Self directed learning

We propgate self directed learning at Aarohi
We all at Geniekids learn thru consdueted sessions and training :(

So initited the "self directed learning".

Objective - to understand open and self driven learning in a group setting.

• All of us have done TTT - that were conducted classes :-(
• After TTT we have been attending meeting where agenda is fixed and focused.
• After TTT we have also been attending training sessions (on fridays last year and wed this year) which are also facilitated :-(
  
• We have not experienced TRUE open learning in a group setting.

How will it work
We will keep 5 continuous Wednesdays training sessions aside for this. The first four sessions we will be open sessions and 5th will be the reflection session.

1. Some random resources - reading (articles / book extracts) and viewing (videos) will be circulated in advance by any of the members who are to be part of the training. These will not be tied to any one topic - so any resource is fine. There will be no compulsion on anybody to go though the resources.
2. In the session the participants can do anything - they can talk, eat, sleep, argue, fight, sulk, laugh, dream, write, dance, browse internet, read alone or to all, play music, do drama - actually anything that anybody wants to do. So all could also be doing many different things at the same time.
   
3. The only commitment everybody who signs up for this training does is that we will ALL be inside the session for the all the Wednesdays. (if somebody is absent due to medical reasons that is fine)
4. You can bring in your own goal, agendas, readings, opinions, movies, bed, food, beliefs, music, games - whatever - to the session.
5. The mother code will apply - you cannot harm yourself, others and environment physically. You are however free to attack others emotionally and mentally.
6. You are free to exchange anything.
7. If after 4 sessions we all think 4 are not enough we can extend the number of open sessions to 5 or 6. However open sessions have to be followed by a reflection session.
8. The 5th (or last) session will be the reflective session - each one of us will present in a 5-10 minute window our experience, learning etc. Again up us what we share, how we share.

Notes from session one
My thoughts on today's session on Self Directed Learning.

I started with excitement
First ten minutes were nice, as the group was settling, finding space to began...........
Then the frustrations started - there was anger, anxiety, feeling of waste of time.........urge to leave for home in the middle of the session and thought of better spend time with my ailing daughter or finish my work.

But to have faith in the the process - I stayed.
Slowly the group unfolded
Looking forward to the next session.

I was personally uncomfortable with the actions "started reading or doing self work".
I was fine with "silence".
I was fine with discomfort of few "why nothing is happening".
I was fine with efforts of people to do something or "initiate the conversation in many ways".

I am initiating the expression as a part of the process. I am also initiating the thoughts about self, about others, about journey.  My expression are not to establish wrong or right, dos and don'ts - they are just HONEST expressions, Normally I do not share these expressions and take it as acceptance of all the actions, But to be true to the process and honesty of the expressions, I allowed myself to be true to myself (no violence to me) and let all emotion flow with my awareness.


Consciously me and Ratnesh decided to not to lead - hence did not initiate the reflection in the session "what each one of us had the responsibility in the process". Just to clarify the sessions are not on learning but in "group, community, responsibility, expression............... a long mail in circulation earlier". 

magic of one word

We had session on "humor in classroom" and we explored we take life tooooooooooo seriously.

Use humour - one does not need to think BIG to be humours - look around kids are full of laughter  - here is one such experience - "magic of one word".

We have  a child in Aarohi - sometimes she decides to answer one word - no matter what you ask her
Are you mad - disgusting
Do you want to eat  - disgusting
Do you want to go for KAA - disgusting

And the whole car/ session is full of laughter - people will talk more and laugh more with her. She too rolls with laughter.

Try this ONE WORD magic in your session or at home.

Use one word and see the magic -I want to go for go for snacks and then come back from snacks and then think of snacks and then talk about snacks and then imagine snacks and then work on snacks and then smile with snacks....................I am working snacks, I am listening snacks.

