SEMINAR
November 19, 2025 2026-03-20 13:12SEMINAR
SEMINAR-CUM-WORKSHOP
Seminar-cum-Workshop for Teachers
28th & 29th October, 2023
A two-day Seminar-cum-Workshop was organized by the SHARPEN Academy, an organ of the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, for the teaching faculty of all its institutions. The programme aimed to inspire, empower and enhance the professional competence of educators across the Trust’s schools.
To ensure greater participation and convenience, the seminar was conducted at two prime locations. The first session, held in Chennai on 28th and 29th October 2023, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 553 teachers from the five SBOA schools in the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The seminar started with the motivational session by Dr. Sylendra Babu, Retd. DGP, in the presence of Shri. A. Senthil Ramesh, President, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, Secretart & Correspondent Shri. A.V. Joseph, Associate Secretary Smt. S. Santhi and the Treasurer of the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, Shri. S. Manimaran.
The Chief Guest and Resource Person for the inaugural session was Dr. C. Sylendra Babu, Former DGP, whose inspirational seminar focused on transforming good teachers into great teachers.
Highlights of the Session
Dr. C. Sylendra Babu began by sharing episodes from his own life, making the session highly engaging and relatable. He emphasised that parents are the first teachers and teachers are the second parents, both shaping the lives, values and emotions of young people.
He noted that society is ever-changing in culture, knowledge and relationships, and highlighted the need for parents and teachers to understand, appreciate and adapt to these changes. A great teacher, he said, is one who embraces lifelong learning, acquiring new knowledge, skills and attitudes with dedication.
Qualities of a Great Teacher
The speaker stressed that teaching is a challenging profession because teachers play many roles — counsellor, guide, mentor, caregiver and role model. To excel, teachers must:
He reinforced the significance of preparation, responsibility and lifelong learning, stating that teachers learn by teaching and teach by learning.
Inspirational Thoughts Shared
Dr. C. Sylendra Babu quoted Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: “If you want to shine like the sun, burn yourself.”
He also cited Albert Einstein’s and Galileo’s words:
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
“You cannot teach anybody anything; you can only help them realize the answers are already inside them.”
He encouraged teachers to read widely, write books, and model a mindset of continuous learning. He also insisted on treating every child with dignity, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, and promoting a classroom environment where students feel valued, free to speak, and enthusiastic about learning.
A Teacher’s Purpose
Dr. C. Sylendra Babu emphasized that the teacher’s primary role is to create the conditions for learning—removing ignorance and unlocking each child’s creativity, interests and talents. He shared heartfelt gratitude to his mother and his teachers, especially Mr. Ramasamy, who played a pivotal role in shaping his life.
Conclusion
He reminded teachers that the real measure of teaching lies not in income but in outcome. He urged them to cultivate qualities such as self-discovery, critical thinking, a positive attitude, love for children and an unshakeable passion for the profession.
The session left teachers deeply motivated, offering practical insights and a renewed sense of purpose in fulfilling their noble role in society.
The Seminar-cum-workshop for the outstation teachers was held in Coimbatore on 2nd and 3rd December, 2023. It was attended by 465 teachers from the SBOA Schools of Madurai, Coimbatore, Ernakulam, Trichy and Salem.
The two-day Seminar-Cum-Workshop was organized by S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust on 2nd and 3rd of December, 2023. More than 500 teachers participated from 7 different SBOA Schools from the district of Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Coimbatore, Ernakulam. The inauguration ceremony began with lighting the lamp by Smt. S. Santhi, Associate Secretary, Shri M. Murugesan, Correspondent, SBOA Schools, CBE, Mr. Paul D. Prabakar, Correspondent, SBOA School, Ernakulam, Mr. D. Ravikumar, Administrator, SBIOA Educational Trust, Chennai and Mrs. Sabarul Banu Ibrahim, Principal, SBOA, Matric. & Sr. Sec. School. The resource person for the first session, Mrs. Rubina Majid, was honored with a bouquet, books and memento by the dignitaries.
A 2-day Seminar-cum-Workshop was organized by the SHARPEN Academy, an organ of the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, for the teaching faculty of all the Institutions. The seminar was held in two prime locations in order to make the teachers feel at ease. The first seminar was held in Chennai on 28th & 29th of October 2023, with 553 attendees from the 5 Schools located in the Capital City of Tamil Nadu. The second seminar was held in Coimbatore on 2nd & 3rd December 2023, where 465 teachers from the S.B.O.A. Schools in Madurai, Coimbatore, Ernakulam, Trichy and Salem attended. The seminar concluded on a positive note, highlighting the need for such motivational and empowering sessions. The event successfully brought together educators and administrators fostering a collective understanding of the dynamic landscape in imparting education and nation building.
