Life Skills
Recent reports in newspapers show worrisome condition of the youth,
especially their emotional aspect. Newspapers are full of reports which reflect
a significant rise in the problems faced by the youth, for example, serious
emotional disturbances have increased and resulted in disturbed relationships
among students in schools because of decrease in emotional intelligence among them
which pushes them to the greater use of alcohol and other drugs from an early
age. All this clearly result in increase in aggression, suicidal tendencies,
drugs use, and depression cases. This scenario shows the struggle that the
youth go through and emotional problems they face. So providing an educational
experience that could strengthen their coping abilities to counter environmental
stress is an important call of present time. One of the best approaches for
contributing to the overall development of children is the life skills
approach. A key aspect of human development - as important to basic survival as
intellect - is the acquisition of socio-cognitive and emotional coping skills.
Today the behavior of a student is influenced by a lot of factors with
Information Technology as one of the major factors. In a fast moving and fast
changing world human interaction and relationships have become all the more
important than anytime in the past. Information Technology is playing an
important role in ways people interact with each other reaching across borders,
ethnicity, religion and race. These interactions and relationships among people
are largely influenced by the life skills acquired by them, so life skills have
become more important than anything else in student’s life. The life skills
acquired by people differ among them and these skills play an important role in
the overall development of a person.
Meaning of life skills lie in the word itself i.e. skills that make life
enjoyable and meaningful. For most children of India life skills were imparted
so that they could lead a life with the motto "कर्मण्येवाधिकारमस्ते माf फ़लेषुकदाचन"-In the present scenario Indian families
are moving away from joint families to nuclear families which have affected the
development of children negatively, so this is imperative on the part of
schools and teachers that they play an important role in imbibing value based
education or life skill based education.
“Life skills mean the essential skills developed through a higher order
thinking, that enable a person to perform effectively in his or her life and
thus making him a socially acceptable and successful person’’. From this
definition it can be clearly understood that life skills are acquired by a
person mostly during his early stages of life, though it is a continuous
process. With the help of Information Technology, the world today has shrunk in
a small laptop or a mobile phone and that enables a person to interact with
different societies, different people and acquire whole lot of skills for his
personal development. Life skills are more about a person’s presentation and
his attitude towards life. These interactions may bring positive as well as
negative life skills in a person’s life. This is a time when close family
members, friends and teachers should play an important role in bringing
positivity through these interactions and develop life skills. In some
situations students come across different problems, stress and their weaknesses
and find it difficult to come out of these situations. Life skills teach a
person to face peer pressure, analyse situation and always see a ray of hope in
adverse conditions. Life skills also teach a person not only to be positive,
but also show him his strength, weakness, empathy and creativity thus making
him an effective communicator. As it is written in Bhagwad Gita, “Man is made
by his belief, as he believes, so he is.”
Role Of Teachers In Imparting Skills
Teachers play a very important role in inculcating these life skills. To
impart the highest value i.e.life skills in students, it is important that
teachers should have a complete understanding of life skills. Teachers
themselves should practice what they preach. Some of the aspects of life skills
are self-awareness, effective communication, creative thinking, critical
analysis etc.
Role of peer group
During teenage, students are inspired the most by their peer group. They
automatically acquire traits of reasoning. If the group is exposed to positive
traits they will be inclined towards positivity.
Role of parents
Healthy environment develops a positive attitude in child.Mutual efforts
of parents and teachers develop different life skills in children. If a child is
exposed to a healthy life style at home, he becomes healthy, like, if everyone
at home starts the day with physical exercise he starts respecting his body too
.If someone at home narrates him stories, he learns to analyse situations and
learns to show empathy.
Role of Media
Nowadays media plays a significant role
in building one’s perspective and in acquiring life skills. Schools opt for
different newspapers and magazines so that students can read about their own
age group as well as poets, article writers and achievers. They get invaluable
suggestions and opportunity to express them.
Role of the schools
Schools and teachers can play the most important role in the life of the
children because they are seen by the students as motivators, torch bearers and
support. Some of the aspects of these strengths are creativity in writing,
games, culinary skill, dancing, singing and oratory skills.
One of the most important modes to impart life skills is communication.
Communication consists of listening and speaking. Communication is a two way
interaction where an underlying message is clearly understood by the recipient.
A person must be able to listen and understand what someone is asking or
telling him and also be clear about what he is asking or telling others.
Everything related to the universe communicates in the verbal or in the nonverbal
forms. Even nature communicates its aggression to people. Expression of
life skills is its communication skill. An important question that arises is
whether these skills can be acquired easily by listening and speaking. Teachers
play significant role in developing the skills where the teacher and student
both are empowered.
