5 learning activities for kindergartners: Juna Dutta, Orchids The International School

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April 18, 2023

Young children’s minds and bodies need proper stimulation for healthy growth and development, so it’s essential to keep them engaged in activities. Exercise keeps the body fit and promotes brain development. Creative activities boost your imagination, make you feel better, boost your self-confidence, and foster a sense of independence.

According to multiple kinds of research, a kid’s brain develops from 4 to 6 years which means kindergarten is the most critical stage for early learning. The kids start grasping things very fast, and it’s the best age to instill some good habits. Here are five learning activities that parents can undertake for their kindergarten kids.

Learning about shapes and building 3D shapes- Activities including geometric shape games will encourage children from ages 4 to 6 to see, recognize and name a circle, square, triangle, and rectangle. Using humble materials to build a 3-D shape, kids can begin to understand the things around them—from soccer balls to supermarkets and many more, helping them relate the shapes to real-life objects and identify them.

Importance of understanding shapes- Learning about shapes helps children identify and organise information visually, recognise signs and symbols and develop an awareness of the relationship between people, objects and the space around them.

DIY activities- Make them do some DIY activities such as making paper boats, and paper planes, mixing colours to get secondary colours, gift wrapping, and making cards to help unleash their creativity in them and gain endurance in the process of learning and discovery. Not only creativity and endurance, but DIY also helps in strategic thinking and optimizing resources to best fit difficult situations.

Importance of DIY activities for young kids- DIY encourages children to use many everyday skills to problem solve and think about tasks carefully and analytically, exploring potential outcomes. It exercises the mind, encouraging lateral and logical thinking, and choosing from a range of solutions. It also taps into children’s creativity enabling them to use their imaginations and put their artistic skills into practice.

Memory Game – Play Kim’s game. Place things on the tray (crayons, apples, building blocks, toy cars, etc.). Then watch, cover, remember, and check! Try talking, taking pictures, or writing about “events” that you’ve done together. Does your child remember the correct order? This can boost their memory power and can be an engaging activity for the kids.

Importance of Memory Games – Playing memory games can improve other brain functions, such as attention, concentration, and focus. Memory games give space to critical thinking and that helps children nurture their attention to detail. Memory games can improve visual recognition. With many memory games based on spotting differences, or linking two related images, children improve their visual discrimination. This will lead to an acceleration in distinguishing images from one and another.

Playful Mathematical Games & Puzzles – What can be better if a child can learn Math through play? You can play mathematics with an abacus, toys, and fruits. Through this game, children will learn to apply the mathematical operations of multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.

Importance of Mathematical games & Puzzle- Math games provide a structure and process for children to engage in problem-solving in order to reach a particular goal or objective. Reaching that goal might be challenging, but the challenge is also what makes game-playing fun. Engaging in mathematical games can also encourage students to explore number combinations, place value, patterns, and other important mathematical concepts. Further, they afford opportunities for students to deepen their mathematical understanding and reasoning.

Label Mapping- This is the best way to teach the kids about Geography and the world. Seek out a wall map that clearly shows the borders of countries. Have your child place the labels from clothing, toys, and produce on their countries of origin.

Give them some space, have patience, and allow them to adapt to new things. Make sure that whatever you are teaching, your kid can teach you the same thing after a few days, and this is the best way to analyze their development.

Importance of Label Mapping- Labeling helps to create an environment that puts children at ease and contributes to self-directed learning. Labeling also helps children understand geographical demographics.

Views expressed by Juna Dutta, Pre-primary coordinator, Orchids The International School (Acharya Tulsi Academy)

Edtech Zamit introduces an AI-driven tool TERM to empower teachers for future

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April 17, 2023

Zamit, a leading AI-enabled one-stop school provider for the school ecosystem, has introduced an innovative solution for teachers committed to instructing kids of the 21st century in a ground-breaking project to improve the quality of teaching in India. A groundbreaking research-based AI-driven analytical tool called Teaching Excellence and Relevance Management, or TERM Analysis, aids teachers in analysing their current teaching abilities and projecting their future potential. The TERM Analysis satisfies the New Education Policy’s or NEP 2020’s standards while also taking the International Baccalaureate’s teaching methods into account, which is especially important from an Indian perspective.

