The BIG Programme
BIG stands for Battle for Inclusive Growth. This programme aims at creating individuals or global citizens, who have been brought up, keeping in mind the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Green Valley Academy(GVA) believes in inclusive growth of a child. We firmly believe that comprehensive growth of an individual relies on multiple factors and some of these, might even be beyond human understanding in the current times. It gives us pleasure in accepting that we renounce the old methods of assessing students merely on the basis of a few parameters. The BIG programme of GVA utilizes the Theory of Multiple Intelligences developed by Dr. Howard Gardner, Professor of Education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on Intelligence Quotient testing, is far too limited. Instead, Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. These intelligences are: Linguistic Intelligence, Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, Spatial Intelligence, Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence, Musical Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence, Intrapersonal Intelligence and Naturalist Intelligence.
This theory reflects that traditionally schools and cultures mostly focus their attention only on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence. We often appreciate the highly articulate or logical people. However, this theory says that we should also place equal attention toward individuals who show gifts in the other intelligences, such as artists, architects, musicians, naturalists, designers, dancers, therapists, entrepreneurs, and many others who enrich our world. Unfortunately, many children who have these gifts don’t receive much reinforcement for them in otherwise traditional schools. Many of these kids, even end up being labeled “learning disabled,” “ADD (attention deficit disorder,” or simply underachievers, when their unique ways of thinking and learning aren’t addressed by a heavily linguistic or logical-mathematical classroom.
The theory of multiple intelligences proposes a major transformation in the way our schools are run. Carefully understanding this theory, teachers of GVA are trained to present their lessons in a wide variety of ways using music, cooperative learning, art activities, role plays, multimedia, field trips, inner reflections, and much more. Hence this enables us to look and teach much beyond the old ways of simple lectures, boring worksheets and mere textbooks.
This is enabled further by bringing international experts on board. These experts take workshops, seminars and lectures physically or online (as they are based all around the world). These are attended by students as well as their parents, since the entire environment around that student must be made conducive for growth. BIG initiative of GVA reflects the school’s commitment toward overall development of students. It also boilsters the will of providing international standards of education.