Jeyappriadhevi Jayavijayan is the founder-managing director of Kriyative Learning Solutions Inter-national (P) Ltd (KLS), a Chennai-based company that applies Dr. Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory and activity based learning pedagogies to make learning a joyful and stress-free experience for preschool and primary (upto class V) children. Initially prom-oted as a preschool named Kriyative Kidz in 2008, it has evolved into a learning solutions company offering curriculum development, innovative pedagogies, teacher training and educational resources to 30 schools countrywide.
KLS’ flagship curriculum development programme, Kriya, depicted by the wheel symbol, replaces traditional primary school pedagogies with a four-step methodology which introduces children to new concepts through review of a related and familiar concept; learning through hands-on discovery activities; intensifying the learning process through teacher-led activities to clarify misconceptions arising during the discovery phase; and applying higher order thinking skills to solve real-world problems. Assessment is built into all four steps. Detailed lesson plans are provided to teachers with a teacher-resource kit comprising teaching aids, books and activity manuals.
Newspeg. Recently, KLS launched a unique handwriting lab kit for preschool-class V students and a maths lab kit for preschool-class X students. The hand-writing kit, currently being utilised by 17 schools across the country, com-prises writing aids designed to train children to hold pencils correctly. Fine motor exercises are taught through the year to correct and strengthen children’s pencil grips. The math-in-a-box lab kit enables children to learn maths concepts through gaming, bartering and other activities. Each box contains 40-50 activities.
“While visiting several schools, our team found many children gripping their pencils and crayons incorrectly. When this was pointed out, some schools invited us to conduct handwriting training programmes. The handwriting kit was developed by KLS researchers after brainstorming with specialist doctors and experts. Likewise, the math kit was developed by a team of 12 subject experts and skilled external resource persons. KLS math lab kits for classes I-X are priced at Rs.60,000 and vary from school to school, depending on class strength and laboratory requirements,” says Jayavijayan.
Genesis. A computer science engin-eering graduate of Anna University with a Masters in business administration from IIT-Madras, Jayavijayan worked with Ernst and Young in Chennai for a short period before joining the family business. After the birth of her daughter in 2006, she was drawn towards early childhood education and enroled for a short-term course in multiple intellig-ences at Harvard University, USA. After completing the study programme she returned to India, and promoted Kriyative Kidz in 2008. In 2009, it was upgraded to Kriya, to enrich and improve learning outcomes in primary education.
Direct talk. “We believe the most effective way of learning is through exploration, activity and experiment-ation. The Kriya curriculum developed by our 20-member R&D team and over 25 academic collaborators and subject experts, is based on this premise. Our lesson plans and specially designed textbooks and worksheets motivate teachers to go beyond the chalk-n-talk lectures and promote understanding of concepts.”
Future plans. Jayavi-jayan’s energies are now directed towards using technology to roll out the Kriya programme in rural schools. “We want to ensure that Kriya learning solutions reach school children in remote rural areas by offering them games uploaded on the low-cost android-based computer tablets. There is ample scope for learning through educative computer games, and my ultimate aim is to transform KLS into an edutainment company,” she says.
Hemalatha Raghupathi (Chennai)