The Navtika National Symposium 4.0, held on September 21, 2024, focused on the theme of “Holistic Assessment and Evaluation in Early Years.” The symposium brought together over 1000 attendees on various social platforms.
The event began with welcoming addresses by Ms. Sona Gombar (Headmistress, SMS Gurugram) and Dr. Indu Khetarpal (Editor-in-Chief, Navtika Journal and Former Principal, Salwan Schools). Dr. Anupam Ahuja (Former Professor, NCERT) delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the significance of holistic assessment in early childhood education, especially after the implementation of the NEP.
The symposium featured engaging sessions on modern gamification and traditional puppetry. Ms. Namya Joshi (A Minecraft and Adobe Student Ambassador) conducted the session on gamification, demonstrating how Minecraft can be used for assessing critical skills. A student from Sat Paul Mittal School showcased amazing gaming techniques for learning and assessment. Ms. Sangya Ojha (Puppeteer and Co-founder, The Puppetarians) led the session on puppetry, highlighting its potential for holistic assessment.
The panel discussion included Dr. Mayuri Dutt (Psychologist and Science Communicator), Dr. Abirami Vivek (Counseling Psychologist), Dr. Pooja Maggu (Professional ECED Expert), Ms. Kashmira Jaiswal (Principal, Navrachna International School, Vadodara), and Ms. Prabha Dixit (IBEN Programme Leader, IB PYP Expert). The discussion was moderated by Ms. Sabinder Kaur (School Coordinator, SJS Naraina).
The symposium concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Parul Srivastava (Joint Director, Adolescent and Mental Health, Child Development Division, NIPCCD), who emphasized the key factors discussed during the event and the importance of adopting holistic assessment practices in early years.
Overall, the Navtika Symposium 4.0 provided valuable insights and practical strategies for educators to implement holistic assessment and evaluation in their classrooms. The event fostered discussions, shared best practices, and emphasized the importance of meeting the diverse needs of young learners.
