Eight Elements of Effective Education

Heyyyyyy hooaaaaaaa guys easy As these noises hit my ears, I saw a group
of kids rushing through the corridor of the amenities building. Later, I found they
have are visiting with their teachers Priyanka and Amitabh for a day camp to
Govardhan Eco Village.
I was curious to observe their kids schedule and activities as I also take creativewriting sessions in Samvardhan, a childrens camp at GEV. I requested the facilitator
Priyanka if I could attend their post lunch session. The two hours sessions went past
so fast and I was thoroughly entertained and inspired. Priyanka, a trainer, counselor
and psychotherapist, had nicely cultivated these children beyond their school
curriculum. These kids were very observant and inclined to goodness. Their teacher
constantly made them reflect on their actions and surroundings. She would
appreciate them and didnt shy when to learn from their observations.
After interacting with these kids, I was contemplating on the essentials a teacher
should possess. With teachers day arriving in September and death of Dr. APJ
Abdul Kalam, I was more intrigued to delve into the topic. Dr. Kalam was the
eleventh President of India, and headed Defense Research and Development
Organization and Indian Space Research Organization in past. On his website, he
credits his success to distinctive educators throughout his life that he trusted
adored instructing. He by and by needed to be known as a Teacher more than a
researcher.
Entertainment attracts inattentive students
A peek into our way of life and sacred writings likewise uncovers some noticeable
essentials of education. I recalled my experience of training with a few educators
throughout my life and a few occurrences from Indian history eight elements of
education were uncovered in my mind. I recollected one of my Economics Professors
who will always enter the class with an intriguing activity. The first element I
realized as one of the essentials of instructing is entertainment.
King Bhishma was searching for a suitable teacher to tutor Pandavas in the science
of warfare. One day the Pandavas came out of Hastinapura to play ball, and while
playing they dropped the ball fell into a well. They all attempted their best to
recover it, however thought that it was inconceivable. As they were looking in the
well, a brahmana showed up. Seeing the rulers coming up short in recovering the
ball, the brahmana, whose name was Dronacharya, upbraided the young men,
"Disgrace on your kshatriya quality! You are conceived in the dynasty of Bharata
and you can't recuperate this ball from the well? Witness the force of my weapons!"
Drona coasted off his ring which arrived on the ball lying in the dry well. Taking a
modest bunch of grass, he droned some Vedic mantras, transforming the pieces of
turf into bolts which punctured the ring and the ball. He then pulled the ball with a
chain of bolts out of the well as the young men stood viewing, hit with miracle. The
young men were inspired and they developed to a longing to gain from
Dronacharya. Word "entertain" etymologically intends to hold somebody in a certain
outlook and popularly intends to amuse somebody. With his demonstration

Dronacharya held the enthusiasm of Pandavas and additionally he amused them.

This is how a craving is triggered in the heart of a student. Thus, Pandavas enquired
from Drona if he could them.
Enquiry helps to understand the student
The second element that I recognized is enquiry; an enquiry from a teacher to
comprehend the needs, interest and concerns of the student and an enquiry from
the student to gain knowledge from the teacher. After compiling humungous Vedic
literature that included rewriting eighteen Puras and Mahabharata, Vysadeva
was still dissatisfied. While he was overwhelmed in his considerations, Narada
appeared and smilingly enquired, Are you fulfilled by with what you have
arranged? Narada offered thankfulness for Vyasa's work and enquired the reason
from his gloom. He didn't bounce to any conclusions.
Estimation defines the preparation of teacher
The enquiry set off a profound requirement in Vyasa to sought assistance from
Narada. Thus, Narada could also assess how profound is Vyasa's yearning to get
guidelines from him. Estimation is extremely crucial as an instructor ought to gage
a students level and set learning results for the student. One such story is of
Dhruva, who was additionally assessed by Narada Muni. Five year old Dhruva set
out to see Vishnu looking for a kingdom more prominent than Brahma, his great
grandfather, not knowing how to accomplish it. He met Narada on his way who
recommended him to return home. Dhruva, retaliated to give up his determination
which impressed Narada, who now knew Dhruva can do it. At this point he
encouraged Dhruva with his words and reconfirmed that his mothers proposal was
proper. Next he engaged Dhruva by outlining him the whole procedure of attaining
a meeting with Vishnu.
Encouragement initiates a relation between student and teacher
Bhagavad Gita is extraordinary example of a teacher encouraging his student.
Arjuna is confused and grief-struck at the idea of fighting against his relatives. But
Krishna spends so much time to clears his doubts encourage him to fight. Now when
Arjuna is confident and ready to fight, Krishna enables him many times to deal with
different situations in the war. A teacher never gives up on the student.
Engagement institutes the equation of relation
Encouraging isnt enough, a teacher engages a student also, which is another
element of teaching. Kashyapa muni, father of both demons and demigods,
empathetically handled one such situation where his wife desired his help to get a
son who will kill Indra, the king of Heaven. When Diti expressed her desire to
Kashyapa, he delineated a practice called as Pumsavana Vrata, which could fulfill
her desires. Engaging in this practice transformed Diti, not only she gave up
enmity for Indra but she was blessed with forty nine sons. Such is a vision of a
teacher that engages students in a way that it expedites the character
development, an element that is slowly diminishing.
Expediting character development accentuates teachers role

