23、Teach less – Learn more: A new trail for perking up the learning process in museums

 

Mamatha Sathyanarayana

De Paul International Residential School

 

A workshop for school children was conducted to enhance the learning process about nature and its conservation. The objective of the children’s workshop was to reach young minds to the maximum extent, through ‘Teach less – Learn more’ activities following a prescribed school syllabus. The deemed learning exercise was environment education through origami, with an aspiration to harmonize thoughts and deeds [body & mind] to relish learning, experience and exhibit skills of young students between the age group of 10-13 years. Careful selection of student participants with different learning abilities classified under conventional parameters i.e. best [fast]-moderate- slow learning cosmopolitan lot, and to fit into skill oriented learning in science/math/literature etc., was conducted. The ancient art of Origami [art of paper-folding] is not only an art form to entertain people but a time tested, strong-sensitive–powerful tool of learning-teaching and constitutes logical thinking. Inexpensive learning modules developed by experienced experts in the field of non-formal education, which helps to explore new possibilities of learning and understanding through simple Origami exercises and improvement, create a combination with appropriate local thinking in learning and displaying knowledge.