Page 7 - EDUSURE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 22

An Inspirational Guru

n conversation with Edusure, M
Pavithra, a science teacher at
IZPHS Gaddipally, Garidepally
Mandal, Suryapet district, the recip-
ient of Sarabhai Teacher Scientist Na-
tional Award, 2022, shared her joy on
winning the award, her other
achievements, and efforts in stimu-
lating a scientific temper in students.

What led you to participate in the
competition?

Vigyan Prasar Network (VIPNET)
under the Department of Science and
Technology (DST), Government of
India, conducts the competition
yearly. Through the National Council
of Teacher Scientists (NCTS) on their
Telegram channel and Quality Edu-
cation WhatsApp groups, I learned
about it. The legacy of Dr. Vikram
Sarabhai as a pioneer in Indian space
research and nuclear development M Pavithra won finished as the runner-up for the Transforming Educator Award
inspired me to participate. I submit- 2021 that was conducted by The Tech Mahindra and Science Academy in 2021
ted my application because I was con-
vinced that winning it would be a rienced teachers, brilliant young sium on Gandhiji's education philos- Congress, Agastya Science Competi-
huge accomplishment as a science teachers, and veterans of interna- ophy in 2019, I presented a paper on tions, Intinta Innovator, Krishi Vi-
teacher. tional competitions. the idea of experiential learning - gyan Kendra Mela, Jawaharlal Nehru
teaching science through hands-on Science Fair, School Innovation Chal-
It is a huge honour to win the award! Please tell us about research and experience. I was part of the team lenge, and Chekumuki Science Talent
What was your initial reaction? how your students figure it out. chosen to provide digital content for Test. In addition, I earned over 80
the Diksha programme, including 60 certifications for completing various
I am thrilled to have received this I keep myself in touch with current videos of Biology lessons and 16 ques- training courses successfully. All this
prize because I placed first among the trends in teaching through training tion papers for Classes 6 to 10. I also training helped me get a broad un-
finalists, which included highly expe- programmes. In a national sympo- participated in the preparation of Ab- derstanding of science at a higher
hyasa Deepika for Class 10 Biology in level and study various teaching
the SCERT workshop. I presented pa- methodologies for new-age learners.
pers in science seminars conducted All of my efforts in self-develop-
by SCERT on the National Science ment and encouraging students to be
Day in 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021. part of science activities laid the path
My ultimate goal is to instil in my for winning the Sarabhai Teacher Sci-
students a scientific mindset. I urge entist National Award.
them to compete in science compe-
titions and attend seminars, and How did it feel about interacting with
place great emphasis on experimen- prominent scholars on such a large
tal learning. Discussions, field trips, platform?
role-plays, science storytelling, sci-
ence skits, science games, and so on It was great to discuss with science
are some of my other interactive teachers from different states, and
teaching methods. They have a lot of promising collaborations with other
fun engaging in these activities, like schools to share new ideas and pool
using a microscope and a foldscope technical knowledge were proposed.
to study the microbiological world. Another memorable event was being
My attempts in grooming students part of a presentation with a senior
into young scientists have yielded ISRO scientist and director of NCTS.
positive results. My students per- I was inspired by the work of the
formed well in the district-level In- teachers I met there, some of whom
spire-Manak Awards in the 2017- are so dedicated that they spend their
2018 and 2018-2019 academic years. own money to supplement any lack
One of them, O Swathi, gave a pres- in the scientific infrastructure of the
entation on a carcinogen-cleaning government schools where they
tree at IIT Delhi, 2019. I have also as- work. My participation earned me an
During the Inspire-Manak Awards Competition in the
academic year 2018-2019, M Pavitra extended her support sisted students with their participa- award and gave me the learning to
last a lifetime.
tion in the National Children Science
and guidance to her student
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