Madhi

Transformational Academic
programme (tap)

TAP uses the unconventional but highly effective ‘Apply - Learn - Create - Apply’(ALCA) model to make training more experiential and practical. Through the ALCA model, teachers are exposed to pre-designed high rigour lesson plans (aligned to the local syllabus) on a daily basis, along with all the teaching aids and audio-video material required to execute the lesson effectively.

At the end of 3-5 years, we believe that our teachers will attain proficiency in scripting lesson plans and be able to support the learning needs of their own classrooms.

How does TAP work?

The Transformational Academic Programme (TAP) is Madhi’s flagship programme aimed specifically at transforming the teaching-learning environment in public schools and affordable private schools where challenges exist with respect to the quality of teaching and learning outcomes. TAP targets class as a unit of change and believes transformation can be brought about by
A. supporting teachers by empowering them with resources, the latest pedagogical strategies and creating a nurturing eco-system in schools to facilitate a culture of learning and encourage professional development.
B. improving student learning outcomes through contextual customisable learning aids that will help them achieve Grade-level proficiency in literacy and numeracy

What is the ALCA Model?

By using the lesson plans and teaching aids on a daily basis, the teachers ‘learn by doing’ and internalise the various aspects of a high quality lesson plan and are able to move away from the traditional rote learning method gradually. The lesson plans also act as highly effective tools for language training and teachers gradually feel more confident about speaking in English in class, gradually increasing children’s exposure to the language. This makes language acquisition a very natural and organic process, both for the teacher and the student.

How does Madhi plan to launch TAP across schools?

Madhi Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Corporation of Chennai’s Department of Education to implement TAP across 15 primary schools in grades I and II in the year 2016-17. TAP will be impacting 1600 children through 42 teachers and will aim to add one grade every year, supporting teachers and students up to Grade 10.

How successful was TAP’s pilot?

TAP was piloted across 3 schools from June 2015 to October 2015. It was extremely successful with improvements seen in teacher motivation as well as student learning outcomes:

We also compared endline results between two sections in the same schools where TAP was being piloted – a control study between TAP and non-TAP sections of the same grade. The endline results were:

Teacher testimonials:

“Without the TAP lesson plans, I feel like I am standing in class without hands. Earlier I used to go to class with a rough idea about how I would approach a lesson and sometimes feel blank as the day progressed. But with the TAP lesson plan, I am able to go well prepared and feel like I have someone guiding me through class. I also saw that my students are eager to learn since the lesson plans make the lessons seem exciting and fun.”
- Nancy Perinbam, Primary School Teacher, Vidyaniketan Higher Secondary School, Chennai

“Most of the training programmes that I have attended, I have only been able to take notes and have tried to use some of the techniques in class but it was not possible to do it consistently. But since TAP is pre-designed and pre-made and given to us, it has greatly reduced our stress and we are able to execute a lesson happily and effortlessly.”
-Gomathi Senthil Kumar, Primary School Teacher, CPS Koyambedu

Teachers
Students

I help mould
future citizens
of this country

I’ve been a teacher for the past 18 years. I believe my job is one of the most important jobs in the world as I help mould future citizens of this country. Everyday I come to school looking forward to everything my children are going to teach me and everyday I learn something new from them. My advice to aspiring teachers is that teaching requires as much skill and talent as any other job and those who think this is an ‘easy job’ are sadly mistaken.

– Rosemary.S, Primary School Teacher,
Corporation of Chennai Primary School, Tiruvalluvar Salai, Chennai.

Promote
Cleanliness.
Clean Thoughts,
Clean Habits,
Clean Schools
& Clean Homes

I’ve been a teacher for the past 20 years. Being a school leader helps me bring about tangible change not just to one class but to the entire school. I look forward to the moring assembly the most. It helps me connect with all my students. My advice to the aspiring teachers is to promote cleanliness. Clean thoughts, clean habits, clean schools and clean homes go a long way in shaping children's value systems and their future.

– Yasoda Bai, Headmistress,
Chennai Corporation Primary School, Thiruvalluvar Salai, Chennai

Serve the
students
with love
and
respect

I’ve been a teacher for the past 19 years. I love to be in the company of my students and they are my ‘mood boosters’. I look forward to coming to school everyday in the hope that my children will learn new words everyday and when they do it truly feels like a miracle and I am happy to be a part of their achievements everyday, no matter how small or big. My students come from such difficult backgrounds that I make it a point to appreciate every effort they make to overcome their challenges. My advice to aspiring teachers is that they must look at this as an opportunity to ‘serve’ and must serve the students with love and respect and not expect the students to be subservient to them.

– Amudha.S, Primary School Teacher,
Corporation of Chennai Primary School, Koyambedu, Chennai

Only
‘love’
works

I’ve been a teacher for the past 20 years. I believe my role as a teacher is truly special and it makes me a part of my students’ lives forever – you never forget your teachers! I look forward to coming to school everyday and hope that I can teach my students something new to fuel their curiosity. My advise to aspiring teachers is that in this line of work only ‘love’ works – you must truly love your job and your students to be able to do them justice as they look up to us as role models.

– Angayarkanni.D, Primary School Teacher,
Corporation of Chennai Primary School, Koyambedu, Chennai

Help them
realise their
potential

I’ve been a teacher for the past 18 years. My students make me believe that the world is a perfect place with their innocence and their blind faith in you. I leave all my personal problems at home and coming to school and being in the company of my students is a great stress reliever for me. My advice to aspiring teachers is to always remember that you have a duty towards your students and by choosing to be a teacher you have made them a promise to help them realise their potential and you must remember and renew that promise everyday of your life as a teacher.

