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Ascendancy of virtual schools on rise |
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Ascendancy of virtual schools on
rise
To achieve these objectives and those emerging with the future technological advancements, the system of imparting education in our country has to undergo processes of continuing modernisation. It is becoming obvious that future generations are going to have a much greater, easier and quicker access to a wealth of knowledge through highly modernised information processing and delivery technologies. They will be required to utilise their knowledge to discover newer applications of the well-established and up-and-coming technologies for finding solutions to the emerging problems, ensuring judicious management of resources (natural and others) for sustaining productivity and profitability, competing in the global market, improving socio-economic conditions etc. Despite these realisations, our educational institutions/ systems have continued to remain regimens of learning answers and our certifying and employment agencies keep judging candidates only by test-score. The learners (particularly in rural India) in general tend to remain poor in inquisitiveness and creativity. Even great thinkers like Aristotle, Galileo and Einstein have proposed that the future belongs to those who value application of knowledge rather than its mere acquisition. Yet, our education system has failed to give due importance to the generation of skill-oriented entrepreneurial academic environment and creation and efficient utilisation of new technologies as the sources of production. The system will have to be re-oriented in the future to ensure that learners become knowledgeable experimentalists, skilled, and creative performers. The age-old boundaries of institutionalised-learning are fading. The demand for asynchronous education and the increasing dominance of ‘distance-learning’ over the traditional ‘in-class’ system is rapidly growing. Under this system, the provision of a steady stream of information to learners at any time and any place is going to be a necessity. The achievement of this requirement will be a reality with the adoption of advanced information-delivery technologies through computers having amazingly high capacity speed and accuracy to store, process and transmit information. Since ‘genome’ is the most powerful, compact coding and information-processing system, the processing capacity of computers and mental capacity of humans coming out of the future digital and genetic revolutions (e.g. bio-computers produced by blending silicon chips with DNA, and organically grown computers) will be astonishingly enhanced. With the inter-net giving way to a continuous and ubiquitous ‘cyber-sphere’, different course-materials will in future be available to each learner ‘point-by-point’ through separate beams. These technological advancements with increase on-line interaction among learners, teachers/scientists and technologists from all over the world for understanding/developing concepts, creating artificial intelligence, providing solutions to emerging problems and ensuring economical acquisition of knowledge. We must, therefore, initiate suitable action to take advantage of the tremendous promise which electronic-technology holds in improving our education system. The value our education system currently places on teachers and printed-books as the only storehouses of knowledge is going to diminish with increasing ascendancy of virtual schools and virtual experiences in the information delivery and acquisition systems. In the future, eminent teachers will collaborate with different institutions, programmers and virtual-educational-designers from around the world to develop digital-courseware, virtual-experience-software, cutting-edge design tools and other interactive multimedia-based educational programmes, that will be readily available to cater to the diverse needs of every learner. Under such conditions, the most intelligent learners and teachers will be those who inquisitively involve themselves in interactive educational hands-on activities, benefit from the virtual-experiences, critically think about unanswered questions, and pose them to create more experiences for inclusion in the software, and not those who had received top grades in the examinations. Creation of virtual-experiences will become an important industry. The growth of e-learning system and its market (presently valued at more than $ 15 billion) will, however, depend on the quality of software developed. It may, however, be pointed