ओमसहनाववतुसहनौभुनक्तु ,
सहवीर्यंकरवावहै
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु
माविद्विषावहै।
This is an
excellent example of communication and harmony where teachers and students pray
for their mutual growth.It is effective only when it has significance to a
person. Communication is a weapon which can bring the desired changes in a person
and his surroundings.Mahatma Gandhi’s example is suitable here, how even a shy
boy came over his shyness and made effective communication of freedom. This
basic understanding helps a student in the long run and makes a student an
effective communicator. Breakdown in communication is one of the important factors
in emotional disturbance. When communication breaks down then misunderstanding comes
in and people might become aggressive or uncooperative towards each other.
Self-awareness
This term has a wide meaning but it is best defined
as per Vedant ‘’अहम्बह्मsस्मि'’ that is nothing
but more about self-awareness. Today students are moving away from this fact and
many of them are not aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Due to this
confusion and peer pressure they tend to miss and identify themselves.
Developing self-awareness and knowing self so that one changes and understands what
stops him from making progress. It is very important for one to realize one’s
weaknesses and one should work towards overcoming them so that it doesn't
hinder his life. Sometimes people are more worried about their inabilities and
forget their capabilities. So it is necessary that one should focus on one’s strength
and accept his weaknesses too. Some of the important basic needs of a person
that he must be aware of are food, health and shelter. A person must be aware that
shelter is must to protect him against environmental hazards. A person must
recognise and be aware that he must eat and drink and respond to a good quality
food otherwise, the body may not function as efficiently as it should and may
become prone to infection and other illnesses. A person must remain aware of
his priorities and goals and always strive to find ways to achieve those. Using
these goals, he must lay down the roadmap and framework to achieve these goals
and plan to get over the obstacles and objections that may come up against during
the course. One of the important aspects that a person should always be aware
of is to know what is important in his
life. This can help him to move forward and live the sort of life that is
important for him .This will help him to interact with others with integrity
and authenticity. Believing in one’s own capabilities is one of the most
important dimensions that bring out the best positive outcome in the personal
development. Self-awareness of this dimension not only helps a person to remain
focused but also creates a positive environment in a team and surroundings. So
all these life skills are important to cope with life and help one to become a
successful person. Life skills always help in making a positive person in the
society who can contribute in his own personal development as well as that of
the society. But with the varying levels of intelligence and grasping power in
individuals it may not be possible that the recipient receives the intended
message. In these cases innovation and teaching methodology play an important
role in imparting life skills depending on each individuals capabilities and
learning styles.
Critical thinking and creativity
कुतोवानूतनंवस्तुवयमुतप्रेक्शितुमक्षमः
उक्तिवैचित्र्यमात्रप्रकाशने
This is a very important aspect of lifeskills. Whichever skill one
acquires to sharpen the acquired skills, one has to develop critical
thinking.Critical and creative thinking are two sides of the same coin which
help a person to deal with different situations of life successfully.
They can be inculcated through an effective curriculum. They can be
practiced in everyday teachings by developing questioning and reasoning skills
in the students.
Some of the modes that can be used to teach life skills are:
1 YOGA AND MEDITATION
"योगश्चित्तवृतिनिरोध ः"
Healthy practices like yoga and meditation help in the learning of life
skills. Nowadays yoga isn’t related just to physical and breathing exercise but
has a broader aspect of mental stability and the state of mind
too.Practicing both the habits bring positivity and energy for the body as well
as the mind. The mind is like an energy factory which produces thoughts. If the
mind gets the fuel of positive vibes it will be beneficial for oneself as well as
for the society thereby contributing in its progress.
2 DISCUSSIONS
It is a purposeful conversation proceeding towards a certain objective.
Discussions involve exchange and sharing of ideas, experiences, facts and opinion
on given topics. The conversation can be used in large or small groups.
Discussion can be used when:
·
Clarifying concepts
·
Clarifying attitudes and values
·
Gathering opinions from others
·
Building consensus
·
Gathering ideas
·
Learning new skills like listening
critically and discussing sensitively.
3. Debate
A debate is a discussion which involves two opposing parties with each
group expressing opinions or views about a given topic or subject. Each group
competitively attempts to win over the other. At the end of the debate the
group with more points is declared the winner. To develop critical
thinking debates are organised.Current topics are chosen for this type of
activity. Those who participate in it develop the critical, analytical and
logical thinking, an important aspect of life skills. With this skill they
learn to respect their opponents’ understanding that they have a right to
express themselves. Today the schools and teachers are well aware of multiple
intelligence, in which each and every child is considered unique in one way or
the other. Debaters are word smart and are blessed with logical ability. So to
cater to the needs of word smart children, teachers emphasize on life skills
based on word or language skills.
