CH-1 SCHOOL BUILDING AS LEARNING AID - BALA
School is not merely a
structure or a building. It is not only the assembly of children and teachers.
It is specialized, indeed a very special place for children to learn and grow
it is a place that shapes their thoughts one where they can ponder, question
and share experiences. It makes them wonder and be creative it propels them to
raise question and explore answers, identify problems and attempt solutions.
School enables children to interact with their environment and give direction
to their future.
The responsibility of
school is enormous. It should have an environment where teaching and learning
become joyous ¢ expertness for both teachers and children. The physical built
environment, which includes not only the building and its interior spaces but
also the exterior spaces and land space, play a crucial role in making this
experience more meaningful.
BALA (Building as
Learning Aid) is an innovative concept to wards qualitative improvement in
education, through developing child- friendly, learning and fun based physical
environment building in school infrastructure. BALA is about innovatively
treating the space and the built elements to make the existing school
architecture more resourceful with higher educational value in a child friendly
manner. This concept was originally developed by Vinyas, Centre for
Architectural Research & Design with support from UNICEF. Several teachers
and Head Masters of schools have been trained to plan, implement and
effectively use the BaLA concept in Model schools. While government may have limited
resources, the demand for making or converting schools to Model schools with
BaLA is growing by day.
1.1
MEANING OF BALA
BALA is a way to
holistically plan and use the school infrastructure. It incorporates the
activity based learning child friendliness and inclusive education for children
with special needs (CWSN). At the core, it assumes that the architecture of
school can be a resource for the teaching-learning processes.
The building elements
of normal concrete shapes are modified innovatively to involve children
creatively. The different elements of BALA may be located in interior and
exterior spaces like classrooms, corridors and backyard so that a exterior
spaces like classrooms, corridors and backyard so that a variety of learning
situation are generated across the school space, The built structure of the
school can also provide shelter during educational activities.
The intervention takes
place at two levels:
1.
Develop
the SPACES to create varied teaching-learning situations. The spaces can be:
·
Classroom
·
Corridor
·
Steps and
staircase
·
Outdoor
space
2.
Develop
the BUILT ELEMENTS in these spaces as teaching-learning aids, the built
elements can be.
·
Floor
·
Wall
·
Door
·
Ceiling
·
Platform
·
Furniture
1.2
OBJECTIVES OF BALA
BALA aims at using
floors, walls, pillars, staircases, windows, doors, ceilings, fans, trees,
flowers, and even rainwater, as learning aids, four example a window grill can
help children practice pre-writing skills or understand fractions. Angles can
be marked under a door shutter on the floor and ceiling fans can be painted
with color wheels for children to enjoy ever changing formations. Moving
shadows of a flag-pole can be used as sundial to understand ways of measuring
time, and planting trees that shed their leaves in winters and are green in summers
can create a cool, comfortable outdoor learning spaces. Following are the main
objectives of BALA:
·
Child-friendly
learning environment.
·
Learning
by doing and experiencing.
·
Involving
multiple senses in the learning process.
·
Allowing
different children to learn at a different pace.
·
Learning
through peer group activities.
·
Developing
inclusive settings for all children.
·
Allowing
children to learn all the time in the school environment.
1.3 BENEFITS OF BALA
It has been found that
fun filled, aesthetical environment relives
children of boredom and increases constrictive use of time. For children, It
can help in developing
1. Language and
Communication skills
2. Numeracy skills
3. Abstract notions
through concrete examples
4. Respect for nature
and environment
5. Capability to
realize potential of available resources
6. Power of
observation
1.4 REPORT OF TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS
This is what teachers
and principals from various schools across the country, where BALA has been
implemented, have reported:
1. There is increase
in enrolment and retention of children
2. Very often, the
children come to school much before school hours and leave much after school
hours
3. Learning has become
more interesting for the children and the teacher
4. Abstract notions
are better understood through concrete examples
5. Children and
teachers have become more aware and ask
more questions in
schools
6. Distance between
children and teachers has melted down
7. There is decrease
in vandalism and negative behavior of Children in schools . A more holistic
approach to develop schools has taken place with better communication between
teachers and engineers.
