INTRODUCTION
The emphasis on holistic development will not only make learning a more joyful process, but it will also nurture innate talent and develop skills in youth - an invaluable asset for a developing nation.
Education is not the learning of facts but the training of the mind to think.
Our organization, MoreThanMarks, a non-profit organisation aims to create an environment of education where students are taught to look beyond their books and curriculum and explore. We focus on the holistic development of the students and equip them with skills that are often overlooked at educational institutions.
We have always made an effort to create a change in the way we teach and learn. We try to break beyond the barriers of traditional education and put an end to the obsession with the “Intelligence is measured by the marks or grades” remarks. We have always and will continue to strive to explore learning at its purest and most relevant form. We have invariably been motivated to assist the students of our nation to do better and make the right career choices and aim to provide them with the right resources to do so.
We started our journey on 10th March 2021 with a team of 5 people. Now, as of 24th December 2021 (date of publication), we are a proud family of 25+ members. Since then, we have started many initiatives that project our vision. We have collaborated with many schools and NGOs. We are more than an organisation, we are a family. We believe that trust is built between an organization and its well-wishers and consumers through transparency.
We’re here to take you through our journey from June 2020 to December 2021. This is a brief account of all that we have done in these past 18 months, why and how we did them, what went right and what all could have been done to avoid the mistakes made.
JUNE 2021 - JANUARY 2021
1. Taught all subjects at BVMS (Eng, CS, Social Science, Science,Maths)
Vision: To impart STEM learning through school curriculum and make that fun!
Why?
We were of firm belief that each student who had access to schools should be given STEM education that equips them in basic skills required by an individual throughout their life.
We wanted to make curriculum based learning hands-on and practical. This entailed giving them experiments to practise at home, and also teach them ways to develop themselves.
Medium : WhatsApp
Since these children belonged to a low income class background so their parents couldn't afford a stable means for their online education like extra mobile phones or laptops.
We ensured that our teachers took these classes through whatsapp so that they have a source to learn even if they don't have their phone with them.
Curriculum based learning
The problem with curriculum based learning was that still we were trying to figure out how to engage students.
FEBRUARY 2021 - MARCH 2021
1. Admin team monitoring classes and reporting for BVMS
Vision : To better manage and monitor the classes
Why?
We needed a team to monitor the growth of students and the teachers. We also assisted them in figuring the areas of improvement and what more could be done.
This was also done so that the management of Homework and reports cards can be done more effectively and efficiently.
2. Chai Pe Charcha: A team connect
Vision : To create a certain level of understanding and synergy in the team and motivate them to work as a team.
Why?
We had everything in the team but we missed the social connect, team meetings resolved this issue. We spent an hour not just talking about work together but utilised this time to get to know each other better and understand each other. This developed a sense of identity within the team and they felt more connected with our cause.
Medium : Google Meet
3. We decide to shut down evidya classroom program
Vision : To have a unique Identity, not used by anyone
Why?
Evidya was actively used by all the government initiatives. To to make ours unique and create a brand image true to our cause, that also differentiates us from others, We decided to change the name.
MARCH 2021 - MAY 2021
1. Mobile collection + distribution campaign
Vision : To make phones accessible to those students who do not have access to them
Why?
Education at BVMS was getting hampered because the students did not have access to phones which put forth some obstacles for the students.
So we decided to collect the spare mobile phones from our houses and distribute them to the people who really need them.
Medium: Phone WP groups and local connects
Note : Unfortunately, Due to lack of resources and unavailability of students we had to shut down our initiative at BVMS.
2. Online classes start at Narayan Chandra Trust
Vision : We wanted to try if we could set up a learning pod at NCT
Why?
Due to COVID, the schools had to shut down which eventually resulted in students losing their interest in studies.
We wanted to try if we could help students from an underprivileged community to grow, and learn online.
Medium: Google Meet + Whatsapp
**Curriculum:**Defined by educators, anything that could excite students and also help them in their STEM Education
Note: The students were divided into 3 batches: Beg, Inter, Expert and taught all subjects to improve the efficiency of teaching.
MAY 2021 - MAY 2021
1. Nitish comes with LearningToEarn. MTM gets kicked out
Vision : We promoted STEM education, he wanted to make students employable
Why?
