Schools are closed for quite a while, but schooling is on. Since children can’t travel, education has come to their doorstep. E-learning has become the new normal and parents have suddenly stepped into the shoes to assist educators.

Here are tips that may help children learn online:

1. Set a schedule- Create a schedule for the day, the simpler it will likely be for everyone. Provide  your children the time table , you should probably revise whatever you come up  with at first to fit your circumstance at home

2. Create a positive e-learning environment- First and foremost get familiar before logging on. Adequate lighting can help you physically and mentally. Open the windows and allow ventilation and natural light in. Be innovative based on your child’s learning preferences and your unique home environment. Create a study/ reading area with a large box with pillows, a place at the table/ study desk.  Ensure that your child has the materials needed for the learning activity (e.g. paper, pens or pencils, digital devices). Try to limit interruptions as much as possible.

3. Have patience- Patience is very important to ensure conceptual clarity. However, every child has a unique learning curve. On the digital platform, you can spend as much time as you want on a particular topic till you get absolute clarity. The main objective is to furnish the students with the important concepts and give him the confidence. The parents' role is important in terms of being patient and motivating a child to work on the concepts. .

4. Allow breaks during online classes- A small break can be a great mental respite. Extended periods of time on computer use can lead to excessive sitting and associated negative health effects. During a break, mindfulness can calm feelings of overwhelm by making a body-mind connection. Ask your child to sit quietly for 2 minutes with eyes closed and ask to take a deep breath. It improves attention, mood and helps children cope with stress. Also, make them do short activities. It will stimulate the mind. Go for walks with children, have funny talks with them. This will help boost a child’s motivation and put them in a better mood.

5. Have fun- Many of the lifestyle changes that the current circumstance has brought in are involuntary, however, it is very important to keep a cheerful disposition while studying together with your children and keep a positive attitude. This will assist your child to cope much better with the present crisis as they are also missing their old lifestyle which includes going to school, meeting friends and other outdoor activities. Spending  time with them and being able to take an active part in their studies was something unimaginable even a few months back. However, your involvement with your child will surely boost their confidence and create memories for a lifetime.

- School Editorial Team

STEM is an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. “STEAM” includes STEM plus the Arts – humanities, language arts, dance, drama, music, visual arts, design, and new media.

The main difference between STEM and STEAM is STEM explicitly concentrates on scientific concepts. STEAM investigates the same concepts but does this through inquiry and problem-based education methods used in the creative process.

'STEAM' education in schools provides students with the opportunities to learn creatively, practicing 21st-century skills such as problem-solving. These extensive capabilities are crucial to growing a future-ready workforce that understands the potential of “what if” when resolving problems that occur in real life.

So the idea of “what if?” is not dependent on the purchase of STEAM-specific technologies or even classroom or the maker space design. It’s more dependent on the creativity and curiosity of the teachers collaborating with their students.

We at The Orbis Schools strongly believe that the purpose of education is not the ability to ace some tests and beat your peers. That is not real success. It is rather the nurturing and development of one’s creative brainpower and essential talents, enhanced by the breadth of knowledge gained from ALL subjects. There is as much creativity in engineering, science, and mathematics as there is in the arts, by the way. It requires an enormously creative and expanded brain to comprehend quantum physics for example!

The schools and universities must redefine how and what they teach to remain relevant to the industry. Education should give fair value to all subjects and how these subjects relate to solving current and future real-world problems, whilst embracing the use of technology and how to develop the world with technology. Digital disruption is affecting the whole industry and our kids need to be ready for this. STEM is important, but so is the broader thinking outside of STEM subjects. STEAM should be the future.

- School Editorial Team

Every parent is anxious to give their child the best school experience because you are putting your child on a long, winding path of learning. Thus, this path needs to be selected carefully and wisely. A good school from the start will cause excellent success in the child's career. Selecting a school for your kid could not only be a vital task but also a hard task too. A good school can lay a good foundation for your child's career.  We don't know which is the best school for the child because there are many schools located near us. Choosing a good school may be difficult,  but it is not impossible.

Here are the factors which will help you to choose the best school for your child.