Resource Person: Mrs. Rubina Majid, Founder & CEO, Learning Resources Centre, Hyderabad
Topic: Pre-Reading Skills
Mrs. Rubina Majid opened the session by expressing her gratitude to the SBOA Group of Schools for inviting her. Introducing herself as a reader, a teacher, and a trainer of teachers, she emphasised that teachers must be readers. Reading, she said, is like installing new software in the brain—it enhances thinking, creativity and overall personal growth. She highlighted research that reading for 30 minutes a day can extend one’s lifespan by two years.
She elaborated on the importance of creating a reader-friendly environment for children. Setting aside time for reading, reading aloud, allowing children to read freely, and discussing books with them collectively build a community of readers. She also explained that reading ability can be measured using the Lexile framework.
Mrs. Rubina introduced a few reading-support platforms such as readworks.org, metametrics.com and MindShift on Facebook. She stressed that reading plays a significant role in Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The session included a read-aloud of The Carrot Seed, demonstrating resilience and persistence as essential learning outcomes.
Resource Person: Dr. Malathi Selvakumar, Principal, S.A. College of Arts and Science, Chennai
Topic: ‘Smart Teacher, Successful Students’
Dr. Malathi began her session with a thought-provoking story about a schoolboy who arrived late, illustrating the value of empathy in teaching. She explained the key attributes required of a ‘smart teacher’, beginning with thorough preparation, creating meaningful learning experiences and enabling students to think through a ’genius hour’.
She encouraged teachers to give students time to practise, to ask questions and to experience joyful learning. She suggested flipped classrooms, where students teach and teachers listen, enabling better engagement. She also stressed the importance of summarising lessons and taking notes. According to her, a teacher may assume roles such as lead learner, student engager and personalised facilitator.
Dr. Malathi outlined the five teaching styles—Authority, Delegator, Facilitator, Demonstrator and Hybrid styles. She also explained the Five P’s of Professionalism: being participative, positively particular, prepared, punctual and presentable. She urged teachers not to treat students as a group (‘cattle class’), to honour their own feelings and knowledge and to practise humility. The session concluded with the story of carrots, eggs and coffee beans, highlighting the message ‘learn and grow’.
Resource Person: Dr. G. Senthil Kumar, Chairman, Helikx Institutions, Salem
Topic: Stress Management and Emotional Intelligence
Dr. Senthil Kumar began with anecdotes from his childhood and school life, drawing attention to the importance of emotional resilience. He highlighted that emotional intelligence is closely connected to work–life balance, noting that emotions drive people and people drive performance.
He discussed the rapid changes occurring in the 21st century and emphasised that what we feel is often more important than what we learn. The rise of emojis as a new emotional language, virtual reality in schools, and emotion-sensitive technologies—such as food vending machines that respond to mood—were examined. He stressed that excessive reliance on gadgets may dull emotions and weaken the brain.
Introducing the Wheel of Life, he explained the importance of maintaining balance across family, health, career, finances, personal growth, spirituality, hobbies and service. He clarified the differences among emotion, feeling and mood, and stressed teaching children to label their emotions. He described the mind as a storeroom not to be overloaded with unresolved experiences and thoughts, stating that learning new things cleanses and refreshes the mind.
He elaborated on multiple intelligences—verbal, logical, visual, kinaesthetic, naturalistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and musical—and how recognising these reduces stress. The day concluded with a campfire and variety entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the teachers.
Resource Person: Dr. M.C. Rajan
Topic: Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Teachers
Dr. Rajan introduced himself warmly and acknowledged the invaluable role played by teachers. He referenced the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, stressing the distinction between knowledge and wisdom. He emphasised that learning happens best when teachers treat students with love and affection.
He encouraged teachers to build trust, instil confidence, create interest and nurture hope in their students. He stressed impartiality regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender or economic background and advocated social justice within school spaces. Teachers must uphold confidentiality, avoid actions that cause fear, anxiety, trauma or any form of abuse and work systematically to help students actualise their potential.
He highlighted the importance of strong teacher–parent relationships, maintaining harmony among colleagues, and fostering a culture of purposeful collaboration. He concluded by reminding teachers to remain lifelong learners and to treat every student with unconditional love.
