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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Improving
mathematical skills
Kanwalpreet Kaur Today’s era is dominated by computer, worldwide communication and the global economy. Jobs that contribute to this economy require workers who are prepared to absorb new ideas and solve unconventional problems. Mathematical preparation is a key to leadership in our technological society.
Private B.Ed shops
lay trap for students
Campus
Notes
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Improving
mathematical skills
Today’s era is dominated by computer, worldwide communication and the global economy. Jobs that contribute to this economy require workers who are prepared to absorb new ideas and solve unconventional problems. Mathematical preparation is a key to leadership in our technological society. In spite of having good academic atmosphere in our schools, very few students are able to deal competently with problems that require several successive steps. Thus, it is vitally important that all students receive a quality education in mathematics. The following broad goals are required to prepare students for the future: Students must recognise the varied roles played by mathematics in society, from accounting and finance to scientific research, from public policy debates to market research and political polls. Mathematics is, above all else, a habit of mind that helps clarify complex situations. Students must learn to gather evidence, to make conjectures, to formulate models, and to build sound arguments There is no better way to learn mathematics than by working in groups, by teaching mathematics to each other, by arguing about strategies and by expressing arguments in careful written form. Industry expects school graduates to be able to use a wide variety of mathematical methods to solve problems. Therefore, students need experience to solve different problems. When compared to contemporary goals, today’s curriculum is totally inadequate. The whole environment of learning should change: not only what is taught, but also how it is taught. Some necessary actions are as follow: Special talent is required to succeed in mathematics. In reality, all that is required is hard work and self-confidence. Clear presentations alone are insufficient to modify existing misconceptions. To ensure effective learning, mathematics teachers should involve students in their own learning by employing classroom strategies that make students active participants rather than passive receivers of knowledge. Employers repeatedly stress the importance of working with a team on common objectives. Students should learn how to coordinate with each other to achieve a common goal by planning, discussing, questioning and organising. Too often, school mathematics is judged "dull" by most of the students because teachers, textbooks and tests insist that each problem can be solved by one proper method yielding a single correct answer. There should be multiplicity of approaches and invention of new methods. Most talk in a mathematics class comes from the teacher. None of these engages the student’s mind as effectively as does the vigorous argument and discussion. Argument in search of convincing proof is the essence of the mathematical method. It can be learned only by doing, not by listening. Effective classroom practice should emphasise active learning, problem solving, oral communication. No amount of effort to change curricular content or teaching practice will be successful unless the instruments of assessment match curricular objectives. Curriculum, teaching and testing
should change together to improve mathematics education. Unless all
improve in concert, nothing will change. We know what needs to be
done, and we know how to do it. What’s required now is a commitment
to action.
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Private B.Ed shops
lay trap for students
Admissions to the B.Ed courses in 2005-06 are going on through central counselling in Punjab University, Chandigarh, for nearly 110 colleges in this region. Some more colleges are expected to join in during the second counselling session scheduled for August 27. Last year, admissions to 37 B.Ed colleges for this region were held in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. This is an over 200 per cent increase in the number of colleges for counseling. B.Ed colleges come into existence after these are screened by the NCTE at Jaipur and the university of the area concerned. In the last session, the management quota seats (15 per cent) introduced the first time fetched donations ranging from Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakhs. This year, it ranged from 1 lakh to 2 lakh. The fees in private colleges start from Rs 32,500 and may add up other sundry expenses. For 100 seats, a private college earns Rs 50 lakh per year. Most of the new institutes sprang up hurriedly in order to cash on this booty. In the process, norms required to run the institutes were thrown to the winds. Most of the new institutes are without principals and, to make the matter worse, a good number of these colleges have not even a single qualified teacher. Some institutes offered premium amounts for qualified persons working elsewhere for just appearing in interview to complete the formalities on paper. How these colleges managed to participate in the counselling session without proper staff is anybody’s guess. After gaining qualification to become eligible for admission, aspirants are sweating it out in the counselling sessions, which sometimes go past midnight. Most of the colleges conducting these sessions have entered after flouting all norms and are playing on the minds of the unsuspecting students. Even otherwise, a student has no choice but to choose from the available institutes. How these new colleges are going to handle these students in the absence of able staff or principal remains a question. Who will teach these students? What are the rights of students after they join these institutes? Who is accountable for this mess? What is the role of government in it? It should be endured that a new institute should come into existence only after satisfying all norms. Eligibility of privately managed participating colleges should be thoroughly examined and only those who fulfill the norms should be allowed to participate in the second counseling, or it will amount to selling the degree. The students enrolled by institutes
that fail the eligibility criteria should be adjusted in other
institutes in the second counselling. The authorities concerned should
take the matter seriously and save the academic future of the students
who are falling into the trap laid by these fly-by-night operators.
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Campus
Notes Panjab University, Chandigarh The long queue of students at the fee counter of Panjab University makes them rue this waste of time and curse the officials; one wishes they were aware of the ATM facility on the campus for fee payments. The students can pay their tuition, hostel and examination fees through the ATM. The lukewarm response of the students towards the facility is because the university took no step to spread awareness about the facility. Mr Ashok Raj Bhandari, Financial Development Officer, said "This fact had not been brought to my notice earlier. The ATM is definitely useful, as it enables the students to pay their fees anytime, as it is open 24 hours. It saves you time and undue harassment. I will definitely try to come out with a solution."
