"Teaching Learning Environmental Stress Management Through Yoga" Part 1

On 23rd october 2020, delivered online lecture for 3hrs on subject
"Teaching Learning Environmental Stress Management Through Yoga"
in a workshop for lecturers conducted by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, HRD centre (UGC), Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Part 1

1.     Introduction- Teaching Learning Environment

2.     How stress is generated in current TLE?

A)  Stress from Learning

B)   Stress from Teaching

3.     Today’s educational environment

 

1.     Introduction- Teaching Learning Environment

                 What is mean by learning? ‘Learning’ obviously means us to think of study and classroom related activities. We then think about the various subjects and skills we intend to master in school. But ‘Learning ‘is not limited to school. It is happening in our day to day life.

  Learning is manifested in the behaviour or activities of an individual which could be not directly observable. Learning results in some change of persistent contact with nature.

The final attribute is that learning depends on practice and experience in a given situation.

As we know, the main objective of learning is to bring desirable changes to our behaviour, it is quite essential for us to get knowledge about how people learn when they come in contact with the learning environment and in the process of interaction with the individuals.

 It is also very important to know how an individual apply the gained knowledge through learning to the environment and people living around.

 Two phases of learning

1)    The preparatory phase:

 

·        There should be a motive or a drive of the learner-

 ·                    There should be goal to be achieved while learning  

                                                         

·                           A block or barrier to the achievement of the goal:

 The third step in the process of learning is the block or barrier that keeps us from attaining the goal. It is an essential thing in the learning process.

  

2)    Actual learning phase:

·        Learning situation or environment:

 

This learning situation provides quality, speed and effectiveness for a learner to learn.

·        Interaction while learning:

Learning is a never ending process.

According to the prevailing environment, constant interaction could strive us to learn something we intend to learn.

 

Factors Influencing Learning

 

·        Psychological individual differences of learners

 

·        Teachers’ enthusiasm in classroom learning

        

 ·        Environment and other factors-

The external environmental factors such as surroundings, cultural and social demands such as relationship with parents, teachers and peer, information factors such as media influence the learner.

 

            LEARNING PROCESS

 

            Attention

 

·        Attention is a process that helps in responsiveness to our environment.

 

·        It is a selective and shifting mental process that moves from one object to another.

  

     External factors affecting attention: They are nature, intensity, change, contrast, novelty, movement, repetition, systematic form of a stimulus.

                        Internal factors affecting attention: interest, motive or need, mental set, mood and the physiological conditions present in a person to fulfil his desires, urges etc.

 

             Sensation

                              Sensation is defined as the “process by which sense organs gather information about the environment and transmit it to the brain for initial processing”

            Eyes, ears, nose, tongue and Skin.

           

            Perception

 The knowledge or information that we got from our sensory system, makes us to become aware of that particular thing or object or information. The process of getting aware is called ‘Perception’.

             

            CONCEPT

                     It refers to the unified or generalised idea for a group of objects that have general features or characteristics.

 MEMORY

               “Memory is a mental power which consists in learning, retaining and remembering what has previously been learnt”

 Memory is basically the record left in a learning process.

 LEARNERS AND PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING - LEARNING

                  The differences in learners under the physical, cognitive, affective, and psychomotor and socio – cultural dimensions should be known to the evolving teachers.

 The teachers should be competent to gain the knowledge of essential teaching and learning skills and implement instructional strategies.

                   The affective needs of the learners could be accomplished by creating positive classroom culture (Teaching learning environment) and climate which depends upon the mood, interest, attitude of both the students and the teachers, their healthy interpersonal relationship.

 

            FACTORS INFLUENCING LEARNING

 

·        Learner’s physical and mental health:

                Learning is greatest affected by the learners physical and mental health maintains by him particularly, at the time of learning.

  

·        The basic potential of the learner:

                       Learner’s innate abilities and aptitudes for learning a thing affect the learning process.

 

·        The level of aspiration and achievement motivation:

                          A person has to maintain the level of his aspiration and achievement motivation at a reasonable level.

 

·        Goals of life:

                 The goals of one’s life affect the process and product of learning.

 

·        Readiness and will power:

                            A learner’s readiness and power to learn is a great deciding factor of his results in learning.

