Making learning joyful
Abhinav Sharma
The latest developments in science and technology have changed the meaning and concept of education in the 21st century. Education technology has added a new dimension to make the teaching-learning process more effective and lasting. The age-old concept of teaching and learning in the four walls of the schools has also been gradually replaced by information, communication and technology (ICT).

Robotics not only facilitates learning but also makes children think analytically

Work experience helps to improve job prospects
Claire Rogers
MANY graduates face the all too common disappointment of being unemployed once their studies finish. They invest large sums of money to further their education with a qualification, but find that they come out of their degree with no full-time job.

Campus Notes
Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak
123 students placed
THE Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak, the eighth member of the IIM family, concluded recently its summer placements for the year 2012. The new IIM has increased its strength from 47 to 123 students in just one year since its inception. It has also cemented its relationships with well-known recruiters and forged new relationships across various sectors of the industry.

n Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
   Seminar on social transformation
n Citizen’s Charter
n Pt. B.D.Sharma Health University, Rohtak
   International Childhood Cancer Day

• ADMISSION DEADLINE

Making learning joyful
Abhinav Sharma

The latest developments in science and technology have changed the meaning and concept of education in the 21st century. Education technology has added a new dimension to make the teaching-learning process more effective and lasting. The age-old concept of teaching and learning in the four walls of the schools has also been gradually replaced by information, communication and technology (ICT). The use of robotics in education is yet another educational innovation which can make learning more joyful, purposeful and activity-based. Though robotics has been universally accepted, we have to incorporate the new subject in our curriculum. Of late, there is a lot of research work being done on the use of robotics in education, primarily in the US, Japan and South Korea.

As we know, robots are generally used for industrial automation, military applications, space exploration, medical application, etc., but in the recent years, the trend of using robotics in education has also started. Robotics not only facilitates learning for children but also makes them think rationally and analytically. Robotics is expected to develop new skills among the students to learn basic principles and their application to understand subjects like maths and science. It is further believed that robotics can go a long way in providing adequate opportunities and freedom to showcase their novel ideas.

The recent researches and experimentations in the field of robotics reveal that South Korea is “hiring” hundreds of robots as teacher aides and classroom playmates and is experimenting with robots that would teach English. Dr Ben Robbins, of the UK, remarks that autistic children can play with robots that can smile, frown and laugh. Moreover, robots can also help children express their emotions.

These studies further reveal that the pace of innovation is such that robots have to learn as they teach, so that they become infinitely patient, highly informed instructors that would be effective in subjects like foreign language or in repetitive therapies used to teach developmental problems like autism. In the US, computer scientists are also developing robots that can engage pupils and teachers in simple skills, including household tasks and vocabulary. It seems that robots can do wonders if effectively used in kindergarten, play-way schools and above all, in the newly emerging field of inclusive education.

Going by all the details and emerging needs and aspirations of our pupils at large, it is felt that there is a need to introduce robotics as a subject like other subjects such as computer science, information technology, painting, web designing, etc. The NCERT should introduce robotics in schools keeping in view its relevance and importance. Each state should have a State Robotics Resource Centre to provide necessary training for the teachers and their periodic orientation. The central and state boards of school education should make robotics an integral part of the curriculum at the secondary and senior secondary levels. Students should be given an opportunity to opt for the subject like other subjects. There is also need to appoint and train teachers for robotics, for which the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research and Polytechnics can play a significant role. On the other hand, schools are required to have well-equipped robotic labs for experimentation and achieving expertise. They are expected not only to set up robotics clubs and societies but also organise various competitions to motivate students.

Work experience helps to improve job prospects
Claire Rogers

MANY graduates face the all too common disappointment of being unemployed once their studies finish. They invest large sums of money to further their education with a qualification, but find that they come out of their degree with no full-time job.

According to research conducted by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, the unemployment rate among graduates from London, typically the highest in the country, reached 10.7 per cent in 2010, up from 7.5 per cent just three years earlier. It is no secret that job hunting can be tiresome and demotivating, unless there is something to keep busy with.

There are several different ways a graduate can fight off the depression of being unemployed while simultaneously improving their chances of landing the right job. One thing that all disenchanted graduates should certainly do is get work experience, even if unpaid.

Mark, an animation graduate from Newport University, was dissatisfied with his job at an insurance firm, which although not in his field of study, helped him pay off his student loans. Two years into the job, he decided to quit and travel abroad for a year. He had many exciting experiences, but when he returned home, he found that job prospects in animation had become even scarcer.

“It was quite hard at first trying to look for paid work,” he says, “so I just looked for unpaid internships and work experience opportunities instead. It was difficult because I’m based in Devon, but a lot of animation companies are based in London. I worked for free at a small local company, travelling up to two days a week, and just one month ago they started paying me a modest salary as a freelancer.”

Mark has also been spending his spare time working on animation projects with his friends. “Last year, we read about a competition for a short animation video and decided we’d enter,” he says. While Mark and his teammates did not win the competition, they are still working on projects together in their spare time. “At least I get to add them to my show reel. I suppose it’s a lot better than doing nothing. If I’m at an interview and they want to know why there’s a gap in my job history, I can say: ‘There is no gap. Look at what I worked on.’”

Most industries also have professional societies dedicated to helping students and graduates trying to kick-start their careers. Samantha Smith, a graduate of Kingston University who studied an MA in creative writing and publishing, decided to join the Society of Young Publishers when she realised she needed to expand her network to enhance her job search.