1. Take a tour

Take a tour- When you find a school that looks like a good fit, it's a good idea to visit and meet the teachers, principal, see what their values are, how they are teaching, how they interact. Prepare some questions like how well are teachers trained? How is the behaviour of a teacher towards a child? how much homework is given to the children, what the overall learning environment looks like?

2. Make a choice about a curriculum

In today’s education world, the curriculum doesn’t refer to only books, in fact, it refers to the totality of students’ experiences throughout the educational process. Curricular activities are an integral part of the school and help in enhancing the learning process of students. They facilitate in enhancing the social and intellectual skills, moral values and personality of the students. There are many Education boards in India like CBSE, ICSE,  IGCSE, IB, State Boards and all these boards have a different curriculum. The level of all the boards is different. The fundamentals that will be taught will be different. You should understand beforehand the curriculum followed and the co-curricular activities that are offered in the school. Each Board addresses the need of the student as regards their higher study trajectory.  For example, competitive exams are set on the lines of the CBSE curriculum, foreign boards curriculum would help the students who prefer to study overseas for their undergrad or PG programs.  You should additionally choose the board with the difficulty level which suits your child.

3. Find out the school's achievement

Try to find out what the school has achieved in terms of board results, co and extracurricular activities, sports competitions, etc. The achievements can give you a better idea of the school's effectiveness in teaching and the all-round development of your child.

4. Teaching methodology

The teaching methodology ought to be such that it suits your child. Every child's need is totally different. Some children feel comfortable grasping the theory that they need a theoretical approach,  but some children need a practical approach. You have to make sure that the school you are choosing follows the best approach which will suit your child. Teaching-learning is an ever-evolving process, so, ensure that the school organises regular workshops and training for the teachers to keep them up-to-date. Make sure that the student-teacher ratio should be such that it allows proper attention and care to each and every student as well as provides for fair competition.

5. Fame

This could be a must-have for any school to be considered good. The scholastic track record of the school and the awards it has won for excellence determine if a school would include among the top 10 CBSE schools in India or your city. Please, do in-depth research and analysis on the school to find out if it is really worth the fame. If yes, only then consider it for your kid.

With these tips in mind, you are now poised to make a good decision for the best education for your child. We wish you the very best of luck!

- School Editorial Team

When looking for a good school for your child, make sure to keep certain parameters in mind. The academic reputation of a school is built on years of hard work and dedication. Speak to parents of wards studying in a particular school to determine the proficiency and competence of the teaching faculty. The results at the Board level classes will tell you a lot about the academic excellence of the school.

A school that includes many co and extracurricular activities in its curriculum focus on the holistic development of its wards. Therefore, look for a school that has plenty of activities in its calendar of events.

Students spend the better part of each working day in school and therefore, big, airy classrooms, clean washrooms, a green campus, ample sports facilities, a well-equipped canteen, good security systems and well-stocked libraries and laboratories are amongst other requirements that parents must definitely look for.

A school that inculcates good values and a strong belief system in its wards will stand the test of time. Students who are polite, well-groomed and confident will reflect the vision and mission of the school and such a school will be an excellent choice for your child’s future.

- Ms. Nalini Samuel,

  Principal

  The Orbis School Keshavnagar

The CBSE Board is a progressive, child-centric Board with its focus on the all-round development of the students. What are the factors that a parent needs to look out for when choosing a good CBSE school for their child? 

A good CBSE school should have the following skill subjects to enhance the multidisciplinary approach in teaching-learning and to sensitize the new generation:

1.  Life skill education- It aims to mobilize a behavior development approach through adequate delivery of content addressing information, attitudes and value-enhanced life skills. The core life skills are:

1. Social awareness- It is an element that helps the students to develop many skills and understands their role in society. It’s the combination of emotional intelligence and cultural proficiency. CBSE schools understand the requirement for social awareness and therefore implement it by conducting numerous activities for students.
2. Empathy- Most of the CBSE schools teach empathy to children at school as a compulsory subject. This makes them compete with themselves rather than with other students. Teaching empathy also helps children to concentrate on collective goals, bully less and be better leaders. The basic concept is to let the students express their problems and arrive at a solution along with the teacher and others in the class.
3. Creative Thinking- This practice aims at empowering teachers to ask queries connected to a real-life situation and build curiosity among students, facilitate discussions to build collaboration and problem-solving skills and engage parents and the community at large in the students' learning method.

