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Maximum Return with Minimum Effort- Quick Fix

 A couple of months ago, a person named Richey called and asked me for an appointment to speak to me; he wanted to get some psychological help. He came at the scheduled time. He sat in front of me before telling why he wanted to meet me. First, he told me that he had come from Gulf and he would be here for ten days. He needed to go to several places and attend to some work in the bank along with having to attend a few family functions.

I wanted to focus on the issues that bothered him and how I could help him. I just interrupted and asked him ‘how can I help you?’ He continued his story and stated that he had a very short leave from my work. Within the short span of time he needed to go for a treatment for which he has come from Gulf. He has been suffering from severe headache for three years.  He added that one doctor had advised him to meet a Psychologist and then a Neurologist. That is how he had called me. Now he needed my help to overcome this problem and that he had just a few days leave. Therefore he wanted me to suggest something that will work for him and provide quick relief. He further informed me that he is also supposed to meet a Neurologist seeking relief for the same problem.

  This is the common tendency of human beings now days we are in a Quick Fix Mentality.  When I asked Richey, he tried all the techniques to cure his headache for three years. Yet nothing worked!! There have been moments of relief along the way but after some time   the problem became worse. I found that he tried to target the symptoms without addressing the root or cause reveling in its temporary relief. When he feels little relief either he will stop or if the treatment technique requires more effort he will quit and start the new technique.

Richey ended up with four months treatment for his headache. The Neurologist’s diagnosis was that he removes the myelin sheath through a surgery from the nerve of the lower part of the brain.

As the problem was a little severe at that point of time since it had not been diagnosed in the early stage; there were many side effects like inability to walk and talk. Doctor suggested that he undergoes surgery as early as possible.  Since he was also in a hurry to fix his problem, he agreed and the surgery was done.

However, due to his anxiety and fear, it took a long time for him to recover from the problem. The Doctor who had done the surgery was surprised to see Richey’s slow recovery (which normally takes less than 40 days for the person to recover).

When it comes to chasing instant result Richey is not alone.  In every walk of life from medicine and relationships to business and politics, we are all hooked on the quick fix solution. We all look for short cuts- what is known as the ‘Quick fix’ mentality. Today the ‘quick fix’ mentality has become the standard across the board in our fast forward, demanding and just –add- water culture.

 If you turn the pages of the news paper in the morning, your eyes just gets locked in the advertisement with sedative promises of maximum return for minimum effort. Lose your weight in five days! Buy this educational DVD that helps your child to become genius, work for an hour from home and earn thousands in every month.  We are all trying to solve our problems in a hurry what Carl Honore refers it ‘sticking on a plaster when surgery is needed’ might deliver temporary reprieve but usually at the price of shortening up worse trouble for later. The hard unpalatable truth is that the quick fix never truly fixes anything at all sometime it makes things worse.

I believe lately, people are obsessed with this quick fix even though there are many examples in front of them who took the quick and easy way and the policy of maximum return in minimum effort; but are struggling to come back to the normal life (IPL fixing, corruption cheating cases). So nature has a law. Since we are all part of nature, if we go against nature or try to break the rule of nature we have to pay for it.

There are many historical examples of short cut which cut short them.  In politics, war or in the business policy one who used quick fix for a problem which required a thoughtful decision has failed and they had to pay more than what is expected. Richey is none other than the sample population in the society.

When we look into the evolution of this quick fix Peter Whybrow in his book “American Mania” explains; Human brain has two basic mechanisms for solving problems-which are commonly called System 1 and system 2. According to him the evolution of human problem solving skills and tendencies are quick for our ancestors. His explanation system 1 is the fast and institutive almost like thinking without thinking when we see the dog chasing, our brain maps out the best escape route and send us hurtling towards it Quick fix.

System 2 is slow and deliberate. It is the conscious thinking that we do when we are asked to calculate 28 times 18 or analyze the possible side- effects of a new social policy. It involves planning, critical analysis and rational thoughts. Also, it is driven by parts of the brain that continue to develop after birth and into adolescence. Thus, system 2 consumes more energy.

Evolution matches with system1. Early men ate when hungry, drank when thirsty and slept when tired. There was no tomorrow. Survival depends on what you did each day. Hence inherited brain focuses on short term solutions and rewards us for pursuing them.

Now in a complex post industrial world, system2 should be the king. I am not advocating that quick fix is bad or that each problem needs to be solved slowly. We live in the society where tomorrow also equally important. We are like expecting Christ Gayle to hit six for every ball after he scored a record score at Bangalore!  I remember Samuel Johnson quote “we let hope triumph over experience”.