What a 2yrs will not fail to do

No two year will disappoint you with what a two year old can do. Here is my experience with Samarth (2yrs) at Aaorhi

1. Take water in mug and throw on the floor and explore the flow, reactions and joy.
2. Wear someone else’s footwear and move with dignity.
3. Come back to mother when hungry or sleepy.
4. Wants to apply cream by self.
5. Wear ma’s chappals and even climb a rock or go for shopping.
6. Play with you from a distance, dare to touch, or lift or shower your love!
7. Hide behind ma’s legs just when you think you are friends now.
8. Say NO clearly when does not want anything.
9. Reason out why wants sugar NOW.
10. Play silently for hours with things he is not suppose to mix – stationery, face cream, curd, dal, fevicol or gum, potty and so on.
11. Use smile effectively and appropriately.
12. Talk to you and amuse you.
13. Establish fundamental right on parents – at my service as and when I need.
14. I can decide to play alone, with anyone, at any time but parents cannot leave as and when they want.
15. Remember and refer you in their conversation with parents, but not with you.
16. Play in the bed in the night with joy.
17. Express expressions

Train to fail

I loved this thought “are you training yourself to fail”

Well, an important training I believe,

Earlier every mistake used to be guilt, and awkward - Now every mistake is learning.

I enjoy mixing and matching and playing around with design of my clothes – earlier any mistake used to be waste of money – now it is learning.

What happens when one fails?

What beliefs we carry about failure?

What makes us not fail?

I have done many mistakes ever since I started Geniekids. I have learnt much more ever since I stated Geniekids.

I have done many mistakes every since I envisaged Aarohi – I continue to do so. I am able to live my dream with my mistakes.

I have done many mistakes ever since the thoughts of “learning community” came in my mind.

I have done many mistakes ever since I dreamt of Amable.

What does theses failures have done to me?

It has made me a person who can make mistake, reflect, and leaner from it – No cursing self, no depression, no blaming others.

It has made me a person who is able to DREAM

Even now when I make mistake  - it takes me few hours, days to come out of it and at the end I smile on my learning and move ahead. I am still learning.

I was not like that

But I am like this now

What has made difference?

I guess “the capability to make mistakes”.

Allow your child to make mistakes
Allow your child to dream
Allow your child to explore
Celebrate the mistakes
Enjoy the failure.

trust is biggest

Today I went for shopping.

As a person I have stopped checking the bills and change one gives me back. In case of doubt I ask the person, have you checked?

While I was shopping he was pushing me with few things - I said leave me alone and do not push me or market his things.

At the end he gave me Rs 100/- less

As I was going, he asked me “you do not want your money?”

I said “I trusted you and you have given me change back”.

He said “trust is the biggest thing”

He gave me Rs 100/-

When I go shopping – if there is any ambiguity in bill and delivery I consider it as a human mistake not cheating.

If someone does not deliver the work I consider it lack of understanding not the cheating of work.

I do still demand quality work

I want to continue to do so.

Is play responsibilty?

 Have you ever looked at responsibility from a play perspective?

During thought club, I was exploring "responsibility" with kids at O-campus  - we did an activity and were reflecting.

Few kids expressed “I think playing is also my responsibility, clean up is also my responsibility……....when I have to do both at the same time, I do not which one to do first?”

I shared “I have always looked at responsibility in terms of work, I will look from different perspective “I am also responsible for my health, thoughts, feelings, work and joy”.

I thought I knew everything about responsibility – after this session I realized I know so little, I have to explore so much.

Thank you kids for broadening my perspective of responsibility.

Smile thru the pain

Today my dance teacher told me “when you do Sadhana, you smile thru the pain, You do not only smile when you go on to the stage and smile for audience, you smile because you have learnt to enjoy thru the pain, you smile when you practice, you enjoy when you are in pain. And then this becomes a life skill for you to be able to smile thru the pain”.

Today we went to indo-German exhibition. We lost our way, we were hungry, the exhibition was disappointment for kids,  kids did not get balloon, icecream……..we did not know our way back, we did not get food of our choice, we got terribly late to reach back home………….”.

One child said “I am never going to go for such exhibitions”. Another said “its was good, we will get used of such situations, anyway you do not get what you want all the time, we should go more…….we had fun”.

I have seen kids fighting and smiling next moment

I have seen kids crying and smiling next moment

I have seen kids getting disappointed and excited next moment

What happens as they grow up?

Where does this skill of “smile thru the pain” diminish?