Gurushala

Stories of Indian Classrooms

Teaching Students through Handmade Model Science Projects

Nisha Nikam teaches students of class 5 to 9 in a district of Maharashtra. She likes to teach practically and make low cost science models. She also has a YouTube channel named ‘n square,’ where she uploads videos related to study. Her most preferred ways of teaching are through videos and images. Usually, for every topic, she prepares a model to explain that topic and its elements.

Tell us about your YouTube channel?

In my YouTube channel, students directly copy sums from the digest but I make videos in very simple language and then give them to learn. I have had this channel for the past 1 year now. Online classes are a bit difficult as there are many network issues and because of that sometimes we cannot finish the whole sum, so it's hard to teach Mathematics online. In our school most of the students come from lower middle class families so, we suggest they keep their videos off to reduce the data usage but if we do that we don't know what they are doing off camera.

What is your best memory so far as a teacher?

After the previous teacher left I started teaching Math and Science. So, we needed to make some projects at the national level and state level. I was always interested in project making back from my school. When I participated for the first time I didn't know much about it. I observed everything there and from that time till today I have given my best and won the 1st prize. Gurushala has also honored me with the award of National Teacher Changemaker with the prize of Rs. 10,000. I have also won in another NGO named Agatsaya in low cost project making.

Now, all my students are prepared for the science that I will be going to teach them. I don't have a place at home to store my projects. There are so many small projects I have made. For example, We have made a magnetic disk out of clothes dryer wire. My children also help me a lot and because of this only, we are able to do this in a limited time.

Could you share an idea of one such Science Model Project?

"Introduction of the Human Body”- Among all the projects my favorite is the one I have made for Biology describing respiratory system, heart and so on. so, my thought behind making this was that it's a Marathi medium school, so, they know the diagram but won't know the parts or how to label it. I first made a huge Xerox copy of it, I took it to the school then cut it in front of them. Then I distributed the parts and on one drawing of the human body, I placed magnets. I asked them to assemble all the parts and stick it and label it. It's very similar to puzzles. So, my heart puzzles, digestive puzzles etc. are very famous here.

How has Gurushala helped you in your journey as a teacher?

As I have a YouTube channel, I get the confidence to make videos from there. After I started making videos in just a few days, the lockdown began and I clearly understood how to make such videos. So I started a YouTube channel of my own. Also, in my teaching method, I have learned how to deliver more content in a short time duration.

I do write in the teacher write-up section of Gurushala. I have attempted around 600 to 700 questions answers in Gurushala’s virtual Staffroom. I have also made many lesson plans. I have participated in Teacher Moderator, Ambassador and National Teacher Training.

The Way Forward

I think we all should start from our home. If we teach our children properly, it will be easy for all the next generations. I think teachers should practically give students to write different types of letters. If they don't know how to write then there is no meaning in teaching a language. There are few students who are willing to learn, there are some who need a little push and there are some who are not so good in starting but will do really well eventually. So, everyone needs to know the basics at least. I will suggest that rather than keeping a competition for something we can make it compulsory to write one letter in a week after assembly. Students will write it and can clearly understand the basics of it.

I think the most important thing is to impart practical knowledge instead of only theory. Students may know the exact theory of electric charge but won't know what is happening. So, everyone needs to become smart with conceptual clarity.

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