Latest news with #SriAurobindoInternationalInstituteofEducationalResearch
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Auroville researchers aim to ignite global interest in traditional mathematics education at Seoul meet
An Auroville research team will present a paper on the time-honoured mathematics pedagogy at the 9th East Asia Regional Conference on Mathematics Education (EARCOME 9) that is under way in Seoul, South Korea. A press note from Auroville said this marked the first time India was participating in this regional conference (July 18-22) and also represented 'a milestone in the global recognition of Indian mathematical pedagogy'. Sanjeev Ranganathan, Head of SAIIER (Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research) and IIT-Madras alumnus and Poovizhi, a mathematics teacher at Auroville School, will present a research paper on 'Indian Knowledge Systems and the Impact on Teachers When They Learn Indian Knowledge Systems and How They Interact with Children.' According to Mr. Ranganathan, the research revealed that most mathematical concepts taught in schools today originated in India but became distorted through centuries of cultural transmission. 'Functions on mathematics education: that is a mix of normal and formal mathematics. And the primary purpose of formal mathematics was that during colonial times, the work that was done by earlier mathematics was sort of discredited.' Among key discoveries that suffered from translation flaws were the mathematical concepts like 'sine theta' that originally described tangible concepts (the bending of a bow) but became abstract through Arabic-Latin translations, he said. Formal mathematics was also elevated over practical, observable mathematics during colonial periods. As a cumulative result, students today learn mathematics disconnected from real-world applications, leading to widespread math anxiety, Mr. Ranganathan added. The authors say there is compelling evidence from Auroville classrooms that support their findings on the effectiveness of traditional models, most demonstrably so, when mathematical concepts are taught through native languages. Imparting mathematical knowledge in the Indian knowledge tradition went beyond the pedagogical to represent a method, an approach, said Jayanti S. Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat and Secretary of Auroville Foundation, who, the press note said, held a sustaining interest in supporting the research project. Referring to the 'worldwide crisis in mathematics education' and widely prevalent math phobia, Ms. Ravi noted that a number of students wound up completely alienated from the branch mid-way into schooling. 'So, we lose out on the STEM constituency'. The Auroville Secretary mooted exploring alternative ways to popularise traditional educational models at a scale across India, potentially to the level of a mass movement, and also evoke global curiosity. The implementation plan includes conducting a series of teacher training workshops across India, curriculum integration with existing educational standards and certification programmes in collaboration with international universities.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Auroville's push for transformative engagement with schoolchildren
Auroville recently hosted a conference of educators to push for transformative ways of engagement that would wean children away from digital dependency and nurture their physical excellence and creative potential. A press note said the 5th Integral Education Practitioners Gathering (IEPG5), organised by Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER), brought together over 150 educators, researchers, and facilitators to address the most pressing challenges facing children in today's technology-dominated world. The three-day event on the theme — 'Research in Auroville' — positioned educators at the forefront of combating what many consider the silent crisis of childhood — excessive screen time and the erosion of physical development. The IEPG programme was originally conceived and launched in 2021 by Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of Auroville Foundation, with a clear mission to nurture children to become the leaders, India needs for its future, the press note said. 'We are witnessing a generation of children whose potential is being diminished by screens while parents unknowingly enable this damage,' said a lead workshop facilitator. 'Our mission is to awaken both educators and parents to reclaim childhood through conscious engagement and physical excellence.' Pointing to the alarming trend of working parents using mobile devices as 'digital babysitters', educators cautioned that this seemingly convenient solution created profound developmental risks. While children can develop addiction-like behaviours to gaming and video consumption, parents tend to buy into the illusion that their children are 'safe and occupied' while in reality, they are missing out on critical developmental windows. The long-term consequences of digital obsession can lead to loss of physical coordination, reduced attention spans, and weakened social skills, experts said. The IEPG5 has also introduced revolutionary approaches to physical education that go beyond traditional sports programmes. During the sessions, experts called for adopting advanced methods to identify each child's unique athletic and creative talents early in development, comprehensive frameworks to nurture identified skills into excellence, whether in sports, arts and interventions designed to make physical activity more compelling than screen-based entertainment. In addition to comprehensive strategies to help children break free from screen addiction through engaging alternatives, experts also laid emphasis on educational campaigns to help working parents recognise and address the hidden costs of digital convenience. Deepti and Matriprasad from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Jean-Yves (Auroville) and Smrithi (Anaadi Foundation) led the sessions. Pointing to the participation of educators from Auroville's surrounding villages, the press note said rural teachers were now implementing digital wellness programmes and physical excellence initiatives. In fact, teachers in schools in the bioregion reported improvements when screen time was reduced and physical activities increased, with children showing enhanced focus, better sleep patterns, and renewed enthusiasm for learning, Auroville said.