TERM is a thorough analytical tool that identifies a specified, individualised path forward for a specific teacher’s professional development by combining over 85 teaching, coaching, and mentoring skill characteristics that are all grouped under Zamit’s Nine Dimensions for Teachers. Using this management tool, along with a detailed personalised report that serves as a benchmark analysis and a Zamit Quotient (ZQ) score for each of the nine dimensions, a teacher can map out his entire professional development journey and stay aware of the requirements and best practises crucial to 21st-century teaching.

“TERM Analysis is without a doubt the best tool for teachers of the twenty-first century. It is an AI-driven analytical tool that accounts for a comprehensive set of competency and skill metrics essential for a successful instructor. What really distinguishes Zamit’s TERM offering is that, in addition to enabling a nearly flawless and nuanced self-assessment, Zamit member teachers also have access to Continuous Professional Development programmes and premium and curated content that can help them raise their ZQ scores. Access to top-notch webinars and workshops is also made available through Zamit. These are enlightening and engaging. What’s more, Zamit provides a space to create and maintain a dynamic professional profile for the teacher that can be employed for periodic appraisals and for monitoring their commitment to CPD, a prerequisite recommended by the NEP 2020,” said Aarul Malaviya, Founder and Director of Zamit.

AICTE signs MoU with UNESCO MGIEP to enhance quality education

Higher Education

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April 15, 2023

In order to give high-quality, all-encompassing education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) of UNESCO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The UN Sustainable Development Goal is to achieve education for the development of peaceful and sustainable societies throughout the world. MGIEP is a category 1 UNESCO research institute in education that focuses on accomplishing this goal.

The Chairman of the AICTE, Prof. (Dr.) T.G. Sitharam, stated that “Under this MoU, AICTE and MGIEP will collaborate to develop programmes that promote social-emotional learning, innovative digital pedagogies, build capacities of teachers and learners, and inform education policy through scientific research.”

According to Prof. Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary, AICTE, “The goal of this collaboration is to equip the youth with social, emotional, and critical thinking skills to tackle challenging situations and guide educators on how to help young people become resilient future leaders.”

Professor Dr. Anantha Duraiappah, Director, MGIEP, during the MoU signing, said, “The collaboration between AICTE and MGIEP is a significant step towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies across the world. The training and learning modules will also include climate change enrichment and Biodiversity-‘Understand Reflect Empathize and Act.”

“This MoU will ensure that learners have an understanding of the challenges facing our environment and are equipped with the skills to tackle these challenges,” stated Dr. Richa Bansal, National Project Officer. Additionally, faculty members’ expertise with digital pedagogical tools, digital course design, and digital assessment design will improve as a result of digital teacher learning courses that are tailored to the current needs of the field. As a result, faculty members will be well-prepared to provide high-quality instruction using the most recent digital tools and methodologies. It is anticipated to be advantageous for students, teachers, and the education industry as a whole.

Digital Transformation swaying the education ecosystem

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April 15, 2023

Canvas was founded in 2008 and has since become the fastest-growing LMS in the world. Its client base includes prestigious universities such as Harvard, all Ivy League schools in the US, as well as Oxford and Cambridge. With around 70 million users accessing Canvas concurrently, including instances with up to 7 million users, it is the top-ranked Education website in the world”, said Nathan Thomas, Regional Director, Middle East & Africa, Instructure at the 25th Elets World Education Summit in Dubai.

“It is essential to focus on the transformation itself rather than the specific platform being used. One crucial aspect to consider is the changing expectations of students and teachers over the last three years. The COVID-19 pandemic and other factors have disrupted the status quo, leading to new expectations regarding how students learn and how teachers deliver information”, he added further.