– Devayani.S, Primary School Teacher,
Corporation of Chennai Middle School, Arumbakkam, Chennai

We are
all learners
more than
we are
teachers

I’ve been a teacher for the past 19 years. I love the fact that as a teacher, I get an opportunity everyday to learn with my students and that we get to grow with them. I don’t believe learning should ever stop and that there is something new to be learnt everyday. I look forward to coming to school everyday and being greeted by innocent smiles and eager eyes and it truly makes me feel like a super hero in charge of so many lives. My advice to aspiring teachers is that they must believe that we are all learners more than we are teachers. We must be open to learning from and with our students. This may not be the right life choice for those looking for an easy way to earn a living.

– Gomathi Senthil Kumar, Primary School Teacher,
Corporation of Chennai Primary School, Koyambedu, Chennai

Smile
through
tough
times

I’ve been a teacher for the past 20 years. Children teach you a lot about life but most importantly they teach you in the most effortless manner how to be resilient and how to smile through tough times. Some of my students do not get eat 3 square meals a day but they will never hesitate to offer you something that they may have brought as snacks on a special day. My job allows me to learn such valuable lessons from my students and I hope I am able to teach them something in return. My advice to aspiring teachers is to never shy away from taking on challenges or trying something new for your students. Students learning needs keep changing and as teachers we must keep pace with and cater to their evolving needs.

– Vijayalakshmi.B, Primary School Teacher,
Corporation of Chennai Primary School, Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai

I want to
become a
police officer

My name is Vijayakumar and I am 6 years old. I like coming to school because I get to meet my best friend, Surya, everyday. When I grow up I want to become a police officer and help my city. I believe we can all be happy only if our city does well

I want to work
in the same
police station as
my best friend

My name is Surya and I am 6 years old. I like coming to school because I like my teacher. She is very kind and patient with me. When I grow up I would like to be a police officer because I want to work in the same police station as my best friend, Vijayakumar.

I want to
become
a teacher

My name is Suganthi and I am 7 years old. I like coming to school because I like to learn new things. I also like the food they give us for lunch everyday. I want to become a teacher when I grow up because all my friends tell me that I teach them well when they don’t understand something in class.

I want to
become a
police officer

My name is Akshaya and I am 6 years old. I like coming to school because of my teacher who teaches us new things everyday. When I grow up I want to become whatever will make my parents happy – I think they would like it if I became a doctor.

I want to
become
a doctor

My name is Yuvasri and I am 6 years old. I like coming to school because my school has a big playground and I love to play there. I want to become a doctor when I grow up because my mother has promised to buy me a cycle only if I become a doctor.

I want to
become
a teacher

My name is Yashwanth and I am 6 years old. I like to come to school because my teacher teaches us very well and I like to study. When I grow up I want to become a teacher and teach the students who do not always understand the subjects easily.

Literacy and Language development
programme (lldp)

LLDP is a system-capacity building programme that pioneers the use of technology and data to bring about tangible improvements in grade level English literacy skills among primary school students in Tamil Nadu.

monitoring and evaluation, ssa tamil nadu

In 2017-18, Madhi was contracted to assist with the monitoring and evaluation of the new child-friendly pedagogy that has been introduced by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Tamil Nadu. Madhi’s M&E team was involved at the pilot stage of the project so the pedagogy could be fine-tuned before it is scaled across the state.

technical assitance, tntp

The Tamil Nadu Teacher Platform (TNTP) is part of the DIKSHA(Digital Interface for Knowledge Sharing) initiative proposed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) which aims to create a single repository of teaching learning materials to be accessed by teachers for free. The organisation contracted by the MHRD for this purpose is Ek Step, a non-profit organisation based in Bengaluru. TNTP will host digital versions of the textbook, lesson plans aligned to the state curriculum, multimedia content for each learning objective, digital assessments and other such important tools, which can be accessed by teachers quickly and easily.

technology for governance

Teachers are required to fill nearly 60-70 academic and administrative registers regularly, which reduces classroom instruction time. Madhi has been assisting the Tamil Nadu Department of School Education (TNDSE) to conceptualise mobile applications to make data entry and dissemination simpler for the teachers and other administrative officials.

knowledge partners, ssa - ngo partnerships

Tamil Nadu Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) invited a consortium of leading NGOs from across the country to augment and enhance the quality of education by implementing their programmes in several districts across Tamil Nadu. Madhi assisted TN SSA as a knowledge partner to coordinate the efforts of all the NGOs and report on the progress made by them periodically. The workshop served as a platform for the state to indicate its areas of need in terms of technical and financial assistance and the NGOs and CSR organisations to come forward to contribute towards certain projects that align with their interests and area(s) of intervention.

SCERT Engagement – Partnership with the SCERT, TN

October 2017

Madhi invited to be a part of the sub-committee to revise English curriculum for Grades 1-5

December 2017

Madhi becomes a part of the textbook revision committee

May 2017

Grade 1 English textbook is released

technology for governance

knowledge partners, ssa - ngo partnerships

EduKit App

EduKit App is a one-stop solution for the classroom needs and professional development of a busy teacher.

Customisable teaching-learning resources for classroom use and professional development at every teacher’s fingertips. Schools will also have the option to customise the Edukit App by subscribing to physical teaching-learning resources which can be used by the teachers in conjunction with the app.

CONTACT

Transformational Academic
programme (tap)

Literacy and Language development
programme (lldp)

Programme Elements

Teachers

Principals and teacher educators

State and district administration