Srinagar, July 18:The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Jammu and Kashmir, has concluded a three-day Capacity Building Programme (CBP) on Experiential Learning in Mathematics at its Divisional Office Kashmir, aiming to strengthen competency-based and learner-centric mathematics education across the Union Territory.Organised by the Department of Education in Science and Mathematics under the leadership of Joint Director SCERT, Kashmir, Syed Shabir Ahmad, the programme trained Master Resource Persons (MRPs) from various District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and schools. The participants will now conduct similar training programmes for mathematics teachers in their respective districts under a cascading model to ensure wider adoption of innovative teaching practices in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).Addressing the participants, Syed Shabir Ahmad reaffirmed SCERT’s commitment to continuous professional development of teachers and expressed confidence that the cascading approach would improve classroom teaching and learning outcomes in mathematics across Jammu and Kashmir.
The training was coordinated by Gulzar Ahmad Dar, Senior Academic Officer, SCERT J&K, who highlighted the importance of experiential learning in promoting conceptual understanding, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills among students. He said the cascading model would enable the knowledge and teaching practices gained during the programme to reach thousands of mathematics teachers through district-level initiatives.
The programme featured a series of technical sessions covering experiential learning, activity-based teaching, inquiry-driven pedagogy and competency-oriented classroom practices. Dr. Khalid, Lecturer in Mathematics, demonstrated the use of origami as an innovative tool for teaching geometry, fractions, symmetry and spatial reasoning through interactive paper-folding activities.On the second day, Sheikh Bashir conducted practical sessions on experiential classroom strategies, while Abdul Rashid Malla showcased innovative mathematics activities and low-cost teaching-learning materials to help teachers make classrooms more engaging and learner-centred.
The final day included a session by Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal on brain-teasing mathematics, focusing on puzzles, games and logical challenges to enhance analytical thinking and higher-order problem-solving skills. Tariq Ahmad Deca concluded the technical sessions by demonstrating practical techniques for simplifying abstract mathematical concepts through experiential and participatory methods using locally available resources.Throughout the programme, participants actively engaged in discussions, group work, peer learning, reflective exercises and practical demonstrations aimed at preparing them to replicate the training effectively in their respective districts.
During the valedictory session, Javaid Ahmad Banday, Assistant Professor, SCERT J&K, Central, emphasised the need to adopt experiential learning across all disciplines, particularly mathematics, in line with the vision of NEP 2020. He urged participants to act as catalysts for promoting learner-centric and competency-based teaching practices.The programme concluded with participants pledging to organise district-level training programmes and promote activity-oriented, experiential mathematics education across schools in the Kashmir Division.
