School Principals Summit was oganised by OMOTEC, EduDrone, Adventure Education, Master class in association with AAJ, Singhania Quest +, Torrins, Zoommer Play and our Venue partner, IIHM, Pune.
The motto of the programme was to ponder on what our students are missing the most in the new age of learning and how to bridge the learning gaps.
The much awaited Summit started with a warm welcome extended by Mrs. Kajal Chhatija, Founder, EduDrone, Executive Director, Gayatri Group of Schools, captivating the topic, Innovate to educate and posed a question, how to bridge the learning gaps. Once the tone of the event was set the chief guests, Shakuntala Jaisinghani, Director, Trinity International School, Dhananjay Varnekar, Founder, Varnekar Universal Foundation, Cambridge Group of Schools, Shivgir Gir, Managing Director and CEO, Indo-British Schools along with organisers, Shekhar Jain & Reetu Jain, Co-Founders, On My Own Technology, Bezad Shroff, Sharukh Shroff & Astad Majra - Directors of Adventure Education, Gaurav Save, Founder, Masterclass and Sanjay Chhatija & Kajal Chhatija, Founders, EduDrone, lighted the lamp of knowledge to abolish the darkness.
Ms. Jaisinghani addressed the principals on the evolving role of educators wherein she reminded that we are already in 21st century since 20 years from now, but pandemic has reminded us in a most cruel way and time is come to design, create and innovate. Mr. Varnekar honoured the leaders by expressing his gratitude for leading their Schools during pandemic and doing phenomenal job. Shivgir Gir shared his rich experience of establishing 100+Schools across India. He reinvigised the need of blending entrepreneurs and academicians to make a complete holistic School.
Simran Kaur, Principal, Podar International School, Charan, addressed on importance of innovation in education. N.K.Mishra, Principal, Sinhgad School, Lonavala expressed his views of bringing different learning experiences in the most hilarious way.
Mrs. Chhatija introduced EduDrone- We Connect which is a social platform for educational fraternity to exchange knowledge on a global level.
The event witnessed the grand launch of Mini Robotics Kit based on small machine making which ensures hands-on and practical learning bringing the concept of Robotics in every home. This was then followed by principals making the 'Led Wrist Band' which was like making your own fit bit was an energy led experiential learning process where they made their own fit bits using real electronic components and scientific concepts as the base which gave life to the new age of experiential classrooms and Gaurav Save explained the concept of Motion, Pressure, Bernoulli’s principles by asking thought provoking real life questions, with various interesting examples of ceiling fan and helicopter making the summit engaging and interactive.
Bezad Shroff and Hussein took everyone on the virtual experiential learning tour of making their platform online with the tagline, "When the going gets tough, the tough gets online. They explained their virtual experiential learning programmes. Hussein shared the box filled with microgreens, a kit filled with seeds which can be grown in 7 to 10 days. Bezad explained how the Experiential Learning programs were mapped to the NEP 2020 Curriculum for adopting the UN SDG, supporting the 10days classroom without bags concept and life skill activities where students can now undertake various field trips, factory visits, nature visits, space programs, and project tours all across the world. Rupinder Khurana, Director, International Institute of Hotel Management addressed the principals and introduced the annual engagements at IIHM and they were, Young Chef, Junior Chef, Teacher Chef and a newly introduced Young Tech Competition. He motivated principals to inspire their students to participate and horn their skills through these endeavours. Ms. Jhelum an executive member from IIHM was present in the Zoom room and she was over whelmed to see the principals coming to campus and she congratulated the organisers for coming up such a thought provoking hash tag, 'Innovate to Educate. This was followed by visit to exhibition hall where all the education innovators exhibed their experiential learning kits. Sandeep Soni from Singhania Quest+ intoduced the learning App, Kunal Z from ZOOMMER PLAY presented his innovative play equipments to keep students active and fit integrating rhymes, concepts and play therapy. Sunil Sunderamam and Team from TORRINS arranged a live music show with its Dynamic team of musicians for Principals as they enjoyed a hand crafted scrumptious evening snacks prepared by IIHM, 2nd and 3rd year students under the expert guidance of master chefs and Food and Beverage team. The venue set up was brilliantly executed by a team from IIHM comprising of Sangeeta Bhattacharjee, Associate Director, Yusuf Lokhandwala, Tamal Das and Team. All in all it was a grand success and Summit hosted 50 principals in and across Pune.
Experiential learning, building emotional intelligence and welcoming students back to school were the key focus areas of the summit.