Inspirational Chemistry

An opportunity to learn new teaching skills

Two years ago, when the Royal Society of Chemistry called for recruitment of teacher developers for the Yusuf Hamied Inspirational Chemistry programme, I felt that it was a wonderful opportunity to hone my training skills and learn new teaching tools and techniques. I was overjoyed with my selection to the highly-motivated and passionate group of teacher developers from different states across India.

The selection was the beginning of the process – transforming myself into a professional teacher developer or a trainer. We had to attend a series of workshops and classroom training programmes, developed by the Royal Society of Chemistry, before they let us deliver workshops on our own.

I was impressed with the Royal Society of Chemistry Active Learning Technique (ALT) modules, which were concise and well-designed, as well as covering multiple approaches. The UK and Indian educators who developed these modules invested a lot of time in honing our skills as trainers, which has helped us to deliver modules better.

Making science engaging

Initially, it was challenging for the teachers to prepare lesson plans based on these techniques, as they have been used to the traditional approach based on textbook rote learning.

Experiments make science engaging for students. We often found that teachers lacked self-confidence to conduct experiments in schools. We provided them with simple experiments, which developed confidence and courage to conduct them. I have witnessed a huge amount of engagement and enthusiasm in conducting and understanding the experiments. And, it is not surprising – less attention is paid to the experimentation, which I would say, is the soul of science.

Over the last two years, I have trained over 1,000 teachers in 11 Indian states, traversing from North to South India and from East to West India. My heart warms over the universally positive response from teachers, driving to me to do more workshops.

Thought-provoking methods

An interesting aspect of the ALT is that teachers of non-science subjects, like English and maths, can adopt these methods and develop thought-provoking and motivating lesson plans for students. A maths teacher from Manipur who attended my training programme, said: "I could not sleep till late night, as I was eager to find out if I can create a Tarsia for my maths topics on polynomials."

I was able to incorporate a large number of hands-on experiments thanks to the Royal Society of Chemistry’s micro lab technique as well as my extensive science research and teaching experience.

Some impressed state education officers directed all the science teachers to enrol for the training workshops. In fact, we have trained all science teachers in Chhattisgarh (268) and Manipur (162).

My relationship with teachers has not ended with merely delivering workshops in school. In fact, many teachers continue to be in touch with me, sharing their experience as well as asking for further advice.

One of the major requests and expectation from the teachers is that the Royal Society of Chemistry’s training programme needs to be enriched further with addition of components of field observation, hand-holding and guidance. With my more than decade long experience of working with teachers and children, I would second it.

I feel that this programme will be extremely beneficial to the entire science teaching community and efforts should be made to reach them.

Enthusiasm from teachers

I would like to share a few testimonials received from teachers participating at various teacher training programme.

"You are an inspiration, your energy and examples come from your own experience, and that is very fresh." – Manisha Tagore, International School, Jaipur

"You have weaved a way to do research with school students on important concepts like ionic mobility rates of reaction, understanding acid/base titration differently, both qualitatively and quantitatively." – Indu Sidhwani, Gargi College, Delhi

This story appears as part of the February edition of our India Newsletter.