Marion Hopfgartner’s TLI Pedagogics: New Age Education for Delhi’s New-Age Children

With my 3-year-old beginning his educational journey this year, I have thoroughly researched the various educational systems offered in Delhi. I believe that the foundation for effective learning and mental growth, is laid in the first years of a child’s life, making pre-school and nursery education extremely important. In the 21^st century, our biggest challenge is to prepare our children for an unknown future, with its own set of unseen problems. The best we can do is to enable them to be critical thinkers- prepared for whatever they may face.

I found Marion Hopfgartner’s approach to teaching, known as TLI Pedagogics, highly impressive. You can read more about the philosophy of this system here.

Read on to know what I learnt from her ‘Introductory Talk’ as well as her workshop on “Understanding the Inner Strength of a Child”. Then you can join in the next introductory talk on November 13 and workshop on November 15.

Marion Hopfgartner’s easy approachability makes her an ideal teacher

1. THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT EXISTS TODAY:

With excessive competition and rapidly increasing stress levels, achieving success in our chosen careers is tougher than ever before. A few years from now, the challenges will increase as we begin competing with technology and other unknown factors for our space in the world. Education is our safeguard as well as our fuel, to prepare us for the future.

TLI Pedagogics, unlike India’s prevalent education system, prepares children to think critically and equips them to harness their own strength. This builds confidence and awareness, allowing children to make the most of any situation they may face in life.

Marion Hopfgartner has authored many books

2. EVERY CHILD HAS A UNIQUE INBORN POTENTIAL THAT SHOULD BE HARNESSED:

As mentioned above, the core belief of TLI Pedagogics is to identify the unique strength of each child. By simply teaching them pre-existing curricula, we are raising an army of average-minded students. Instead, we should harness the inherent potential of every child to make them stronger and better equipped to excel in life. In order to ensure a strong and solid development, we must allow the child to have experiences where his/her interest specifically lies.

3. A SMALL STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO ENSURES EACH CHILD’S POTENTIAL IS PROPERLY HARNESSED:

To ensure that each child’s unique potential is recognised, a small student-teacher ratio must be enforced. Fewer students per classroom is a basic tenet of TLI Pedagogics. Children receive neurotransmitters that send signals of security, happiness and spark curiosity, when proper attention is given them by the teacher. This is only possible with fewer children in a classroom.

Parents also play a big role in recognising and harnessing their child’s potential. In fact, TLI Pedagogics strongly advocates a symbiotic parent-teacher relationship.

A rapt audience at the last workshop conducted by Marion Hopfgartner

4. THREE BASIC FACTORS ARE REQUIRED FOR QUALITY EDUCATION:

The three basic factors that ensure quality education are

• Emotional intelligence
• Social intelligence
• Artificial intelligence (this is Dr. Hopfgartner’s own coinage that refers to human creativity or cerebral knowledge)

In 2019, we must accept that new age education needs new methodologies of teaching. To do this, we must treat education as a life tool.

5. TEACHING IS BEST ABSORBED THROUGH CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND PLAY, NOT THROUGH CONSTANT TESTING AND EXAMINATION:

We know the efficacy of this principle, yet we don’t apply it to our children’s education. I don’t remember anything I was forced to rote-learn in school and college. Our current knowledge is mostly acquired by observing people around us, by learning on the job, or through various media channels.

Similarly, toddlers and young children absorb information best through creative play. Constant testing and examination is the death knell of individualistic thinking and creativity.

Marion Hopfgartner’s TLI Pedagogics model holds no examinations till later years. In fact, there are no classrooms till the age of 14. Evaluation is done through a weekly tutoring and presentation based testing system. There are lecture sessions in the morning and afternoon, but the rest of the day is structured around workshops and creative activities.

With Priya Kant Ansal and Marion Hopfgartner

Would you like to know more about this revolutionary education system, making swift in-roads in India? Or, would you like to introduce this system of education in your school or your child’s school? The organiser of the workshop, Priya Kant Ansal in collaboration with Marion Hopfgartner is working towards opening a pre-school in Delhi, centred around the TLI Pedagogics philosophy. Come join the next workshops on November 15 and December 5, in Delhi, to know more details.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Date: Friday, November 15, 2019

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Venue: Defence Colony

Price: INR 3000 per person; Discounted price for people who sign up for two workshops at the same time (November 15 and December 5)

Contact Priya Kant Ansal to book a spot: 9810563827 or priyakantansal@gmail.com

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

Watch Marion Hopfgartner’s Interview on NDTV HOP by clicking here:

https://hop.live/video/marion-hopfgartner-gives-us-tips-on-early-childhood-education-531711

Visit TLI Pedagogics website here

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*I would like to thank Priya Kant for sponsoring this post. I only endorse brands that I have familiarised myself with, and whose vision I believe in.

** All images courtesy Priya Kant/ Marion Hopfgartner.

***Copyright in the content and pictures belongs to nooranandchawla and cannot be republished or repurposed without permission from the author. As I am a copyright lawyer, infringement of any kind will invite strict legal action.