Arpan Stephen, E-Learning Specialist College of Medicine and Medical Sciences Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain: Crisis always brings out something good

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March 30, 2020

Amidst corona virus outbreak, good being the move towards the inevitable “futuristic teaching models”.

All educational institutions around the world have closed doors and cancelled classes amid COVID-19 concerns. This has opened doors to virtual classroom that was earlier only limited to distance Learning courses. But this today is the need of the hour. Everyone is compelled to move towards remote teaching and learning models.

This has also led to the implementation of Omni-Choice Learning pathways where students get the option to get lessons anytime and anywhere.

The time that we are currently in has also emphasized the importance of technology In education especially when this is the only thing that aids teachers and students at the moment who are distance apart.

To talk about Arabian Gulf University, a GCC regional university located in the Kingdom of Bahrain, it has proven beneficial catering to students from all GCC countries. Remote classes here don’t mean localities, but countries.

This coronavirus pandemic hasn’t given much time to prepare for online virtual learning, but the management at AGU sensed the need early and started preparation in full swing.

To start a virtual classroom environment (VLE), is easier said than done. It is not just enabling technology and infrastructure, but involves trials, testing, Faculty and student training, coordinating and preparation of Online courses that involve Audio-Video Conferencing.

While many Educational institutions have moved to simple Audio-Video Conferencing solutions to take Live classes. Colleges in Arabian Gulf University, The college of Medicine and Medical Sciences and College of Graduate Studies for their undergraduate and Postgraduate programs have a different approach. While solutions like ZOOM, Webex, Go to Meeting, Hangouts provide audio-video conferencing solution, they do not provide any evidence of classes taken after class which at a later stage could create issues. Another challenge with these solutions is the probable server crash because of a network overload on the cloud servers hosting these solutions since the entire world is using these at the moment.

This is the reason why, AGU after a lot of research and testing, created a State-of-the-art solution. A solution that can share the entire coursework, engage teachers and students in a live audio-video class, auto record the whole class session along with the course notes, video, audio with any whiteboarding or annotations and make it available to students after the class. The System also auto tracks the attendance and generates a course activity report of each participant as evidence. Assignments, evaluations, Resource sharing add to the live class setup.

AGU’s able Management and Efficient dedicated E-learning and IT staff members made this solution possible in a very short span of time.

We have been able to get everyone onboard and already have virtual classes running live successfully. Our written feedback both from faculty and students are exceptionally positive and this endeavor has made AGU reach even further heights in using technology effectively in an educational setup.

Kajal Chhatija, Principal, Global Talent International School, Pune calls to empower for future

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March 30, 2020

We teachers are meant for being true role models for our students and we need to be ready to cater alpa generation.

Sharing certain ways of being organised and being busy during these days at home🙋.

You might have got your subjects and classes for the new session

#So start planning for the new session with full energy.

#Try different ways of preparing lessons – Flip, Co-operative, Role plays, Journey, Through questioning, making puzzles, add a little coding and decoding games or assign tasks to students to prepare games on the given topic.(Make worksheets)

#Lesson-wise be ready with at least two hands-on-activities and two e-learning- videos and plus research work as home fun to ensure deep learning. (✒ Pen it down)

#Be ready with two Morning assembly plan along with songs and prayers.

#Keep your year’s diary handy, start writing quotes in it which can go at the top of your classroom board.

#Start making proxy worksheets for your students to keep them engaged in your absence.

#Read two new stories a day which you can share during your substitution class.

#Make short term and long term goals for yourself and set target deadlines for them.

#Utilise this time in a more constructive way, set an example for your students, inspire and motivate them as well.

#Make short videos for students to clear their concepts and share those with parents do that our children can access them easily.

Remember teachers that learning should stop, be lifelong learners and live to learn and teach. 👍

NATA exam 2020 postpones, registration deadline extended

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March 30, 2020

Amid coronavirus spread across the country, Council of Architecture has postponed the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2020. The first exam was scheduled for April 19. The Central government has imposed 21-Day lockdown to prevent the further spread of epidemic.

The registration deadline for NATA 2020 has been extended from March 16 to April 15. Candidates who have not yet registered for NATA 2020 can apply on its official site www.nata.in.

