Dr. Vaibhavi Pandya has Ph.d in Education and has extensively researched and worked on the domain of Critical Thinking. She is successfully implementing Critical Thinking as part of curriculum for Bachelor of Education Program from past several years. She is Certified Critical Thinking Trainer from Critical Thinking Community, California. U.S.A. She has been recently invited as a Guest Presenter in 43rd International Conference on Critical Thinking hosted by Critical Thinking Community, California. Her current area of research is Critical Thinking through Art Integration and Critical Thinking and Neural Behaviour. Under Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant Project of the university she is trying to map the effect of Critical Thinking on Neurotransmitter levels of young individuals. She has university Khoj funded project on Critical Thinking through Art Integration where she is developing module on Critical Thinking through various Art Works. She conducts workshops/sessions on areas dealing with Neuroscience in Education, Higher order thinking, Critical thinking in Education, Questioning Probing and Reinforcement and Socratic Questioning. Her core subjects include Reflective Teaching, Self and Self-expression and Pedagogies of subjects. She is currently working on a Project titled, ‘Designing Safe Thinking Spaces in Learning Ecosystem’. She has developed online self-paced module on ‘Neuroscience in Education’.
Academic background/Qualification
Bachelor of Commerce, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat India (1998)
Master of Commerce, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat India (2000)
Bachelor of Education, Gold Medalist, Navrachana University, Gujarat, India (2012)
Master of Education, Education Planning and Management Navrachana University, Gujarat, India (2014)
State Eligibility Test (2017)
Ph.D (2021)
Teaching
Understanding Discipline and Subject I (Economics): General Information about the Subject: This subject is taught to Bachelor of Education program as a Foundation
Understanding Discipline and Subjects III (Business Studies): General Information of the subject: This course is a foundation course dealing with the content of school subject. It re-familiarizes the teacher-pupil with the school curriculum and knowledge base obtained through university degree programs.
Pedagogy of first and second School Subject (Business Studies and Economics): General Information about the subject: The content cum pedagogy approach to teaching of commerce is activity oriented and has process as well as output based assessment It also aims to develop the entrepreneurial skills and practical approach to the needs of the developing society.
Business Studies Education: General Information about the Subject: This course aims at equipping the teacher- pupil with the required knowledge and skills for teaching of Business Studies in school. The teacher-pupils should also be able to develop competence to develop various learning materials, implement them and assess learning in commerce.
Economics Education: General Information about the subject: The teacher-pupils should also be able to develop competence to develop various learning materials, implement them and assess learning in Economics.
On Becoming a Professional Teacher: General Information about the subject: The course which is carved out equipping with basic skills to equip the student teachers with competencies needed for teaching. It focuses on thinking skills and learning skills.
Learning and Teaching: General Information of the subject: The course has theoretical frames drawn from diverse set of disciplines including sociology, psychology, language learning and philosophy. It helps student teachers to critically analyze the notions of learning and teaching
On Becoming a Reflective Teacher: General Information of the subject: The course is meant to give the practicing teacher an edge in terms of bringing in improvements in the teaching task. Keen reflection on the teaching environment, teaching methods and assessment shall enable student teachers to create new knowledge about particular teaching situation.
Self and Self Expression:Basic Description of the course: The course aims to address aspects of development of the inner self and professional identity of a teacher. By developing one’s own sensibilities, dispositions and skills the teacher shall help in the personal growth of their own students
Pedagogies used to teach the above subjects
Case studies,
In class discussions
Socratic Questioning
Critical Thinking Pedagogy
Team Projects
Presentations
News Paper Article
Flipped Lessons
i. Constructive Pedagogies
Just in Time Approach
Area of Expertise and Research
Primary Area: Critical Thinking in Education
Secondary Area: Critical Thinking and Neuroscience, Critical Thinking and Art Integration
Research Funding on: Impact of Critical Thinking on Neurotransmitter levels of student teachers
Research Funding on: Critical Thinking through Art Integration
Publications
Gawarikar, V. & Balwaria, R. (2024). Conceptualizing Critical Thinking through Ancient Scripts. Curriculum, Pedagogy and Sustainable Development: The role of Indian Knowledge System. Global Academic Publishers, New Delhi
Gawarikar, V. (2023). Evaluating Reflection and Metacognition. Learning by Doing: The Power of Experiential Learning.
