Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER) - Brief on Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER)

Brief on Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research

Summary

1.  Definition The Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research was founded on 28th February 1984, to coordinate and further develop educational and cultural activities in Auroville, with an emphasis on educational research through many experimental fields.

Since its inception and till now a basic infrastructure has been created with grants from the Government and other contributions. Presently the Institute comprises of: 6 educational experimental units for children and students of various nationalities; a Laboratory of Evolution; a Centre of Research in Indian Culture; a Video Unit;
Language Workshops; the Main Library; a Publication Workshop; a Dance Group; a Music Group and a Graphic Arts Group (Painting, Drawing, Design, etc.). There are facilities for sports and physical education, and village related educational research units. There is also an administrative infrastructure providing requisite services for coordination and finance. Many researchers who are working in these various units and groups are also participating in several specific teams for selected research programmes. There are about 103 members of the research teams (full time and part time).

The Institute has organized educational experimental units towards the gradual elaboration of a new system of education inspired by the vision of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, experimental research units in the fields of Fine Arts, Video Products, Evolution, Indian Culture, Rural Development and several workshops, seminars, youth and cultural events. It has prepared and published several educational booklets and brochures, and two books "The Aim of Life" (320 pp) and "The Good Teacher and The Good Pupil" (520pp), and produced video films

2. Objectives and Methods

The objective is research in an integral education with a progressively closer contact with one's inner being as a key to the achievement of the goal of human unity. The methods are as follows:

A. Programmes of Educational Research

Programme I

 Aim: Experimental research towards a new system of education.

Methods:

This program is one of experimental field activities. A tentative model framework of a new system of education has been elaborated that needs to be verified experimentally. This will be done through the experimental units of the Institute. The model framework proposed envisages a very different relation between the "teacher" and the "pupil". It also recognizes two main aspects in the process learning, one of "culture", which is a process of learning resulting from a spontaneous and natural growth of faculties, capacities and personality by virtue of an easy stimulation by the environment, and one of "training" which is a learning process involving regular, persistent methodical, rigorous and meticulous exercises. These two processes must be harmoniously blended for each pupil.

This experimental program will include several seminars and workshops for the members of the research teams of the institute and educational experts from outside.
We want to construct a new building for an experimental unit that will provide educational needs of students above fourteen years of age. The building will have, spaces for self study individually, spaces for private conference with a teacher, lecture halls, as well as halls where the whole student body can be addressed

It is also necessary to construct residential quarters for members of the research teams of the Institute. It is proposed to build such a facility for about fifty teachers using innovative designs and plans. Each teacher will have a fair sized room designed aesthetically for comfortable living. Bath and toilets will be common and there will be no kitchen as residents will eat in a common kitchen already available in Auroville.

Program II

Aim: the following problems will be experimentally examined:

• New Goals of education
• To discover the methods and processes for the development of an integral Personality.
• How to teach languages among multi-lingual groups of students
• How to assess the progress of a child and how to involve a child in decisions about his own life
• How encourage creative expressions among students and teachers

Methods:

Experiments to be conducted, followed by evaluation in workshops and seminars.

Programme III

Aim: the illustration of a syllabus for value-oriented education under the title "To know oneself and to control oneself".

Methods:

• Organization of several research teams for physical education, vital education, mental education, psychic and spiritual education.
• Organization of several seminars and workshops with members of the research teams and experts from India, in view of evaluating, discussing and organizing the research materials gathered and preparing outlines of future publications.
• Production of learning-teaching materials for value education; 4 major books will be produced:
  • 1st book: on physical education (manuscript ready, awaiting funds for publication).
  • 2nd book: on vital education.
  • 3rd book: on mental education
  • 4th book: on psychic and spiritual education.

In addition to these major books, smaller publications such as biographies of remarkable people, compilations of meaningful texts, presentations of remarkable events in history, etc. will be published.
 

Programme IV:

A research in physical education program is presently focussed on two concerns:- (a) how to offer each child the same opportunity for improvement regardless of natural ability, size etc. and (b) how to encourage the child to experience competition in a healthy way. A sports and physical education complex is presently under construction.

Programme V: Research in Special Themes:

(a) Evolution:

The work on Sri Aurobindo and Mothers' perceptions of Evolution and all modern thought on the subject will continue.

(b) Indian Culture:

The work on the significant aspects of Indian Culture and its resurgence in the contemporary world will be continued in the next five years.

(c) Fine Arts and Performing Arts:

Experimentation in the fields of drama, music, singing, dance painting and sculpture is expected to yield much better results as facilities for all these activities are getting organized.

Programme VI: Extension Work:

(a) Teacher's Training:

Aim: Providing to teachers from India and abroad an opportunity to reflect about their role and to live a different experience.

Methods: Teachers' seeking training allowed to work with experienced teachers for a short duration of two to three months. Monthly workshops for teachers in surrounding rural areas.

We want to create facilities for a teacher's training center. A hostel/Guest house with about fifteen rooms where teachers coming for training can stay and attached to it a lecture hall and a Seminar room.

(b) Production of films and other audio-visual educational materials.

(c) Educational Experiments in the neighbouring Villages:

We are carrying out a number of educational experiments to discover how best to meet the educational needs of the population of the village — from small children to young working adults. Some of the programs initiated by us have now both a State and National level recognition and we hope to pioneer in the effort to evolve a correct educational content and strategy for our under privileged sections of society.

One of our experimental units called llaignerkal is in need of a new building. Construction has been started with a first installment of a grant from the Government but awaits further funding.

PROGRAMME VII: A LEARNING AND EVOLVING SOCIETY.

To model a society on the aims of unending education is a challenge that has been given to us. An unending education that has a definite goal-a conscious growth towards progressively higher states of consciousness.

BUILDING PROJECTS:

The following building projects are priorities for the further growth of the Institute:

1. An experimental school for older children
2. Residential building for teachers engaged in research
3. llaignerkal — an outreach project
4. Teachers training Centre
5. Sports and physical education complex