 

Teaching

                Teaching is an integral part of the process of education. It is a system of actions intended to induce learning.

 Its special function is to impart knowledge, develop understanding and skill. In teaching an interaction occurs between the teacher and the students, by which the students are diverted towards the goal.

 Teaching can be considered as the art of assisting another to learn by providing the information and appropriate situations, conditions or activities.

 It is an intimate contact between a more mature personality and a less mature one which is designed to further the education of later.

            Teaching is to cause motivation to learn and to fill the minds of the learners by information, knowledge of facts. It imparts understanding of concepts and basic life skills.

             

            Teaching Skills

                Teaching is a process that facilitates learning. Teaching is the specialized application of knowledge, skills and attributes designed to provide unique service to meet the educational needs of an individual and of the society.

           Some of the key points of teaching skills are as follows

·        Interactive Skills: This interactive skill covers interpersonal skills, effective speaking skills and presentation skills in the teaching learning process.

 ·        Confidence: The teacher needs to be confident enough to handle with the subject matter and should be ready to explain and answer to the questions probed by the learners.

 ·        Organisational skills: The pre – planned activities for the teaching considering the needs and interest of the learners should be developed by the teachers.

·        Team work: The skill to work in team and groups in necessary for the teachers.

·        Conflict management skills: The teacher should possess conflict resolution skills to deal with help for the students or among the peer group.

·        Motivation skills: It is a pre-requisite skill needed by the teachers since motivation pushes the students to gain interest and attitude towards the subject being taught.

·        Empathise with the students: The teacher should try to build up trust and rapport with the students .The teacher should feel the emotions of the students in getting into a complicated topic and work with them together towards the goal.

·  Evaluation and feedback: The teacher should be able to imply appropriate evaluation methods and techniques and give feed back to the students on their performance without any personal bias.

 

            ROLE OF TEACHER IN TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS

            Teacher as a Model

                        Teachers are expected to be morally upright individuals who display good characters they are expect to teach and discipline their students to be respectful of authority and responsible in their learning process.

    

            Teacher as a Facilitator

who is supposed to inspire learners by creating a favourable environment.

           Teacher as a Negotiator

The teachers could develop and utilise their skill of negotiation

·        With students

·        Between students

·        With parents

·        With other professionals

         Learning to negotiate with students through all of their emotional ups and downs helps teachers to stay balanced, focused and in control.

            Teacher as a Co-learner

                   The role of teachers in the changing environment of science and technology has been transmitted to transmitter or facilitator of textual materials including electronic resources emphasizing technology knowledge and skills.

 The digital age teaching professional must demonstrate a vision of technology infusion and develop the technology skills of others.

            Teacher as a Reflective Practitioner

                     Reflective teaching means looking at what you do in the classroom, thinking about why you do it, and thinking about if it works – a process of self – observation and self – evaluation.

          Teacher as a Classroom Researcher

                     The concept of teacher as researcher (also called “teacher-researcher”) is that idea that classroom teachers on conduct their own studies to improve their teaching practices.            

        Teacher functions as a planner of activities and instructions, source of knowledge, creator of classroom setting environment, as role model, a supporter of student interaction, mentor in the classroom.

 

Creator of classroom environment:

The function of a teacher in a creating positive classroom environment is very important. Students often mimic a teacher’s actions. If the teacher prepares a warm happy environment students environment set by the teacher can be either positive or negative. If students sense the teacher is angry, students may react negatively to that and before learning can impaired.

Teachers are responsible for the social behaviour is primarily reflection of the teacher’s actions and environment provide.                  

 Learning  environment

              Learning environment influences the learners to actively engage in meaningful learning tasks, think reflectively and critically and gain collaborative learning experiences.

It enhances the interaction with their peers and with their teachers in a positive way to construct their knowledge and understanding skills.

                    Learning environment includes physical, psychological and instructional atmosphere of a classroom. Learning environment in the classroom is vital to student success and impacts students in many ways.

               A positive learning environment is the environment in the classroom that allows students to feel comfortable and confident as learners. 

          A negative learning environment or setting is that adversely affect student learning such as low student achievement, poor behavior, student anxiety, or depression.

                    Since students may learn in a wide variety of settings, such as outside of school locations and outdoor environments, the term learning environment is often used as a more accurate or preferred alternative to classroom.

