaborative learning can go a long way in the growth of a child. Tis kind of learning creates an environment which encourages active student participation. It involves groups of learners working together to solve a problem. Collaboration provides students a stage to perform a real life experience. It helps to explore community, cultural and scientifc issues that prepares them for the workforce and enables them to become responsible and literate global citizens. Isn’t this kind of education the need of the hour where too many distractions like social networking sites, modern gadgets etc., are standing at the doorstep of student’s life? Teoretical knowledge is the thing of past. Application of knowledge and negotiating ideas within the group increases students' interest in learning e.g. the project on water conservation done by a single child will yield one idea but the project collaboratively done will a yield number of ideas. Collaborative projects with students of diferent countries all over the world bring amazing results as it helps them to explore community, cultural and scientifc issues. Tus exchanging information expands vision and bridges the gap between geographical boundaries. Collaborative learning thus shrinks globe and also broadens and widens the mental horizon of the students. Tus, it has been rightly said: Collaboration aims at cooperation. Te involvement of the students at school level can bring a dynamic change of ideas, opinions, beliefs and practices among them. Collaboration opens window to sharing rather than concentrating and confning to one’s limited world. For example a group of fve to six students of class III make diferent parts of fsh and join it. Tey will understand the concept of each part of fsh better.Will not that kind of collaborative learning be fruitful? Teachers are facilitators and they can encourage collaborative learning by giving right direction and defnition to the young impressionable minds. And collaborative learning is one of the fnest tools to achieve near perfection in the attainment of knowledge. * Principal, M.M. Public School, Pitampura, New Delhi 22 Collaborative Learning