In a two-day workshop held on May 14–15, 2025, the Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust (VMFT), Thiruvananthapuram, brought together passionate educators to explore innovative strategies in teaching, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and socio-emotional learning. The event marked a significant step forward in equipping teachers with 21st-century skills, fostering continuous professional development, and enhancing classroom engagement.
With the dynamic theme of integrating AI tools, aligning with NEP 2020 goals, and addressing adolescent mental well-being, the workshop featured a line-up of expert resource persons: Mr. Arun Ravi (Director, Kefi Tech Solutions), Prof. (Dr.) Cherian John (Former Principal, Mar Ivanios College), Dr. Rahul V. R. (Assistant Professor, Government College of Teacher Education), and Ms. Jabeena A. (Retd. Headmistress and Tutor, District Centre for English).
Chairman and Managing Trustee of VMFT, Mr. A. Suhair, inaugurated the workshop by reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to the vision of Vakkom Moulavi—empowering teachers as the cornerstone of progressive education.
On Day One, Prof. Dr. Jameela Begum set the tone by invoking UNESCO’s Four Pillars of Education and emphasized the indispensable role of AI in today’s classrooms. The keynote session by Mr. Arun Ravi demystified AI for educators, offering hands-on insight into tools such as rule-based learning systems, translation apps, and text-to-speech software that aid inclusive education. He inspired participants with real-world examples—including a homemaker turned gamer—to show how embracing AI can transform lives and classrooms alike.
Prof. (Dr.) Cherian John’s afternoon session brought laughter and learning together through practical NEP-aligned classroom strategies. His interactive techniques like the “Information Gap” and “Jigsaw Puzzle” demonstrated how NEP 2020 principles could be seamlessly implemented to foster collaboration and critical thinking. With his signature mnemonic—“Reunion of Appu Anila Every Christmas”—he simplified Bloom’s Taxonomy and left a lasting impression on the attendees.
Day Two shifted focus to adolescent psychology. Dr. Rahul V. R.’s session, “Addressing Socio-Emotional Challenges of Young Adolescents,” shed light on the widening generational gap and urged teachers to embrace the 3 C’s—Creativity, Connectivity, and Compatibility. His call for “teacher leaders” resonated deeply, underlining the urgent need to move from outdated methods to updated empathy-driven engagement.
In the final session, Ms. Jabeena A. emphasized the importance of communicative strategies in overcoming today’s attention-deficient learning environments. With practical methods to enhance reading comprehension and maintain classroom attention, her talk served as a valuable toolkit for modern educators.
Participant feedback, including that of Ms. Jyothi (Vice Principal, A R R Public School), reflected a deep appreciation for the sessions’ richness, particularly the blend of theoretical depth and classroom applicability. What began as a tentative step for some ended in a transformative experience that redefined teaching perspectives.
As VMFT looks ahead to future collaborations, this workshop stands as a beacon for teacher development in India—bridging technology, policy, and humanity in education.