The term also encompasses the culture of school or class, its presiding ethos and well as the ways in which teachers may organize an educational setting to facilitate learning e.g., by conducting classes in relevant learning materials, or utilizing audio, visual and digital technologies.

 And because the qualities and characteristics of a learning environment are determined by a variety of factors, school policies and other features may also be considered elements of a ‘learning environment’.

 Getting learners’ cooperation in the teaching- learning process:

 

             The cooperation of the students to abide by the classroom rules and disciple to maintain order is very essential. There are three main strategies as:

a) Developing a positive relationship with students;

b) Getting students to share and assume responsibilities; and c) Reward appropriate behaviour.

 Creation of Emotionally-safe Learning Environment to Increase Learning

                             In a learning process, it is essential to make the learners to feel safe both physically and emotionally. It is the responsibility of the teacher to provide an environment that helps the learners feel comfortable to participate enthusiastically in the learning process.

Creating Culturally Responsive Learning Environment

                 

                  Meaningful learning happens in environments where creativity, awareness, inquiry, and critical thinking are part of instruction.

 Responsive learning environments adapt to the individuals needs of each student and encourage learning by promoting collaboration rather than isolation of learners. Learning environments, whether classrooms, schools, or other systems, should be structured to promote engaged teaching and learning.

 

HHow stress is generated in current TLE?

STRESS

·         Defined as the emotional and physical strain by a person’s response to pressure from the outside world.

 

·        It can alter, health and emotions as well, it can effect cognitive functions, impairs concentration, attention, decision making ability and creativity.

 

 

·        It occurs: Mismatch between what the people aspire to do, what they are capable of doing.

 

·        Stress is a silent killer

 

·        Prolonged exposure to stress may exert harmful effects on physical, physiological & behavioral well-being of an individual.

 

 

Symptoms of Stress

 

1)    Physical

·        Muscle tension

·        Raising voice

·        Irritation

·        Inability to sleep

·        Excessive tiredness

·        Dry mouth

·        Breathing difficulty

·        Sweaty palms

·        Cold hands

·        Stomach upset

 

Emotional/Mental symptoms

·        Anxiety, worry, guilt, nervousness

·        Anger, frustration

·        Moodiness

·        Depression

·        Suicidal thinking

·        Appetite varies

·        Loneliness

·        Nightmares

·        Diminished concentration

·        Impaired memory or forgetfulness

 

Behavioral Symptoms

 

·        Change in productivity

·        Sleep disorders

·        Change in eating habits

·        Serious appearance

·        Nervous behavior

·        Increased frustration

·        overreacting

·        Increased consumption of alcohol

·        And many more…

Health Problems with Excessive Stress

 

·          CHD and stroke

·          Gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers

·          Impaired immune system

·          Insomnia, headache

·          Backache

·          And many more

A)  Stress from Learning

There are two classroom management styles which can be stressful while learning.

The authoritarian classroom management style mainly focus on keeping order in classroom rather than on instruction and learning.

Authoritarian teachers place firm limits and controls on students and have minimal students’ interaction. Students in authoritarian classroom tend to be passive learners, fail to initiate activities, express anxiety about social comparison and have poor communication skills.

The permissive classroom management style offers students considerable autonomy but provides them with little support for developing learning skills or managing their behaviour.

Students in permissive classroom tend to have inadequate academic skills and low self- esteem.

 

B)   Stress from Teaching

 

·        Lesson planning

·        Accountability for student performance

·        Classroom management and

discipline

·        Supervisory role

·        Extracurricular activity conducting

and monitoring

·        Taking work home

·        Difficult students

·        Difficult classes

·        Lack of administrative support

·        Pressure from parents

·        Teacher’s evaluation

·        Ongoing learning

·        Job uncertainty

·        Integration of intelligence and

         technology

·        change in curriculum

·        Health Problems

If the school is in rural area and away from teacher’s house, they have to go to school on a two wheeler, which can lead to spinal diseases.

They have to stand for long time for teaching, so they might suffer from diseases like leg pain, varicose veins etc.

Excessive use of chalks or marker pen smell may lead to allergies like recurrent cold.

Less intake of water may lead to diseases like piles, urinary tract infections etc.