These days hurry is our answer to every problem and even in life, we walk fast talk fast read fast, eat fast make love fast and think fast. This is the century of speed in everything including building relationships and parting from the same. As Carl Honore says, “we are ignoring the golden rule of seven Ps: Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Performance”. We are in a hurry to get rich fast. We are in a hurry to cure our problems fast. We are addicted to eating fast food and we are in a hurry to eat already baked food instead of baking it and eating. However, all this may lead to the cutting our life short.

The ‘quick fix’ is sometimes the wrong choice to solve a problem. No algorithm has ever helped solve the global issues. No quickly made choice has ever turned around a life. No drug has ever cured a chronic illness; No educational DVD has ever transformed a child into a baby Einstein. We tend to throw money for everything to solve problems. Expecting instant miracle relief from any problem is against the law of the nature. There is no right or wrong attitude towards ‘quick fix’. It is a matter of choice whether you live a relaxed or ‘quickened’ life style.

The real trouble nowadays is that no one wants to wait for anything anymore. Before the question is understood, we decide the answer. Nature always works with a principle. We need to respect it. Our needs and expectation need to match with the nature’s law rather than depend on the quick fix mentality.

Madhusoodana Sunnambala

Reel Hero’s and real ……….?

Since I spend two third of my time in a day with adolescence. I know how much this film actors, celebrities’ sports stars and public figures act upon young mind. Especially their life styles their opinions, their stand on the societal customs and norms. The way they respect and act on to retain the social institutions. It may be parenting, marriage or some taboos.  

The time when transition takes place in one’s life from childhood to adulthood what we call ‘adolescence’ are in search of the answer “who I am” the answer can be seen on the bedroom walls different posters of their so called role models. This may be a film hero’s sports star public entertainer who always can be seen in their TV screen. But I am sure it’s never the people who work for a cause social service activist freedom fighter at large.

The influence of the people who always hit on the main pages of the news paper who shine in the channel who’s posters can be seen in the public places are quite high with young mind.

If you want to notice the developmental stages of the of a person or to understand the developmental stages proposed by either Erickson or Piaget take a look into the bedroom of a child if its female the whole room will be filled with Barbie dolls books posters dresses Barbie cosmetics if its boy Ben10, Spider man. When the child turns 12 or 14 Ben10 is replaced by sports stars, film hero’s celebrities books are film fare, sports star and automobile magazines. This is because they are busy with identifying themselves in this process they keep some role models who will fit into their ideal self.

According to Erickson’s psychosocial stages development adolescence is the period when young adults attempt to develop identity and idea about their strengths, weaknesses, goals, occupations sexual identity and gender roles. Teens try different identities and they have so many possibilities. Since this stage of development primarily depends upon what one does to himself or in other words he takes responsibility of his growth and development. The life during this time definitely getting more complex as an attempt to find own identity.

The role of the film stars and celebrities are immense in this stage as adolescence wants attention in the society hence they fall upon to follow these people and read about them try to imitate them who fix into their image. On an average we find the role models are mainly from the stardom- the hero’s in the reel the hero’s whom they admire. But the question arises Are these hero’s good example for these young mind? When obviously there is a mismatch with the hero’s real life and reel life what appears to be depicted as flowery movies is not the real itself- life is no always with happy endings as in movies. In the reel life he succeeds in spite of all mishappenings and in reality???? Some cases of divorce, drink and drive, abuse in the public places misbehavior cheating etc which really what they fight on the screen but in reality that element is missing in most of the cases. Hence our young mind may  believe some time what their role model says it’s also because of prestige suggestion and adolescence are more suggestible during this period with respect to the self image.

Albert Bandura social learning theorist suggests that people tend to display behaviors’ that are learned intentionally or through the influence of examples. Since identity formation is the central focus during adolescence, adolescents are particularly influenced by adults in the environment. (Erickson) adolescents often look to adults in order to determine as well as to identify models of whom they want to be like.

Now in an age where we have more contact with celebrities’ gossips than we have ever had we are faced with a question. Are our young adults are getting good examples to imitate, model and set examples.

Culture idols need to think twice before making a poor decision because of their influence on their young fans and other people who may look up to them.

Media certainly plays a big role in celebrity obsession because of widespread audience and profit involved. When it comes to family and marriage the couple who lived for say 25 to 30 years together need to pay the news paper to publish their anniversary photos and good message of the mantra of staying together, in this present so called self centered society. But when it comes to separation divorce especially the stardom news papers and visual media is keen in bringing the full page information like a deductive. Media has better diary of the celebrities where when what and how of the separation and there comes a huge real story of a reel hero.   