1. Robotics- The introduction of robotics in schools, is helpful on multiple fronts.  Schools are startlingly resistant to change, despite being centres of learning and education. Nowadays, schools are largely dependent on teacher-led instruction despite the demonstrated benefits of practical learning. However, with rising awareness, schools are making headway in adopting and introducing new courses such as robotics.
2. Artificial intelligence- AI has gained prominence and is being used almost everywhere over the last few years. The AI program is structured for students consisting of base strands of information (basics, history, applications), skills (design thinking, data fluency, critical thinking). The course has been made robust with problem-based learning outcomes and assessment methods for teachers to create foundational skills of AI in students. The concept is to train students with the fundamentals of AI.

A school is as good as its faculty and therefore, choosing a school that has well qualified and dedicated, long-serving teaching staff should be amongst top priority.

Education is not only about academics but also about holistic development in terms of uncovering talents, honing leadership qualities and imparting 21st-century skills. Therefore, a school that includes co and extracurricular activities in its daily routine is the one that parents should focus on.

Children need a safe and comfortable environment to blossom and flourish. Big, airy classrooms, clean washrooms, a green campus, ample sports facilities, a well-equipped canteen, good security systems and well-stocked libraries and laboratories are amongst other requirements that parents must definitely look for.

The school must have a well maintained and efficiently run transport system which would ensure a safe and comfortable commute to and from the school. The location of the school will be of importance here as school transport facilities are generally extended up to a certain distance.

- Ms. Nalini Samuel

Principal

The Orbis School Keshav Nagar

As we are entering into a new era where social isolation has become the norm, the disruption to our lives has been sudden and drastic.  The education sector has witnessed a dramatic change too, moving from real-world classrooms to a virtual setting. As schools rapidly scramble to adjust to the digital classroom, we explore how online learning can be made truly powerful.

Ensuring Real Learning

Online teaching can be used as a way to re-craft mainstream teaching. A mix of synchronous and asynchronous modes of teaching can be instituted. Notably, the time is ripe for the teacher to play the role of a facilitator in a largely student-led model.

We, at The Orbis School- one of the best CBSE schools in Pune ensure that all elements of a school’s timetable should ideally be addressed, but in cognizance of the fact that online lessons would have a different format. For efficient transaction and immersion, it is a good idea for the student to be assigned pre-class work.

Keeping the focus on formative, rather than summative, assessment is also a hallmark of online teaching. The test or assignment should not offer judgments; it should rather inform teaching processes. Focusing on developing deep learning, the test should be a tool for the teacher to assess how far each student has progressed and where a student needs help.

Moreover, assigning students relevant and engaging tasks as a part of a unit plan that focus on concept-based learning is key to student success. These plans encourage and support self-paced learning that is more personalized.

Finally, for a student to be engaged in class, appropriate guidelines should be in place. For example, simple “class rules” such as raising one’s hand and allowing the teacher’s acknowledgement before unmuting and other basic tenets can go a long way in ensuring decorum in the online class. Such rules can also be in place to facilitate peer-to-peer communication.

Taking Care of Holistic Learning

We believe that the holistic approach to student development must also be addressed by the online model. It is thus important to timetable, not just scholastic engagement, but equally importantly, co-scholastic and pastoral engagements as well. Especially in the current context, engaging students in art and movement is the need of the hour not just to enhance and enrich the student’s academic performance.

The current situation may be embraced as an opportunity to re-assess how learning is facilitated in traditional schools. At The Orbis School - Top CBSE schools in Pune, weaving technology in curriculum delivery has remained a pillar in the traditional school. While the current jump to online instruction may be temporary, the school will continue to use technology, as it always has, in the teaching and learning processes.

- Editorial Team
The Orbis Schools

MyschoolOne has been a part of The Orbis Schools since 2013, all school works be it Admissions, Student information, Classroom management, Gradebook creation, Transport management, Library management, Circular distribution, Timetable creation, Parents App and many administrative functions are streamlined by this ERP. MyschoolOne is the platform where interdepartmental collaboration is made possible. 