UGC coaching classes Punjabi University, Patiala The IAS and Allied
Services Training Centre of Punjabi University, Patiala, will
introduce coaching classes for UGC (NET) examinations from September 5
for the SC, OBC, minority community and general category candidates.
Interested and eligible candidates for the test in December may send
their applications written on a plain paper and affix three
passport-size photographs with it. The MA-II students can also apply.
The last date of submission of applications is August 19. Interviews
will be held on August 22. PMET fiasco Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Though the authorities of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) heaved a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court stayed the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court of quashing the PMET re-conducted by the university, the tension brewed between Vice-Chancellor Dr S. P. Singh and eight experts who were appointed by the university to examine 21 ambiguous questions of the entrance test alleged to have wrong answer keys on basis of which the PMET candidates filed petitions in the high court. The university reportedly filed an alleged fake affidavit on behalf of the university experts claiming that they had not found any ambiguities in the disputed questions and that they had supported each answers challenged by the petitioners. Following this, the high court asked the university to get the credentials of the experts involved in the re-evaluation of the answers verified, which annoyed the experts. Later, they shot a letter to the Vice-Chancellor expressing their resentment and saying that they had backed out of the job of re-evaluation. They also asked the university authorities to refrain from issuing or submitting any statement on their behalf. The issue resulted in a tiff between the Vice-Chancellor and the experts who alleged that the university authorities were making them scapegoats to shield the paper setters who were the actual culprits and responsible for the whole controversy. The experts demanded their names to be revealed. However, the university has failed to do so. Now the experts allege that they are under pressure to withdraw their complaint sent to the Vice-Chancellor. However, the experts appeared to be reluctant in doing so. Swarleen Kaur in Chandigarh, Rubinder Gill at Patiala and Pawan Kumar at Amritsar
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Control Board, C/O 412 Air Force Station, New Delhi 110003 Recruitment of Sportsmen
as Airman in Group ‘Y’ Trades Eligibility:
Matric, must have represented the country in Jr. International meet/
attained 5th place in Jr National Championship/ represented
state in Jr National Championship or Inter University Championship or
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September 05 Indian Air Force, PO Bag
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merit, Counseling: Aug 29 Protective Service September 06 Asst Central Intelligence Officer-Grade II/Wireless Telegraphy Exam—2005 (61 posts) Eligibility: BSc with Phys/ Maths/ Comp Sc/ Dip in Radio Engg/ MSc (Wireless)/ Deg in Telecomm Engg. Age Limit: 18-27 yrs. Selection: Written Test: 11 December, Interview Appln F: Employment News (6-12 August). September 08 Recruitment of Sub Inspectors (Radio Operator, Crypto, Technical) Details: Employment News (6-12 August) Schools September 20 Common Entrance Test for Admission to Military Schools in Class VI Eligibility: Boys (10-12 yr on Jul 1 ‘06). Test: Dec 25 ‘05 (at 29 Centres across India) Appln F: Send Rs 150 by DD fvg "Principal, of the Military School" with a stamped (Rs 42) self-add env (6" x 9") to the above add or 4 other military schools at B’lore, Ajmer, Belgaum, Durgapur Sciences — Biology September 12 PhD (Utkal Univ) Infection & Immunity, Bioprospecting & Environ Biotech, Plant Biotech Eligibility: Master’s deg (60%) in any br of Life Sc, Biotech, Mol Bio, Environ Sc, Microbiol, Biochem & Chem; NET-JRF (CSIR/ UGC). Details: Employment News (6-12 August)/ website. Sciences Social August 12 Masters Diploma in Government (1-yr, Resi) Eligibility: Bachelor’s deg Age Limit: 35 yrs Details: Website Sports & Leisure Lakshmibai National
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Affairs & Sports, GoI) PG Diploma in Coaching (Athletics, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Football etc) Eligibility: Bachelor’s deg with Inter-university, national level participation in rev sports Selection: 12 August Details: Website. Scholarships August 16 MPhil (Edu) Eligibility: MEd Selection: Written Test: August 20, Interview Appln F: Send Rs 150 by DD fvg "Head, Department of Education, Delhi University" with a self-add env (25 x 20 cms) to the above add or d’load from website. University Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001 (Har) University Research Scholarship (2005-06) in dept of: Stats/ Eng/ Def Strategic Studies/ Psychol/ Law/ Sociol/ Pub Admn/ Chem/ Comm/ Geog/ Bio-Sc/ IMSAR/ Hin/ Sans/ Journ/ Maths/ Educn/ Hist/ Eco/ Phy & Comp Sc Eligibility: MPhil (Master’s deg, 50%) OR Master’s deg (55%) Appln F: Send application on plain paper with reqd docu to respective dept at above add University—Distance Education Alagappa University, Directorate of Distance Education, Karaikudi 630003 (TN) Bachelor’s deg, Master’s deg, PG Diploma Progs, Certificate Progs & MPhil Progs Appln F & Details: Website — Pervin Malhotra
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