A Korean folk tale mentions an old monk tutoring a small child in his monastery and
how he expedited his character growth. Both of them were the only resident in the
monastery. Once day while this young boy went out in the forest for playing the
senior monk followed him and observed his activities. He saw the young boy
torturing a frog by binding a big rock on his back. When the young boy returned for
lunch, the senior monk tied a big rock on the back of the boy and asked him to go
back to the forest and relieve the frog of his burden. This demonstration uncovered
in the heart of this young boy the message of his teacher that for the rest of his life
he was convinced about non-violence. Only a teacher who envisages a future for his
student can prescribe such a punishment.
Envisaging Future is dawning of a new future
Chanakya witnessed potential in Chandragupta Maurya as the king of Magadha.
Once, Chandragupta was tending cattle with other children in the village. Suddenly,
they decided to play a game called the game of royalty. He called himself as The
King; to others he gave the duties of sub-king, etc. Some were appointed ministers,
were placed in an assembly hall; some he made deputies. Having in this way
founded a court of justice, he sat in judgment. On perpetrators being fetched up,
went under interrogation and trial, and proven guilty, he would order the officers of
the court to sever their hands and feet according to the sentence awarded by his
judicial ministers. When the deputies ask, Oh lord, we have no axes; he replied. It
is the order of Chandragupta that you should sever their hands and feet. Make axes
with the horns of goats as knife-edges and sticks for handles. Deputies acted
according to his instructions.
Chanakya, arrived at that spot, was stunned at the events he witnessed. He
accompanied Chandragupta to the village, and presenting the herdsman with some
remuneration, he acquired Chandragupta. He gave him a dream, I will teach you
every feat to make you the king of Magadha. He visualized a future for
Chandragupta and enabled him to achieve it as well. Chanakya could do it because
he was a good learner. Under the able guidance of his father and serious studies at
Takashila University he developed these qualities. An effective teacher never gives
up the endeavors for learning.
Endeavoring to be a learner is vital to life of teaching
Srila Prabhupada was one such personality who tutored thousands of disciples yet
he was an ardent learner. Bhurijana Das, one of his disciples, was working as a
bricklayers assistant to support the Chapel Hill temple. He made money at it, and
he also learned how to lay bricks. He thought it would be something he could teach
others. He informed Prabhupda of his idea when he saw him at New Vrindaban
hoping he could initiate it there.
Srila Prabhupada approved. Then he described the Indian system of making bricks
to Bhurijana. Inspired by Prabhupdas directions he walked into a field, found some
local clay, formed a small brick and baked it. He then returned to Prabhupada with
the final product.

Prabhupda inspected the brick. Perplexed Bhurijana asked, Should I continue

learning to lay bricks? Yes, Prabhupda said. This is our philosophy: learn
something and teach others.
In his early days, while distributing Back to Godhead magazine on streets of Delhi,
one of his friends advised Prabhupada, Why don't you write some books? That will
be nice. Prabhupada took the instruction seriously, executed it and rest is history.
Today, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) is the worlds largest publisher of ancient
and classic Vaishnava texts, epics, and contemporary works on the philosophy,
theology and culture of Bhakti yoga.
Prabhupada, a great teacher and a humble learner, in eleven years of his
establishing ISKCON thoroughly entertained his disciples, deeply enquired from
them, sufficiently encouraged them with enough engagement that expedited their
character development to achieve the dream that Prabhupada envisaged for entire
world. He created ISKCON as an institute where anyone can be educated to lead
their lives.
Madhu Madhav Das serves at Bhaktivedanta Vidyapith, Govardhan Eco Village. He
occasionally takes workshops n Leadership, mind and creative-writing for guests.