How is Technology Being Used in Indian Schools

Technology has become an integral part of our lives and has changed the way we function on various fronts. It has revolutionised many an industry, and the education sector is no stranger to it. While there are many ed-tech companies combining education and technology to enhance a student’s learning experience, top schools in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata are also using the power of technology very effectively.

Many schools these days use learning devices in the classroom to make learning a more interactive and interesting process, especially for the younger grades. Both teachers and students are trained to use cutting-edge technology to make learning more practical. Many companies have developed apps that are specifically made for use by students in the classroom, and can also be used by them while working on their homework assignments after school hours.

Technology also helps bring the students, teachers and parents together on the same page. Many schools use email to send regular updates to parents on the progress of their child as well as inform them about any upcoming events or activities. WhatsApp groups are a good way of creating a sense of community amongst the parents, and can be used to inform parents about homework and projects.

Technology is also used to keep children safe. You can track your child’s school bus and also get in touch with the staff member on board using an app. You no longer have to wait by the window and start worrying if your child is even a few minutes late.

The top 10 CBSE schools as well as the leading schools providing other curriculums in India are also using social media platforms effectively to reach out to parents of current and prospective students. This helps them build the right brand image and send out the right message to the right target audience.

How to Find the Best School for Your Child

A few decades ago, it was very easy to decide which school to send your child to. There were a few reputed legacy schools that each offered pretty much the same curriculum and facilities, and the student experience didn’t differ much from school to school. However, with increasing globalisation, we’ve seen a rise in the number of education boards in India. Also, many schools strive to be the No 1 school in India by providing unique facilities and diverse experiences to their students. Hence, for parents looking at enrolling their children in schools, the decision about which school is right for your child is more difficult to make these days.

But every cloud has a silver lining – While there are so many more choices available now, there is also so much more information available about educational institutes today. Here are 4 ways for you to find out more about the schools you’ve shortlisted for your offspring before you finalize one:

-          Online Research

If you’re looking for the best school in Pune or any other city in India for that matter, one of the first things you should do is look online. In today’s digital age, you will find a ton of information available on schools in your area. You should first peruse the school’s website carefully to understand more about it. You can follow this up by going through forums and social media groups to understand the opinions of other parents and experts about the school.

-          Personal Visit

Many schools today offer the option of a personal visit, wherein you can schedule a visit to the school to get a first-hand look at the campus and facilities, and interact personally with faculty and current students. If given a chance, you should definitely sign up for a tour of the school.

-          Consult Experts

While educational consultants earlier focused only on post-graduation applicants, today, with more and more people realising the impact early education has on a child’s future, there are many experts available who will be able to help you decide which school will be the right fit for your child. You can consult these experts through online forums or schedule a personal session with them to seek their advice.

-          Word of Mouth

Wondering which is the No 1 school in India? The best people to answer this question are those whose children are currently studying in the top schools across the country. Using your network and any parenting groups you may be a part of, both online and offline, reach out to those who have children who are either currently studying in the schools you’re shortlisted or who have recently graduated from these institutes to get their opinion.

The school your child goes to will play a major role in shaping his/her future. So, don’t take this decision lightly. Make the most of the information available, and ensure that you make an informed and well thought out decision.

Why is it So Important to Choose the Right School for Your Child?

Every year, parents around the country, be it bustling metro cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi or Chennai, or Tier 2 or even Tier 3 cities in India, put all their energy and efforts into finding the right school for their child. They spend immense amounts of time first researching all the available options, and then going through the admissions process for their shortlisted schools. While this process is a gruelling one, when your child gets into the right school, it’s all worth it. But what exactly makes a school ‘right’ for your child and why is it so important that your child gets an admit into such an institute?

