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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Adding value to teaching
Campus NoteS
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Adding value to teaching INDIA’s growth over the past decade and her emergence on the global scene as one of the major players is an important phenomenon. Her impending ‘superpowerness’ is in transition, passing through many expected hiccups forced by various complex factors. One needs to appreciate that Indian reality is opaque and transparent, simultaneously, as we live in two Indias, one shining and the other that still has to realise the dream of clean drinking water, food, shelter and basic education and healthcare. In spite of many paradoxes, India can emerge as a major power, if the quality of its human resources is improved as part of a focused HRD policy, which can ensure everyone is ‘on board’. This is where a responsible education system has a role to play. Let’s have a look at the present social scenario. We are a nation of 115 crore people and the quality of our human resources, perhaps one of the best in functional skills, is poor as far as soft skills are concerned. Can the system of education escape the blame for most of the ills of society? A student does not get the training for good values and positive beliefs and attitudes either at home or at school, where all his time is spent. Then, where does he learn to empathise with the physically or mentally challenged or differently enabled persons? Who does he look up to for leading a honourable and dignified life ? Where are the role models for character, integrity and professional honesty? Whom does he share a problem with when he faces an identity crisis? The answers to all these questions are likely to sadden any sensible and sensitive person. However, due to widespread apathy among our policy-makers, the situation remains as it is. The word ‘personality’ is one of the most misunderstood words today. Everyone relates it with the physical appearance and the external persona of a person. Very few, if any, realise that one’s personality is the first property one owns and developing it suitably is the primary responsibility of every individual. The need for personal development for becoming a useful member of the society is not known and hence is not a priority for young students. The culture for self-management is non-existent in our schools and colleges. It is often seen that things, which have the most profound impact on our lives, are also the most neglected ones. Personality development is one such area. No one in our educational institutions is available to the students to counsel them on this vital aspect of their learning. Subjects like self-concept, self-analysis , understanding , recognition and the use of strengths and control of weaknesses are not part of any formal or informal curriculum. Living an honourable and dignified life with a clear conscience is neither taught by the teacher nor is there a scope of the young minds to learn it from anywhere. Their observed and experienced environment teaches them to think only for themselves, compete unethically to move ahead of others by fair or foul means. Certain well-accepted “social lubricants” like ‘please’ , ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’ and ‘sorry’ are not part of the vocabulary of an average, educated person. Aggressive and loud-mouthed abusive behaviour and use of brute force to sort out any issue, comes naturally to most students. A large number of them do not have the patience to listen to other’s point of view and are in a hurry to pass judgment and settle scores. It is still a common practice to identify a student with some physical inadequacy. Many of our more fortunate young and the elders still laugh at a physically handicapped person whose one crutch slips while adjusting the other. It is one thing to show a concern but entirely different to genuinely empathise with the challenged or differently enabled person. Most who advertise their concern are looking for some mileage out of such ‘opportunities’. Our attitude towards time is another area that does not help us to qualify as useful human resource for creating a healthy society. It is surprising that very few people realise that what is ticking away is part of their lives. They do not appreciate that it is actually possible to control time through self-discipline. It is high time our education system incorporates certain changes so that education should teach the students ‘how to think’ rather than telling them ‘what to think’. Policy-makers should think of the purpose or reason of education before force-feeding students with out-dated inputs. Therefore, the formal education system must help students develop positive character, imbibe good values, positive beliefs and attitudes to become useful members of society. This alone can lay a strong foundation for the fulfilment of every Indian’s dreams and aspirations.
