Market Survey

Flow India is a project based on creative reactive , language development, motivation and self awareness. It allows students to ask big questions and give meaning to research and creativity.

Children were shown a presentation on target market and later went to patrakarpuram for market survey where they interviewed few shopkeepers to know about commodity and advertising techniques. Children enjoyed the project throughout the year.

Programme outline:

To introduce Classes 5 and 6 students to useful methodologies for understanding how markets operate and how some markets facilitate the exchange of traditional commodities and enable local livelihoods. The students will conduct a thorough market survey that would enable them to ideate on strategies to further develop their chosen markets.

Knowledge objectives:

• To familiarize oneself with the different types of resources and commodities in the market.
• To examine and explore commodity chains.
• To recognize different types of public facilities provided by the municipality.
• To become aware of the role of media and advertising.

Skill objectives:

• Observe modes of advertising to understand target groups.
• Plan and conduct an interview to understand an issue better.
• To observe in a detailed manner, the various forces at work in a traditional market.
• To design and create a presentation and receive feedback collectively.

Programme summary:

Through a visual and interactive presentation, the students were introduced to the key concepts of commodities, resources, livelihoods, profits and the role of government regulation in markets on the first day.

They then enhanced skills of observation and reflection through activities focused on understanding advertising and how different people/target audiences can be approached with a particular product.

On the second day of the programme, the students of Class 5 explored an almost abandoned local market in VibhutiKhand where most shops were unoccupied, shopkeepers were unhappy with business, and visitors found no reason to visit the space. With facilitation by the Flow team and teachers, students

• Conducted a detailed interview with a seller and recorded their learning
• Researched on commodity chains
• Conducted an amenity check of the infrastructure in the market, and
• Analysed different types of advertising that they saw in the market

Shopkeepers at the markets were very supportive and patiently answered all questions. The experience was helpful in making the students understand how different interviewees respond, and ethics of interviews by guiding them to first take permissions before taking photographs or asking questions.

As a separate case study, Class 6 visited the buzzing market of Patrakarpuram to conduct the same market survey. There, they faced different challenges that allowed them to ideate further.

To allow students to think critically, the third day focused on students reflecting on all the challenges they observed in the market and allocating a limited budget to prioritize interventions, just as a government or governing body would have to.

Students were then divided into groups where they amalgamated their thoughts and prepared a creative output that highlighted the main challenges they observed in the market and the solutions they would recommend for the same.

Afinal self-evaluationsession allowed students to reflect on their personal growth through the Flow year in the development of skills of creativity, critical thinking, curiosity, collaboration, and community-mindedness. Flow facilitators and students then reviewed all the modules held during the year and shared successes and learning.

Post programme activity

Students have conducted an interview with the shopkeepers, however that is only a part of their research. They are to work with their teachers in developing a questionnaire for consumers and conduct & record interviews so as to develop a holistic view of the market and how it operates.

Students have also been given a colour card which elaborates on the key objectives of the programme. Students are to record their experiences and learnings from this particular programme on these colour cards. We request teachers to facilitate the completion of the card and point out ‘At Home’ activity to students.