“Context influences device choice, with users selecting the device based on factors such as location, available time, desired outcome, and attitude. For example, some may prefer a passive mode of consumption when they have free time, while others may have a deadline to meet. Statistics show that daily media interactions on PCs account for 24%, while smartphones account for 38%. Users tend to use PCs to accomplish tasks, while smartphones are mainly for communication and entertainment”, said Nathan.

Sharing some statistics on how digital transformation has impacted education, Nathan said, “One of the key changes is that students now have different expectations on how they learn and consume information, compared to just a few years ago. Context, time, and attitude drive device choice, with many people using their phones or laptops depending on the situation. For example, computers are used to accomplish tasks or do research, while smartphones are used for communication and entertainment. To meet these expectations, institutions need to create an ecosystem of interaction between teachers and students, which is best achieved through a mobile app.”

“This is because apps are more effective in creating an interactive and equitable classroom experience for a mobile population. In fact, 95% of adults expect higher education to be hybrid by 2025. Emails are no longer effective in reaching students, with only a small percentage actually reading them. Instead, push notifications via the mobile app are more effective in engaging with students. This shift in student expectations has been expedited due to remote changes brought by the pandemic”, he concluded.

Edtech startup Oneistox raises $1.2 Mn seed funding

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April 14, 2023

Oneistox, an edtech firm, has raised $1.2 million in seed funding from Y Combinator, Powerhouse Ventures, and Soma Capital as well as individual investors including Deepak Menon and Amit Ranjan.

The Gurugram-based startup raised an undisclosed sum in its initial seed round in September 2021 from Powerhouse Ventures and Y Combinator. This is the company’s second seed round.

Oneistox, a company founded in 2021 by Harkunwar Singh, Vipanchi Handa, Mehul Kumar, and Chaithanya Murali, provides AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) professionals with courses and upskilling programmes to assist them create industry-relevant products.

Oneistox seeks to close the knowledge gap between conventional AEC education and the rapidly changing technological environment, enabling students to become professionals who are prepared for the future. The site also provides courses and programmes, including computational design and building information modelling (BIM), among others.

The two-year-old company claims to have held more than 50 workshops for more than 1,000 students and to have grown 30% month over month over the previous twelve months. Oneistox faces competition from companies like Delhi-based Notesgen, Gradeup, etc.

“Education can be the ladder to reach for the pinnacle of success: Chandrakala Sharma, Aurangabad Public School

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April 14, 2023

NEP promotes versatile education and intends to provide innovative, vocational and skill-based education to everyone. With this holistic approach, we can instill innovation, entrepreneurship and human values amongst the students shared Chandrakala Sharma, Principal, Aurangabad Public School, Bajaj Nagar, Aurangabad in an exclusive conversation with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network. Edited excerpts:

What are your thoughts on the current education system in India and how do you plan to make positive changes?

At present, the Indian education system is transitioned from traditional to modern as it has been started from the age of ‘Gurukuls’ and now reached to the Digitally-Driven Smart Classes and become a blended learning process where students can mould themselves and get their skills set version.

And being a principal, I witnessed, it is mandatory to continuously upgrade itself to match the pace of the global village. However, it is lacking in execution of spiritual and scientific educational approach that means it lacks in practical subjects, training and value based learning.

NEP promotes versatile education and intends to provide innovative, vocational and skill-based education to everyone. With this holistic approach, we can instill innovation and entrepreneurship and human values amongst the students. I believe, “Rightly educated people can lead the right paths and this can be a ladder to reach for the top. Education makes people understand how to live freely and be the reason of development for themselves.”

How do you approach classroom management and student engagement? What are the innovative practices you are following at your school for the same?

With apt management, we can achieve our intended goals, can improve efficiency and even create a dynamic environment. Therefore, I believe classroom management and students’ engagement is truly essential to make teaching-learning process effective. We appreciate and practice three C’s of classroom management i.e. Connection, Consistency and Compassion to create learning environment in classroom.