4. Role Plays/Just a minute
These are short drama episodes in which the participants experience how
a person feels in a similar real life situation. Role plays can be used when:
a)
Developing specific skills such as
negotiation, assertiveness, communication and self-awareness
b)
Demonstrating how a skill can be
applied in a given situation.
c)
Organizing different programmes to
express gratitude to the grandparents, parents and other members of the society.
Schools for example, can organise special days for grandparents and like that.
Such programmes make grandparents feel proud by seeing their grandchild’s thrilling,
emotional and message giving performance. Here teachers need to be careful
while selecting the theme. Through this programme students learn to perform in groups,
learn to praise each other and are able to feel the emotion of characters.
Independence Day/Republic
Day- participating on this day helps them to realise that they must contribute
in the country's progress. Students analyse current situation of the country
and give different ideas to move ahead in form of self written poems, essays
and plays. By this they are developing creativity, thinking skill and
communication skills.
Annual functions are platforms to make people aware of social, environmental and
political changes. Students get opportunities to raise current topics of the
society like save girl child, save water 'जल जीवन है ' etc.
5. Story telling
Stories are the best equipment to inculcate good habits and moral values.Through
this way of lifeskill one can successfully generate empathy towards the needy
or any other person.Story telling involves telling of narratives with a particular
theme, based on actual events.Students get detailed information about an event
of life situation in an interesting way while also getting a moral message.
Stories can be composed, collected or based on specific themes on life skills
for example assertiveness, negotiations or decision making. When reading or
telling stories they should be dramatic and larger than real life experiences.
The stories could be presented in a variety of ways for example, tone
variation, use of facial expression, involvement of audience. Animal and human
characters can be used in presenting the stories atthe primary level.
For middle and secondary school students, teachers need to choose a
story from the community which provides incidents where a character has to make
a decision. The story line should follow the character and show the
consequences of the decisions made. If it was a wise decision, the character
should be portrayed as a winner. If the decision made was a poor one, the story
should show the character suffering as a consequence of this.
The students could be encouraged to come up with their own stories from
their communities or any other. A teacher should choose an interesting and
lively story. The story should follow logical and systematic steps, and should
highlight incidents that are familiar to learners
Puppets can be used to make stories more dramatic especially if the
story is being told rather than read. When stories are being told one should
vary the tone and use different voices for each character in the story. You may
also use puppetry as a method of presenting sensitive messages in an
interesting way.
6 Sports
-Multiple intelligence plays a vital role in a child’s life.To cater to the
needs of kinesthetic children one should plan activities of their interest. They
need different games to channelize their energy in a constructive way.Through
these activities they learn how to keep themselves in shape, to utilise time
and energy wisely. They develop sportsman spirit in them. Good sportsman has
team spirit too which help him to contribute in the progress of the society.
7 Songs and Dances
Songs are musical compositions on topical issues and themes, which
convey messages on contemporary issues in the society. The same helps in character
building and values and reinforcing them.
Songs and dance can be used to develop
and strengthen life skills, for example self awareness, communication skills
and conflict resolution. Songs are useful when one wants to pass sensitive cultural
and patriotic messages in an interesting manner. The teacher can compose a
song, or ask the learners to compose some or use the already existing ones. The
songs should be interesting, appealing, easy to learn and familiar to the students.
The songs can be re-enforced by use of puppetry.Dancing involves co-ordination
of body movements which generate joy and cheer among the participants. These
flow activities create positive environment and help one to enhance his
personality.
There are many skills and sub skills
which are not mentioned but all those are included in C3 - creativity (culinary,
gardening, story writing, presentation etc.), critical thinking (projects,
experiments, problem solving assessment) and communication skills. There are
two key elements for achieving C3, one simply setting objectives and breaking
the objectives down into easy to accomplish tasks. The second element involves
training one’s mind to think positive. Positivity will be generated by reading,
listening to positive thoughts and practicing good habits.Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is
an excellent example of combination of C3. He has put vision and mission for us
to achieve life skills for ourselves and nation -:
"As a young citizen of India
Armed with technology, knowledge and
love for my nation
I will walk and sweat for a great
vision
The vision of transforming India into a
developed nation
Powered by economic strength with value
system
Iam one of the citizens of billions
Only the vision will ignite the billion
souls
It has entered into me;
The ignited soul compared to any
resource
Is the most powerful resource on the
earth
Above the earth, under the earth
I will keep the knowledge of light
burning
To achieve the vision developed India
May the divine peace of beauty enter
into our people
Happiness and good health blossom in our minds and bodies"
At last I would like to mention that the reforms introduced by CBSE is
an earnest attempt to develop life skills and teachers get ample opportunity to
make the students learn that. Assessment of speaking and listening skills, PSA
etc are the tools to achieve the goals of life skills .But, we should remember
that only test would not enhance life skills but for that teachers will have to
work hard and motivate children by providing them conducive environment with
holistic approach
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