The 6 Themes
MeerKats has been designed around 6 broad themes of Project Based Learning programs.
These 6 themes are diverse, and cover the entire spectrum of knowledge areas we would like our young leaners to immerse themselves into. The program has been designed to enable students to explore, understand and appreciate all the diverse disciplines that make up one's experience of living in today's world.
The program also takes into consideration the different types of learners across the spectrum: children struggling with a particular theme get additional chances to take a stab at understanding concepts, while quick learners can use the experience to further challenge their potential.
Click on each theme to learn more.
1. Theme 1 - Understand: Science that Runs the World
Hands-on modules covering subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Math
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Curiosity is innate to all of us. For young learners, the immediate physical world of animate and inanimate objects and their working presents a case of awe and complexity. This theme of the program will help students have hands-on experimentation and tinkering to gain a deeper understanding of science concepts driving the everyday world that they experience. Some of disciplines covered in the modules of this theme will include Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. |
2. Theme 2 - Apply: Science for a Better World (IOT, Engineering, Robotics)
Hands-on Engineering, Robotics, IOT modules
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There are times when you are not satisfied mere understanding. The boundless energy of a young learner needs to be used to see what can be done with the understanding of the concepts, be it mechanics or migration or titration. The modules in this broad theme help students to connect the various concepts they learn and apply them to solve real world problems. Students will use an interdisciplinary and problem solving approach to create solutions to real-life issues. |
3. Theme 3 - Be: The Digital Native
Hands-on Digital Photography, Video and Audio projects, Communication & Storytelling projects, Animation modules
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The one inescapable fact of our lives today is that they are run by digital tools and technologies. It is imperative that our young learners gain not just familiarity, but proficiency in the use of Digital tools and technologies to navigate the digital world comfortably. The modules under this broad theme enable students to explore what it means to be a digital citizen, communicating, creating and consuming and controlling : all digitally online. Some of the modules included within this theme are:
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4. Theme 4 - Build: A Digital World
Hands-on Programming, App Building, Website Building modules
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Curiosity is innate to all of us. For young learners, the immediate physical world of animate and inanimate objects and their working presents a case of awe and complexity. This theme of the program will help students have hands-on experimentation and tinkering to gain a deeper understanding of science concepts driving the everyday world that they experience. Some of disciplines covered in the modules of this theme will include Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.
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5. Theme 5 - Explore: Communities and Cultures
Hands-on modules covering subjects like History, Geography, Literature
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Aim: For each of us to realize our full potential in this world, we need our bodies and minds to support our goals. This requires us to develop certain literacies, life skills and behavioural attributes to be happy, healthy and a responsible member of the society. The modules under this broad theme will help students acquire all that it takes to live a happy, healthy and responsible life. Some of the modules within this broad theme will include:
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6. Theme 6 - Live: A Happy, Healthy and Responsible Life
Hands-on modules covering Health Literacy, Financial Literacy, Civic & Social responsibilities, Career Choices
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The world today is an intricate and interconnected global village, and living in it requires us to go beyond the confines of our own family, town state and country, and to understand and appreciate diversity around us. The modules under this broad theme will enable students to understand the society they live in and beyond, as well as the various cultures, geographies, art and literature and ways of living in the world. Some of the modules within this theme will include:
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Module Structure
Each 8 hour module follows a structure that takes learners through sessions that begin with familiarisation to the tools and concepts, and ends with a real world challenge related to the concept. Below is a rough structure of each 8 hour module.
| Goal for the Learner | Session | Description |
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| Familiarisation with Tools | Tuning in and Bootcamp | Learners get familiar with the tools and their roles & responsibilities in the classroom |
| Using tools to learn module related concepts by applying basic skills | Projects | Projects are step-by—step instructions that help learners build/create, learn and apply the basic module related concepts. Projects also help learners get used to applying thinking skills, collaboration skills, communication skills and time management skills. |
| Attempting to solve a real world challenge | Challenge | Challenges are open-ended real world problems that the learners collaboratively solve using the Design Thinking Framework. There is no single solution the challenge – each solution is unique to the learner. The challenge experience helps learners get comfortable with the process of solving complex problems. |
| Presentation, Assessment and Reflection | How Did I Do? | Learners end every module with a presentation, assess themselves and the skills they displayed, and also get assessed by their peers. Every module ends with a felicitation ceremony. |
Sample Modules
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Theme 1
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Theme 2
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Theme 3
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Skill Mapping and Assessment
The ultimate goal of the MeerKats program is to help children develop fundamental skills that will help them become autonomous learners and give them an advantage in attempting anything in their lives.
As a parent, franchise partner or student, there are some things that need to be understood about skill development and assessment:
- The skills listed below are fundamental skills that play a role in every aspect of an individual's behaviour and decision making process.
- Development of skills is a slow process that takes place over several years. It is a continuously evolving process that can be accelerated by encouraging the child to be curious and expose them to newer experiences and technologies.
- The best way to assess skills is to use a combination of quantitative and qualitative systems, as well as combining coach assessment, self assessment and peer assessment. While the qualitative data can help draw immediate conclusions about what the student has achieved, the quantitative data is designed to show a trend over a long period of time.
All the MeerKats Curriculum has been designed to develop the following major skills. We have a nuanced assessment system that helps the MeerKats Coach assess the learners in each module.
These are the following skills that the MeerKats curriculum is mapped to:
1. Critical Thinking
1.1 Define: Explain the problem along with core and subsidiary issues. Identify at least two users, needs and insights.
1.2 Analysis: Analyze, apply and synthesize data. Explain the rationale for conclusion.
1.3 Evaluate: Solution reflects the prototype. Solution meets requirements of the challenge. Changes result in improvement of solution.
2. Creative Thinking
2.1 Originality : Develops new ideas to solve any problem with ease. Most of them are original.
2.2 Attitude: Show curiosity by asking relevant questions. Change ideas radically to accommodate new perspectives.
2.3 Process: Design brief is complete. Design sketch and journal answers show understanding of design process.
3. Collaboration
3.2 Cooperation : Compare and combine ideas to come up with the best plan. Ask questions to understand others’ perspectives.
3.4 Time Management: All tasks are completed on time. Use time efficiently. Help team stay focused. Work with minimum guidance
4. Communication
4.1 Listening : Follow instructions. Actively listen to a speaker. Respond with appropriate questions, comments or gestures.
4.4 Expression: Show understanding of concepts through journal responses. Communicate info to develop complex ideas. Demonstrate attention to specific writing task.
5. Information Fluency
5.1 Ask : Formulate valid research question that addresses information required for a problem. Use appropriate keywords.
5.2 Acquire: Use primary and secondary sources. Compare info from various sources to ensure credibility of information. Cite all sources.
6. Digital Literacy
6.1 Analyze Media : Analyze media messages. Examine how individuals interpret messages differently and how media influences behavior.
6.2 Create Media: Create media artifacts using best techniques. Understand expressions in multi-cultural settings with suitable interpretations.
6.3 Tool Use: Follow basics of planning, producing and processing media artefacts using appropriate techniques.