1.5 LARORATORIES
laboratory has been
described as a room or a building Socially built for teaching by demonstration
of theoretical phenomenon into practical terms. With the laboratory experience,
students Will be ally to translate what they have read in their texts to
practical realities thereby enhancing their understanding. Of the learnt
concepts. u could be conceptualized as a place, where theoretical work is
Practical zed and practical’s in any Craning experiences involve students in Activities’
such as observing, counting, measuring, experimenting & recording and carrying
out fieldwork. These activities could not be easily carried out, Where the
laboratory is not well equipped.
Importance of Laboratory
The importance of
establishing a laboratory can best be Judged from the points given here below:
1. To Create and Maintain an Effective
Atmosphere: A well equipped
laboratory with teaching aids for the teaching practical subjects will help in
creating and maintaining an effective environment for the effective learning of
this subject.
2. To make Teaching more Effective: Ina laboratory, the permanent display of
various equipment is sure to make the teaching learning process effective,
lively and interesting.
3. To Save Teaching Time: Certain bulky equipment’s are very troublesome
to carry in different classes in the school. A permanent display will save a
lot of time.
4. To Provide A Quick and Ready Functional Environment: Sometimes, theoretical] knowledge Of practical
subject causes boredom and reduces interest of the students, so a sound laboratory
provides environment for functional activities, and a The critical work can
easily be transformed and reinforced into a laboratory setting.
5. To Provide the Pupils in Mental Thinking; The laboratory has different types of equipment,
so naturally the pupils e motivated to think more and more about different
facts, Phoneme are and events. non
6. To Keep the Equipment’s Safe and Well: Organized;. laboratory helps in keeping the
equipment safe and well] O-Banishes A teacher can use it at any time, whenever
it is needed. It also reduces the dander of breaking and loss in transaction
from one class to another.
7. To be useful in organizing seminars,
workshops etc: The laboratory
accompanies a large number of material, that will be helpful for the students
to collect as much subject matter as they can, to be used in organizing various
seminars and other discussions concerned with the subject.
8. Do Develop Cooperative Attitude: A laboratory helps the students to work
together in designing, various experiments cooperatively, Inculcates the spirit
of cooperation, tolerance and team- work attitude is developed. I helps in teaching
to work collectively in future also,
9. To Help in Completing the Assignments: Ina laboratory, the students have to complete
the various assignments. As different types of materials are also available in
the laboratory, the assignments can
easily be completed,
10. To Provide a Centre of Self Discipline: In a laboratory, the students work according
to their abilities, interests, attitudes and needs, so they work collectively
keeping the self discipline.
11. ‘To Provide Permanent Knowledge: Experimentation in It self is a scientific
process. The use of laboratory is considered to provide scientific attitude and
transforming knowledge into permanent knowledge.
The above noted
paragraphs highlight the importance of laboratory in the teaching learning
process so as to make it more and more affective & meaningful. It creates
interest and imparts real and permanent learning among the pupils.
Organizing Laboratory
So, keeping all these
things in mind, the format of establishing a Social Science room may require
some of the important points to be taken care of.
1. For the daily
instructional work, there must be a provision for 40-50 students to sit
properly, besides a provision for writing on their note books: there must be
proper space in between to move to and fro, for the students as well as the
teacher for their proper supervision and interaction.
2. Movable furniture
is suggested far well than fixed one, as the number of seats can be allowed
when required for teaching, holding seminars or organizing a workshop etc,
3. Besides this there
must a suitable provision for black board, bulletin board, cupboard, racks and
other almiras.
4. Proper attention
should be given to the adequate arrangement of light and ventilation, with a
provision of doors, windows and ventilators etc.
5. A provision must be
there of make it darken by hanging curtains, in case of using it as dark while
doing projection work, showing video films and other such transparencies.
6. The other portion
et the room may be used used for doing practical Work. making models, doing group
discussions, using various types of audio visual aids.
7. A permanent
projection screen may be fixed near the blackboard that can be used at any
time.
8. A permanent channel
railing with sliding hooks is fixed along the black board. For hanging maps,
pictures or graphs during teaching.
9. In the laboratory,
the other portion may also be used for reading purposes. As the concerned
books, magazines and other reading material is readily available for students
for updating the knowledge.
The above mentioned
format is not rigid one or strictly adhered to, rather it should be made
flexible and can be altered according to the needs and sources available in an institution,
but effort must be there to establish a laboratory.