Balwaria, R & Gawarikar, V. (2023). Chapter on Corporal punishment and child development: Reflections and suggestions in the book titled, Problems faced by children: Impact, Prevention and Mitigation.
Balwaria, R. & Gawarikar, V. (2023) “Pedagogical Strategies for Engagement of Learners: An Experiential Account’. International Journal of Education.
Education, Critical Thinking and Human Capital Formation (2022). International Organization of Scientific Research-Journal of Humanities and Social Studies. Volume 27, Issue 6, Series 3 (June. 2022) 09-12
Gawarikar, V. & Xavier, P (2021). Critical Thinking: An Indispensable Dimension in The Course of Sustainable Development” Volume 2, Issue 1 of Interwoven journal. ISSN-2581-9275
Gawarikar, V. & Xavier, P. (2019). Developing and Implementing Critical Thinking Skills Package on Student Teachers of “Vadodara City”. Indian Journal of Psychology and Education, 9(1), pp. 9-14, P- ISSN 2231-1432. Ugc Listed Journal as on date of publication.
Gawarikar, V. & Xavier, P. (2019). Thought is Power. International Organization of Scientific Research-Journal of Humanities and Social Studies,24 (2), pp. 12-15, E-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. Peer reviewed journal
Gawarikar, V. & Xavier, P. Critical Thinking: An Indispensable Dimension in The Course of Sustainable Development” Volume 2, Issue 1 of Interwoven journal. ISSN-2581-9275
Pramanik, S., Gawarikar, V. (2017) “Evaluation and Corrective Strategy for The Transmitter of Values to Refurbish the Goals of Sustainable Development”. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 22, Issue 12, Ver. 6
Gawarikar, V., Pramanik , S. (2017) “An introspective strategy for palpable sustainable development”. Book on Sustainability, Navrachana University
Gawarikar, V., Pramanik, S. (2016): “Modern Trends in Education: Enrichment or Threat to the social structure”. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 21, Issue 9, Ver. 6
Gawarikar, V., Pramanik, S. (2015). “Foreign Education Regulatory Bill – A Ray of Hope or Despair”, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol. 20, Issue 6, Version IV
Pramanik, S., Gawarikar, V. (2015). A Suggestive Curriculum for the M.Ed. Program with an Expanded Employability Quotient. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol. 20, Issue 3, Version IV
Conferences/Seminars
Paper titled, ‘Conceptualizing Critical Thinking through Ancient Scripts’. Seminar organized by The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda on Indian Knowledge Systems.
Paper titled, ‘Education, Critical Thinking and Human Capital Formation’ was presented in National Seminar on Indian Economy: Performance & Prospects’ held on January 5th, 2019 – organized by Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
Paper titled, ‘Critical Thinking: An indispensable dimension in the course of Veracious Development’ was presented in National Conference on Innovating for Development and Sustainability’ held on 5- 6 October 2017, organized Navrachana University, Vadodara
National Seminar on Teacher Education 2015+ organized by CASE, Faculty of Education & Psychology, MSU, Baroda in February 2015. Title of the Paper: A Suggestive Curriculum for the M.Ed. Program with an Expanded Employability Quotient.
National Seminar on Higher Education: Expectation & Expression organized by CASE, Faculty of Education & Psychology, MSU, Baroda on 9th& 10th March, 2015. Title of the Paper: Foreign Education Regulatory Bill – A Ray of Hope or Despair?
FOSTERING PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE: THE ROLE OF EDUCATION EDUCON 2022: Holistic education and world peace The Contribution of the Santhals Tribal ‘Hool’ Organization towards Achieving Independence and building Modern India’.