Resource Person: Dr. M. Raziya Parvin, Asst. Professor & Head, Dept. of Historical Studies, Queen Mary’s College
Topic: Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity
Dr. Raziya Parvin initiated the session with a reflection on educational systems across the world, especially the highly respected model in Finland. She also discussed ancient Indian Gurukul education, highlighting the respect once accorded to teachers.
She spoke about the gaps in modern-day education, particularly the erosion of cultural and moral values. She explained the meaning of culture, cultural difference and cultural sensitivity—an area in which many students struggle. Teachers, she said, play a pivotal role in fostering cultural understanding.
She emphasised the four essential elements of teaching: Awareness, Attitude, Knowledge and Skill. She promoted collaborative learning, storytelling, real-life teaching examples and understanding individual differences among students. She cautioned teachers against holding preconceived notions about students and encouraged them to reshape corrupted ideas and guide students towards reality over fiction.
Dr. Raziya also discussed ethnocentric and ethno-relative stages, moral development and intercultural sensitivity. She ended on an appreciative note, acknowledging the enthusiasm of the teachers and the support of the S.B.O.A. Educational Trust.
Resource Person: Dr. Veenita Shah, Head – Research & Strategy, Tata ClassEdge Ltd.
Topic: Technology Integration in Education
Dr. Veenita Shah engaged the teachers from the outset by posing thought-provoking questions about technology and student learning. The session explored diverse themes such as student-controlled learning, problem-based learning, ability grouping, repetition of classes and the role of visible learning.
She emphasised technology’s potential as a tool for effective learning and encouraged teachers to share their experiences regarding the advantages and disadvantages of digital classrooms. She discussed the benefits of visualisation tools and insights from educational research.
The session also covered AI, ChatGPT and various emerging technologies that are transforming education. Dr. Veenita highlighted both the merits and drawbacks of combining mediocre pedagogy with sophisticated technology, urging teachers to ensure balanced and meaningful integration.
The final session was highly interactive, equipping teachers with updated knowledge on how technology can be effectively incorporated into teaching practices. The seminar concluded on a positive and inspiring note, emphasizing the importance of such motivational and capacity-building initiatives. The event served as a platform to bring together educators and administrators, fostering collaboration, reflection and renewed commitment toward excellence in education and nation-building. The two-day programme concluded with the National Anthem, leaving participants enriched with learning, insights and memorable experiences.
2024 – EDUCATORS’ ENCLAVE’24
Arts integration is a teaching method that incorporates art into the curriculum to help students learn and understand better. It can involve students creating art to demonstrate their understanding of a subject.
How does arts integration work?
Benefits of arts integration:
Mrs. Meena Suresh, Former Senior Principal of Kavibarathi Vidyalaya, Former Director of Ramanujan Museum & Math Education Center, was the Resource Person for the Art Integration workshop held on 25th January, 2025.
She has designed a dynamic approach to engage children through art integration, utilizing various creative methods to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Her focus revolves around fostering curiosity, creativity and hands-on participation among children.
The key strategies she employs:
Finally, she ended the day’s workshop with the topic ‘Making Image Speak’, the text art or typographic illustrations, where the shape of the text visually represents the object or idea it describes (like the word ‘horse’ being shaped like an actual horse).
Her approach ensures active participation, helping children develop creativity, critical thinking and cultural awareness.
A full-day workshop for the teachers of the Department of Arts & Crafts was held on 22nd February, 2025 in the Kamaraj Hall in S.B.O.A. School & Junior College. Thirty-one teachers from all our S.B.O.A. Schools gathered to experience the feel of colour splash and the techniques to paint different art forms by the Resource Person Mr. S. Rajkumar, National Sales Promotion Manager, Kokuyo Camlin Ltd, Mumbai. The participants had hands-on experience in doing Madhubani Art, Pichwai Art, Nib Art: Mural Art, One Stroke Painting and Stencil Art. A detailed explanation about each art form was given by the R.P. The participants were given Colour range of materials along with required brushes for the activity were provided by Kokuyo Camlin Ltd.
A one-day workshop for the Office Staff of our S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust & Schools was conducted on 3rd May, 2025, on TDS, GST, TALLY & ERP. The day was made more special and meaningful by the encouraging words of our President Dr. P. Nithish Andreyya Raja Singh, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust & our Secretary & Correspondent Shri. A. Senthil Ramesh, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, Chennai. Their presence made the audience feel that they were important and valued. The office staff put forth their request to have such sessions twice every year. The Management also showed their trust and care by gifting each one of them a travel bag and sweets. It was a day filled with great learning, understanding and knowledge transfer.
