The best teachers are those who make learning fun. Which is why this Odisha teacher has won the hearts of all his students because of his innovative teaching style!
Pabitra Mohan Das, the headmaster of Khutuluguda project school in Odisha, doesn’t believe in mugging up theories in textbooks. Instead, he believes in the practical application of knowledge. Therefore, he uses earthy objects like bamboo, sticks, stones, water, leaves, sand, etc. and waste materials like plastic packets and paper to create models for learning.
He has so far made 200 educational models!
For example, he uses matchsticks and pieces of bamboo to teach numbers, and thermocol to teach shapes, reports sources. He also takes his students near the river to teach them numbers by asking them to collect pebbles. There is never a dull moment in his class!
“Learning should be associative and meaningful. Usually, children tend to rote learn but if we use secondary learning materials they grasp the concept of a subject better,” he said.
Das has installed a computer in his school so that he can teach his kids the basics of IT and shows them educational videos on YouTube.
“My main aim is to bring the education level of students of this remote village at par with students of urban areas with the available resources,” he said.
Besides studies, Das has set up a small pond within the school premises and has left different kinds of fishes in it for the students so see. He has kept ‘Jiba Daya’ pots in the yard for the students to fill them up with water for the birds. His most noteworthy contribution is setting up a small shop within the school selling stationery and even kids without money are free to take anything.
For his efforts in making learning fun, Das has been one of the 46 teachers across the country to receive the National Award yesterday on Teachers’ Day!
We hope Pabitra Mohan Das inspires many other teachers to go the extra mile for their students!