Before talking about the significance of co curricular activities in a students life, we would like to expound the clear decorum and importance of co curricular activities in school.
What are co-curricular activities?
Co-curricular activities are activities that act as a companion in a student’s life. These are the activities that are not an established lump of academic curriculum.
A beautiful Chinese proverb states, “Teach me, and I will forget. Show me, and I might remember. Involve me, and I will never forget.”
According to the theories, by great literates, it has been proved that, to a very great extent, the theoretical knowledge is magnified when a co- curricular activity kindred to the content taught, is catalogued.
The abstract and theoretical development of the personality is attained in the classroom to a substantial dimension. But, the underlying and guiding prospect of one’s all round development like character building, spiritual and moral values, physical growth, creativity and many more are backed up by co-curricular activities in school only.
These activities help the students to explore, evacuate, evaluate and exhort the abilities, strengths and shortcomings. With the informal and much more realistic guidance, allowing for self-assessment.
Importance of Co-curricular Activities In School For A Student
Co-curricular Activities Helps The Students To Develop:
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Positive Attitude
A human being is known better because of the attitude s/he has towards life. And the involvement of a student in the co- curricular activities help them gain an attitude that allows them to preach positive hindsight. Assisting the students as a guide throughout the life is the matter of importance of co-curricular activities.
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(Self) Confidence
A person who has been involved in co-curricular activities is to be cited more confident about the certainties in life and work field because of the initial sport or activities he has been doing, s/he certainly knows the hardships one has to face in field, life and at workplace. And is more confident with the decision making and presenting the thought of fact or importance.
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Team Spirit
There’s this statement we say, each one has it’s own. This is content and a fact, every person has a particular and different thought process and it is not really easy to that the mediocre ends of the certain minds match. A person who is been involved in such activities, especially in some sport, s/he is always more gullible with the appreciating and listening to other person’s perspective. Allowing him/her to take steps together with the people in a positive manner.
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Physical And Mental Strength
The students who are involved in CCA’s are seen to be more physically and mentally active, be in the classroom or field or any real life situation.
The physical strength and reflexes get better with time and continuous practice. And the challenges faced in the field and competitions, help them know the different ideologies and get varied thoughts.
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Psychological Value
It helps the students to fulfil their social needs, providing an apparatus to explain personal thoughts and conveyance to creative thinking.
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Cultural Value
The students are to be taught about the tradition and cultural values, and books would not give them anything near to understand the culture and tradition.
Co-curricular activities instigate the development of Four H’s – Head, Heart, Hand and Health. They provide an initiatory knowledge and basic training for some future vocation in life. They help students to self-help and maintain a proper co-ordination amid head, heart, hand, and health.
Co-curricular Activities List
Academic Competitive Teams
- Academic Decathlon
- Academic Triathlon
- Chemistry Olympiad
- Clean Tech Competition
- Creative Communication Poetry Contest
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
- Kids Philosophy Slam
- Math League
- National Academic Quiz Tournament
- National History Bee
- National Spelling Bee
- Odyssey of the Mind
- Poetry Out Loud
- Questions Unlimited
- Quiz Bowl
- Science Bowl
- Science Olympiad
- Other Trivia and Quiz Competition Teams
Technology
- Blogging
- Personal Web Site
- Social Media
- YouTube Channel
Artistic Activities
- Animation
- Anime/Manga Club
- Art Club
- Art: drawing, painting
- Blacksmithing
- Cartooning
- Drama Club
- Fashion design
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Sewing
- High School Theater Program
- Community Theater Program
- Video Game Development Club
- Weaving
Media
- School or local magazine/journal
- School or local newspaper
- School or local radio station
- School or local television channel
- School or local web site
- Work on a movie
- Yearbook Committee
Music
- Singing Lessons
- Marching Band
- Jazz Band
- Orchestra
- Solo music
- Your own band
Performance Art
- Comedy Club
- Choreography
- Classic Film Club
- Dance
- Film Production Club
- Miming
- Puppetry
- Slam Poetry Club
- High School Theater Group
- Community Theater Group
Distinctive Recreation Groups
- Boy Scouts
- Chess Club
- Equestrian Club
- Entrepreneurship Club
- Girl Scouts
- Horticulture Club
- Model Railroads
- Quilt Making
Sports And Recreation
- Baseball and softball
- Basketball
- Bodybuilding
- Cheerleading
- Climbing Club
- Cycling
- Dance Team
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Hiking Club
- Hockey
- Intramural Sports
- Martial Arts
- Skate Board Club
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Yoga Club
There have been many literary researches and papers on this particular subject, citing the need. I am enlisting some of the literates and their theories, double checking the need of CCA’s.
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Astin’s Theory of Involvement
Dr. Alexander W. Astin is the Allan M. Cartter Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Higher Education and Organizational Change, at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is founding director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. He has served as Director of Research for both the American Council on Education and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. He is also the founding director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, an ongoing national study of some fifteen million students, 300,000 faculty and staff, and 1,800 higher education institutions. Source
This theory describes the importance of student involvement in college. The theory was published in 1984. The core concept of the theory is based on three elements of inputs, environments, and outcomes, along with five basic postulates about involvement. For a complete overview of the theory of involvement, click here.
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Arthur’s Theory of Identity
Arthur W. Chickering is an educational researcher in the field of student affairs. He is known for his contribution to student development theories. Chickering formerly taught at George Mason University and Goddard College. He worked at Goddard College as a Special Assistant to Presidents Schulman and Vacarr from 2002 to 2012. Source
The theory focuses on the overall identity development of college students, published in 1969, but re-visited in 1993. The theory establishes seven vectors, also known as tasks, that deal with psychological development. For a complete overview of the theory of identity, click here.
Here’s a well-researched case study that one may like to get a better and deeper understanding: The Effectiveness of Co-curricular Activities on Academic Achievements of Secondary School Students in District Abbottabad Pakistan