Participatory learning involves the approach that enables the concerned learners to be an active participant in the teaching-learning process and thereby, not just be a mute receiver of information but contribute by sharing his/her experience. This not only empowers the students, thereby boosting their self-esteem, but also makes them more accountable as they see themselves into the driving seat. This approach has gained a lot of positive response in e-learning, interactive classrooms of today.

My view is that this approach should be introduced early on, say elementary school level, rather than wait and then introduce it at the later stages of education. This approach will help children realize, from a very early age, to not just be a receiver of information but to play a contributory role. Of course, the exercise should be made suitable to match their age and intellect but the idea of verifying for oneself and not just accept everything can be introduced. Along with the obvious benefits of this, it can also help students who are otherwise shy. They will gradually learn to participate and share their knowledge and as they grow up, this skill can come in handy.

Though this approach is being partially used, at several places, with mixed responses and success rate, the full-fledged implementation in the day-to-day classroom teaching-learning is still lacking. The activities like "Story-telling", which prompt the student to narrate a story and share his learning from the story is nothing but an application of participatory learning. Another example that comes to mind is the activities like, say "Helpers Day" activity, whereby the kids learn about the role of helpers in our life and each one shares his/her information in the class for others to learn from. This way, kids get to know about more concepts than the portion that can be covered by a single teacher in one class.

My point is that this approach should be scaled up further to incorporate more of core teaching-learning, rather than taking it up in a superficial manner. This approach holds a lot of potential for effective learning.

Following links have been used to come up with the concepts presented in the update:

https://www.participatorymethods.org/task/learn-and-empower

http://www.gdrc.org/icm/ppp/plt.html

https://www.participatorymethods.org/glossary/participatory-learning-and-action-pla