Teacher to Facilitator | Life's Journey as an Educator | Experience of 4 Different Boards in India

The modern world has its own modern ways, isn't it?!

Wondering what I am talking about, aren't you? Well then let me take you through my journey in brief. A journey from a Teacher to Facilitator and of the experience of 4 different boards in India

In the short span of my teaching career, I have had the opportunity to work in all the four main boards which were very identical from each other but, had the same motto of catering and nurturing the future leaders and great citizens at their best.

A few years back, I joined a reputed SSC Board school, along with pursuing my educational degree from Savitri Bai Phule Pune University, Pune Maharashtra. SSC Board school i.e. a state board school gave me the opportunity to learn so much that I cherish it even now. The steady syllabus, comparatively limited content and subjects as compared to the other boards make it different. The schools are state-centric and have easier work pressure hence, a less stressful curriculum for the students.

As teachers, our main focus was on how much we deliver and what is the student's output. And moreover how well they perform in the assessments. The use of teaching aids to help serve as the catalyst is the main trend. Books help to stay on point and follow the fundamentals.

With the rise of the new age, many modern facilities like projectors and modern teaching aids are being grasped and comprehended by the SSC Board schools.

I was then fortunate enough to get an opportunity in a well-known and established ICSE board school. Being myself an outcome of one. I find am very well aware of the pros and cons of it as a student. But, as a teacher, well this was the major stepping stone in my life. I got my base and the actual meaning of being an educator.

ICSE Board schools majorly focus on bringing about a revolution in the accountability of teaching and learning. Schools are well equipped with modern technologies to help aid an educator and cater to the needs of the students better. 

The focus of the ICSE board is to have a holistic approach. Not just the academics but also the co-curriculum activity plays an important role in the entire academic session. I was very fortunate to work under Ms. Deepika Satija ( Primary Coordinator) and a beautiful person inside out, who has a very patient and extraordinary nature.

Training me to understand the working of the whole system i.e. academic as well as management, she kept at it tirelessly. The best part of working under her was that I was able to understand the working of the program from four different perspectives. The Students, The Parents, The Management, and The Educator.

Being exposed to various aspects and being given the right platform I developed my wings as an educator and learnt how to serve better. The landmark shall always remain the authorization visit and my interview. Thank you Ms. Deepika Satija for being so patient with me!

Moving on I also worked in a CBSE board school where I happened to complete one academic session. CBSE is the Central Board it focuses on the core subjects to make it easier for the students to appear for any competitive exams and crack it. 

Well, CBSC boards do have equipped classes and schools to help aid the students, along with it more and more focus was laid on using teaching aids to facilitate the understanding in the students. Assessments playing a key role in academics, and their functioning was based on the mother teacher rule for certain age groups.

It's been a while I started working in an International Baccalaureate School which is totally different from the three boards.

IB has a child-centric approach, works for making global connections, it centers on being multi-lingual and in developing an open-minded perspective towards learning. The best part about an IB board is being challenged as an educator or a student.

From designing to implementing or we talk about reflection IB program gives the opportunity to take the inquiry as per the individual's requirement. Like it can be structured, controlled, guided, or free. Giving a wide scope for personal, collaborative, or guided inquiry.

The action taken by the students and the real-life connection of the concept learned has made the teaching and learning more fruitful and reflective, making the students a lifelong learner and of course active in participating in their own learning process.

Here we have guides and program-specific plans which makes the teaching and learning very interesting and challenging for both the educators and the students. 

Working with an IB school I now understand that how from just a teacher I voyage to become a facilitator. Well, what to say it has been undoubtedly the most beautiful journey where I am still learning and shall continue to!

Thank you for reading my story! Stay tuned!