What I stress is-Yes people do have pressure in life and every individual has a personal way of coping. But  in  divorce, drink, harassment or whatever  is it right on the part of media to leak out their private life instead of giving space required at such time?.

If media and the stardom can act more responsibly to be a good example for these tender minds not to develop negative attitude towards some of the social institutions which will spiflicate the future.

ALL THAT BEGINS WELL ENDS WELL so let adolescent begin well so that life ends well

Not to say PICTURE ABHI BHAKI HEI

Madhusoodan. Sunnambala   

                                                                                     Psychologist   

                                                                                 

Psychology-A Fastest growing field in Sri Lanka

Who wants to be a good teacher?

Teaching profession is unique in its kind. Since teaching is an art and skill it calls for a training and practice. The question of what makes a good teacher has resulted in an endless steam of ideas, opinions and theories.  Different definitions of teaching different ideas and traits that make up character different environment and different students can all affect teaching proficiency. 

All students have had hundreds of teachers in their life time. Among them a few teachers are remembered as being exceptionally good. There need to be many qualities and traits to be at good teaching.  Being able to master a good mix in a specific learning environment is likely to make one a good teacher. There are some teachers   who inspire students to work three times harder than they normally would, while others inspire students to skip classes. Students learn more from some teachers than others, they admire them, see them as a role model feel free to speak to them whenever possible and follow them without insisting.

Now the basic question what makes a good teacher? Based on my few years of teaching experience and my involvement in teacher empowerment programme I would say there are list of qualities required   to be a good teacher. Among them few I would say core qualities which are must for a teacher to excel as a good teacher. In most of my training programmes for the teachers I used to give a small activity for the participants’ to list out the qualities required to be a good teacher. They use to come up with many qualities and I took all of them and listed them in main five categories which I would like to name as core qualities in which all other qualities and traits  are interlined  to be a good teacher.  

All good teaching starts with specific clear and measurable goals and objectives. Goals are those general statements of outcome and objectives are how the goals are to be reached. It is also true that good teaching is not subject specific; most important traits or qualities transcend subjects.

The five clusters of qualities of a good teacher are:

·        Knowledge of the subject:

Well it is the one of the important prerequisites of a good teacher. Teacher should have a clear understanding and depth knowledge in the subject what he teaches.

In this Information Technology era student’s area aware of things around them but a good teacher always puts them in a proper container and explains the practical usage of that information in an accessible way.  Imparting information is no more the objective of education. Even though the information is in the reachable for the students from different sources like books internet and other sources class room teaching has never lost its relevance.  Classroom teaching is not just delivering the information to the student this is where the good teacher wins the heart of the student. The teacher who goes to the class with confidence in his subject delivers quality information with the recent updates. Getting to the heart of the students and connecting it to them and their everyday life helps make the subject matter relevant. Hence the teacher is a continuous learner to update his knowledge and skill in delivery.  Why to teach that subject it is not because it is in the curriculum or it in the text book or they should write in the examination to get marks  A good teacher understands the rationality behind the teaching and learning the subject he teaches that makes a good teacher.

·        Communication:

Communication is more than speaking or writing. To be effective, communication requires the creation of a common understanding of ideas, desires and observations among people. In this context communication is a two-way exchange that involves both a teacher and the student and it is a skill to be an effective communicator.  How to achieve this just speaking and delivering information and statistical data is not communication in the class. Since it’s a skill it needs practice and effort from the teacher to be a good communicator.

The general rule of  good presentation, voice, and volume gestures, humor, timing of the course, sufficient knowledge of the subject are all essential are communication essentials. I quote what I read ‘a good teacher is often a good entertainer’ good entertainer appears self confident on stage, work with their audience and have what is called stage presence. This is an ability to connect with the audience in a way that is not quantifiable. The self confidence, empathy and ability to connect with the people one wishes to reach. This is not something that can be easily taught. It comes with experience, and open personality. The difficulty involved in learning how to teach this communication. Since it is a skill and teaching is an art it can be certain degree teachable. The ability to tell a good story (Adams 1987) research mentions story telling as a mark of good teaching. Sharing personal experience from life research previous employment is excellent source of materials. Another basic requirement in communication is that understanding the audience, in the classroom setting it is the ability to read the class.  Knowing when they have had enough, when they want to stop and discuss something when they want to hear more.    Listening is an equal partner with speaking in defining effective communication. Listening is also an active process in communication that includes maintaining eye contact; providing positive non-verbal feedback, like nodding the head appreciating the idea of the student.