The 4-day Workshop (was inaugurated in the most formal way by welcoming the guests with sandal paste and flowers followed by lighting the sacred lamp, the Kuthuvilakku. The stage was adorned by the presence of the President Dr. P. Nithish Andreyya Raja Singh, the Secretary & Correspondent Shri. A. Senthil Ramesh, Associate Secretary Shri. C. Lazer Jeyaprakash & the Treasurer Shri. S. Prakash, of the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust. Mrs. G.M. Vimala Devi, Management Committee Member, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, was also present. A total of two hundred and sixty members (including the Heads & counsellors) participated in this empowering workshop.
In the Presidential Address, the President said, “Teach the children not just to study but to learn for life. Impart skill-based education to the children. We should always move forward to empower our children keeping in mind our Trust motto ‘Educate & Illuminate’. Create a joyful learning environment for the children.”
In the Keynote Address, the Secretary & Correspondent shared, “In the classroom, the children should be made to feel comfortable and convey what they feel without any hesitation. Gift them with small things to appreciate and encourage their efforts. It is your duty to teach them respect and good habits at the primary level. Motivate them to wake up early and have a fresh start for a bright day. Make them to smile more. As teachers, you should upskill yourselves to keep up to the moving times and meet the challenges and accept changes.”
Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. It has the ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. It helps to improve hand-eye co-ordination and improves one’s dexterity and motor skills. It is one of the ways to boost creativity. It develops patience and persistence. Origami can be used as a teaching tool to promote learning and education. It is an excellent way to improve one’s mental and physical health while having fun and creating beautiful art.
Mrs. Jayashree Narayanan, Fevicryl Certified Specialist, conducted origami workshop on two days. The participants learned to create purposeful and decorative items: photo frame, gift bag miniature, decoupage mini paper board tray, burnt paper effect flowers, water melon chocolate box, paper lady bird and tea cup greeting card. All the participants, men and women, enthusiastically exhibited their newly acquired talent by making the above-mentioned paper craft. The way she appreciated every piece created by the teachers with genuine joy was truly amazing. Her encouragement and motivation through kind words like 'lovely’, 'beautiful’, 'super’ and 'excellent' boosted everyone's morale. The session was wonderful, offering many valuable takeaways for the teachers.
Day 3 commenced with the motivation of Dr. Bharathi Krishnakumar, Orator, Director, Writer & Produced. His topic was ‘Whose class is it – the Teacher or the Student?’. In his speech, he shared the facts and realities of teaching and the teaching profession. Through his discourse, he brought out the difference between the students of the past and the present. He remembered his school teachers who had moulded him into what he stands now. He prompted the teachers to kindle their curiosity and give them the space to speak out loud what they think. He opined that in earlier days learning happened only through textbooks and blackboards, whereas the gen-z kids have access to information and resources in their hands. They should be equipped to fight all odds in the current situation and manage their studies and their future. They should be empowered with values and not attitudes. He encouraged all the teachers to do meticulous work and guide the little one to be better human beings. Each teacher should ensure that he/she prepares extremely well for the class. The way the teachers present themselves is more important. Each child is a bundle of innocence and intelligence. If teachers consider each child precious, then the bonding ensues and learning occurs automatically.
Dr. Bharathi Krishnakumar narrated a touching incident during his visit to Little Flower Blind School and concluded the session with these words, “If children come to touch you, it means you have touched their hearts.”
On day 3 & 4, the workshop was led by Mrs. Kritika Dhiwahar – Teacher, Trainer, Thought Enabler, Thespian, Teller of Tales, NSD Alumna & Fulbright DAI Scholar. On day 1 of her session, she dealt with the topic ‘Active Learning through Drama & Storytelling’ and on day 2, it was ‘Lesson Planning with Drama & Storytelling’.
The session started with active learning through circle time using drama & storytelling. Various topics were taught by making them write, do activities, conducting games, etc. The participants were taught how to motivate every child with joy and fun. The teachers were allowed to play their childhood games. They were advised to strengthen teaching for better outcome and engage learners in fun and purposeful ways through circle time activities. Mrs. Kritika focussed on Maslow and Blooms theory of educational objectives and its importance. She made it clear that playing is important for the child to develop fine and gross motor skills and to build confidence.
She made it clear that songs and storytelling play vital role in education at the primary level. Story time was made clear and understandable through the story mountain. The technique of chanting in AEIOU and finger breathing was done practically.
