IIM Shillong launches teaching initiative

IIM Shillong recently launched 'Nurturing Minds', a teaching programme aimed at coaching students by adopting unconventional teaching methods to commemorate the birth anniversary of Late APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India.

The objective of the initiative is to connect with the local community, give back to the society and carry forward Kalam's love for teaching.

The classes started off with a pool of 30 students from three schools — H. Elias, Presbyterian and Dinet School — in which the students were taught Mathematics.

Before the classes began, the students and volunteers were addressed by the PGP chairman, Basav Roy Choudhury. The initiative should focus upon getting rid of the fear associated with Mathematics among the enrolled students, Choudhary.

The official address was followed by an ice-breaking session during which the volunteers and students interacted with each other. The chairman of Board of Directors, Phalguni Rajkumar, who was also present during the session, emphasised on the need to become a good human being and develop holistically.

The students were split into two groups and each group was managed by 3-4 volunteers. The topics chosen for the day were Mensuration and Algebra. The volunteers used innovative teaching aids and utilised the infrastructural facilities available in the classroom to make the session fun and informative. After the two hour session, the students were served snacks and escorted by the volunteers for a campus tour.

Based on the response of the initial phase the student volunteers plan to scale up the programme, by including other subjects in the course pedagogy.