TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
and the timeless joy of learning
“Twinkle twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.”
As I hear a student at architecture school effortlessly and joyously recall this rhyme, I wonder - What is it about this combination of twenty odd words written by early-19th-century English writer Jane Taylor, that makes it so ageless that even after two decades of first learning it, is still the first rhyme that pops up in the mind of a student? It makes me ponder further about the endless journey of teaching and learning…
We are all in a constant state of learning; from people around us, from our experiences and from life itself. Sometimes, learning happens through structured forms as in a school and university and yet, many lessons are learned in unstructured forms as we wander through life. Time is a great teacher and yet there are certain things which we retain and recall far more than others. Some lessons are truly timeless.
So, what is the common thread that links all the lessons that our mind retains? Well, the answer is often found in a very simple and often underestimated expression – JOY.
An environment that fosters joy creates great learning. If one can enjoy what is being taught, learning follows instinctively. The biggest challenge for a teacher is to make learning an enjoyable process. But if we think about it, it’s not as tough as it sounds.
The easiest place to start sowing seeds of joy is always the self.
If one can begin the process of teaching with immense joy, that’s half the battle won! Once the objective of teaching is ‘to enjoy’ and not just ‘to inform’, the entire environment gets energised.
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
-Albert Einstein
Education gives ample scope for different modes of learning, ranging from hands-on workshops, to field trips, to movies, to interactive brainstorming. The idea is to stimulate the thought process and keep the students guessing as to what the next challenge is.
Small acts of kindness, the right balance of discipline and freedom coupled with a dollop of trust can go a long way in opening up a students’ mind. Appreciation of efforts breeds far more joy and encouragement than constant criticism of the outcome.
So, is the onus only on the educator to create an environment conducive to nurture students? The answer is clearly no. The most effective tools that students can carry within them is an open and enthusiastic mind, the hunger to learn and grow, flexibility to transform oneself and the curiosity to ask ‘why’ at every step?
In this game of learning and teaching, the roles are often interchangeable. As a teacher, one gets an opportunity to engage with young minds and walk a short distance with them. But learning is a lifelong journey, and we are all students in this role. If this exchange of learning can be an exercise in joy, the memory of such lessons would surely be timeless.
If we work towards it together, everything we teach and everything we learn can then be as enjoyable, as soothing and as ageless as our favourite nursery rhyme.
I dedicate this piece to all my teachers who have made learning a joyous experience and above all, to my students, my precious stars, with whom I build timeless memories every day. May they all twinkle brightly and light up the world in your own unique way.
Learning is timeless and joy is contagious. Let’s start an epidemic of joy.
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Interactive learning imparts more joy and can create a treasure of knowledge.
Good piece and pictures🌆🏜🌠
I suppose the “why” is important for not only students but for everybody in general. That’s the only way forward! Good piece Minaz. Your students are lucky to have you :)