Work and Play

The book addresses the needs of educators and teacher-educators by providing a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of teaching and learning resources (TLRs) in the Indian context. Work and Play looks at a variety of resources ranging from print to non-print, a range of issues that can impact the development, analysis and use of such varied resources. Besides an academic exercise, the book also gives practical suggestions, tips, and guidelines, substantiated with research, experience, and examples to those who use resources to facilitate teaching learning experiences of elementary school children. With contributions from an eclectic mix of academics and researchers, this book addresses the needs of students, teachers, and educators by providing a cogent understanding of diverse teaching and learning resources in the Indian context. Although there are a few books in the West, especially for teaching of languages, which systematically enunciate steps involved in preparing printed materials, including textbooks, and even critically analysing them, there is hardly any such work in India. This book provides an understanding of both - the process of preparing and analysing TLRs across different age groups and more importantly, across disciplines. The book will comprehensively address the basics of understanding, developing, analysing and using of resources in a most effective manner in the diverse social contexts in which schools, teachers, and students are situated. This book will be useful to the students, researchers, and teachers working in the field of Education, Psychology, Development Studies, Social Work, and Sociology. It will also be an invaluable companion to in-service teachers, policy makers and educational administrators, curriculum developers, and NGOs working in the field of inclusive education.

Disha Nawani is Professor and Dean, School of Education, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. She has been working in the field of education for more than two decades and has published several articles related to different aspects of school education. She has been part of several government committees for teacher education, curriculum renewal, and textbook writing. Her most recent work has been in the area of educational policy research, teacher resource centres, educational incentives for students from minority communities in Maharashtra, and school assessments.

1. Introduction 2. Conceptualising Teaching Learning Resources 3. Understanding Activities in Learning 4. Resources in Teaching Learning: Cognitive and Pedagogic Considerations 5. Khel Khel Mein: Exploring the Complex Ecology of Teaching Learning Resources 6. Development and Production of Textbooks: Some Insights 7. Books That Worm into You: Children's Literature for Elementary Classes 8. Teaching Queer Themes Through Children's Literature 9. Drama in the Classroom: Provocations and Possibilities 10. Effective Teaching and Learning of Spoken English Through Radio 11. Local Resources as Teaching Learning Materials 12. Learning Materials: Conceptualisation, Use and Role of the Teacher 13. Teaching Learning Resources in Pre-Service Teacher Education Sector 14. Intellectualising Teachers' Education: Practice-based Teacher Education