Value Education for Teachers

[Guest guest]

Value Education for Teachers

 

Even as the students of the University in Prasanthi Nilayam were

taking their tests earlier this month, the faculty was busy teaching

an entirely new set of 'students'! All these 'students' were in fact

teachers from various schools, country over. They had come down to

the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning to have an education

on 'Value Education'.

 

During accreditation, last year, the University Grants Commission of

India recognized the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning as

a Regional Resource Centre for value education. From 4th to 9th

August 2003, the Institute conducted an "Orientation Course in Value

Education for In-service Teachers" at Prasanthi Nilayam. The six day

course commenced with the sacred blessings of the Chancellor of the

Institute, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and was inaugurated by

Prof.J.S.Rajput, Director, National Council for Education Research

and Training.

 

The Orientation Course placed before itself the following objectives:

 

- To examine the meaning, scope, and significance of values and

their influence on human behavior

- To appreciate the significance of value-oriented education in

general with particular reference to India

- To acquaint with the philosophy and methodology of value-oriented

education

- To understand the inter-face between science, spirituality, and

religion vis-à-vis education as currently understood

- To identify the role of various variables (parents/ parent-

substitutes, rearing practices, schooling, neighbourhood, movies,

electronic and print-media, etc.) in the formation of values of

individuals

- To familiarize with various methods of teaching/ training relevant

to value-orientation in educational institutions

- To gain knowledge about the value-orientation model of integral

education being practiced in Sri Sathya Sai educational institutions

located at Prasanthi Nilayam through participant observation.

The content of the orientation course could be grouped into the

following major themes:

 

1. Concept, philosophy, and methodology of value-oriented education

2. Value oriented education at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher

Learning

3. Role of teachers and parents in value oriented education

4. Factors, issues, and methods of value oriented education and

5. Teaching of various subjects with value orientation.

 

There were twenty sessions in total spreading on all the six days.

The morning and afternoon sessions were predominantly lecture

sessions while those in the evening were exclusively experiential,

wherein the participant teachers were exposed to case-studies,

syndicate discussions, video-films, games, seminar presentations,

etc. The participants also made presentations regarding their own

school practices relating to value education and their perspectives

with respect to value orientation.

 

The orientation course was attended by 22 in-service school teachers

and administrators, in the age group of 30 - 55, from different

states of India such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,

Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Orissa. All the sessions were handled

by faculty members of the Institute.

 

Conference Partcipants with the Vice-Chancellor and Faculty

The Orientation Course in Value Education resulted in the following

observations: value education is the most powerful panacea for all

the societal maladies. Today, teachers are the most important key

factor in education system in general and value education in

particular. Teachers ought to impart values predominantly by role

modeling, supplementing the same through pedagogy. Teaching should

be regarded as a way of life and not as a simple means of

livelihood. Conscientiously developed teaching methods play an

important role in value education: such as carefully devised

lectures, role plays, and experiential learning systems. Value

Education should be undertaken as an integral part of teaching of

all courses by all teachers and also through specially designated

courses, and finally through a systematized pattern of life.

Majority of the respondents reported that the course helped them "to

a very great" extent in their self development, rated the overall

course as an "excellent" learning experience and would place it in

the "top segment" of similar programs in the country.

 

Source:

Radio Sai Listener's Journal

Volume : PDS / 01 Date : AUG 31 2003

http://www.radiosai.org/journal/Prasanthi/Values.htm