10th grade students conducting professional development for Akanksha teachers

Children are capable of so much more than we can imagine.

Recently, during a professional development session I conducted for grade 3-8 teachers, five grade 10 students—all girls from one of our The Akanksha Foundation schools in Pune—taught the teachers how to create art on Desmos using functions. They planned and executed a 30-minute lesson, and by the end, the teachers were amazed by the students' deep understanding of the concept and the way they executed the lesson. The teachers attempted to make a smiley face on Desmos; most completed it halfway but had smiles on their faces, satisfied with what they had achieved.

When asked why they wanted to teach the teachers, one student said, “Math is often seen as a boring subject. We felt the same way until we learned Desmos art. Our experience of creating the art was unlike any other learning experience—it was like a game where we could take risks. We were exploring, and our teacher only guided us by asking questions. We want to learn in the same way, where making mistakes isn't scary but fun. We wanted to show the teachers that this kind of learning is possible so they can feel inspired to teach in the same way.”

This student's words struck a chord with me. They highlighted a key aspect of effective learning: the importance of a safe environment where exploration and mistakes are not just allowed but encouraged. The students had only been introduced to Desmos art three months prior, during a four-hour lesson that Charuta Joshi and I had planned for Project RISE at the Akanksha Foundation. In this short time, they had not only mastered the content but also developed the confidence to teach it to their teachers. This experience reaffirmed my belief that every child has immense potential waiting to be unlocked.

Unfortunately, so much potential remains unrealized due to a lack of access. I am glad that The Akanksha Foundation and Project RISE, led by Sapna Shah, has created such opportunities for the students and I feel fortunate to be a part of it

-Rajat Sharma