Learning simplified..

As I started another innings of learning after a considerable amount of break I was bit anxious about the things that are to come. It was our second session after a quite serious one and we were not expecting anything so "easy". But than a man dressed in most simplest way walked in, removed his footwear,sat on the edge podium platform and signaled us all to come and sit on the floor. It did look surprising but in the end it was a whole new experience. And that was Dr. Mandi.

First, he showed one of the most seen and least thought about experimental tool in our school days. I had some rough idea that it demonstrates the conservation of energy and was bit confused about it's connection with 'management study'. After doing a quick Google search on my phone I understood it is called Newton's Cradle. And I still got no  idea about it's use in the management study.  

Second, came a small foam ball having the world map on it. It was thrown at us by Dr. Mandi. He asked us "what is it?" we all in unison said "a globe". And the next thing was what is it doing here in this class. Still we had no answer. On close observation we realized it was a stress ball that we use to squeeze while sitting on our work desk few months back.

Third, came a plastic butterfly balanced on Dr.Mandi's finger. And again same question what is it and again a similar loud answer "a butterfly". But it was a more than just a butterfly, it demonstrated the center of gravity concept of elementary physics.

Well, one thing in common with all the three things was that they were all toys. So now these toys still could not understand the connection with Management in general or Principles of Organization (as later we were told that we were sitting in a POM session). But they did play a very important role in learning. They were the things that were sold on streets by students of NITIE in its famous Mandi. Briefly, Mandi is an innovative pedagogy for effective learning.In Mandi pedagogy students are assigned to engage in street selling of educational aids merchandise for a day and the experience is integrated with regular academic learning processes. Coming to the toys, they acted as tools in a two different learning activities. One, as management students we will understand the concept of selling goods to strangers on the streets. Two, the children who purchased them would learn certain scientific concept out of them. And also not forget, the stress ball, how many us knew something useful can happen even when we are stressed? having a world map on a stress ball would mean we can learn at least about one country and its geographical location per day.

In a nutshell it was a whole new learning experience of two hours. And thanks Dr.Mandi and his Mantra of learning.

“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” 
― Albert Einstein


Reference :

NITIE Mandi- 2009

Official link for Mandi 2009