SS Jain Subodh Girls PG College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, HOD-History: Dr. Anju Sharma

Dr. Anju Sharma is the Head of the Department of history at SS Jain Subodh Girls PG College, Jaipur, Rajasthan. She has completed her MA, MPhil, and Ph.D. with a specialization in Ancient Indian History. Her teaching experience makes up to twenty-three years at the undergraduate level and twelve years at the postgraduate level. 

What are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

I believe that teachers play a crucial role in student's life to succeed in a career, jobs, and businesses, and in making successful human beings. I use several teaching methods and materials to educate students about my subject, history. As a teacher, I support students individually as well as inspire and motivate my students to do well.

As a mentor, I help students to identify their strengths, abilities, talents, and interest. I try to understand the issues faced by the students and suggest measures to overcome them by imparting practical wisdom from my experience. I encourage them and motivate them to a great extent. I regularly update my classroom environment with technological and pedagogical advances. I plan my lessons, course lectures, and visits to impart subject knowledge in the best possible manner. I keep a regular record of students' progress and administrative tasks.

How do you establish healthy relationships with the students and fellow faculty?

In any teaching-learning environment, establishing healthy relations and knowing what the students are dealing with is crucial. They should be able to watch a friend and a guide in me who will not judge them. They should be comfortable around me. For this, I make my class interactive while giving them the required lecture. I motivate my students to speak up whenever they feel like it without facing judgment. Similarly, I maintained cordial relations with fellow faculty. Being a senior with years of experience, I always guide my juniors and am supportive.

How do you introduce a practical and industry-oriented approach toward subjects?

Nowadays, students love to learn through practical lessons rather than just through books and texts. The practicality of the latest pedagogies has taken over conventional teaching methods. For this, we involve teaching through technology (Internet, Online classes, Webinars, PPTs, Videos, etc.). Industry-oriented approach towards subjects like history is complex, but we provide the best learning experiences to the students. For instance, we organize visits to archaeological sites and teach students historical facts using stories so that students get a better understanding of the lessons.

How do you strategize and update the curriculum to benefit the students?

Preparing the curriculum is a crucial part of education. It adheres to the norms and standards of education. The teacher should know the teaching aims to update or prepare a curriculum. Through this, they fulfill the objectives of teaching and students’ expectations. 

I design my curriculum using a holistic approach that follows a chronological and comprehensive pattern. To frame the curriculum, I include all the aspects like teaching in class, regular assessments, presentations from students, group discussions, etc. I ensure continuity and that the students are getting the relevant knowledge.

What are your views on the placements and higher education of the students from your department?

As the head of my department, I suggest my students go for higher education for specialized and vast knowledge of the History subject. Most of my students have been successful in fields of their choice, and higher education in the subject helped them to achieve their goals.

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Which strategy do you use to help students to cope with this competitive world?

To help students to cope with this competitive world, I train my students to be collaborative and have those skill sets. I teach them tolerance and help students learn through their strengths. I guide my students in a way that they apply knowledge in their real lives and solve real-life problems.

What extracurricular activities are organized in college to enhance the skills of the students?

Extra-curricular activities help students to learn about themselves and develop and use their skills and knowledge in different contexts. Several extracurricular activities are organized regularly and collectively (including students of all the departments) in my college with my active involvements & initiation. 

We have awareness programs on personal hygiene, cleanliness, nature conservation, public health, etc. We develop a sense of respect for culture by organizing cultural festivals. We also observe international days like World Environment Day, International Women’s Day, etc. We emphasize students’ physical health through sports, indoor games, physical exercise, fitness training, yoga, and meditation.

We also organize a number of college-level competitions like music, dance (Contemporary & Folk Dance), debate, creative writing, poetry recital, drawing and painting competitions, and gardening. We organize art and crafts, camping, hiking, scientific modeling, and career guidance programs.

Which challenges are you facing to uplift the quality of education in your department?

Our institute provides most of the facilities and freedom to faculties so that they can render quality education. Despite this, we face some minor challenges related to technology/material/equipment; that may enhance the learning experience of students. For example, we lack ICT-based classrooms with a projector and sound system that may help clear the delivery of lectures in big rooms/classes. 

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Would you like to share any valuable advice with the young mind?

Most importantly, young minds should be patient and persistent. They should be the best version of themselves. Learning is a crucial component of life; one should learn from their mistakes and forgive themselves. Also, success is not about luck but about one’s hardwork. One should follow their passion without caring about people’s opinions.