Students must feel comfortable and connected with their classroom. And for the same, we maintain cleanliness, discipline, comfortable seating arrangement and most importantly we do segregation of duties among students, it helps us to instill responsible behaviour among them.

How do you incorporate technology and innovative teaching methods in your lessons?

Being a student centric school, we practice blended teaching learning process where students can be familiar with 21st century’s technology and innovative teaching methods. We appreciate e-learning to give them lively experience while teaching practical based subjects such as Science, Mathematics and Social Studies.

How do you plan to become the best school and inculcate confidence in students with value, knowledge, and Skills?

We are bound to provide holistic education to our students. Therefore, they can become responsible youth who can lead the nation in the right direction. We strive to inculcate confidence in students with value, knowledge, and skills. And for the same, we provide them versatile platforms where they can come up with their innovative ideas and opportunities and eventually develop themselves.

Putting India’s higher education on the global map: The 5 pillars of success: Dr. Raul V. Rodriguez, Woxsen University

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April 14, 2023

India has a rich history of education, dating back thousands of years. However, in recent years, the country’s higher education system has faced challenges in terms of global recognition and competitiveness. To put India’s higher education on the global map, it is important to focus on five key pillars: internationalization, research, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and corporate alignment.

In this article, we will explore each of these pillars in detail and discuss the ways in which they can help to elevate India’s higher education system to the global stage.

1. Internationalisation: India’s higher education system must become more international in order to attract students and faculty from around the world. This can be achieved through partnerships with international universities, exchange programs, and the establishment of international campuses. The concept of internationalization is not new and has been explored by many thinkers and theories, including Knight’s (1994) framework on the internationalization of higher education and De Wit’s (2011) work on the four dimensions of internationalization.

2. Research: High-quality research is crucial for the development of any higher education system. India must invest in research infrastructure, provide funding and incentives for research, and encourage collaboration between universities and industry. The country has already produced many influential thinkers and theories, including the Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, and has the potential to produce many more with a focus on research.

3. Sustainability: Sustainability is a key issue facing the world today, and universities have an important role to play in addressing it. India’s higher education system must incorporate sustainability into its curriculum, research, and campus operations. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a useful framework for universities to incorporate sustainability in their activities.

4. Entrepreneurship: India is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, and this should be reflected in its higher education system. Universities should foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, providing students with the skills and resources they need to start their own businesses. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report provides useful insights into the state of entrepreneurship in India.

5. Corporate Alignment: Finally, India’s higher education system must be closely aligned with the needs of the industry. This can be achieved through partnerships with companies, internships, and work-integrated learning programs. The theories of alignment and collaboration in higher education, such as the Triple Helix Model (Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 2000) and the Engaged University Framework (Van der Meer & Wals, 2014), provide useful insights into how universities can work with industry to achieve common goals.

In conclusion, India’s higher education system has the potential to be a global leader, but it must focus on the five pillars of internationalization, research, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and corporate alignment to achieve this goal. By incorporating these pillars into its policies and practices, India can attract students and faculty from around the world, produce high-quality research, address sustainability challenges, foster entrepreneurship, and align its activities with the needs of industry. With a focus on these five pillars, India’s higher education system can be put on the global map.

Views expressed by Dr. Raul V. Rodriguez, Vice President, Woxsen University, Hyderabad

Unacademy launches AI editor Cohesive

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April 13, 2023

The edtech unicorn Unacademy has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) content editor that enables users to “create, refine, edit, and publish” their work with ease. Cohesive, a former SaaS product that Unacademy had launched as a “experiment” last year, powers the AI editor.

Users of Cohesive AI can modify text, add AI-generated pictures, and translate material into more than 6 different languages using the programme’s user-friendly interface. Additionally, it makes real-time collaboration possible and facilitates teamwork. Cohesive AI has reportedly been tested by more than 20,000 people worldwide, according to Unacademy.

“With Cohesive AI, we are taking a step in the direction of transforming the way content is created, optimized, and shared,” said Hemesh Singh, Co-Founder and CTO of Unacademy. Cohesive AI is a potent, user-friendly AI editor that will create excellent content that incorporates both text and images. We are honoured to be leading the charge to spread generative AI’s ability to improve and streamline content creation throughout the world.