The importance of drama was highlighted. Tongue twisters were tried by all. They were assigned with a framework for meaningful circle time and asked to prepare a circle time activity with all the ENCIRCLED framework.
A great deal of learning new techniques and methodologies through drama and storytelling were learnt. The teachers were kept active and engaged throughout the two-day sessions by learning new games and activities.
The closing ceremony of the 4-day workshop ‘The Art of Teaching’ A Professional Development Journey’ was held on 30th May, 2025, in the presence of Shri. S. Prakash, Treasurer, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, Shri. M. Muralidharan, Correspondent, S.B.I.O.A. International School, Chennai, the Administrators and Mrs. Suraja, Principal, S.B.O.A. Global School. In his address, Shri S. Prakash, brought out the vital role played by the teachers, the gurus, in the lives of the children entrusted in their hands through a meaningful short story. Shri. M. Muralidharan, in the special address, expressed gratitude to his teachers who had moulded him to achieve great heights in life and excel in the hockey. One participant each from all the 12 schools shared their feedback about what they acquired throughout those 4 days. The teachers returned to their homes with beautiful bags and sweets gifted to all by the Management.
The FRESHERS’ ORIENTATION was held on 14th June, 2025. The day was made special by the presence of the President Dr. P. Nithish Andreyya Raja Singh and the Associate Secretary Shri. C. Lazer Jeyaprakash. The orientation was officially inaugurated by them. The President in the Presidential Address highlighted the role of each staff in the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust Schools. Shri. Lazer Jeyaprakash, in the Special Address, enlightened the newly appointed staff about the Trust and its achievement in the field of education since 1979.
The whole day was filled with sessions of empowerment and information. The first session of the day was taken by Smt. P. Rajeswari Menon, Former Administrator & veteran of the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust. The topic she dealt with was ‘Goal Setting & Professional Development’. She asked the teacher to follow the SMART principles in their profession:
Specific; Measurable; Attainable; Realistic; Time Management
In order to maintain balance between home and profession, she suggested the rule of ‘Bin it & Bag it’. She highlighted numerous incidents and quoted examples to encourage the participants to be responsible members of the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust.
The next session was handled efficiently by Shri. D. Ravikumar, Administrator, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, Chennai. The topic given to him was ‘Let’s Know about the Management and the Management’s Expectations from the Staff’. He gave a detailed picture of the Prime Members of the Management; the Correspondents & Principals of the Schools runs by the Trust and the expectation by the Management from the staff.
The third session for the day was ‘Rules & Regulations of the S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust’. As a senior staff of this Trust, this session was carefully & effectively handled by Shri. V.V. Anand, Administrator, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, Chennai. He explained in detail about the pay scale, CL, EL, ML, late coming, permission and the advantages of being one of the members of the Trust Schools. A lot of queries were clearly clarified and the audience were satisfied with the input received from the Administrator.
Smt. P. Gomathi, Assistant Headmistress, S.B.O.A. School & Junior College, Chennai, handled the session on ‘Role of Technology in the 21st Century Education’. She updated the staff on the latest applications and tools available in ready-to-use format to make the lessons more interesting and understandable. As the classrooms are equipped for technology-based teaching, she insisted that the teachers use it to the fullest. She showed them sites related to all the major subjects – English, Tamil, Maths, Science & Social Science.
As teachers, one has to know the techniques of teaching and preparing the lesson plan. So, we had invited the most experienced person in the field of teaching and administration Dr. (Smt.) Indra Jayaraj, Former Vice Principal, SHARPEN Academy, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust to take the session on ‘Teaching Methodologies and Lesson Plan Writing’. First, she briefed them about the different teaching methodologies and then went of to teaching them how to write the lesson plan. The teachers were given printed sheets from the lesson plan. They were grouped subject-wise. With her guidance and the textbooks provided, the teachers were taught the S.B.O.A. way of writing the lesson plan. The participants started writing the lesson plan step-by-step, following Dr. Indra’s instructions. By the end of the session, the teachers were able to give a complete lesson plan related to their subject.
Simultaneously, the clerical staff, the librarians and the nurses attended a session taken by Shri. B.M. Sasi, Manager, S.B.I.O.A. Educational Trust, Chennai. They were briefed about the usage of Tally, registers, channels, payment, dashboard reports, library management through Neverskip etc. The nurses were asked to keep in the registers to be maintained by them as instructed by the Schools.
On the whole, it was a day filled with great learning experience, packed with vital information for the eighty-seven recruits who attend the session from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