The second exam of NATA is scheduled for May 31, 2020, which is also in limbo.

The revised date sheet of NATA 2020 registration:

Image Upload last date : April 19

Fee payment (last date): April 19

Confirmation page printing available till- April 22

Candidate correction window- April 20 to 22

Dr (Col) A Garg, Director, KIET Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad calls for best possible practices

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March 30, 2020

The outbreak of the pandemic Covid-19 has precipitately brought a halt to the lives of all humans across the world. It is critically impacting every sector including education system of the country. The schools, colleges and all educational institutions have been padlocked, resulting into stressful situation for students, parents &academicians as they are highly concerned about the academic loss of their children. Nevertheless we all understand that this is not the time to panic for studies rather it is a medical emergency that pushes us to analyze and understand that the need of the hour is to take various psychological measures that can support each & everyone in balancing their mental as well as emotional health along with physical.

In response to school closures caused by COVID-19, UNESCO recommends the use of distance learning programs and open educational applications and platforms that schools and teachers can use to reach learners remotely and limit the disruption of education. Thereby, taking it to be its responsibility, the education system needs to contribute in its own way to ensure that the children, sitting at home, are safeguarded from all kinds of stressful situations by engaging the students in activities that keep them active & academically connected.

There are various steps & practices that can be undertaken in this regard. KIET Group of Institutions has even taken a few steps to ensure that the students may remain intact with their academics and also stay cognitively stimulated and mentally occupied by involving in some activities that may divert them from the reiterating news of the disease on social media as well as news channels.

The institution has endeavored to keep its students into their study routine by timely switching into digital & distance learning models. Since, the institute got informed about home quarantine of all, they started working more rigorously on the YouTube based video lectures for the students at home. They adopted the following steps to ensure that the students get the maximum food for thought so that they can utilize this extra time in developing their skills as well as learning their lessons and be a bit occupied:

-Online classes are being conducted, by the respective subject teachers, using various video conferencing apps

-Continuously sending Unit wise lecture notes in PDF or PPT format

-Sharing their self-recorded YouTube lectures related to their subjects

-Sharing video links including NPTEL and eBooks related to their subjects

-Software labs are being conducted online

-LMS & Moodle are being used to share assignments and even evaluate the performance of the students

The institute is trying to involve its students in a few tasks and projects that would surely help them hone new skills and utilize the time during their home quarantine and social distancing positively:

1. Koders Korner Practice Contests: The hobby club at KIET, Koders Korner, has endeavored to assist students make the best use of this time by polishing their competitive programming skills. So, they are conducting online practice coding contest series, based on educational rounds of Code forces.

2. Brainwriting: We know a lot about brainstorming, but have you tried brain writing? In this approach, students begin by coming up with their own ideas, either on paper or using visual collaboration software, shared by their departments. Building in time individual reflection by the students leads to better ideas and less group think.

3. Jigsaw: Help students build accountability by teaching each other. Start, by dividing them into “home groups” (each of 5 or 10 students). Assign each person in the group a different topic to explore – they’ll regroup to work with all the students from the other groups who are exploring the same idea. Once they’ve mastered the concept, students return to their home group and everyone shares newfound expertise and submit the report.

4. Quescussion: A few questions/statements are shared with batches of students and they are asked to discuss & then after write down the consensus. It is a sort of online group discussion.

The director of KIET, Dr A Garg, states, “The crisis is quite challenging for one and all. We understand that during this time when all are going through emotional turbulence, it’s quite difficult to concentrate and focus on studies, but we truly appreciate our teachers and academicians who are making these extra efforts, from their homes, just to keep their students connected more with them then studies. Hopefully these can keep the students diverted from getting into depressive states due to information overloading about the disease. I wish for good health of all, Best wishes!”

The Institution is further planning to conduct its class tests online. The students will receive their test papers through Whatsapp/e-mail and after writing their answers on the sheet available at their homes, the students will click/scan their answer sheets and mail them back to their respective subject teachers for evaluation. Moreover all essential works and meetings among leads & HoDs and the faculty members are being conducted through video conferencing, thereby smoothening & ensuring that work from remains hurdle free.