The world is changing so much and so fast. I surely know that some 30-40 years back, I had not heard about the very unhealthy air quality (today that’s the first thing the phone depresses me with every morning), there was no alarm on the depleting ozone layer or melting glaciers or indiscriminate cutting of rainforests, nor was the traffic congestion a worry for anyone, riding bicycles on main roads was not hazardous, tiger numbers were not a global concern, food was all organic, precooked food in plastic bags was almost nonexistent, outdoor play was the only form of play and safe too, smartphones and social media were absent...it was a world that you and I now dream of, as our holiday destination.

Only the quinquagenarian and above have seen the lost world that gladly surrendered to the glamour of the Maruti car opening the floodgates or the television replacing the bedtime stories, the first smartphone increasing distances, genetically modified foods stuffing the shelves, a concrete jungle rising around us, the world wide web managing us...but in all this we also lost the abundant sunshine, open spaces, clean water and air and the free gifts of nature now come at a premium.

Now my worry, like yours, is about the life we are leaving behind for our children and children to come. It is sad that there is a school of thought that doesn't want to be parents and bring new life to a world plagued with ills of all kinds. There are fears in the minds of the young when global conferences and researches predict the future of our planet, as bleak. We sure have messed up matters. But the good thing is that small lifestyle modifications can bring about big changes. If we are mindful of our actions that are not leading to making this world a little better than how we found it; we need to change. Just like today is shaped by yesterday, tomorrow is shaped by today. Please redesign today for our children. We owe it to them.

- Ms Mala Jetly
Principal
The Orbis Schools
2009-2019

Festivity is once again in the air people are gearing up to usher the new year. It is also the time when we exchange gifts, it brings happiness as these gifts convey the love and care of the giver. It is a strange emotion, where the person who makes the other happy becomes even happier, as is said you heal faster emotionally when you help someone. The joy of giving is in doing for others, it can be a gift we buy or it may be a gift of time or volunteering to help others. In plain and simple words just spread happiness with your small gestures. We don’t need to get wrapped up in impressing people, we need to only convey the message of care and kindness that was intended. Sometimes, the smallest gestures of kindness goes a long way. By doing this we touch many lives and create honest relationships. The selfish element here is, that those whom we care for will surely stand by our side when needed.

Since the entire surrounding contributes to our well being, it is essential that we remember that we have to give back. It is a very fulfilling and an unparalleled feeling of giving back and contributing to society. The ones who are happiest are not who always get more but those who are able to give and share more. Sharing liberates our soul and since our joy multiplies by giving to others we should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give!

- Ms Gunjan Srivastava
Headmistress
The Orbis School, Mundhwa

Mental Health Day is celebrated the world over on 10th October. For many years, one’s emotional state was not given any importance. In fact, to have an emotional or mental issue was considered to be a sign of weakness and a social stigma, hence was often brushed under the carpet. But now we have realised that mental wellbeing is as important as physical wellbeing and needs to be treated accordingly.

Feelings of loneliness and isolation are common, when we are more connected over social media than physically, and specially in times like this when we are separated from our friends and extended family. Dealing with these kinds of feelings can be a challenge, but most of the time these feelings pass, and we are able to bounce back effectively. When we are emotionally strong, we can make the most of our potential, cope with life’s many challenges and play a full part in our family and social lives.

Being mentally and emotionally healthy then is of utmost importance. Good mental health helps us to achieve a sense of contentment, have the ability to laugh and enjoy light moments, deal with stress in a positive manner, be flexible to change and adapt accordingly, find a healthy work-life balance, have self-confidence and self-esteem, be resilient enough to be able to recover from trauma and setbacks quickly, maintain a positive outlook and find a sense of purpose in life.

To quote Laura Edwards, “If the day ahead feels heavy, and your plans feel like a curse; there is no shame in rearranging, don’t make yourself feel worse. A day is not a lifetime, a rest is not defeat; Don’t think of it as failure, just a quiet, kind retreat. It’s okay to take a moment, from an anxious, fractured mind; The world will not stop turning, while you get realigned. The mountain will still be there, when you want to try again; You can climb it in your own time, just love yourself till then.”

Value and treat yourself with love and acceptance, everything else will fall into place.

- Ms Nalini Samuel
Principal
The Orbis School, Keshavnagar