·        Innovative and creative:

Creativity in teaching is using imaginative approaches to make learning more interesting and effective’. A major effect for learners at the school was an immediate experience of the dynamic, appreciative, captivating and caring ethos. The construction of this type of ethos has many objectives but in terms of teaching and learning one of the school’s major aims was to make the learning experience relevant to learners, to make it interesting. For young learners this meant an ethos that was dynamic and active: There is a continuous throb of movement and a quiet hum of activity. The school understands young children as active agents who experiment with their bodies, emotions and intellects. Teachers acknowledge the enormous capacity of young children to take in an extensive variety of experiences in any one day. Maths was made exciting, literacy experienced as a set of keys unlocking a whole range of delights and emotional journeys, science was developed as a passion for enquiry, discovery and experimentation, technology provided intensely focused activity involving problem solving, frustration and satisfaction and the arts were valued as opportunities for expression. Creative and innovative teacher provides students little extended, unhurried time to explore and do their best work.  Provide an abundant supply of interesting and useful materials and resources. Create a classroom climate where students feel mistakes are acceptable and risk taking is encouraged.  Good teacher is always able to motivate his students by using creative and inspirational methods of teaching he is different in his approach and that makes him to stand out from the crowd hence the reason why students enjoy ones class and seeks him out for new ideas.

·        Empathy and accessibility:

Empathy and accessibility are the most consistently required quality and elements for good teaching and a teacher. It is important to note that whatever is taught must somehow relate to the experience to the student or it will be sterile. Drawing the good and bad experience of the students draws them into discussion and makes them their part of the lesson. To relate this way one must understand the student getting to know the student is key to good being a good teacher. Some students will be having a considerable experience others do not adding to the complexity faced by the teacher. How to deal with these differences and be able to empathize with the learner requires creativity, time and experience. It is the reason why variety in teaching methods is important. Majority of the students see accessibility as the major aspect of good teaching. ‘Being around’ gives more information and feedback about the students and teaching.

·        Humor:     

A good teacher should also have the quality and characteristic of having a good sense of humor. It is a logical fact, that a person generally teaches the next generation and as they are younger than the teacher, they are expected to have more fun in the class too. So, a good teacher is the one who can cope up with his sense of humor, and with his strong communication skills and personality, can also maintain the discipline of the class.

There's another aspect of fun that's equally important. If the teacher's having fun, there's a good chance the students are also. Students of all ages appreciate a teacher who's having a good time. Hard work and dedication are not exclusive of having fun. In fact, one of the valuable things I learned during my student teaching was that the harder I worked outside of class getting ready for it, the more fun I had inside the class. When students say that a teacher is "fun" or teaches a "fun class," they don't mean it's all fun and games in which no teaching or learning is going on. They simply mean that the teacher enjoys what he or she is doing, and that it becomes an important part of the atmosphere of the classroom. In the teaching profession hard work and fun go together.

Humor is very effectual on children’s learning and is considered as a desirable personality trait. Individuals with a high sense of humor are thought to have some distinguishing characteristics such as optimism, self-esteem, stress management skills, positive self-esteem, autonomy and social skills.

                                                                                              Prof. Madhusoodana. Sunnambala       

                                                                                            Head of the Department (Psychology)

                                                                                                         Horizon Campus Malabe

                                                                                                                                         madhusoodansp@gmail.com

Teaching is a profession which teaches all other professions’ But????...

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam the former President of India was asked to contest for President Election recently he refused and replied I will be a teacher than a President!  As all of us know the President is the first citizen of the country and it’s a most prestigious position. But for Dr. Kalam being a teacher is more than that simply because ‘teaching is a noble profession’. It is a service oriented, it has a potential to have a great impact on the moulding of next generation. This profession is looked with honour and respect, many wants to be a teacher not with caprices of this profession just to serve and feel worth living. Teaching is a one of a kind profession; this career choice may be frustrating, exciting, and also very fulfilling those who are fully dedicated to choose teaching as their long life career.

A teacher should be a teacher in every moment in his life his attitude life style behavior everything matters a lot to himself and to the society as well. So he is more conscious of his life and behavior and also he should live up to the expectations of the society in spite of his financial hardship and professional life.

It is hard to believe but the fact is that teaching is stressful job hence most teachers deal with big stress level each day. It always goes unnoticed by the society management and the policy makers. Some teachers may think that he has a ‘mellow’ job so he is least bothered about his health effects of stress. The teachers stress level proven to cause physical problems, such as blood pressure and a slew of other problems.

Many studies evidenced certain source for stress for teachers in teaching profession. I also interacted with many people who are involved in this profession and I strongly feel there are certain areas needs to be focused for better in the point of pupils’ the well being of the teacher and the genuine improvement of the school.

