National Creativity Olympiad

We believe that every child is born talented, that every child is creative and that every child is an achiever. That our education processes often fail to identify the child’s talent, leave alone nurture it, is a failure of the system and not the child. This is perhaps due to the obsession of the educational system with linguistic and mathematical abilities and an assessment process that often seems to label children with rote memories as intelligent and others as not.

Most assessment processes become a motivational tool for a few and disempowering for the rest. It is well established that people in general and children in particular repeat the behavior that is rewarded. Unfortunately, this labeling result in a select few children being rewarded and the majority of the children feel ignored and often rejected. Also, once so labeled, it is the select few who then receive teachers’ love, affection and attention, see their names in the scrolls of honor and receive trophies and medals.

Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligence suggests eight independent intelligences, we tend to test only two- linguistic and mathematical intelligence. In fact, a skill (not intelligence), that of rote learning overshadows all others in typical assessments and Olympiads.

Why Creativity Olympiad

We believe that the purpose of assessment is to motivate a child and not to discourage them is to identify strengths not weakness and suggest remedial action not denial. We believe that achievement motivation and creativity are key drivers of success and we believe that there is little correlation between the performance of a child in cogent disciplines and success in life.

This Olympiad is designed to assess a child’s creative abilities and his/her achievement motivation. We believe that this Olympiad will unearth hidden talents and encourage children who may have felt discouraged, to participate in the learning process more willingly and meaningfully with a renewed sense of self-belief and self-confidence. This assessment would naturally lead to the child’s inclination to improve upon the same and search for resources in that direction. Given an appropriate environment this will lead to enhanced creativity and achievement motivation.

The Outcome

The Olympiad will assess the creativity quotient of ahe child and his/her level of achievement motivation. By participating in this Olympiad, the child shall get sensitized to the importance of these factors and their role in shaping one’s future. This will also sensitize the teachers to foster these competencies in the child. Once so oriented, the child shall seek out resources to develop creative thinking and enhance achievement motivation. Edward De Beno and David Mc Clleland have conclusively proved that both creativity and achievement motivation can be significantly enhanced by appropriate interventions. The starting point clearly is an assessment. This is the primary objectives of this Olympiad – one, to sensitize the child and two, to appeal to his /her competitive spirit to make an achiever of the child.

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Peer Relationship Part - 3 : Solutions

There is an answer to every question likewise there is a solution to every problem. Peer problem can cause havoc in social life and can result in deflection in numerous fields but it can be tackled with the help of parents, teachers and peers. Some of the Helping strategies as suggested by various studies are –

Social Skills training

Students whose behavior tends to social rejection often need to learn new interpersonal skills. These skills does not require special curriculum or training but can be developed through constant interaction with parents, teacher and even peers. These skills include learning importance of team effort, nurturing leadership qualities and mutual contribution.

Intervention for Related Problems-

Peer problems generally tend to create serious academic problems and results in overall disturbance in the academic journey of a student. These students need intensive academic intervention so as to minimize potential adverse effects on the student’s academic and peer relation. Positive intervention from parents can act as effective support system for a student.

Non Threatening Social Experience-

Large groups can be threatening to students who lack self confidence. Shy students may therefore benefit from opportunities to interact in small groups. Parents can help by inviting class mates and friends over for special activities. Students can be encouraged to develop outside interest like music or art which provides natural basis of interaction with other students and provides a boost to the self confidence to the student.

Co-operative Classroom Projects-

Classroom activities can foster peer acceptance of students who are trying to improve their social reputation. Role played by school and teachers are also as crucial as the roles played by the parents as the teacher is the role model for the student. Classroom projects help the student to interact in large groups and also provide a platform for them to get acquainted with the peers.

Beyond intervention for specific peer problem, there are several general strategies that may help a student to maintain a healthy outlook on their own social lives. Peer relationships are important contributors to the quality of both student’s current lives and future development. Parents have to be more conscious towards their approach towards the social development of the children. Showing respect for children social needs, getting contented with friends and creating social option without any pressure and high expectation can really show positive result in the social outlook of a student.

We cannot ignore the impact of serious problem which co relates with the academic capability of a student. A student requires intervention and support in academic as well as social aspect of life. We can achieve a better prospect out of a student performance by providing the desired support system. Parents and Teachers are the important pillars in the life of a student and these aspects can also create difference in Students life.