When selecting a school for your child, first decide which curriculum would be the right fit for him/her. Schools in Worli and other parts of Mumbai that offer the same board are usually at par with each other when it comes to teaching standards, and hence, it’s important to first decide if you want your child to study under an international board like the IB or a reputed Indian one like the CBSE. Next, you should ask around about the school’s faculty, especially if your child needs extra attention in the classroom. Visit the school to see the infrastructure and facilities and get a first-hand understanding of the various co-curricular and extracurricular activities offered by the school. Are these in line with your child’s interests and his/her potential?

Choosing the right school for your child is the first step towards giving them the best academic experience and laying down a foundation for the rest of their life. In their most impressionable years, your child will be as influenced by his teachers and classmates as he will be by you and other family members. So, choose wisely. It’s not just about which school is the best, it’s also about which school is the best fit for your young child who’s about to set foot into a whole new world.

So, get ready to get your child into a school that will help them achieve their true potential. All you have to do to get started is open up a browser window on your favourite search engine and type a search phrase like ‘best school in Worli’ or ‘best school in Andheri’ to know more about all the prestigious schools in your area.

How to Find the Best School for Your Child

A few decades ago, it was very easy to decide which school to send your child to. There were a few reputed legacy schools that each offered pretty much the same curriculum and facilities, and the student experience didn’t differ much from school to school. However, with increasing globalisation, we’ve seen a rise in the number of education boards in India. Also, many schools strive to be the No 1 school in India by providing unique facilities and diverse experiences to their students. Hence, for parents looking at enrolling their children in schools, the decision about which school is right for your child is more difficult to make these days.

But every cloud has a silver lining – While there are so many more choices available now, there is also so much more information available about educational institutes today. Here are 4 ways for you to find out more about the schools you’ve shortlisted for your offspring before you finalize one:

-          Online Research

If you’re looking for the best school in Pune or any other city in India for that matter, one of the first things you should do is look online. In today’s digital age, you will find a ton of information available on schools in your area. You should first peruse the school’s website carefully to understand more about it. You can follow this up by going through forums and social media groups to understand the opinions of other parents and experts about the school.

-          Personal Visit

Many schools today offer the option of a personal visit, wherein you can schedule a visit to the school to get a first-hand look at the campus and facilities, and interact personally with faculty and current students. If given a chance, you should definitely sign up for a tour of the school.

-          Consult Experts

While educational consultants earlier focused only on post-graduation applicants, today, with more and more people realising the impact early education has on a child’s future, there are many experts available who will be able to help you decide which school will be the right fit for your child. You can consult these experts through online forums or schedule a personal session with them to seek their advice.

-          Word of Mouth

Wondering which is the No 1 school in India? The best people to answer this question are those whose children are currently studying in the top schools across the country. Using your network and any parenting groups you may be a part of, both online and offline, reach out to those who have children who are either currently studying in the schools you’re shortlisted or who have recently graduated from these institutes to get their opinion.

The school your child goes to will play a major role in shaping his/her future. So, don’t take this decision lightly. Make the most of the information available, and ensure that you make an informed and well thought out decision.

A Quick Guide to the International Baccalaureate

If you’ve been perusing the list of international schools in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai or any other city in India, you’ve definitely come across the term ‘IB’. While everyone knows that these two letters stand for International Baccalaureate and that it is one of the leading education boards in the world, how much do you really know about the IB?

The International Baccalaureate is an international not-for-profit educational foundation, which has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. While the IBO came into existence in 1968, it was first conceptualized in 1948 by Marie-Thérèse Maurette, who laid down the framework for the programme through her ‘Educational Techniques for Peace. Do They Exist?’

The IB offers the following four educational programmes:

1. IB Primary Years Programme – Ages 3 to 12

2. IB Middle Years Programme – Ages 11 to 16

3. IB Diploma Programme – Ages 16 to 19

4. IB Career-related Programme – Ages 16 to 19

While many of the best international schools India boasts of provide the first two programmes, the most common IB programme in India is the IB Diploma Programme.

