Educational Events
HORIZON BEYOND ACADEMICS: Bringing joy in Learning
Helen O’ Grady International organized a seminar for school principals and policy makers in Mumbai on 15 December 2012 on ‘Horizon Beyond Academics - Discovering Joy in Learning!’ at The JW Marriot, Juhu. The seminar aimed to highlight the key role of drama in education.
“Drama needs to play a significant role in the overall development of our students. Modern education recognizes drama as an effective developmental tool, but the need to excel in academics limits the options of our students here in India,” says MsArpita Mittal, CEO of Helen O’Grady. It is important that our students should develop enough communication skills to act as if ‘all the world is their stage ‘in the immortal words of the bard,” she elaborated.
How do we create that small window of opportunity for our children to express, perform and excel through the medium of performing arts? How do we bring joy into our classrooms? How do we give them wings to explore their full potential and creativity? This conference aims to make school principals and other educationists ask these questions and seek answers to them.
The participants for this panel discussion were the Stalwarts of the Industry:
Late Julia Courtenay Tanner – An International trainer with over 30 years of experience in UK, Hong Kong & India.
Ananth Narayan Mahadevan – Renowned actor-director of Marathi & Hindi films and TV serials.
Dr. Swaroop Sampat – MA (English), Ph.D. (Education) from the University of Worcester, UK, with doctoral thesis on use of drama with children and teachers.
Neema Parekh - A disciple of Dr. Swaroop Sampat for teaching Life Skills through Drama.
Joy Sengupta – Well-known stage actor.
Svati Chakravarty Bhatkal – Co-Director and Head, Field Research, for television show Satyamev Jayate produced by Aamir Khan Productions.
Rita Wilson – Ms Wilson has over 4 decades of experience in education. She was the secretary for ICSE Council. Ex. Principal of Auckland House School, Shimla (1986-1998) andPrincipal, Starex International School.
Dr. Reeta Sonawat – Dean and HOD of Human Development dept. SNDT University. Declared a global leader by World Forum in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Received National award for Teacher Training.
Dr Samir Dalwai – Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician at LTMG (Sion) Hospital and Medical College, Mumbai. Founder-director of New Horizons Child Development Centre (NHCDC), a multi-disciplinary therapy-oriented centre.