Make them Curious and not Studious

Prof. Atul Arun Kulkarni, (M.Com., M.B.A.(Finance), PG.D.B.M.(HRM), B.Ed. NET, SET) serving as an Assistant Professor, in Pemraj Sarda College, Ahmednagar since 2012. Completed his Master Degree in Commerce,  Management, PG. Diploma in HRM. and pursuing Doctorate from University of Pune. Renowned name in the field of Financial, Educational, Motivational training.

‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Unfortunately, most of the parents (and teachers) are heedless to this well-known idiom. They are trying to provide everything to their offspring/students expecting them to be versatile. But the outcome is disheartening. These future pillars of the society become race horses. They have no idea why they are running and where they will arrive at.

This type of blind study may help a student to acquire information, but the moot question remains in his/ her mind, “Why”? There might be exceptions, but in general, high intelligence comes with a good dose of curiosity. Once child has a motive behind his study, that study will give him/ her knowledge.

Intelligent people always have more questions than answers. If the subject’s curiosity is piqued by the right question, the result is better learning and storing the related information. It is because curiosity puts the brain in a state that allows it to learn and retain any kind of information.

Today the duty of teacher is to teach to learn, to develop inner feeling to learn. The ocean of information is there; teach them what to collect and why to collect. If a teacher is able to arouse students’ curiosity about something they’re naturally motivated to learn; they’ll be better prepared to learn things that they would normally consider boring or difficult.

Teacher and parents should appreciate the curiosity of a student. Most of the time we become empathetic and enraged when students ask us questions. But if you praise students by describing how their questions, explorations and investigations are contributing to their own or classroom learning, you let them know that they are valued for their motivation regardless of the grade they achieve.

It does not mean that every time we should answer the questions. Let the children find answers to their questions on their own. Don’t explain everything to them. Just give them a push wherever they stumble or stop. Just show them the way, don’t take them to the way. Let them select their way. it’s not only about their studies; but as a human being, as responsible citizen, as a person too they must be habitual to find answers to their questions on their own. After all, they must remain students at heart though their formal education comes to an end. Let their curiosity work as their teacher. It is not important how good teacher you are… what matters most is how good learners your students are. No need to take them to water, just develop and realize them about their thirst. They will find the water and drink it. Curiosity leads to knowledge. As a teacher we must teach them to learn… What? When? How? Why? and Where? Let their curiosity decide!