The IB prides itself on providing its students with the best learning experience and ensures that its students see growth on both the academic and personal fronts. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the IB is that it encourages its learners to be many things – thinkers, communicators, inquirers, risk-takers, caring, principled, balanced, open minded, and reflective, among other things.

IB also inspires them to pursue their interests and delve deeper into their chosen fields while also ensuring that every IB student has their basics, such as Mathematics and English, right.

While the first IB school was established in India less than two decades ago, today, the IB is one of the most acclaimed education boards in the country. Indian parents are understanding the importance of holistic learning, and are choosing the IB for their child’s education as they believe that the curriculum will help their child progress on the path of well-rounded development. Yes, the IB is definitely one of the most popular choices for parents in India, as well as around the world, and it’s definitely here to stay!

How To Find Out If The School Is A Good Fit For Your Child

Any parent is bound to worry, “Am I sending my child to the best school in Worli (or wherever else you live)?” Well, it takes a lot of effort to understand whether or not your child and school make a good fit, like the perfect glove for a hand.

The simplest thing you can do which can prove to be extremely helpful, often surprisingly, is ask the child - Do you enjoy school? Is there anything you would want to change?

Your child’s response might surprise you. If he or she says something incoherent like - “I wish there was less homework” or “I wish we had an extra games period”, then these are just minor problems which can be very well avoided. No child loves a bucket load of homework and any amount of games are not enough. But if the response is more serious - something like, “I wish I understood more in the class” or “I wish it was more fun”.

Secondly, stay in touch with the teachers. Try to understand and gauge together whether or not your child is growing in all aspects, and whether he is likely to utilise his full potential. Remember - scoring good marks is not the only measure of success.

Thirdly, compare your child to other students who are of the same age and in different school. This doesn’t have been a negative comparison. Try to understand how much grown is your child as compared to other children their age. This will give you a clue whether or not your child is getting to an environment conducive to his or her growth.

There are several schools in Worli, all of Mumbai for that matter. If you feel certain that the school is not bringing out the best in your child, you should definitely go ahead and change the school. However, always make sure you are doing this only after you consult your spouse and your child. All the best!

Five Things To Consider When Selecting A School For Your Child

Finding top schools in India for your child is always a daunting task, but an important one as it can make all the difference to their academic career.

Firstly, it's essential to understand your child in terms of his/her interests and caliber, and search for schools accordingly. Determine what kind of student your child is, what environment he/she would thrive in. Once you have this in place, here are a few other factors to look into to find the best school in India for your child:

1. Faculty: Your child is going to be spending a major part of the day with their teachers, and will tend to pick up most of their ideas from school and their teachers. Hence, it's imperative that the teachers are qualified and experienced, and have complete knowledge of the subject. You want a teacher who's engaged and takes great pride in his or her students' progress, and is always open to doing whatever it takes for their development.

2. Infrastructure: Spacious and well-maintained buildings create a positive impact in the lives of school children. Although bright students will excel no matter what the environment, experts suggest that good infrastructure provides an extra edge to students with potential.

3. Extracurricular activities: Besides contributing to the development of children, especially their social skills, extracurricular activities help retain a child's interest in academics as well. Some of the best schools in India ensure that all the children are involved in some form of creative activity, which can give an extra edge to students as it fosters their intuitive and intellectual skills.  

4. Not just about the name: Just adding words like ‘private’ and ‘international’ to a school’s name or description does not guarantee the effectiveness of the school i. That being said, don't pick the school closest to you just because it is easier to travel to. This is about your child's future, so do your homework before you settle on a school.

5. Visit schools: Don't just pick a school and apply; try and arrange a tour of the premises. Most schools readily welcome visiting parents, and that's when you can determine whether it’s a place you can see your child learning and growing.

Once you have selected a school, have confidence in your choice. Remember, just writing in a good application to the top schools in India is not enough. You need to follow up.

That's all. Congratulations! You have succeeded in making one of the most important decisions in your child’s life.