Developing, Implementing and Assessing an Intervention Program based on Paulian Approach to Critical Thinking for Student Teachers of Vadodara SCHOLARS’ MOSAIC 2.0 SCHOLARS’ : Annual Young Researchers Meet
Pedagogical Strategies for Engagement of Learners. BPS Institute of Teacher Training and Research Bhagat phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyala in collaboration with Global Educational Research Association(GERA) organizes International Conference on Idea of Bankruptcy in Educationists and Thinkers 28thand 29th
Neuroscience in Education: Interventions for Effective Learning. Seminar on National Education Policy (2020): Strategies for Implementation: Date 14th and 15th March, 2022 organized by Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Psychology, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Training/Workshops (in the order recent to be first)
Invited for a session on ‘Effective classroom management’ for S.B.M Teachers Training college, Jharkhand for teachers, students, faculty and guests’
Invited for a session on ‘integration of design thinking and critical thinking processes into education’ for reliance school, Vadodara for 100 teachers
Invited guest presenter for the topic titled, ‘Assessing the Impact of Critical Thinking Intervention Program based on Paul-Elder Framework on Student teachers of Vadodara City, Gujarat’ organized by International Critical Thinking Conference on Critical Thinking by The critical thinking foundation: Sacramento, California
Workshop on ‘Questioning, Probing and Reinforcement’ for Shanti Asiatic School, Bopal, Ahmedabad
Instructional Design with focus on Higher Order Thinking Skills organized by Navrachana University, Gujarat. India
Integration of Critical Thinking into Project Planning and Making organized by Navrachana Vidyani vidyalaya forstudents
The science of thinking critically for Navrachana University, Gujarat
Key note speaker on ‘Intersections: Dialogue Across Disciplines conducted by Navrachana University on Neuroscience in Education
Academic Advisory Board Member of BA humanities and social science program for Navrachana University,Gujarat. India
Team member of Bachelor in Humanities and social sciences program
Faculty Development Program on ‘The Science of Thinking Critically’ for Outreach on 12.10.22 -The Rajkumar College, Rajkot
Faculty Development Program on ‘Focus, Depth and Breadth in Content’ under Outreach for 63 teachers- The White House School
Faculty Development Program on ‘Questioning, Probing and Reinforcement’ under Outreach Team on 26th November 2022-SVM-Bharuch
Staff Training ‘Critical Thinking Skills’ with Adani Group of Schools comprising of 248 teachers
Workshop on Neuroscience in Education on 27th August 2022
Workshop on Neuroscience in Education on 28th May, 2022
Workshop on Neuroscience in Education on 30th April. 2022
Session on ‘Critical Thinking and Education’ with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans, Vadodara
Awards/Honors (in the order recent to be first)
Copyrights on ‘Integration of Critical Thinking into Project Thinking and Making’ by Copyright office, Government of India
Copyright on ‘Competency Based Education’ by Copyright Office, Government of India
Copyrights on Step by step process for mapping of thoughts by Copyright office, Government of India
Interdisciplinary Seed Grant Research Project on ‘Impact of Critical Thinking on Neural Behaviour’ funded by Navrachana University, Vadodara. Gujarat
Best Paper award in 2022 in Scholar’s Mosaic 2.0. Annual Researchers Forum, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara
Mentored a group of interdisciplinary students at Global Summer School Project partnering with Oakland University Michigan (part of the Michigan State University System) and students from Oakland University Michigan, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou China and Navrachana University.
Provost Choice Faculty of the Year Award 2017, Navrachana University, Vadodara, Gujarat India
Student Choice Faculty of the Year Award 2017, Navrachana University, Vadodara, Gujarat India
Best Paper award in 2017 Conference on Sustainability and Innovation for the paper on Critical Thinking and Sustainable Development conducted by Navrachana University, Vadodara. Gujarat
Gold Medalist in Bachelor of Education Program A.Y 2012-13 from Navrachana University, Vadodara. Gujarat
Professional Affiliations /Membership
School Management Committee of Navrachana Vidyani Vidyalaya
Academic Advisory Board, Bachelor of Humanities and Social Sciences, SLSE, Navrachana University
