Introduction
In the sustenance
endeavors of academic-related activities of the Education Development and
Improvement Programme, an educational exhibition was worked out in one of the
clusters of a rural context of Gilgit-Baltistan. This academic activity was aimed
at developing students’ creativity and confidence by engaging them in Science and
Arts exhibitions as well as exploring the hidden potentialities of the students.
The following sections of this report include objectives, thematic areas, processes,
achievements, challenges, and way forward.
Objectives
The apparent objectives were to;
- provide students with an opportunity to develop their creativity and confidence
- explore students’ latent qualities
- involve students in meaningful and engaging learning activities
- enhance students’ conceptual understanding of certain concepts of different subject areas
- create an environment of positive academic competition among students
Thematic areas of the exhibition
During this
educational exhibition, the themes were selected to be addressed like drawing, model
making, project work, quiz competition in the subject of science/social
studies, Naat competition, and Poem / Rhymes competition.
Process of the exhibition
In order to
plan and prepare, initially, meetings were held with the head teachers and
teachers of the cluster of three schools. During the meetings, head teachers
and teachers were briefed about the exhibition and asked them for demanding the
required materials.
The second step was to inform and share the plan with the
district manager of the education and supporting professional development center
in Gilgit-Baltistan. After that, the lists of materials were collected from the
schools and provided the materials to them.
Theoretical framework
The theoretical
framework for the exhibition was as followed. In school level
drawing competition, the students were asked to choose any theme for the drawing of
their own choice. Then the three best drawings were to be selected for the cluster-level exhibition. Finally, the best drawing was to be selected in a cluster-level
drawing competition.
In a school-level model competition, the students were asked to choose any theme for the model
making of their own choice. Then the three best models were to be selected for
cluster-level exhibition. Finally, from the cluster-level exhibition, one best
model were to be selected.
Project
work was to be assigned to the students on different themes of their interest
such as medicinal plants (collection, labeling local name, scientific name,
usages as medicine and presentation, etc).
One project
was to be selected from each school for a cluster-level exhibition.
One project
work from each cluster was to be selected at the cluster-level exhibition. For quiz competitions,
questions were prepared covering fifty percent of the relevant subjects by the PDT
involving subject teachers and the questions were disseminated to schools for
preparation and competition. From school-level quiz competition, the first
position holders were to be selected for cluster-level quiz competition, and from
cluster-level quiz competition, the first position holder was to be selected as the winner.
As it is, Naat
Competition was to be held among the students of classes 3 to 10, for which
students were asked to choose a Naat of their own choice. One best Naat Khawan was
to be selected for the cluster-based competition. Finally, from the cluster-level competition, the best Naat Khawan was to be selected as the best Naat Khawan.
Regarding Poem/Rhymes, students from ECD 1 to 2nd
class would take part in the exhibition by reciting poems/rhymes at the school and
cluster level.
Execution of the
exhibition
First of all, teachers conducted exhibitions and competitions
at the class level and selected the best performers for school-level exhibitions. The teachers
and head teachers at the school level conducted the exhibition and completion where
the selected best performing students for cluster level exhibition.
At cluster
level exhibition students from three schools of the cluster were gathered in a school.
For displaying their drawing and models each school was assigned corners.
Where
the students from each school in their respective corners beautifully displayed their
drawings and models. The audience visited the corners and observed drawings and
models. The students in their corners presented their drawings and models and responded
to the questions of the audience on which they got appreciative comments. A committee
was formed and they were provided with criteria to observe and select the best
drawing and model.
In another
phase after the display of drawings and models, Naat and poem/rhymes competitions
were conducted where the students presented naat and rhyme beautifully. A jury
committee was formed to assess the presentation of Naat and rhymes presented as
best Naat Khawan and winner of poem/rhyme.
Due to
an unexpected fluctuation in the situation, quiz completion was postponed to be
held later.
Finally
quests speakers delivered speeches and appreciated the exhibition as an
engaging learning activity for children. In the end, prizes were distributed
among the students who were declared as top performers during the exhibition.
Achievements
·
In the specified time students performed very
well by making attractive drawings and creative models
·
Teachers and students left no stone upturn
regarding the assignments during the exhibition
·
All the teachers and students played their due
role in making the exhibition possible happen according to the plan.
·
One of
the school leaders reflected that personnel of top management of education should
have visited to encourage and appreciate such wonderful academic endeavors of
planners, teachers, and students.
Challenges
- Due to time constraints because of legislative assembly elections in the locality, project work could not be worked out.
- An unexpected sudden fluctuation in the situation during exhibition day quiz completion was to be postponed.
- Lack of financial resources schools and students could not be fully facilitated regarding logistics and refreshment
Way forward
Such
educational activities need to be conducted at least once a year where students
can apply their hidden potential to show their capacities and creativity. Management
of education needs to encourage such types of academic learning activities to
improve the teaching and learning process in schools. Such types of activities
can be arranged in other schools and clusters as well.
Broadening Horizons
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