out that although significant changes taking place in the implicitly developed and understood concepts of imparting theoretical and practical education, will require our educational systems to look and function differently, yet fundamental principles of imparting education will stay almost the same. Books, teachers, laboratories for practical training and institutions will also continue to remain a critical part of the future system, but their roles will be drastically altered. They will serve to augment the learning experiences of students gained through e-education systems. Such an innovative education system will call for teachers to become not only instructors of the subject-matter, but also of technology. The writer is former Dean, PAU,
Ludhiana |
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Finance Dec 30: Indian Institute of Finance, 4, Community Centre-II, Ashok Vihar-II, Delhi-110052. www.iif.edu (1) Mgt of Business Finance (2-yr, FT) (2) Fellow Prog in Finance (3-yr, FT) Elig: For 1: Bachelor’s Deg (50%), For 2: PG Deg (60%). Selctn: Test (IIF-MAT/ AIMAT/ GMAT), GD, Interview. Appln F: Send Rs. 500/- by DD favouring "Indian Institute of Finance" payable at Delhi to above add. Details: Website. InfoTech Dec 08 Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, Gwalior (Deemed Univ), Morena Link Rd, Gwalior 474003. www.iiitm.ac.in PhD (FT/PT) 2004-Elig: Master’s deg in Engg/Tech or MBA (65% or CGPA: 7/10). Working professionals & teachers with rel exp also elig for PT courses. Selection: Test/Interview (Dec 15). Appln F: Send Rs 200/- (SC/ST: 100/-) by DD favouring "Director, ABV IIITM Gwalior" or download from website. Details: Website. Languages Nov 24 University Jammu, D/o Distance Education, New Campus, Ambedkar Rd, Jammu 180006 PG Course in English (Dist). Elig: Bachelor’s Deg (48%). Appln F: Send Rs 100/- by DD favouring "Director, Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu" payable at Jammu, with self-add, stamped (Rs 67/-), env (26 x 32 cms) to the Director DDE, at above add. Dec 6 Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, B-21, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016 www.iift.edu Certificate in Spanish & Portuguese Languages (5-mth, evn) Elig: 10+2 Selectn: Interview at campus Appln F: Send application on plain paper (A-4 )with full name, address, tel/ fax no, certificates of educational qual, pp photo mentioning choice of language to Shri L.D.Mago, Admissions Officer at above add. Distance Education Dec 10: Distance Education Centre, A.P.S. University, rewa 486001 (MP). (1) Bachelor of Lib & Info Sc (BLIS) (2) Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Comm (3) PG Dip in Environmental Impact Assessment (4) Pollution Mgt (PGDPM) (5) PG Dip in Comp Sc & Appln (PGDC) Elig: For (1):Bachelor’s deg. For (2): Sc/ Agri/ Engg/ Med Grad. For (PGDCA): Bachelor’s deg. Appln F: Send Rs 150/- by crossed DD favouring "Director, Distance Education Centre, APS University, Rewa" at above add. Or cash at counter. Management Nov 22: The Times School of Marketing, 10, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002 PG Dip in Sales Mgt (1-yr, FT)* Elig: Bachelor’s deg (50%). Selectn: Written Test, Interview (end-Nov). Appln F: Send Rs 500/- by DD favouring "The Times School of Marketing", payable at New Delhi with stamped (Rs. 37/-) self-add env (25 x 30 cm) to above add by Nov 15. Nov 28: Institute of Technology & Science, Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad 201007 www.itsgzb.ac.in PGDM (2-yr, FT) Elig: Bachelor’s deg. Selectn: MAT scores, GD, Interview. Appln F: Send Rs 650/- by DD favouring "ITS, Ghaziabad", payable at Ghaziabad/ download from web. Details: Website. Feb 14 ’04 Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Electronics City, Phase-II, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560100(Kar) www.xime.orgPGDBM Elig: Bachelor’s deg (50%). Selectn: XAT score, GD, Interview, merit. Appln F: Send Rs 550/- by DD favouring "XIME, Bangalore", payable at B’lore to above add by Feb 4 ’04. Details: Website. Dec 5 Bharathidasan Institute of Management, PB No 12, BHEL Complex, Tiruchirapalli 620014 (TN) www.bim.edu MBA (2-yr, FT) Elig: UG/ PG Deg (50%). Selectn: BIM Test or XAT scores. Appln F: Send Rs. 950/- by DD favouring "Bharathidasan Institute of Management", payable at Tiruchirappalli with xerox of Community cert from Revenue authorities. Details: Website. Dec 15: Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, Opp Pocket-E, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 110044 http://www.asiapacific.edu PG Dip in Busi Mgt. (2-yr) Elig: Bachelor’s