We had different perspectives towards education, he wanted to make them employable even if they were not qualified or educated enough.
So he asked MTM to function at Sharda Mata
2. We start 3-months cohort at Sharda Mata (WHY changed to 3-month)
Vision : To make learning accountable and measurable
Why?
To analyse progress of kids we wanted to have time bound efforts and 3-month seemed like a good time where we could teach and evaluate them
Medium: Google meet and whatsapp
Curriculum: Team defined a very basic curriculum so that students can cover up easily
3. Admin team stops functioning
Why?
Admin team members were not doing their tasks as defined, Class monitoring, attendance management among many other things were handled carelessly.
4. Expand training bootcamps beyond orphanages
Vision: Expand and see if our bootcamps work for school students as well
Why?
Till now we were only functioning in orphanages where students were not even equipped with a proper school education.
We wanted to expand and see if our bootcamp syllabus fits for the school students who have all the resources
Medium: Google meet and whatsapp
Curriculum: 15 days skill training bootcamps for English and Computer Science
Note: We decided to teach them English and Computer Science because we believed that these subjects are the stepping stones to learn all other skills.
JUNE 2021 - AUGUST 2021
1. Converting all subjects at SM → Teaching them English and Computer Science
Vision: To ensure that the students know the basic skills and develop the capability to learn
Why?
The aim of Morethamarks was to help the students gain skills and realise that only marks are not of utmost importance. The knowledge and learning we gain is more important.
So we started to teach them English and CS to ensure that they know the basics and have command on them.
Medium: Whatsapp and Google meet
Curriculum : 3-month curriculum was designed by the experts at MTM which included google tools, website building, usage of words etc.
Need for website: Notion over building website from scratch
Vision : We successfully built the product, now it was time to expand and reach the masses.
Why?
We started to expand in the community and to pitch a product, we required a platform that would make us easily accessible to them. This would increase our reach as well.
But building a website from scratch was taking up a lot of time and a small change in the webpage was done at the code level. We finally decided to switch to Notion, which is easier to manage and edit.
SEPTEMBER 2021 - OCTOBER 2021
1. 3-months → 15 days Skill Training bootcamp(At SM)
Vision : To efficiently map the students’ progress and also to introduce them to more skills
Why?
Shorter effort-reward cycle
Better evaluation and target setting
Easier to scale and manage
Curriculum: https://docs.morethanmarks.org/Training-Bootcamps-5dd9d11faa2f4caf88c9226bf5a1d160
2. MTM App: To manage attendance and track submissions made by students
Vision: There were paid online apps but they were not customizable
Why?
We wanted to build something of our own that can be easily personalised
3. Expert sessions on Saturdays
Vision : Help the students get guidance from the industry experts
Why?
With time, we realised that students needed guidance from experts in various fields so that they can decide what stream they want to choose in the future.
This expert session was a medium through which students could also understand the different industry practices and make up their mind about which suits them the most.
Medium: Google meet and Whatsapp
Topic: The speaker was free to decide the topic of expert session with our assistance
Note: We had free expert sessions for our students but it was paid for others
NOVEMBER 2021- NOVEMBER 2021
1. Tried Maid marketing
Vision : The aim was to get our bootcamps promoted through househelps and guards and other common people.
Why?
Guards and househelps have access to many houses so we thought asking them to mention our bootcamps and talk about them in different households would really help us promote it further.
For every student conversion, they were supposed to get 33% of the total fee.
Why did this strategy not work?
We did not reach out to enough people.
2. Peer learning: Students become our teachers
Vision: To give our students an opportunity to become our teachers
Why?
Students can figure out each others’ problems with a better understanding. So we tested if our students could become our upcoming teachers.
One of our students from Community Batch. Aditya taught girls at Sharda Mata how to build their own websites.
https://docs.morethanmarks.org/03fd90f1cf0e4a4e936ce4a01981dfe2
Medium: Google Meet and WhatsApp
Curriculum: Designed by Aditya and guided by Simran
3. Beyond Exams: App Cloning
DECEMBER 2021
1. Connecting to schools to conduct bootcamps
Vision: Expanding our reach and connecting to more students
Why?
Connecting to students individually and socially in our day to day life required a lot of effort.
