Know Your Teacher: ‘I learn from my students every day’

Sheena Ahuja’s association with Apeejay Education Society goes back to 1996. “Over the years, I have grown a lot as a teacher and I am thankful to Apeejay management for believing in me and guiding me every step of the way. Throughout my tenure, I have organised various interactive events in my school across classes, from Apeejay Inter-school Model United Nations (AISMUN) to school annual carnival ‘Meraki’, among several others, which have helped hone my management skills,” says the teacher at Apeejay School, Faridabad Sector 15.

A postgraduate in Textiles, she now teaches Home Science in classes XI and XII. In an interview, she tells us more about her professional journey:

How would you describe your experience at Apeejay?

I have had a very interesting journey of more than two and a half decades at Apeejay. I vividly remember being interviewed by Dr Stya Paul, the Founder-Chairman, whom I looked up to. Not just me but my family is also an integral part of Apeejay — my husband and my son are both Apeejay alumni. Apeejay is like family too; I cannot imagine my journey without it.

What is your secret to keeping students engaged?

At Apeejay, we have got a renovated modular kitchen as a Home Science laboratory. Children learn all kinds of cuisines, from Burmese to Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and more, which they thoroughly enjoy. We practise child-centred learning, where students take ownership of their work.

Also Read: ‘The most rewarding aspect of being a teacher is seeing my students succeed’

How does experiential learning enhance students’ skills?

I got the opportunity to work on a transdisciplinary design-think classroom programme for Home Science. It aimed at throwing a challenge to students–be it a modification of a design or a diet–to encourage ideation, critical thinking, problem-solving, research work, and resource management, which is the need of the hour.

Such exercises push students to be creative and make their journey from “impossible” to “possible”— it is not about the product but the process. Not to mention how it promotes teamwork and lets each member play up their strengths. I do not have to force a child to do something and that is the purpose of good teaching.

Is it essential for a teacher to keep learning as well?

A teacher is a learner at any given stage of their life. I learn from my students every day. Simultaneously, teachers need to have hands-on experience with technology and equip themselves with the relevant skills of the 21^st century to enhance learning. For instance, when the first COVID-19 lockdown was announced, the teachers at Apeejay could easily adapt to online classes because they were already using Moodle (an online open-source learning management system). 

Do parents get competitive about their children’s academic results?

Parents’ competitiveness remains, more so during the child’s foundational years, but many of them take it in a positive manner. They are happy to notice significant developments in their child, be it personality or their in-depth knowledge. However, there are others who may impose their aspirations onto a child. Again, I have students who want to be influencers or vloggers and their parents are on board with that. I am also the class teacher for the class XII Humanities section, and I think I have the best set of talented and hardworking students.

Any message for parents?

Let children choose what they want to do. Let them live their own dreams. We should be there to support them in whatever way possible. We must remember it is not marks that determine a child’s future but their overall development.

Equally important is giving quality time to children amid our busy schedules so parents must make an effort to do that.