KIET Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad is one of the premier destinations for young minds, offering courses in Engineering, management and pharmacy. It continuously strives for the welfare of its students providing them with best opportunities both on the national and international platforms.

Measures taken by Aakash to ensure continuity in studies through Online Live Platforms

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March 30, 2020

The COVID 19 outbreak has brought the world to its knees. Its outbreak and the resultant uncertainty has impacted students, schools and educational institutes across India. Rising to the occasion, Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) has adopted various measures to mitigate the impact that institute closures may have on students’ learning process.

Here are a few measures through which AESL is ensuring continuity in study schedule of the students from the safety of students’ homes.

Aakash Live: A Revolutionary Live Classes Program – The faculty at Aakash is well connected with students across the country through Aakash Live, a live teaching module offered by AESL. Below are the reasons which ensures that ‘Aakash Live’ is the great choice for the students:

• Aakash live, disseminates teaching via virtual classrooms that offer affordable solutions and quality teaching, wherein students can also clarify their doubts live sitting miles away.
• Teachers use interactive methods to make learning at home easy and engaging. Daily assignments and tests are sent to students for regular practise. Recorded videos are also shared with students to help them understand better.

AakashiTutor – All NEET and JEE aspirants for 2020 get the advantage of getting access to pre-recorded lectures on AakashiTutor. Quick doubt resolution through ‘Ask an Expert’ feature and regular online practice tests further help in strengthening the preparation of NEET and JEE aspirants.

Live Online Crash Courses for NEET/JEE exams – Aakash has also launched Live Online Crash Courses for students to help them prepare for medical and engineering entrance examinations such as NEET and JEE (Main & Advanced). These online crash courses will help in boosting the last-minute preparation of students.

Resolving problems through WhatsApp Groups – Teachers continue to address all kinds of doubts raised by students and resolve them online via mails, and through WhatsApp Groups. Different WhatsApp groups have been formed per class wherein the students can ask questions and get instant handy solutions.

Aakash Faculty ensures that even in times of lockdown, learning never stops and students prepare for the examinations without any interruption. The faculty even apprise the student on what to study and what not to study so that the student does not get into a panic mode.

Apart from studies, teachers at Aakash pay attention to boosting the confidence of students as staying at home and reading about dismal news can affect a student’s morale. They even keep reminding them of the safety measures they need to take during the COVID-19 outbreak to stay safe and healthy.

Introduction of the Online instant Admission-Cum-Scholarship Test (iACST) – Aakashhas launched a unique new instant scholarship — the online instant Admission Cum Scholarship Test Exam (iACST) — to be conducted daily. The details of the exam are as follows:

• The test will allow students to take the exam online and provide them with details of the scholarship earned immediately
• Students can even take instant admission and prepare under the expert guidance of Aakash Faculty
• Students studying in Class VIII to XII are eligible to sit for the exam. Online iACST enables deserving students to earn up-to 75% scholarship

Meritnation – Announces Free Online Live Classes for students amidst COVID-19 Shutdown – Meritnation, a subsidiary of AESL, is providing special free live classes for students from Class 1st to Class 12th and those appearing for special exams like JEE/ NEET etc. to help mitigate the impact that school & institute closures may have on students’ learning process.

(The writer is Director and CEO of Aakash Educational Services Limited)

Anuradha Krishnan, Principal, Primus Public School, Bangalore: Time to learn new things

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March 30, 2020

We are all living in such a bizarre and unprecedented time. Almost the entire world is on lockdown, brought to a halt by the dreaded covid-19! We recognize that the only way to protect ourselves is to isolate ourselves and maintain hygiene.

However, we will overcome this and there is life to be savoured on the other side. Each of us have to use this pause in our lives to prepare ourselves for what the world may hold for us. This may be by learning a new skill or language, reading, specializing, getting fit, spending time with family, playing games and so much more.

All this is true for children too. However, children will go back to school and continue their studies after this. This means they must stay in touch with everything they have learnt so far so they are able to tackle the academic rigour that will be required of them in the next academic year. Most schools across the globe have embraced technology-based solutions to engage with children and keep them abreast of their prescribed lessons.

