When Experiments Became Experiences! - The First TEP Workshop for Teachers from Raichur

As the new cohort of high school science teachers from Raichur district walked into Prayoga’s campus on June 25, 2025, they probably expected a standard training workshop. Their experience over the next four days was far more transformative — a journey that challenged their perspectives and reaffirmed their role as agents of change in the classroom.

The Teacher Empowerment Program Workshop is a thoughtfully designed experience — built to guide teachers from where they are, to where they could be. From structured reflection and rigorous content sessions to hands-on science experiments and deeply philosophical discussions, every moment seemed to echo a single message: teaching is a craft worth honouring, refining, and reimagining.

Dr. Latha K, Senior Researcher at Prayoga, opened the program with a powerful invitation — to use the next four days to reflect, grow, and rediscover the joy of teaching. Ms. Sowmya Prabhakar introduced the Kriya curriculum, a carefully designed learning framework for Grades 6 to 10 that enables the end-to-end experiential learning of science. Kriya’s content is aligned with science curricula while developing capabilities in students and educators alike. 

Dr. Karuna K Simha shifted the focus to the teachers themselves. In her words, ‘educators are not just facilitators — they are researchers in the making.’ She laid out the five-year development roadmap for Kriya teachers that supports teachers through mentorship, reflection, and practice-based research. Her session on Piaget’s cognitive theory was particularly insightful, helping teachers align their teaching with how children actually think and grow — a reminder that effective teaching is as much about empathy as it is about expertise.

Teachers explored the Kriya textbooks and academic calendar, then dove into a session by Ms. Harshitha B on physics concepts. Using just water, timepieces, and their own senses, teachers rediscovered the value of tactile learning. An afternoon session on magnetism made it clear — complex science can be taught simply and beautifully, if we trust in the power of hands-on discovery.

The second day built upon this momentum with a deep dive into Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle. Ms. Sowmya walked the group through each phase — concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation, and active experimentation — and helped them see how learning becomes transformative when it starts with doing. Ms. Manjushree, Academic Coordinator, followed with a live demonstration using electricity as the theme, turning Kolb’s model into a living classroom example.

Mr. Arjun, Senior Faculty for Chemistry at Prayoga, brought the room alive with a session on the states of matter. When a teacher asked, “Can a stone change its state?”, the discussion turned into a compelling example of thinking beyond textbooks. The real spark came during the iodine test — for many, it was their first time handling such an experiment. The sense of accomplishment was palpable.

Ms. Lakshmi B.M. introduced the four pillars of learner engagement. Through live demos and feedback sessions facilitated by Ms. Padmini and Ms. Asha, all the science teachers of Raichur present in the TEPw were encouraged to plan and present their own short lessons. 

Later that evening, a unique session on “verbalizations” — the act of helping students articulate what they learn- was led by Dr. Latha and Ms. Divyashree. Subject-wise panels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology saw our teachers participate to clear doubts, share experiences and learn from scientists, researchers and educators.

By the third day, there was more energy, more questioning, more collaboration. The theme of the day — Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) — brought out the explorer in every teacher. Ms. Harshitha B used everyday items like ice and soup to dive into concepts of heat and temperature. Ms. Divyashree used the fermentation of dosa batter and the chemistry of "cold" to explain respiration — making science come alive through food, senses, and stories.

Then came an unexpected twist — Mr. Anirudh’s “ice cube and string” experiment, a playful, surprising way to explain freezing point depression. The excitement in the room was unmistakable. Teachers later created their own IBL lesson plans — proving that when given the right tools, they could design learning experiences that are both rigorous and joyful.

On the final day, Dr. Karuna returned with a session on how to organise classroom content — facts, concepts, and principles — and how doing so improves clarity and impact. Dr. Latha introduced Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience, helping teachers understand why hands-on, goal-directed activity leads to stronger memory and better outcomes.

Ms. Lakshmi’s session on exemplification helped teachers see how small, relatable examples can make abstract ideas stick. A session by Mr. Arjun on Boyle’s Law and Ms. Pooja’s demonstration on electricity rounded off the content sessions, proving that clarity in science needs grounded, accessible teaching.

Teachers shared insights and requested future sessions in Raichur itself during the valedictory session. Prayoga’s managing trustee, Shri. Vallish Herur’s message reaffirmed Prayoga’s vision of teachers as researchers and catalysts of change. Prof. S Nayana Tara, Consultant for Kriya, praised the enthusiasm of this cohort to provide better learning experiences for their students. Dr. K.S. Nagabhushana’s closing remarks, inspired by Bhajagovindam, reminded everyone that science teaching has a soul — one that thrives on reflection, humility, and wonder. Dr. H.S. Nagaraja concluded with a motivating call to action: take this learning forward, not just within your schools, but across the state.

This workshop for our cohort of higher primary school teachers from Raichur was made possible with the support of the SBI Foundation under their Integrated Learning Mission (ILM) vertical. With support from SBI Mutual Funds, Kriya has been extended to 12 government schools in Raichur district from 2025-26. We extend our sincere thanks to the SBI Foundation and SBI Mutual Funds for their belief in Prayoga’s mission to improve the utility and quality of education through research.

Project title: SBIF ILM: Reimagining Science Education