3R Lab- an independent learning resource that aims at empowering children as well as their parents with a
host of information related to the screening, understanding and addressal of specific
teaching-learning challenges.
Learning disorders, prominently Dyslexia, are a common, but routinely misunderstood condition. Dyslexia is a difficulty in reading and writing where letters and words appear disoriented to the individual. While this has been proven over and over to be unrelated to intelligence or eyesight, yet people, (both the general public as well as those in highly prominent positions in society) often make light of the issue. Children are regularly bullied at school and stigmatized for finding reading or writing a difficult skill to acquire. “Study hard! Don’t be lazy!,” “Put in more effort,” “If you can tell it, why can’t you write it?”- these are some of the oft-repeated sharp remarks that children with learning difficulties face at school and, sometimes, even at home. At college level, the lack of empathy is even higher. As a result, children suffer most from a loss of self-esteem rather than anything else. “When self-esteem is absent, teaching anything becomes irrelevant,” observes Arun Fernandez, founder of 3R Lab.
“Intelligence is a state (of mind), not a trait,” remarks Dr. Jayashree Ashok, Former Academic Director at 3R Lab, as she explains how mainstream education more or less ignores the different learning modalities of children, while loosely classifying them as “intelligent” or
“dumb” based on scores alone. “Children thrive in an education system that focusses on what a child CAN do, instead of focusing on what every child MUST do,” she says. This is at the heart of BRS’s (Blink Research and Services Private Limited) 3R Lab. The Lab (named for the widespread 3R- Reading,wRiting & aRithmetic concept) is a one-to-one and group intervention program for students with learning difficulties including, but not limited to dyslexia. It focusses on equipping students with learning aids and virtual study modules, anchored by trained remedial tutors. Their objective is to create a platform that nurtures children’s ‘individual potential. In India, an estimated 10-15% of school going children have a learning disorder. That adds up to roughly 38 million children. Remedial education is available in just a handful of places within the country. “How can we possibly attain the desired 1:5 teacher-student ratio for 38 million children?” wondered Arun, who identifies himself as dyslexic and is an alumnus of a prominent remedial school. He says this number-check is what led him and his team to pursue the 3R App, an independent learning resource that aims at empowering children as well as their parents with a host of information related to the screening, understanding and addressal of specific teaching
learning challenges, while providing a forum for expert advice and regular updates on recent developments in this field. “With this app, we hope to reach out to the millions of children, making them self-reliant learners,” says Arun. Timely screening and access to remedial education helps with addressing learning disorders. Remedial education consists of a series of tested, proven and scalable teaching-learning techniques and tools that (with trained tutors) help children find the learning modalities that best suit them. Multisensory learning, the Orton Gillingham method, the VAKT (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic and Tactile) model and the Thinking Skills Program are just some of the aspects of remedial education. Arun and his team members, many of whom have suffered the brunt of a society that refuses to understand learning disorders, are today accomplished professionals in diverse fields, ranging from sports, arts, logistics, technology to social work. When asked how they managed to cope with the stress of being the outliers in their homes/schools/friend groups, they offer interesting answers: “I channeled my frustrations into sports and dance, and I excelled at it,” says Bharath Raj, Former Director of Operations at 3R Lab. A former college level
athlete and a stellar dancer, Bharath says that you need an anchor to fill in for any ‘deficiencies’ from within. For him, that anchor was sports, dance and youth service groups that gave him a sense of community. Exploring these other facets of his personality gave him the confidence to say, “Even if I fail, I will be okay.” Ajay Subash, Operations Director of CHILD, says that his interpersonal skills drove him to fight the odds and handle rejections. He says, “At school, even though I wanted to make friends, I would invariably be filtered out. I learned that I only had a space at every school until the month of July each year. From July, the first set of examinations begin, and thus, I would be cast out for my ‘poor performance’. He eventually found his personal space inside a lecture hall, thanks to his gift of the gab and his ability to connect with people. “For high performers, failure is critical. For people like us, failure is usual. I have grown so used to failing that I don’t get intimidated by it anymore,” says Arun with a laugh. He believes in what he calls ‘falling forward’. “I believe if I attempt something that I have never done before, then failing is nothing but progress.” Dr. Jayashree Ashok, who also founded CHILD, says, “Teachers teach in isolation.” A former Principal at Alpha to Omega Learning Centre, an internationally acclaimed remedial school, she believes that teachers need to be supported with creative freedom and access to continuous learning in order to cater to diverse learners. 3R Lab currently reaches out to over 240 students across schools in Chennai. An extensive team of academic, technological and creative consultants work on the development of content and services. The Lab operates during school hours so that students are free to pursue their other interests during the rest of the day. The 3R App is currently being incubated at IIM Bangalore. 3R Lab is looking for technology partners and for successful individuals with learning disorders who can contribute to the cause. More importantly they are looking to build a more inclusive community for diverse learners so that they might, in fulfilment of their mission, ensure that no child is left behind.
–Archanaa Ramesh,CSIM.