More than two –thirds of teachers have experienced or witnessed bullying which resulted for one in five to quite the job. Apart from bulling on teachers themselves being shouted at in front of their pupils would set a bad example for children who were themselves bullied because it would send a signal to their tormentors that such behavior was tolerated. And the consequences for teacher of being bullied were devastating for their health and wellbeing. Loss of confidence, dread of going to work, sleepless nights, family disputes are some of the effects of this.

One teacher confessed ‘the school needs to improve but I am not sure it can’ common sense and trust in human communication is being forced out of profession. A lot of teachers seem to like being told exactly what to do and how to do it. The status quo is just fine for a lot of middle and senior management too. It allows them to wield power justify inflated salaries and be recognized by their peer as being ‘outstanding’ teachers. Recognition the children in their classes would never give them. Never mind they never really liked teaching children that much anyway!

Teaching is a political football; it changes all the time- the combination of continual change with frequent market need, societal demand, coupled with long unsociable hours and poor pay makes up a stressful recipe. All though the school day may be shorter than most office working days, teachers put in many more hours in the evening and at weekends preparing lessons, marking work and organizing extracurricular activities. As one teacher admits I teach twenty five lessons a week despite my best intensions some of these lessons are boring. To plan an outstanding lesson can take hours. I can do that for every lesson I teach. Sometimes I stand in the class delivering a lesson I know isn’t as good as it could be. I know how to make it better. I just don’t have time to do it. I don’t think children notice they are used to this.

Another important area which appears to make teachers more pressured than other professions. Problems in relationship with managers-head teacher, deputy teacher, sectional heads. If there is a good relationship, professional as well as humanitarian then teachers feel free to express themselves to ventilate their feelings. Most of the time its lacking, building relationship and maintaining the same relationship has a very positive effect in any profession but in teaching it has double effect. The problem here is if any problem arise the teacher need to tackle alone so the feeling of isolation troubles the teacher which may lead to the resignation of the teacher from that school. Even while handing the problem behavior of the child the teacher should do it alone and also teacher have to look after their pupil’s welfare and also the school boundaries which are imposed on them so teacher gets little outside support. This sense of isolation can grow and contribute to teacher burnout.  

The school leadership is also another important area of concern. One of the most consistent findings from studies of effective school leadership is that authority to lead need not be located in the person of the leader but can be dispersed within the school between and among people. There is a growing understanding that leadership is embedded in various organizational contexts within school communities, not centrally vested in a person or an office. The real challenge facing most schools is no longer how to improve but, more importantly, how to sustain improvement. Sustainability will depend upon the school’s internal capacity to maintain and support developmental work and sustaining improvement requires the leadership capability of the many rather than the few. Many so called leaders in the school lacks leadership quality hence they may hurt the feelings of the teachers in the name of quality improvement.

                                                                                                        --Prof. Madhusoodan Sunnambala 

The most successful teachers share some common characteristics

The most successful teachers share some common characteristics. Here are the top six keys to being a successful teacher. Every teacher can benefit from focusing on these important qualities. Success in teaching, as in most areas of life, depends almost entirely on your attitude and your approach.

1. Sense of Humor A sense of humor can help you become a successful teacher. Your sense of humor can relieve tense classroom situations before they become disruptions. A sense of humor will also make class more enjoyable for your students and possibly make students look forward to attending and paying attention. Most importantly, a sense of humor will allow you to see the joy in life and make you a happier person as you progress through this sometimes stressful career.

2. A Positive Attitutude A positive attitude is a great asset in life. You will be thrown many curve balls in life and especially in the teaching profession. A positive attitude will help you cope with these in the best way.

3. High Expectations An effective teacher must have high expectations. You should strive to raise the bar for your students. If you expect less effort you will receive less effort. You should work on an attitude that says that you know students can achieve to your level of expectations, thereby giving them a sense of confidence too. This is not to say that you should create unrealistic expectations. However, your expectations will be one of the key factors in helping students learn and achieve.

 4. Consistency In order to create a positive learning environment your students should know what to expect from you each day. You need to be consistent. This will create a safe learning environment for the students and they will be more likely to succeed. It is amazing that students can adapt to teachers throughout the day that range from strict to easy. However, they will dislike an environment in which the rules are constantly changing.

5. Fairness Many people confuse fairness and consistency. A consistent teacher is the same person from day to day. A fair teacher treats students equally in the same situation.

6. Flexibility One of the tenets of teaching should be that everything is in a constant state of change. Interruptions and disruptions are the norm and very few days are 'typical'. Therefore, a flexible attitude is important not only for your stress level but also for your students who expect you to be in charge and take control of any situation.