However, when applied, Cohesive AI determined that BYJU’S, the main rival of Unacademy, was the “best edtech start-up in India” and had “revolutionized the way students learn.” The two companies, meanwhile, are said to have had merger discussions as they battled to produce positive cashflows in the severely troubled edtech sector. Following the sluggish demand for online learning as the pandemic impact started to decrease, Bengaluru-based Unacademy has recently moved its focus to offline learning facilities.

Revolutionising payments in education: Haseeb Ahmed, Zenda

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April 13, 2023

“Over a period of seven years, we focused on digitizing schools and utilizing advanced analytics and AI to enhance learning outcomes. While working closely with schools, we identified several challenges they faced with financial management, including handling collections, managing finances, and maintaining cash flows. These difficulties were further amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these issues, we launched Zenda”, shared Haseeb Ahmed, Co-Founder, zenda.

“The most significant challenge we observed was the timely collection of fees. Our research found that only 56% of parents pay within 30 days of the due date, while the rest pay after 60, 90, or 120 days. Conversely, school expenses are typically fixed, with 70-75% needing to be paid in the first week of every month. This discrepancy creates significant stress for school finance teams. Additionally, we have mapped out various collection methods used by schools, including cash, PDC, POS machines, bank transfers, and payment links, and have found that these processes are often complex”, added Haseeb.

“Our goal today is to revolutionize payments in financing and education. We believe that three key actions must be taken to achieve this. Firstly, we should digitize the fee collection process to provide a seamless end-to-end experience for parents. This would allow them to log in, view payment details, and select their preferred payment method, such as Apple Pay, bank transfer, or credit cards. After completing the payment, they should receive an instant confirmation. Secondly, we need to automate fee reconciliation to alleviate the burden on school finance and accounting teams. This process is time-consuming and should be automated for digital payments to be effective. Lastly, we must focus on improving the parent’s experience. Most schools charge fees upfront, which can be stressful for parents, who earn monthly. To mitigate this, we should offer solutions that make their lives easier”, he further added.

“To address these challenges, we launched Zenda in June 2021. Zenda’s mission is to build financial products for families, parents, and schools. We recognize that financial services are generic solutions, but education has unique needs that require tailored products. Therefore, we worked with colleagues across different schools over the past 18 months to develop ground-up products that meet the specific requirements of schools, including last-mile integration and reconciliation. We have launched five products so far, including Pay Now, which allows parents to make payments on the app anytime, anywhere,” concluded Haseeb.

The status and future of vocational education in India: Vishakha Gupta, Beacon High School & Junior College

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April 11, 2023

The National Education Policy has redefined education in many ways. With an emphasis on Vocational (Skill) education, CBSE is in the process of devising curricula for vocational subjects. NEP 2020 documented equitable access to the highest-quality education for all learners, regardless of social or economic background.

This will create a skilled workforce, proficient in multidisciplinary learning. It will rationalise content and move towards learning– how to think critically & creatively and also solve problems along with developing 21st-century skills.

Skill education will lead to a reconfiguration and building life skills, and character that enables learners to be ethical, rational, compassionate, and caring. Also, preparing them for gainful, fulfilling employment. Skill development will also lead to a focus on high-quality interdisciplinary research across fields.

Currently, CBSE has started offering around 40 courses (including courses on Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Design Thinking) which work towards imparting an education that is holistic, meaningful, and skill oriented, focussed on developing key 21st-century skills. These initiatives can build a robust pipeline of creative and critical thinkers enabling India in attaining inclusive economic growth and social development.

“The future depends on what we do in the present”. By making informed and intentional policy choices, critically evaluating and learning from the present and the past, and actively investing towards the larger purpose and shared vision of education, the future will be bright and promising.

Views expressed by Vishakha Gupta, Principal, Beacon High School & Junior College, Pune.

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