Total Page/Topic Views of Our Dil Se Desi Students' Corner Blog w.e.f. 16.30 Hrs, 21/06/11 Blog

Recent Topics on Dil Se Desi Students Corner Blog

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Teaching Through Interactive Activities

Interactive counselling, stage right

COUNSELLING THROUGH CONVERSATION SESSIONS IS PASSÉ WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THEATRE AND HUMOUR COMING TO THE FORE.

A theatre performance is in progress, complete with props and costumes. However, this is not mere entertainment; rather a career counselling session for students.

"There is a need to break the routine of just talking during counselling and to think out-of-the-box. Nobody is ready to change and they won't accept ideas easily, therefore, we decided to incorporate theatre and humour in our counselling, which is more effective," said Jitin Chawla, an educationist and a career counsellor. He further added, "The play brings out the complete career planning process and students gain clarity on emerging options as well, supported by printed information on sheets."

In his career counselling workshops, Chawla begins with storytelling using voice modulation and mono-acting followed by an interaction with students, which is not only engaging for students but also fulfils the aim of getting the message across.

In one of his workshops for primary and middle school teachers called 'Taare Zameen Par,' teachers are trained to use various theatre-based activities in classrooms along with music-based training, use of colours, mask-making and classroom-based case studies, among others.


PLAY THERAPY

Play therapy is a specific counselling approach where games, toys and medium such as clay, drawings and paint are used to help a child or adolescent to express their thoughts and emotions. Rather than having to explain what is troubling them, they use play and communicate at their own level and pace without feeling threatened.

`Play therapy is usually used for younger children,'' said Arti Desai, a counsellor with Career Horizons. She adds: "Here the children are exposed to different kinds of toys and play rooms where they are judged for their emotional disturbances, manual dexterity, hand and eye coordination, relationship building, parental attachment, among others."

"Play has a fundamental role in a child's development," says Sumitra Ramji, counsellor, Institute for Psychotherapy and Management Sciences, adding that, "Play is a child's vehicle of expression. It allows fantasy and creative imagination. Play also helps in conflict resolution, problem-solving, expression and regulation of emotion. Thus, it becomes a way to communicate." She elaborates: "Play therapy offers a safe environment where a child's thoughts and feelings are accepted and validated without judgement. Throughout the therapy, children are empowered and supported to learn more about who they are, to talk about things which are frightening or painful, to be self-supportive and to experiment with new behaviour."

Play therapy can be helpful in solving cases like excessive anger, fear, sadness, anxiety, aggression, school difficulties, abuse and neglect, social adjustment issues and trauma among others.

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES

Through various tests, Desai tries to understand a client's IQ level. "Projective tests helps the psychologist to know a client's emotional problems and personality traits," says Desai.

Various other innovative techniques are incorporated by Desai, like study box, time log, planning day-to-day activities, revision box, presentation skills, anxiety reducing techniques, among others.

She adds: "There is a need for drastic change in study methodology once the student enters high school. Keeping this in mind, students are motivated to change their study habits by introducing to them the concept of clarity, priority, goal setting and time management."

Sunil Sharma

Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please Leave Your Precious Comments Here