Large corporations have come to the aid of parents and children by offering for free a lot of their content meant for children; whether it is e-books, games, educational software for Math, Science or languages, virtual views of museums and e-courses to teach them music or yoga. In addition, there are a lot of DIY options for kids. The internet is a treasure trove of ideas for parents and even show them how to get it done.

At our school also, we went digital. Luckily for us, the lockdown began only after the teaching for the year was done. The children had only the annual assessment remaining. Our Board Exams were done. As per government rule, all children are promoted by default until grade 8, so we called off the annual assessment and sent the children a series of worksheets on all subjects to maintain the academic continuity. They were also given lists of books to read for pleasure during vacations.

For senior grades, we conducted online classes with teachers and students interacting and sharing videos, presentations and assignments. They even had live interactive classes. This was very effective, and we were able to get a lot done. It was done from the comfort of home with a schedule that wasn’t too heavy. We also used flipped classes that helped children get more time with the teacher to clarify any ambiguity.

Nothing can replace the human relationships and interactions of a physical classroom session. In a country like ours, we also have to deal with the vagaries of electricity and connectivity. I strongly believe that learning is best achieved when a student is involved in open and happy interactions with the teacher which is much easier in a physical classroom. We should get back to that as soon as possible. Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful to technology for the opportunity to continue to connect with our students online!

COVID 19: GlobalGyan offers free access to Mobile Learning Platform: Mr. Srinivasa Addepalli- Founder & CEO, GGA

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March 30, 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak has created an unwanted crisis in India. All the schools and universities are closed. The firms were asked to adapt the new ‘home office. ’

Country’s leading Edtech firm, GlobalGyan Academy of Management Education, announces a series of free Master Classes on managing themselves and their teams in these uncertain times. GlobalGyan is offering Indian firms free access to its Mobile Learning Platform for their employees.

Srinivasa Addepalli, CEO & Founder of GlobalGyan Academy said, “For learning to be valuable and outcome oriented, it cannot be sporadic. All organisations must adopt digital in their learning and development agenda, more so at times like these. We want to encourage Indian companies to adopt digital learning, without having to make huge upfront investment.”

Addepalli said, “The GlobalGyan learning platform will allow firm to offer their digital content in the form of learning capsules that can be accessed by their employees on the GlobalGyan mobile and web apps. This managed service that includes support in the creation of learning journeys and a tracking and reporting portal, would help organisations make their first foray into digital learning.”

GlobalGyan’s learning content, aimed at entry and mid-level managers’ covers skills such as critical thinking, creativity and complex problem-solving to navigate through unforeseen challenges in the ever-changing business environment.

GlobalGyan has been working with India’s leading corporates such as Tata Communications, Godrej Industries, Future Supply Chain, Ginger Hotels and ITC with digital learning programs for their managers.

Hema Kalakoti, Principal, APS ACADEMY, Lucknow: Ensuring teaching through online modes

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March 27, 2020

We (APS ACADEMY) have started giving online study material / help / audio /videos as to warm up , to engage to some kind of guided routines for the children. We have asked parents to involve the children in household chores (cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing clothes),gardening take care of pets birds, etc .

Learn how your mother manage every day time, house budget etc also spend quality time with grandparents. These activities will be the actual practical practice of the

life skills and co scholastic areas.

Academically we were using many different apps, video, slides, audio which was easy for the teachers and students because we are equipped with good internet and systems But at homes reaching each learner is little difficult.

We have to acknowledge the reality that all parents / learners are not accessible. Everyone studying in our school don’t have access to stable internet connection online learning platforms or gadgets. Taking this in view we have given the option

some text is being shared on class WhatsApp groups and within one or two days we will share APS ACADEMY channel link to students.

Because sharing too many videos On WhatsApp class group is also a big problem for storing space. We are guiding them to use free apps like disha app, epathshala, swayam, swayamprabha, nisha app, stories. audiable, story line online etc.

This is a big challenge, we all have to switch to digital learning and equip ourselves and each learner with full time online distance learning for which we were not prepared

I will end with Churchill’s quote:

“NEVER LET A GOOD CRISIS GO WASTE”

Dr Stella Pandhare, Principal, The Millennium School, Bengaluru: Need to face daunting challenge

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March 27, 2020

The pandemic of Corona did bring things to a grinding halt all of a sudden with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing lock down to keep the citizens of the nation safe. A wise move indeed. However, all of us were left with the thought what next. How do we beat this virus during the time of this crisis?