1.6 RESOURCE ROOM :
Resource Room is a
special education program for a student with a disability who is registered in
either a special class or regular education while in need of specialized
supplementary instruction in an individual or small group setting for part of
the day. Academic support is also provided through the consultation with the in-service
teacher by adjusting the learning environment or modifying the instructional
methods. Resource rooms are grade pure, at Ieast through the middle school level.
This allows the teacher to focus on deficit skill development within the
framework of curricular needs at each grade level. The minimum time spent must
be 3 hours a week. The groups can meet in a variety of time styles such as four
times a week for 45 minutes at the elementary level meeting the minimum time
requirement by regulation.
Learning Activities for Resource Room
Certain types of
children may not be able to adapt to the normal classroom teaching learning
process. They are left behind in class work they are unable to do their work on
time due to disability there fore, they need special help. Due to certain
activities the teacher can fulfill their obligations. Such students have to
come to the resources room. The teaching activities here are brought separately
by the teacher while preparing the lesson plan for the rest of the class, which
are designed keeping in view the needs of the students. These actions can be as
follows:
1. Activities for Clarity: Students can come to tic resource room and get clarity from the teacher about
what they de net under stand in the general class room. Here the teacher. using
flash cards and other teaching aids, clarifies the obscure concepts. They get
complete information about the content read. The teacher can also use verbal quizzes
or questions in this regard
2. Activities Related to Basic Skills: This includes baste language learning skills
for young children, such as listening, reading. writing and speaking. It teaches
them to use pure language. Practitioners can also be given advanced skills in
making appropriate decisions and solving problems.
3. Activities for Learning Something Else of
Interest: Some students want
to learn something different from the general education of their class, which is to their liking. It doesn’t
matter in a normal room. But in the
resource room they can do the necessary work
on the work of their interest and get the help of the teacher.
4. Use of Computer: Students must be taught the use of computer
for educational! purposes. They should be informed about the keyboard and other
technical activities.
Learning Material for the Resource Room
The school resource
room must have the following materials.
(i) Suitable space for
children and teachers to sit and work.
(ii) Room environment should be educational.
It should have maps, statues, mottos, etc. written on the walls to encourage the
students.
(iii) Computer and
related facilities.
(iv) Dictionaries,
atlases and illustrated books etc.
(v) Audio equipment
and means.
(vi) Fresh air and
light should be provided.
(vii) Availability of
supplements.
After all the needs
and capabilities of each school are different but still the above mentioned
items must be in every resources room. If Needed, the teacher can pick up other
items from the schools main rooms in
there daily routine,
1.7 THE ROLE OF TEACHER
The role of the
teacher is very important for the success of the resource room Work, This
teacher can also be called a resource teacher, Who works with students of
different backgrounds and provides them with the tools and resources to come up
with something out of the ordinary. A resource teacher is a specially trained
teacher who has received special education training for children. After all,
even unordinary teacher, with the help of his peers, can arrange special education
for special learner. Therefore, he should get information from the child’s
parents and the school progress report. They should also be consulted. He
should pay special attention to the following:
1. The teacher should
create instructional program according to student’s curriculum.
2. The special needs
of special children must be taken into account,
3. Diagnostic work is
done both individually and collectively,
It depends on the
understanding of the teacher,
4. Curriculum revision
as needed in Specific subject areas.
5. Students should be
given practice according to their needs.
6. They should be helped
to adjust to the learning environment.
Instruction methods
should be changed as needed
7. They should be
assessed on the basis of their Organizational strengths and acquisition of
teaching skills.
8. By creating an
environment with minimal restrictions students should be helped to succeed. ,
1.8 LIBRARY
A school library (or a
school library media Center) is a library within a school where students,
staff, and Often, Parents of a public or private school have access to a
variety of resources The, goal of the school library media center is to ensure
that all Members of the school community have equitable access “to books and
reading, to information, and to information technology.” A school library media
center “uses all types of media is automated, and utilizes the Internet [as
well as books] for information gathering, School libraries are distinct from
public libraries because they serve as “learner-oriented laboratories Which
support, extend, and individualize the school’s curriculum, A school library
serves as the center and coordinating agency for all material used in the
school.” .