degree. Selectn: CAT score, GD, Interview. Appln F: Send Rs 1050/- by DD favouring "Asia-Pacific Institute of Management", payable at New Delhi, to above add. In cash at counter: Rs 1000/- Details: Website. Dec 5: Birla Institute of Management Technology, Birla Vidya Niketan, Sec-IV, Pushpa Vihar, New Delhi 110017. www.bimtech.ac.in PGDBM (2-yr) (Dual Spln in Strategy, Mktg, Fin, IT Mgt, HRD, Intl Bus & Oper Mgt). PG Dip (Insurance & Risk Mgt, Retail & Merchdg Mgt, Entrpren'shp & Fmly Bus) Elig: Bachelor's deg. Selectn: Written test (Dec 21) at 25 centres (incldg Delhi, Ch 'garh, Jammu), GD & Interview. Appln F: Send Rs 800/- by DD favouring "Birla Institute of Management Technology" payable at New Delhi to above add by Nov 30/ Download from website. Scholarships Mar 1’04 National University of Singapore, Level 2, University Hall, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260 www. nus.edu.sg/admissions/undergrad The SIA-NOL Undergraduate Scholarships: Comp Engg, Computing, Chem Engg, Engg, Environ Engg & Sc Elig: Indian nationals; Class 12 (Sc). AppIn F: Apply online. School Nov 30: Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, (M/o HRD) IG Stadium, IP Estate, New Delhi 110002 www.navodaya.nic.in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selectn Test 2004 (Adm to Class VI) Elig: Pass (in single attempt without break in attendance) in class III, IV & studying Cl V from a recognized school. DOB: May 1 ’91- Apr 30 ’95. Selectn: Test Feb 15 ’04 in each state. Appln F: Available from Distt/Block Educn Officer, Headmaster of Primary School (with Cl V) OR Principal, JNV (of the distt). Details: Website. Nov 18: Govt of NCT of Delhi, (Dept for the Welfare of SC/ ST/ OBC/Minorities), Pre-Exam Coaching Centre, 61/32, Ramjas Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi Free Coaching for SC/ ST/ OBC/ Minorities (For SSC Grad level-Prelim exam). Elig: Parents' income less than Rs 1 lakh. Selectn: , Entr test (Nov 11) Appln F: Submit Appln with recent photo at above add. Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) 2004 www.ipr.res.in, www.imsc.res.in PhD Programmes: (at 15 Research Institutes) Dec 15 1) Physics, 2) Theoretical Computer Sc, Jan 15: (3) Mathematics Elig: (1): MSc (Phy)/ MSc/ ME/ MTech (BE/ BTech at few centres); 2): MSc (Math)/ MSc/ME/ MTech in rel disciplines; 3): MSc/ ME/ MTech in Comp Sc/ rel disciplines. Selectn: For 1 & 2: JEST (Jan 15). For 3: At-Home Exam, Interview. Appln F: For 1: Write to 'The Coordinator, JEST-2004, Institute for Plasma Research, Bhat, Gandhinagar-382428', with a self-add, slip (20 x 15 cms) or download from website. For 2: Write to 'The Registrar, Harish Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Chhatnag Road, Jhunsi, Allahabad 211019' with self-add, stamped (Rs 25/-) env (19 x 27 cm) or download from website. (For 1 & 2: Apply by Nov 30) For 3: Write to 'The Registrar, The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), CIT Campus, Chennai 600013. Details: Website. Vocational Nov 13: Small Industries Service Institute, (M/o SSI, GoI), Capt. Gaur Marg, Opp Modi Flour Mills, Okhla, New Delhi 110020 Entrepreneurial Dev Prog (for women; I-mth). Elig: 10+2, Age: 18-35 yrs. Appln F: Send Bio-data (mention course, name & add, tel no, father’s/ husband’s name, DoB, Qualfn, Exp, if any) with self-add stamped (Rs 5/-) env to above add. Superscribe "EDP on Fashion Garments" on env. Recruitment Nov 14: Staff Selection Commission http://ssc.nic.in Combined Grad Level (Prelim) Exam 2004 Asstt’s Grade; Inspectors of Central Excise/ Income Tax/ Preventice Officer in Custom Houses/ Asst Enforcement Officer, Examiner; SI’s: CBI/ DP; Divisional Accountant/ Auditors/ Jr Accountants/ UDC’s. Exam: Feb 8 ‘04, (at 9 centres including Del & Ch’garh). Details: Employment News (Oct 18 - 24) Teaching Nov 15: Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) www.awesonline.org Recruitment Of Teachers for Army Schools (PGT, TGT & PRT) Elig: As per CBSE. Age: 40 yrs. (For PRT: BEd reqd) Selectn: Written Test: (Jan 4 ‘04), Interview, Tchg skills. Appln F: Contact Principal at any Army School and buy brochure-cum-appln form for Rs 150/- (by cheque/ DD) Details: Employment News (Oct 18-24)/ website. — Pervin Malhotra, Director, CARING |
WITH
the increasing pace of genetic, technological and
information-communication revolutions and changing socio-economic
structure under global competition, a new culture is emerging which
emphasises that education must endeavour to develop knowledgeable and
innovative human resource with adequate analytical, creative and
competitive abilities and entrepreneurial skills.