As part of The Royal Academy (TRA), I took charge of presenting Cross-Pollinated Learning Experiences through one activity on behalf of Damphu Central School. I took it because I was willing to give the beauty of teaching and in between I was interested in exploring the ideas of Cross Pollination, the future of education.
I have chosen "Food Guide Pyramid'' to scaffold our understanding on cross pollination concept. The activity was beautifully assigned to all of us to ponder on the day's learning, smart and middle path journey by TRA faculty. The presentation topic was chosen with keeping many things in mind. As easy as it sounds, it is related to everyone despite differences in age, subject of specialization and background. The topic was fair to be on the screen for presentation, discussion and to wave the ideas on Cross Pollination. On the other hand, the main idea was to propose how to teach rather than what to teach beyond syllabi.
"Apple" Zhey La was the formal opening to my presentation. Not quite sure how many got the message across, but it was intended for the topic I chose to talk about for the half-hour mark followed by 10 minutes of lively Q-&-A session.
Three more slides down were all about school going children's choice of food. The photographs were taken a few weeks ago on my way home. The students featured were from the nearby school. I often stop and talk to small kids about their favorite food –fruits, vegetables and snacks. The picture was basically chosen to send the message across the audience and trainers to show the Bhutanese Food. It wasn't far from the truth –we are the Cheese Lovers!
The second slide showed that we are overly exposed to junk food items from an early age and subsequently develop unhealthy food habits.
As I went on to present the topic "Food Guide Pyramid", I told the audience, I just took the empty chart paper. Since students were already briefed on the lesson, all the students came with one food item. Class monitor made sure that no food items were repeated. I was happy that at least everyone was with one food item. I reminded them that education doesn't happen in isolation. I took five different items. It was basically sharing food knowledge and becoming part of a learning community.
When everyone was settled on the open ground, I displayed the empty chart. Within a few minutes we made a beautiful Food Guide Pyramid, more beautiful and real than what was in the book. The whole idea was to make the learning more realistic and interesting. We didn't agree more than what was made together as a team. It involved a lot of collaboration, patience and effort.
Once everything was on the chart, I took charge to explain the whole concepts of the Food Pyramid. It was fun sharing such a beautiful story with little innocent kids.
To continue with the activity, I have arranged three notebooks near the Food Guide indicating three meal plates. After that interested students were called to prepare their food menu from the items displayed with each nutritional value. Some had impressive items for the menu. We questioned a few friends –why they chose to go for such lavish items and many more. However, before we closed our lesson a few students were curious to know about my menu. I roughly prepared my menu in front of them; many were utterly surprised. Since I chose to go for more fruits, vegetables and soup meals. The unbelievable fun was that my food menu was unique from the rest of them. I prefer to eat very little rice, or no rice is fine.
To make things real and short, I told them how Gautama Buddha got enlightenment with a single grain and a drop of water a day. So it's not always necessary to eat rice for all three meals. I don't know how funny I sounded, but I did my part with honesty.
I explained how the Food Guide Pyramid was related to The Five Areas of Development. I touched upon how each area of development was interconnected with brief ideas and perspectives as reflected on the above slide. I have also shared how it was related to Cross-Pollination concepts with proper reasons.
In the above two slides, I have mentioned that the idea of the Food Guide Pyramid doesn't end with the end of classroom lessons. It goes beyond the four corners of the room and into daily life. Much of the agriculture work at school happens with bigger intention. The billboard on the Food Pyramid to nutritional value and timing are all part of wholesome learning. I briefly highlighted on WFP (World Food Programme). On a daily basis, the organization feeds millions of people across the world and since long Bhutan has been part of it and we have benefited so much from this programme. I shared many concerns on the importance of the food that comes on our plate. Therefore, teaching food values and its wastage at school mess and at home are perhaps very crucial. Since, millions of people on the other side of the world are going hungry everyday.
As expected I couldn't furnish my ideas well. Since I had some discomfort talking, or being in front of the camera. I wasn't born to be a public speaker although I have a strong desire to be on the big stage. Definitely someday I will overcome this fear of the camera and be myself.
I was happy that I could at least present on Cross-Pollinated ideas and didn't embarrass team Damphu for not having anything to present.
The whole idea was thickly surrounded by reasonable answers. If there is one thing to barter, it is my fear of the camera.
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