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Innovative learning through technology THE ever-changing scenario in education has given rise to the integration of technology in education. Today, educational institutions are embracing this with rapid speed across the globe. Incorporation of information technology in the learning experience continues to evolve alongside technological advancements. The issue of educational technology has played a major part in improving the learning outcomes of individuals by personalising the learning experience. The immediate responsiveness of computer-based programs and the self-paced, private learning environment that educational technology warrants seeks to promote higher levels of motivation among students worldwide. This has provided greater access to education as in the case of increased accommodation for students with reverse physical disabilities and for students living in remote locations. Educational technology has made the attainment of education possible for diverse groups, including those in remote areas of developing countries. Educational technology has revolutionised the very meaning of learning in the four walls of a classroom. The schools are no more the same. Educational technology in its literary sense means integration of information technology in education through innovative and research-driven practices. The conventional gurukul form of teaching and learning skills are imbibed through these innovations with an objective of empowering the teacher. Pioneers in educational technology and knowledge management are providing the best possible technology-based solutions. There is a plethora of world acclaimed innovative products, solutions and services for improving efficiency in the management of education and enhance performance. The emphasis is on professional development of educators, technology integration for improved teaching effectiveness in classrooms and creation of digital content enable improved learning among students. There is intensive engaged effort in developing research-driven applications and products that leverage information technology and the Internet, to deliver better learning to individuals in schools. Governments are working towards bridging the digital divide through initiatives that are driven towards helping the education community leverage the immense potential of technology. Broadly, the education technology revolution can be categorized as content, information and communication technologies (ICT) in education, information technology and teacher training period. Digital and multimedia content is an integration of text, graphics, animation, videos, visuals, pictures and simulations with high-end interactive interface, which is mapped to the curriculum. This makes abstract concepts fun and enhances the learning outcomes. In layman terms, this solution is also called as multimedia-based curriculum content. The content is leveraged to technology and empowers the teacher to make it an integral part of day-to-day teaching in classrooms. These are the modern-day highly interactive and productive e-classrooms. We also have Web-based tutors and curriculum portals which benefit millions of students. Computer-aided learning and computer education programs are handsome contributions of ICT to the education technology-learning management system (e-learning solutions), campus management system (e-campus) and controlled learning environment. Through technology-aided learning and pedagogy, a teacher’s learning is enhanced. These modern-day classrooms are highly interactive. The teacher-led digital content, which is pedagogically aligned and sequentially arranged, addresses main areas through multidimensional universal topics. These classrooms improve a teacher’s productivity by synergising traditional methods and tools of teaching. These invite active forms of learning and bring abstract concepts to life. A classroom will still be a classroom, with teachers being the pivot and indispensable, but technology will transform more of the day-to-day learning experience. Wall-mounted interactive white boards and LCD screens will replace the chalk board. Books will be replaced by digital content with readable fonts and colorful graphics. The focus will shift from cramming to hearing, from grades and percentage to knowledge. Education worldwide will come of age reviving the Gurukul mantra of Vidya Dan and thus envisaging an era of modern-day gurukuls e-pathshalas.
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Campus NoteS Scientist training programme THE Centre for Advanced Faculty Training in the Department of Entomology of CCS Haryana Agricultural University organised a 21-day faculty-training programme for farm scientists. Addressing the participants, Vice-Chancellor K.S. Khokhar called upon agricultural scientists to find non-toxic and environment-friendly alternatives to insecticides and promote their use among the farmers. He said these substitutes were needed in view of the threats posed to ecology as well as human health by the various agro-chemicals including insecticides. The Vice-Chancellor said farmers who relied more on chemical pesticides to save their crops from insect pests were not only degrading the environment, but also posed a threat to non-target organisms, including human beings. He however expressed satisfaction over the declining use of insecticides in the country. S.S. Pahuja, Dean, College of Agriculture, said entomologists had identified several insect pests which consumed other harmful insects. He said such farmer-friendly insects should be multiplied in laboratories on large scale and given to the farmers. As many as 17 scientists from Punjab, U.P., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand took part in the training programme. Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar Search panel set up Har Sarup Chahal, Vice-Chancellor, Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology, Murthal, and Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, Devinder Dayal Singh Sandhu, have been nominated as members of the search committee for appointment of new Vice-Chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology. They have been nominated to the panel by the Executive Council of the university. The post had fallen vacant after Sandhu was shifted from GJUST as Vice-Chancellor of Kuruksehtra University sometime ago. Excellence award The Indian Institute of Oriental Heritage, Kolkata, has conferred Indian Excellence Award-2010 on Acting Vice-Chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology Devinder Dayal Singh Sandhu. The award was given during the 33rd Annual International Conference on Oriental Heritage held at Kolkatta recently. The Indian Institute of Oriental Heritage is working on preservation of rare books and manuscripts. The institute runs classes on Veda, Vedantas, Upanishads, Indian philosophy, smriti shastra, kavya, vyakaran, architecture, Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, tantra shastra and vastu shastra. — Contributed by Raman Mohan
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Agriculture Indian Agricultural
Research Institute (IARI), Post Graduate School, New Delhi 110012 PhD Programmes (in various disciplines of Agri Sc) 2010-11 Eligibility: Masters degree (60% or equivalent OGPA). Selection: Entrance Exam: 06 June 2010 Application Form: Send Rs 575/ - by DD favouring "Registrar (Academic), Post Graduate School, IARI", payable at Delhi to Registrar (Academic) at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 08 April 2010 Armed Forces Indian Navy, Post Bag
No. 04, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi 110011 SSC Officers in Executive Branch (General Service / Hydro Cadre) – Jan 2011 Eligibility:
Unmarried Indian male, BE / BTech / BSc (with Physics & Maths;
65%) / MSc (with Physics & Maths; 55%) / BSc (with Physics &
Maths) & NCC Naval Wing, Senior Division ‘C’ Certificate /
Bachelors / Masters degree in Operations Analysis & Operational
Research / Quantitative Methods / Maths (with Probability /
Statistics), 75% Selection: SSB Interview; Medical Exam Application Form: Send in prescribed format by ordinary post with all required documents to the above address. Superscribe "Application for SSC (GS) ’X’ / Hydro Cadre-Jan 2011 Course -- against repeat advertisement Qualification.…, Percentage…… %. NCC Certificate….. (if applicable)" on the envelope to the above address. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 30 March 2010 Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun (Utt) RIMC Entrance Exam (June 2011) Eligibility: Boys
in / passed Class VII with Parents or Guardians residing in Delhi Exam: English & Maths: 01 June ‘10; General Knowledge: 02 June ‘10; Viva Voice, Interview: 06 April ‘10 Application Form:
Send Rs 250/- by DD favouring "The Commandant, RIMC, Dehradun"
drawn at SBI, Tel Bhawan, Dehradun (Bank Code: 01576) at the above
address. Details: Website Application Deadline: 31 March 2010 Art & Design Footwear Design & Development
Institute (FDDI), A 10/ A, Sector 24, Noida 201301 (UP) 1) Diploma in Fashion
Merchandising & Retail Management (DFMRM) (3 years) Eligibility:
For 1, 2, 3: 10+2 Selection: Exam: 12-14 June 2010 Application Form: Send Rs 1000/- by DD favouring ""FDDI" payable at New Delhi to the above address. Details: Website Application Deadline: 21 May 2010 Army Institute of Fashion &
Design, ITI ‘B’ Area, Dooravani Nagar, Old Madras Road, Bangalore
560016 (Kar) 1) PG Diploma in Fashion Design (2 years) 2) PG Diploma in Apparel Merchandising & Logistics Mgmt (2 years) 3) BSc in Fashion and Apparel
Design (3 years) Eligibility:
For 1 & 2: Bachelors degree, open for all including
civilians. Selection: For
1 & 2: Creative Aptitude Test & Interview: 08 July 2010 Application Form: Send Rs 550/- by DD favouring "AIFD" payable at Bangalore to the above address / Download from website. Application Deadline:
For 1 & 2: 15 May 2010 Engineering IIT – Guwahati,
Guwahati 781039 (Assam) MTech: PhD in all departments above and in Design / Biotechnology / Chemistry / Physics / Humanities & Social Sc,/ Mathematics / also in the Centres for Environment / Energy / Nanotechnology. Application Form: Send request for application with a stamped self-addressed envelope (24 cm x 15 cm) to the Deputy Registrar (Academic) at the above address by 10 April 2010 / download from website. Superscribe "Request for PhD / MTech / MDes / MA Application Form" on envelope. Application Deadline: 20 April 2010 National
Productivity Council, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Dr Ambedkar
Institute of Productivity, 6, SIDCO Industrial Estate, Ambattur,
Chennai 600098 (TN) (M/o Power, GoI) National Certification Examination for Energy Managers & Energy Auditors Exam: 24-25 April 2010 Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 30 March 2010 Sant Longowal
Institute of Engineering & Technology, Longowal, District
Sangrur 148106 (Punj) Courses in
Engineering & Technology Eligibility: For 1: Class
10 (Science, Maths, English). Application Form: Send Rs 500/- by DD favouring "Director, SLIET" payable at Longowal / Sangrur to the Chairman, SET 2010 at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 30 April 2010 Law National Law
