Life Skills Based Adolescence Education: Concept and Approaches

1. Life Skills Based Adolescence Education: Concept and Approaches Dr. NityanandaPradhanHead, Department of EducationRavenshaw University, CuttackOdisha. Mob: 09437235670 E-mail: npradhan17@rediffmail.com

2. What is Adolescence? • It is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood. • It is the period of rapid revolutionary changes in the individual’s psychic, mental, moral, spiritual, sexual and social outlook. • It begins with the onset of puberty

3. It is period of learning, development, new dimensions and also • It is period of anxiety and complexity. • To grow to maturity. • A period of great stress and strain, storm and strife

4. What is Adolescence? • Early/Pre- Adolescence (Age 9-13) • Mid Adolescence (Age 14-15) • Late Adolescence (Age 16-19)

5. Adolescence in a nutshell • A Period of rapid physical, emotional, social and behavioural change. • A phase in the life span characterised as “transitional owing to sudden increase in the activity of adrenal glands and hormones.” • A stage reflecting development of secondary sexual characteristics, self-identity and sex drive. • A period of changing relationship with parents, peer group and opposite sex.

6. Characteristics of AdolescencePhysical Changes Male Female Development of breasts. Growth of Bony pelvis. Growth of spurt. Public hair. Growth of sweat and oil producing glands. Growth of uterus and vagina. First menstruation. • Growth of testes and scrotum. • Growth of public hair. • Growth of arms, legs and penis. • Voice change-deepening. • Oil and sweat glands activated. • Facial hair, moustache and beard. • First ejaculation.

7. Characteristics of Adolescence Intellectual Changes • Independence • Identity • Intimacy • Integrity • Intellect

8. Characteristics of Adolescence Emotional Changes • Concern about appearance • Curiosity about sexual matter • Attraction towards the opposite sex • Distancing from family and forming new relationships • Taking risks

9. Characteristics of AdolescenceSocial Changes • Parental influence- restriction on girls • Religious influence • Neighbourhood and family culture

10. Demographic Profile • Adolescents constitute about 22 percent of the total population • The males outnumber the females. • The mean age at marriage is 18 years for females and 22.6 years for males. • Mortality rates among females are higher as compared to those among males

11. Demographic Profile • High vulnerability of adolescents to HIV infection. • Drug abuse is fast emerging as a problem in adolescents. • Most of the rape victims are in the age group of 14-18 years.

12. Adolescence Education Programme • government of India has drawn up National Action plan for HIV prevention Education • Target group: all secondary and senior secondary schools. • skills based education have proved to the best ways of prevention against HIV/AIDS, • Convergence: NACO and UNICEF

13. Life Skills Education • One of the effective approaches for HIV and AIDS prevention and adolescence education.

14. Meaning of Life Skills (LS) • one’s abilities for positive behaviour that help us in making correct choices of life. • Life skills enable people to translate knowledge (What one knows) and attitudes/values (What one believes and feels) into action (What to do and how to do it).

15. Meaning of Life Skills Education (LSE) • LSE is an interactive methodology, which focuses on knowledge, attitudes and skills • It is specially designed to enhance efforts to positively develop and change behaviour. • It is not concentrated on providing information only. • The focus on behaviour change as a primary objective distinguishes life skills from other information only approaches.

16. Meaning of Life Skills Education (LSE) • Life skills approaches are more than a set of interactive classroom based activities- it is an empowering approach helping young people to take positive actions • focus on major life decisions, e.g. goals, choices of life-style, choice of profession, peer relationships, further study. • LSE aims at a comprehensive behavior change approach

17. Inherent and Acquired Life Skills • The inherent life skills are those life skills that a person inherits by birth, e.g. respect for elders, obedience to parents, concern for the siblings and immediate relatives. • The acquired life skills are those that are taught to a person or have been imbibed from others over a period of time, e.g. controlled emotional involvement, communication skills, handle administrative aspects.

18. Importance of Life Skills Education The life skills education is just not information sharing but also skill development • Helps adolescents to transit successfully from childhood to adulthood • Helps in the development of social competence and problem solving skills • Helps to weigh pros and cons of the situation, hence, act as a mediator to problem behaviour.

19. Importance of Life Skills Education • Delays the onset of the abuse of tobacco and alcohol etc. • Promotes the development of positive self-esteem and teaches anger control. • Ensures less development misconceptions or miscommunications regarding issues such as drugs, alcoholism etc.

20. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education • Decision-making ability of a person to be able to decide what he/she wants in life; what is right for him/her as he/she This skill helps one to make decision after examining the choices which are consistent with one’s values and goals.

21. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education II. Self Awareness • It includes recognition of ourselves, of our values and beliefs, of our strengths and weaknesses, desires and dislikes.

22. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education III. Self Esteem • It is closely identified with self-respect and includes a proper regard for one self and others.

23. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education • Negotiation The ability of a person to assert his/her position in an uncomfortable situation and be able to refuse (say “No”) what he/she deems wrong.

24. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education • Empathy The ability to listen to another’s needs, understand and accept others, to put one’s self in the other person position.

25. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education • Critical thinking Ability to evaluate events and situations that takes place and influences that affect his/her thoughts and actions.

26. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education VII. Advocacy Advocacy is the ability to influence others for the benefit of the general masses.

27. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education • Effective Communication The ability to express ourselves, both verbally and non-verbally in ways that is appropriate to our culture and situations.

28. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education IX. Coping Coping is the ability to manage one’s emotions like anger and to cope with the everyday stress

29. Life Skills in the Context of HIV/AIDS and Adolescence Education X. Co-Operation and team-work Co-operative and team work is the ability to work in groups and respect each other’s opinion and views.

30. Effective Teaching Methodology for Imparting Life Skills Education • Role Play • Group Discussion • Debate • Case Study • Case Study

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