First conducting, paid bootcamps in around 4 schools and then deciding for partnerships
2. Helping students get internships
Vision: To make students employable
Why?
We have equipped our students with the skills, now it is time for them to use these skills professionally and gain experience of working through internships
Internship opportunities through Internshala under guidance of Anjali
3. Expanding our efforts
Vision: Expanding our reach to adults
a. We have set up a learning pod at Vridhashram at NCT and aim to make education fun and interesting for adults
Why?
Adults at NCT were very keen on learning Computer Science
Medium: In person by Nikhil Sarate
Curriculum: Use of WhatsApp, internet, drive, files and folders
b. Trying to set up a pod at Pranav Kanya Sangh and start teaching..
c. Trying to restart learning pod at BVMS
JANUARY 2022 - FEBRUARY 2022
1. Partnership with at least 4 schools for 6 months
Vision: Connecting more and more students and expanding our reach
Why?
Each school conducts at least one paid training bootcamp every month with around 30+ students
Ensuring to conduct at least 12 paid bootcamps in schools
2. Ensuring all expert batch students have paid internships
Vision: To make students employable
Why?
We have taught them skills now it is time to use those skills and earn a living
Becoming more active with our approach and efforts and try to get each student employable
Expanding our efforts
Course completion at Vrudhashram at NCT and making education fun for even adults
Starting and completing the course at Pranav Kanya Sangh
Interacting with more NGOs and schools. Aiming to reach at least 1000 students.
SOME OTHER EFFORTS MADE
Over the course of these 18 months, we have always made a constant effort to expand our reach and make our organization more accessible to people. To employ our vision, we have also made certain Social Media Marketing efforts like:
Drives for social cause for a week
Environment Day Drive: Plant a tree
Quiz channel for a week + Giveaway ( 4 weeks no award + 1 award)
Outreach: Connect with people
SUMMARY
All that we have done, why we chose to do certain things, the reason behind the failure of some of the things we envisioned and what we try to achieve in these 18 months has been briefly described for absolute transparency. We have summarised some of our highlights, lowlights, our proud achievements and our vision for the future.
Metrics
Number of bootcamps conducted: 150+
Number of students enrolled: 500+
Number of skills taught: 20+
Number of team members till date: 40+
Number of BeyondExams courses created by teachers: 200+
Highlights
15-day Training bootcamps:
We tried to come up with a solution to connect to more students. For this, we conducted training bootcamps for students to create maximum engagement and ensure wider reach.
We taught students different skills that would help them throughout their life. We tried to make education and learning fun and relevant for them again.
Lowlights
Even when we were making strides and completing our vision and goals, we could not reach a wider audience as we did not have much content on social media that testified to our growth. This clearly meant that we did not have enough testimonials to post.
3 months training bootcamp:
During June, we tried a 3-month training bootcamp that taught all subjects but we were not able to map the results of these bootcamps which posed a problem for us.
We also tried 3 months English and CS Bootcamps but the same problem persisted. We had to wait for 3 months to see how things were working out.
What are we currently doing?
Collaborating with schools to conduct 5-day training bootcamps
We have partnered with around 4 schools that are actively indulging in our bootcamps and happily collaborating with us
Around 40+ students from each school are actively participating.
Peer to Peer learning
We teach our students in such an integrated manner that they could use the skills they learn and teach them to their peers or students younger than them
This instils confidence in them
EG: Ashwini, Vasanti, Anamika students in expert batch at one of our Vidyaashram "Sharda Mata" are teaching students in beginner batch.
Similarly, one student from 7th Grade, DPS, Aditya from our community has taught our students at Sharda Mata vidyashram how to create their website.
https://docs.morethanmarks.org/03fd90f1cf0e4a4e936ce4a01981dfe2
WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
Long term partnerships with schools
If the first bootcamp with the school is successful and the school is happy with our service, then we sign an MOU for 6 months.
CONCLUSION
We envision a future where young students at schools become independent from a young age. Where these students are equipped with the skills that pique their interest and they learn to look beyond their books. We simply hope to create an environment for our students where they are well aware of what they want for their future and how they will achieve it. We are just a means for them, an instrument for them to learn better.
We have always had the best interest of the students in our hearts. We will continue to strive to expand our reach and connect with more people. We need your valuable support to continue to do what we have envisioned.