School University-Delhi, Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078 BA LLB (Hons) (5 years) Eligibility: 10+2 (50%) Age: Below
21 years (On 01 July 2010) Application Form: Send Rs 2000/- by DD favouring "The Registrar, National Law School, Delhi", payable at Delhi at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 10 April 2010 Management All India
Management Association (AIMA), Management House, 14
Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003 Management Aptitude Test (MAT) May 2010 Eligibility: Bachelors degree Test: Paper Based Test: 02 May 2010; Computer Based Test: 08 May 2010 Application Form: Send Rs. 1050/ - by DD favouring "All India Management Association-CMS," payable at New Delhi to the above address by 07 April 2010 / Download from website / Obtain from select branches of Bank of Baroda. Details: Website Application Deadline: 10 April 2010 Indian Institute
of Management-Calcutta, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata
700104 (WB) PG Program in
Management (2 months) Selection: CAT
with a score of 95 percentile and above Admission Deadline: 31 March 2010 Medicine Maulana Azad
Medical College, Centre for Occupational & Environmental
Health (COEH), Ground Floor, BL Taneja Block, New Delhi 110002 Associate Fellow
of Industrial Health (3
months) Eligibility: MBBS degree (MCI recognized)+ Internship; Permanent registration with State Medical Council / MCI and 1 year work experience in Industry / Occupational Health / 2 years in general practice. Selection: Interview Application Form: Download from website Details: Employment News (28 February – 05 March 2010) Application Deadline: 15 March 2010 Pravara Institute
of Medical Sciences, PO Loni, Tal: Rahata Dist: Ahmednagar
413736 (Mah) (Deemed University) MBBS / BDS Common Entrance Test 2010-11 Exam: 01 May 2010 Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 12 April 2010 Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Education & Research, Sector 12,
Chandigarh 160012 (Punj) 1) First Year
Junior Residents (MD / MS) 2) First Year
Junior Residents (House Job) for Oral Health Sciences) / MDS
(Oral Health Science) Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry 4) DM / MCh 5) PhD 7) MSc MLT / MSc Courses Medical Technology ( 8) Post MD Certificate Course (Cytopathology) 9) Certificate Course (Immunopathology) 10) Post Doctoral Certificate Course in Vascular Neurosurgery Selection: Entrance
Test: For 1: 23 May 2010 Application Deadline: 29 March 2010 BLDE University,
Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre,
Bangaramma Sajjan Campus, Sholapur Road, Bijapur 586103 (Kar) Admission to MBBS Course -2010 Eligibility: 10+2 with PCB, min 50% with English as compulsory subject Age: 17 years as (Ob 31 December 2010) Selection: Entrance Test (BLDEU UGET – 2010): 23 May 2010 Application Form: Send Rs 1500/-by DD favouring "The Registrar, BLDE University" payable at Bijapur, Karnataka / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 17 May 2010 Recruitment National Thermal
Power Corporation Ltd, NTPC Bhawan, SCOPE Complex, Core 7,
Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003 1) Executive
Trainees - Engineering (EET) Eligibility:
For 1: BE / BTech (Electrical / Mechanical / Civil /
Control & Instrumentation); 65% Selection: Test: 02 May 2010; GD & Interview Application Form: Apply online. Details: Employment News (28 February – 05 March 2010) / Website Application Deadline: 31 March 2010 Scholarships University Grants
Commission, Selection & Awards Bureau, University of Delhi,
South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi 110021 Research Award
under Post Doctoral Fellowship 2010 Eligibility: PhD;
should be a regularly appointed permanent teacher of
Universities/Institutions/Colleges. Fellowship: Research
Grant: Rs. 2 lakh (For Humanities and Social Sciences) Application Form: Send in prescribed format in two sets with required documents to the Joint Secretary (SA) at the above address through the Universities / Institutions / Colleges. Details: Employment News: (28 February – 05 March 2010) / Website Application Deadline: 29 March 2010 Sciences Indian Institute
of Science Education & Research, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali,
Pune, Thiruvananthapuram (under M/o HRD, GoI) Integrated Dual BS-MS Programme at Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram (5 years) Eligibility: 10+2 (60%) in science stream + qualifiers in: IIT JEE 2010 merit list / Kishore Vaigyanic Protsahan Yojna 2008 SA Batch / SX (2009) / SB (passed 10+2 in 2009/2010) Fellowship: Rs. 5000/- pm Application Form & Details: Website Application
Deadline: For
KVPY: 15 March – 02 April 2010 Travel & Transportation Institute of Rail
Transport, Room No 17, Rail Bhavan, Raisina Road, New Delhi
110001 (M/o Railways) Diploma in
Transport Economics & Mgt (Distance) Eligibility: Bachelors degree / Diploma (any) from recognized instt. Application Form: Send Rs 100/- by DD favouring "Institute of Rail Transport", payable at New Delhi with stamped (Rs 15/-), self-addressed envelope (11" x 5") to the above address. Write your name and address on reverse of DD / Download from website. Details: Employment News (28 February – 05 March 2010) / Website Application Deadline: 09 April 2010 University Symbiosis
International, Village-Lavale, Tal-Mulshi, Pune 411042 (Mah) Symbiosis Entrance
Test (SET) Test: SET: 02 May 2010 Details: Website. Registration closes: 10 April 2010 Pervin Malhotra, Director, Career Guidance India (CARING) (www.careerguidanceindia.com)
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