 

TLE in covid pandemic

 The Apparatus of education system in rural Maharashtra and even throughout India was somewhat unique i. e. bipolar type.

Bipolar education system means what?

 actually bipolar means teaching and learning.

 Teacher teaches and all the students learns it as per their capacity.

The role of parents in education system was not so active.

 Physical, mental, moral and skill development of our children is completely surrendered in the hands of teachers and our education Institutions as such.

More or less it was the factual picture of education system and social system.

We can say it was pre covid situation.

 But post covid education system shall not be fulfilled by this means. 

We need active role and participation of parents in the education of our children especially in rural areas and also in poor socio economic urban people.

So what we need is the time, cooperation, warm confidential touch of parents to school Institution and all the teachers and most important is the technosavyness of parents which includes Android mobiles, laptop, desktop or LED TVs etc. 

 Parents should be aware, alert and enthusiastic as far as technological assistance to their children is concerned. 

In the critical period of coronavirus pandemic everyone somewhat suffer through panic situation.

 In the early months of first, second and third lockdown period, our teachers provided study material and notes on curricular topics of all the subjects on the WhatsApp group made by them.

 At the same time different YouTube links and other supportive study material is to be provided by subject teachers to their class. 

All the students were referring them at their home with the help of their family members and as per their capability.

But for subjects like maths and Science this much was not sufficient for preparation.

 Later our state government started daily syllabus made by s c e r t along with Diksha app.

With the help of Diksha app students got access more to preparation of maths and general science because in that app we have different videos, charts, questionnaires related to the topic.

 The students were happily studied.

Still it is continuously in proper use few lacs of students are daily following it and are quite satisfied.

 But then also the gap between students and teachers will not be minimising. so few Jilla Parishad primary secondary schools started teaching their students with the help of Zoom or Google meet application. The parents doesn't knowing how to use and operate. Our teachers made them and helped for how to install these apps and how to operate, how to join on them.

 Slowly and gradually the numbers of students to join on Google meet and participate in virtual classroom has been increased. Still now near about more than 50% of students are taking benefit of new education system.

 

Hurdles and troubles in online class in rural area is as following-

·        unavailability of having Android mobile 

·        not having proper knowledge of its use

·        not having mobile balance

·        not having recharged mobile handset due to load shedding

·        not having spare of time due to Agricultural work 

·        unawareness of using such new technology

·        having more than two children in the same school so that everyone should not be able to attend the class

·        disconnectivity due to network problem and getting left.

Ray of hope

But in spite of these problems, rural student is very smart and hence enthusiastically he or she is participating and becoming a part of new education system of new era in post covid period.

 Our state government is fully supporting to new concepts in education so that teaching learning process should become tripolar rather than bipolar.

 Student- teacher- parent is a right triangle with the help of new technology in Today's education system. 

I am doing my medical practice since last 22 years. I have noticed that, in this Corona crisis students health status is good. There frequency of illness is reduced. Why it is so? 

 I think student are relieved from schools stress, coaching classes stress, extra curricular activities stress. And that stress was affecting their health. so after some days when schools start it is your duty what changes can be made in the teaching learning environment to reduce stress in students.

 And in this context yoga practices can be applied inside School.

 

 Today’s educational environment

From time to time innovations have been made in the system of education, but they do not seem to have been completely successful in fulfilling this educational aim.

 One of the drawbacks of the present education system is that it is not helping children to know, develop and use all their potential.

 In fact it is making them more tense, and does not help them to become better human beings.

Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati (2001) reported that psychological blocks in learning, remembering and memorizing were found in many elementary, high school and college students who were interviewed in San Francisco.

It is therefore important to find a technique that can make young people aware of the psychological changes and remove their psychological blocks in order to make the process of learning easy and effective. 

Another important factor is that until now education has mainly focused on the left hemisphere of the brain, giving importance to linear, scientific and purely logical disciplines.

Although this imparts professional skills and develops the intellect, the artistic and intuitive subjects such as art, dance and other creative activities have received negligible support. This approach is lopsided and is only a partial education, leading to unbalanced development.

Some educationists say that happiness and some say that perfection should he the aim of education.

 Ideal education is that which ensures happiness, brings about a balanced and harmonious all round development of its pupils.

 

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