Dr Dheeraj Mehrotra -Who believes that students are the curators of knowledge and hence we cannot teach them the way we were taught
Posted On: 2019-10-25 17:55
Dr. Dheeraj Mehrotra is a National Awardee-year 2005, white and a yellow-belt in Six Sigma, a Certified NLP Business Diploma holder, an Educational Innovator, Author with expertise in Six Sigma In Education, Academic Audits, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Total Quality Management In Education, an Experiential Educator, a CBSE Resource towards School Quality Assessment and Accreditation (SQAA), CCE, JIT, Five S and Kaizen. He has authored over 40 books on Computer Science for ICSE/ISC/CBSE Students and over 10 books of academic interest in the fields of education excellence, school management, teaching excellence and Six Sigma. He is also listed in the Limca Book of Records and India Book of Records for developing over 150 apps. He has also been honoured with the President of India’s National Award For Teachers in the year 2006 and the Best Science Teacher State Award (By the Ministry of Science and Technology, State of UP) for his excellence in the field of education.
Dr Mehrotra is presently working as Vice President (Academics & Training) with one of the leading Ed-tech companies based in Hyderabad. He has conducted over 2000 workshops globally on "Excellence In Education" integrated with Total Quality Management and Education Management & Six Sigma In Academics. A former Principal at De Indian Public School, New Delhi, (India) and Education Officer at GEMS Education, India with an ample teaching experience of over two decades, he is a Certified Trainer who is imparting knowledge to a large number of students.
Given his vast experience and his several accomplishments, Dr Dheeraj Mehrotra is a true Change-Maker who has made a significant contribution to the field of education and teaching.
Dr Mehrotra is presently working as Vice President (Academics & Training) with one of the leading Ed-tech companies based in Hyderabad. He has conducted over 2000 workshops globally on "Excellence In Education" integrated with Total Quality Management and Education Management & Six Sigma In Academics. A former Principal at De Indian Public School, New Delhi, (India) and Education Officer at GEMS Education, India with an ample teaching experience of over two decades, he is a Certified Trainer who is imparting knowledge to a large number of students.
Given his vast experience and his several accomplishments, Dr Dheeraj Mehrotra is a true Change-Maker who has made a significant contribution to the field of education and teaching.
Question 1. Please let us know more about your journey, how and from where you started?
I started my first job as a Computer Teacher Way back in 1990 at Bishop Johnson School, Allahabad as a Computer Teacher at the age of 19. I was not even a graduate at that time. I had just been enrolled in a computer course and I got the opportunity to teach in the primary section as Computer Education then was in its infancy.
Soon, years passed by and in 1992, when I finished my graduation in parallel, I joined my own school, Boys’ High School, at Allahabad as a Computer Teacher for 10+2 level. In 1996 I joined the world’s biggest school, City Montessori School at Lucknow and worked till 2010. I was fortunate to learn and explore so many things there in the well-spent 14 long years. In 2010, I joined as a School Principal at De Indian School at Delhi and then joined GEMS Education at Gurgaon and further worked as a Vice President (Academics) at Next Education. Presently I work as an Academic Evangelist and deliver workshops/ Teacher Training, Conducting Audits for Schools in particular in addition to consultancy to schools.
Soon, years passed by and in 1992, when I finished my graduation in parallel, I joined my own school, Boys’ High School, at Allahabad as a Computer Teacher for 10+2 level. In 1996 I joined the world’s biggest school, City Montessori School at Lucknow and worked till 2010. I was fortunate to learn and explore so many things there in the well-spent 14 long years. In 2010, I joined as a School Principal at De Indian School at Delhi and then joined GEMS Education at Gurgaon and further worked as a Vice President (Academics) at Next Education. Presently I work as an Academic Evangelist and deliver workshops/ Teacher Training, Conducting Audits for Schools in particular in addition to consultancy to schools.
Question 2. How can you contribute towards the growth and development of the community?
I wish to contribute to the world through my initiatives towards the promotion of Quality Education via my courses.
Question 3. What kind of support can you provide to teachers and fellow educators?
I wish to help in TEACHER TRAINING and I am doing so since the last decade and have trained over 8000 teachers. I have been doing that at length. I have been mentoring and guiding fellow educators and would continue to do so. I look forward to organising such events webinars or workshop for the community in particular.
Question 4. How would you describe your leadership style?
I am a cool leader with managerial skills to explore work through motivation and recognition to others. I respect the HUMAN approach of working.
Question 5. What advice would you give to a new teacher?
The more you learn, the more you earn, in terms of knowledge, respect and recognition. So be on a learning spree all your life.
Question 6. What would be your ideal school environment and how would you encourage that kind of culture?
An ideal school environment according to me is a place where children come smiling and go smiling. A place where students do not sleep with their eyes open and are always willing to attend the classes. Teachers need to develop an ownership quality of "HAMARA BAJAJ" if they want learning to happen.
Question 7. How would you develop an inclusive environment in your school?
The inclusive environment in a school is more on papers and in theory. It is not that easy. It is only possible when the TRIANGLE of PARENTS, MANAGEMENT and STUDENTS come closer over a coffee table and discuss issues and let the learning and engagement common for all traits of people together with joy and prosperity for all.
Question 8. As the position of Vice President (Academics & Training) requires intense time management, how do you organize your day to meet the plethora of requirements and commitments required as the School Principal?
Well, now I train Principals and Teachers, and in the process, I assure they point more on the demands and desires of their stakeholders in particular. All the students, parents and the teachers must page a happiness quotient at ultimate. The priorities must be effective delivery of the learning quotient and with joy and commitment both from the taker and the giver sides. A happy school is where there is joy, happiness, NO POLITICS but recognition for all workers by name and by taste.
Question 9. What is your opinion on the use of technology in classrooms? Were there any challenges that you faced in integrating technology?
Technology in classrooms is an essential tool for teaching and make learning happen. For students dwell a new definition today of A for Android, B for Blackberry and C for Cloud. The definition of a classroom is no more the walls of the classroom but in reality Whatever, whenever and wherever (WWW) to the context of learning. It is their new teacher and the Dear Teacher is only the facilitator or the guide on the floor. Adoption of technology is hence a priority for knowledge to dissipate and learning to happen.
Question 10. Do you feel there are any gaps in the present education system? If so, how do you feel one can fill those gaps?
The gap is of the DIGITAL DIVIDES. Narration on that ground is a priority. What is required is a MINDSET of smart learning through Experiential Learning and BLENDED classrooms. What is more required is STUDENT centred teaching and NOT the SYLLABUS based learning. The objective should be to CRAFT the CREATIVITY among the students and not to get ACADEMIC wisdom only.
Question 11. Your message to your readers.
I believe, the students today are not the one, we were taught to teach. They are the curators of knowledge themselves and hence we can not teach the way we were taught. The priority has to be re-visited on the ground of new strategies of parenting, tutoring and teaching. The tech candies pave of a high-value today and the teachers need to unlearn their content and learn with ease and framework as per the new age reflections in particular. We can’t be teachers if we cease learning. Learning to learn has hence to be a hobby rather than an occasional occurrence.
Other Change Makers
- Ms Sangeeta Kapoor(Principal, The Infinity School)-The Harvard certified visionary Principal
- Dr. Raghuveer Y.V. (Principal, G.D. Goenka Public School) is a Change Maker with an open mind
- Sanjeeva Kumar Sinha (Principal, The Indian Public School, Dehradun) Tech-Savvy Principal who believes that humane touch is an essential part of the qualitative existence of the human race
- Dr. Anshu Arora (Principal, Amity International School, Gurgaon) -a firm believer of 'Breaking the shackles and flying high'