“I wasn’t sure what would happen as I went to my first networking event,” she says, “but everyone turned out to be very friendly. Luckily, I knew someone at the event and she introduced me to her peers in the publishing industry. When I got over my initial fears, I had met some very interesting people, to whom I spoke extensively about the different paths I could use to enter the publishing industry. Some of them even encouraged me to send them my CV for potential work experience opportunities.”

But publishing isn’t the only industry where recent graduates can take advantage of career networking opportunities. Sam Williams, a computer science student at Kingston University, recently discovered the British Computer Society (BCS), which holds weekly lectures on the industry. “BCS was recommended to me by my university lecturers,” Williams says. “In my field it’s a recognised professional body, so I can get chartered through them. You have to be a member to get chartered.”

Professional bodies are not only useful for networking; they often offer extra qualifications and exclusive job postings. There are currently more than 270 professional bodies in the UK across 34 industry sectors, ranging from accountancy to transport and logistics.

“It’s such a great opportunity to broaden one’s network of contacts,” Williams says. “At the end of the day, those are the people who might offer you your first job—so it’s very important to always strive to make the best impression.” — The Independent

Campus Notes
Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak
123 students placed

THE Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak, the eighth member of the IIM family, concluded recently its summer placements for the year 2012. The new IIM has increased its strength from 47 to 123 students in just one year since its inception. It has also cemented its relationships with well-known recruiters and forged new relationships across various sectors of the industry. The advantage of being the only IIM in the NCR region was clearly visible by the enthusiastic response from the industry. According to a spokesperson of the IIM, the batch of 123 students has been placed in 55 companies. Given the huge size of the batch, the average stipend turned out to be Rs 51,130, he said. Some of the crucial roles offered to the students included social entrepreneurship, social media marketing and international marketing. While the largest chunk (30 per cent) of students accepted offers in an array of marketing profiles such as sales, internet marketing, market research and branding, nearly 27 per cent accepted diverse profiles in the finance sector such as corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, retail banking, project finance and financial modeling in various leading companies. Companies like Ernst & Young, Rediff, Motorola, IBM, TCS, iMax Technologies and TVS Motors offered challenging IT, strategy and consulting roles to 25 per cent students of the batch, while rest of the batch bagged internship offers in operations and general management in reputed firms.

Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
Seminar on social transformation

The process of globalisation is shaping up new social realities and facilitating the evolution of new social sphere, which in turn is paving the way for social transformation. This was stated by eminent internationally-acclaimed sociologist Prof. Yogesh Atal in his keynote address at a seminar on “Development and Social Transformation” organised under the aegis of the Department of Sociology of Maharshi Dayanand University here recently. Professor Yogesh Atal who dwelled upon the history of sociological studies vis-à-vis development and social transformation said a new social paradigm, fashioned by the prevailing techno-centric society, was metamorphosising social structures as well as social relations. He gave a clarion call to sociologists to study the new paradigm of social transformation with a fresh approach.

Citizen’s Charter

The Department of Political Science of the university organised a workshop on "Citizen’s Charter: An Instrument of Good Governance" recently. Focusing on the importance of Citizen’s Charter, speakers said such a charter would ensure responsible governance. They also called for awareness campaign about Citizen’s Charter in society. Stating that each citizen was entitled to quality services, Prof. S.S. Chahar said the Citizen’s Charter added to the responsive nature of governance. Dr A.S. Dalal, Associate Professor, Department of Law, traced the historical background of the evolution of Citizen’s Charter and decried the red-tapism in governance. He said the bureaucracy must be made sensitive to people's needs besides improving the redressal mechanism to ensure good governance.

Pt. B.D.Sharma Health University, Rohtak
International Childhood Cancer Day

The 11th International Childhood Cancer Day was observed at the Department of Paediatrics (Oncology) of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, recently. The cancer day was observed with the help of an NGO, CanKids…KidsCan. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pankaj Abrol, Senior Professor, Department of Pediatrics (Oncology), said there was an urgent need to create awareness among parents regarding the various forms of childhood cancer, its symptoms and treatments. He said with the advancement in medical sciences, the cancer was almost curable in children, if diagnosed at an early stage. Mallika, representative of CanKids...KidsCan, and Meena Abrol, coordinator of NGO's Rohtak unit, said besides motivating the parents of cancer-affected children, their organisation helped them in arranging medicines and also bore treatment costs. — Contributed by Bijendra Ahlawat

ADMISSION DEADLINE
Engineering

Central Tool Room & Training Centre, B 36, Chandaka Industrial Area, Bhubaneswar 751024 (Ori) (M/o MSME, GoI)
www.cttc.gov.in

1) Post Diploma in Tool Design & Manufacturing (1 Year)
2) Post Diploma in CAD / CAM (1 Year)

Eligibility: For 1: Degree / Diploma in Engg (Mechanical / Production / Automobile)
For 2: Degree / Diploma in Engg (Mechanical / Production / Tool Engineering / Mould Making / Automobile)
Application Form & Details: Website

Course Commence: 01 March 2012

The Punjab State Board of Technical Education & Industrial Training, Plot No. 1 A, Sector 36A, Chandigarh 160036
www.punjabteched.com / www.punjabteched.net

IT

Management

Medicine

Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab
www.dmch.edu

Post Basic Diploma in Critical Care Nursing / Cardio Thoracic Nursing

Scholarship

Central Institute of Educational Technology, NCERT, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi – 110016, DL
www.ciet.nic.in

Eligibility: Working School Teachers

Sciences – Biological

Sciences – General

University