Importance of School Library
Even in the digital
age. there is no substitute for books. They are the source of knowledge and are
the most important aspect of our education. The library is the structure or
room in which many books are kept to read. The library assists teachers and
students to learn more regarding a specific subject. If are wondering what is
the importance of school library then here we highlight the importance of the
library for school students and how it takes them towards perfection.
1. Impact positively
on the academic achievement of the students. Students can perform better during
examination by reading various books.
2 Facilitate the work
of the classroom teacher and ensures each student has equitable access to
resources, irrespective of home opportunities or constraints.
3. Run independent learning
programs, which integrate information resources and technologies.
4. Equip students with
the skills necessary to succeed in a constantly changing technological, social
and economic environment. .
5 Collaborate with
classroom teachers to plan, implement and evaluate inquiry-based programs that
will ensure students acquire skills to collect, critically analyze and organize
information, problem-solve and communicate their findings.
6. Provide and promote
quality fiction to develop and sustain in students the habit of reading for
pleasure and to enrich students’ intellectual, aesthetic, cultural and
emotional growth.
7 Cater for
differences in learning and teaching styles through the provision of, and
equality of access to, a wide range of curriculum resources — fiction and
non-fiction, digital, print, audio and video.
8. Provide teachers
with access to relevant curriculum information and professional development materials
with in and outside the school; and
opportunities to cooperatives, plan, implement and evaluate learning program y
Organization of Library .
To make the library a
‘learning tool’, it is important to have the following facilities and tools
available:
1. Availability of
books and other reading materials as Per the requirement of the students of the
school.
2. Extra interesting
material to soothe the curiosity of the students.
3. Agility and agility
in the organization of the library.
4. To make it
beautiful and effective, following attention should be paid to:
(i) Thoughts, statues
of great personalities on the walls of the library and there should be a brief
biography and an exhibition of works.
(ii) Details of newly
arrived books should be posted on the outside board.
(iii) Modern technology
should be used. The library should have internet access.
(iv) Different types
of desks and stands for newspapers and Magazines etc. should be used.
(v) Cleanliness,
lighting and ventilation should be provided.
(vi) Students should
be given information about illustrated books, stories and plays etc.
5. When teaching in a class, the teacher needs to
find out more about his/her subject from the library and give the details of the
books to the students.
6. For each category,
a few hours and times per week should be set aside for the library.
7, . If teacher is on
leave their class should be sent to the library.
8. Students should be
motivated to keep record of books read by them from the library
9. The library environment
should be calm and inspiring.
The role of the
teacher is very important in this regard. He must ho studious himself. Students
will begin to imitate him as they come and go in the library and read a variety
of books . the importance of library education and the books found in the
school library should be briefly discussed at school morning meetings. In order
to increase the interest of the children books should be selected according.
1.9 PLAYGROUND
Nowadays the subject
of physical education has been mad compulsory mall categories. Hohas two main
parts theory and Practice. Sports and yoga
are taught this subject. After canine: knowledge about them in the classroom,
their practical practice takes place in the playground. Every school must have
at least one playground, Which can be used for many purposes. ft can also have morning
meetings and games.
Playground as an Educational Tool
For using playground
as an educational tool the following features is essential for this:
1. The playground
should be according to student’s needs and level. There should be space for big
and small games.
2. Shady and flowering
plants should be planted around the playground.
3. A stage should be
set up on one side to distribute prizes etc.
4. Physical education
teacher should be fully aware of playgrounds. He needs to know which game
require which type of ground.
5. Only healthy
children should be given the opportunity to practice.
6. Lectures on
balanced and nutritious food should be given in the class.
7. Students should be
asked to play within the discipline.
8. The school should
provide first aid. In the time of an injury the child should be given first
aid.
9. Organizing various
sports competitions from time to time. Encourage children to participate in
sports and give appropriate prizes to the winners.
In this way, students
will gain a lot of social and moral values from the playground during practice.
Their interest in sports will increase and they will use sports as a tool to
keep themselves healthy.
EXERCISE -
1. What does it mean
to use school as a ‘learning tool’? Write down its meaning and purpose.
2. What is the
relationship between school building and education? From “BALA’ what are the
benefits to the education sector? Mention
3. How to make library
a center of attraction for students and describe the role of the teacher.
4. What is meant by
school ‘resource room’? Discuss the role of teacher in resource room.
5. “School library as
a resource for learning” how?
6. Why playground is important
for learning. Discuss its importance for students.