I do agree silence is gold. But, at times, when one has something very important to share with someone equally important, it isn’t all that easy to maintain silence for too long. So, we the Educators at Millennium School decided to break the ‘deafening silence’ and lead out students to an insightful journey even if it meant staying at home.

We have come a long way and the time elapsed has been filled with stirring moments always. Seasons have turned around at their distinctive yet monotonous and pleasant pace. The world has witnessed paradigm ideological shifts through political fall outs, economic challenges, technological marvels and ‘radical’ movements, which will go down the annals of history. And history has always been scripted with indelible ink. Thus, dictating a scrupulous introspection of the present to stand testimony for the future. I too have taken recourse in the irrefutable fact that ‘Time’ has and will always remain the master and a measure of monumental growth, when history is being scripted.

We decided to capture important concepts through videos. Our facilitators took up the task of recording videos and sharing it for the students to help them stay connected with learning. We sent guidelines to parents and creative videos as references and helped them share their knowledge with their wards. Parents were encouraged to record videos of their wards participating in the activities prescribed by the school and the same is being posted on Facebook and You tube. Flip classrooms, Video sessions, Creative worksheets and Zoom sessions are helping the teacher and the taught stay connected to teaching and learning.

Time enough to learn from ‘Time’. This has been a valuable learning. Passion too like success can never be a destination; it has and shall always remain a journey. So has been this passionate journey for me, as an Educator. The response of the School Facilitators, parents and children has been overwhelming, buttressing a conviction – a conviction that an entrenched passion and its creative outburst have revealed ‘what lies beneath’ the cloak of an educator.

The Educator in me is indebted to those of you, who were resolute to dig into the remotest ways possible to reach out to the kids through digital media and are finding ways to keep learning alive. To those of you who believe in transacting education at the ‘click of a button’, I acknowledge your painstaking efforts in going that extra mile to surf the enticing sections of the digital portal which has also given wings to an educator’s dream. I can assure that even during the lock down day, Education ‘hidden’ away from your ‘reach’, will reach out and touch you.

Dr Prachi Agarwal, Asst. Professor, Mangalmay Institute of Management and Technology, Greater Noida: Must adopt new teaching technology

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March 27, 2020

CORONAVirus…..Well 90% of the world’s population is listening to this medical terminology for the first time in their lives. By now, we all know the origin of it, the brutal effects it is making on worldwide mankind and the heart making tolls it is making. The last reported Pandemic of this type was seen in the year 1918, something called ‘SPANISH FLU’ which effected nearly one-third of human population worldwide.

The implications of this pandemic will be witnessed in nearly the coming decade and we will not be able to recover from it very easily. Suddenly everything is freezed……. No industry in any of the country is left unaffected by its touch. Be it manufacturing, travel and tourism, aviation, agriculture, service industry everything seems to be at hault.

Needless to mention education industry is also not left untouched. Schools, Colleges and Universities, Teachers, Students and Support Staff everyone is facing the wrath of this deadly virus. The colleges are closed, various entrance tests are postponed, the results are awaited, the admission process has slowed down.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Where there is a virus, there is an anti virus too and we academicians have found a holy grail to continue with our academics. We at Mangalmay Institute of Management and Technology have adopted the MOOCS concept (Massive Open Online Courses) of Teaching Learning Pedagogy. The faculties are sharing video lectures to the students on daily basis and conducting Google Classrooms and Zoom Classrooms. Their doubts are cleared by whatsapp or voice calls. Also, various links of MHRD courses like NPTEL and Swayam are also shared with them to continue their studies.

Various research papers are been sent to the students to make them read about the topic presented in Video lectures to give thrust to teaching learning process. Also, PPT’s, assignments and other study material are sent to the students on regular basis.

The response of all these activities is very positive and the students are also understanding and appreciating the hard work done by their professors and their commitments towards academics.

Last but not the least, very important thing to give the students is peace of mind, as being a Teacher, nothing is more important that their well-being and that’s our main priority.

Let us all stay positive in this hard time and pray that this situation is over for the well-being of mankind and humanity.

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