Is MBA still a sought after course?
Is Indian Education Sector Ready for Industrial Revolution 4.0?
Bhartiya Skill Development University: Paving Way for Global Excellence in Skill Development
HITS: Explore Once in a Lifetime Opportunities
When most of the people give up on big dreams just because they were born in a middle-class family, there are some who rise over such notions and create their own destiny. One such person was late Dr K C G Verghese, who through his hard work and perseverance evolved as one of the top-ranking educationists in the country. Founder of the Hindustan Group of Institutions (HGI), Verghese ventured into the education sector in 1966 after realising the need for an institution that offers non-formal technical education. He envisioned a country, which will be devoid of poverty and immense scope for employment. Today, Hindustan Group of Institutes (HGI) is a renowned name to impart quality education in the fields of Engineering, Aviation, Applied Sciences, and Management.
Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science (HITS) under the umbrella of HGI was established in 1985. It was earlier known as Hindustan College of Engineering. The institute was conferred University Status by University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2008. Taking forward vision of Dr K C G Verghese — Making Every Man a Success and No Man a Failure, his wife Dr Elizabeth Verghese as the Chairperson, is leading the HGI.
HITS comprise students from across the globe and it has emerged as a premium and reputed higher education institution. It is accredited with NAAC “A” by Government of India and received a 5-star rating from QS Stars each in the categories of teaching, employability, innovation, inclusiveness, and facilities. HITS is the first institution in India that has obtained the 5S certification from TUV Rheinland for successfully implementing 5S Workplace Management Systems. HITS has been awarded with the Good Green Governance Award for its green sprawling campus five consecutive years. Apart from this, several environment friendly initiatives are implemented by HITS. It is a step towards promoting eco-friendly travel among student community.
The institution offers several UG, PG, Integrated, Doctoral, and Industry Collaborated programmes in the domain like Aeronautical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Management and many more. “We always endeavour to provide our students with the best facilities so that they can achieve their set goals in a seamless manner,” opines Dr Anand Jacob Verghese, Pro Chancellor, HITS. The campus facility comprises Mac Lab, Seminar halls, a Central Library and Departmental Libraries, transportation and so on.
Having collaboration with over 78 International Organisations and 30 MoUs with Government organisations and industry partners, HITS maintains a good association with industry. These associations assist the institution in rendering the students training and consultancy opportunities, study abroad and summer programmes, joint research projects and conferences and students and faculty exchange programme.
Ahead of the Curve
“The core strength of HITS is in its proven competency in Aeronautical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Nanotechnology and Defence Technology,” opines Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese. For Aeronautical students, HITS entered into a technical partnership with ALSIM, France, one of the leading Flight Simulator Manufactures. Students are offered an exclusive Simulator Flying Training through two world-class Simulators — ALSIM AL50 & ALSIM AL250. Dr Anand elaborates, “We are proud that HITS was the first in India to purchase the ALSIM Simulator, the ALSIM AL50 and recently we have also added the advanced ALSIM AL250, which led to the establishment of the SIM CENTRE at Chennai.”
Grooming all the students with phenomenal practical training, the Deemed to be University also established a research and entrepreneurship culture in the campus. The Centre for Research and Consultancy’s existence in the campus motivates both the faculty members and the students to take up research activities regularly along with supporting multidisciplinary research proposals. With belief in the philosophy of Kaizen, HITS encourages the faculty members to undergo NPTEL and MOOC online certification course in their respective areas, and also encourages the staff to participate in FDPs, Conferences and Seminars.
“17 students have filedpatents pertaining to innovative research projects and 11 students have successfully incubated their startup in the campus. Students are our pride and the strong alumni network of HITS spanning the globe indeed spells the quality of the education delivered,” claims Dr Anand. The Hindustan Technology Business Incubator (HTBI) and Hindustan Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre (HEIC) of the University address the innovative talents and spirits of the students by organising different entrepreneurial events. The research environment in our institution facilitated the first year student of Aero department to design Lightest satellite in the world which is launched by NASA and named it as JAIHIND 1S Mission.”
Hindustan have been ranked by India Today as Best Private University in India during 2018 publication and as best institution for value of money by ASSOCHAM, Ranked in range of 300-350 by QS.
Moreover, the HITS Alumni Association (HITSAA), a registered society functioning under the guidance of eminent alumni of HITS always enriches the present students with helping hands for numerous purposes. More than 10,500 members are registered in HITSAA, which has chapters across the globe. The grand alumni reunion marked the Golden Jubilee of HGI and it was organized in December 2017. Serving the nation by gifting capable citizens since its inception, HITS has been placing its students in top-notch companies like Audi, Porsche, Vestas, Amazon Development Centre, Exclusive Motors and many more. Being one of the most sought-after engineering institutions in Tamil Nadu, HITS aspires to continue delivering a comprehensive education without compromising on the quality and code of ethics.
RGUKT: Catering to the Educational Needs of Rural Youth
Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), Basar in Telangana State has been giving wings to the dreams of the gifted rural youth by catering to the educational needs. Sudheer Goutham of Elets News Network (ENN) finds how the RGUKT, Basar nestled in the hinterlands of the State of Telangana, stands as an example to be emulated in how to take quality higher education to those who cannot afford it, but who wish to receive it.
Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) was established in 2008 as a full-fledged University in the then united Andhra Pradesh by a special act of Legislature. Subsequent to the bifurcation of the State, the new Government of Telangana adopted the lone campus in Telangana state at Basar as a stand-alone University. The University has a unique 6-year integrated programme under which the top 1% of the rural students are admitted into the University after their X class. They complete their PUC and then move into a 4-year B Tech programme. The University takes 1,000 students every year into the 6-year programme. Since the academic year 2018-19, the intake has been hiked to 1,500 students.
Ahead of the Curve
RGUKT, Basar, is located in pristine rural surroundings in the holy temple-town of Basar. The campus is sprawled over a vast 275-acre that houses close to 7,500 people at any point of time including students, faculty and support staff. The University offers a conventional 2-year PUC program followed by a 4-year B Tech degree program in seven branches of engineering – Chemical, Computer Sciences, Electronics and Communications, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, and Metallurgical and Materials. Academic pedagogy is highly ICT intensive and carefully crafted with a judicious mix of mentoring, teaching and a unique “learning-by-doing” methodology where the students bolster their learning capacity at their own pace and time.
Facilities in Campus:
- ICT enabled classrooms
- Wi-Fi enabled hostel blocks
- Laptops issued to every student
- Advanced labs in IoT, Block Chain, Robotics, Material Characterisation among others
- Biometric tracking and attendance systems
- CCTV camera secured campus
- 30-bedded campus hospital
- ATM, Post Office and Bank
- Student Activity Centre with gymnasium and indoor games
- Vast sports grounds for outdoor sports and games
- Central Laundromat with steam ironing facility
- Summer storage tank spanning 32 acres holding about 90 million litres of water
- RO treatment plants capable of providing 60,000 litres of pure drinking water per hour
- Faculty & staff residential blocks and 6 hostel blocks housing 1,250 students in each
- Solar powered lighting
- Central Sewerage treatment plant with 2 MLD capacity Recycles 80% – 90% water for reuse
Accolades and Achievements
- Received a national award in 2018 as the first university to adopt Blockchain Technology for authenticating the academic certificates issued by it
- Regional Centre for NPTEL programme – currently rated among the top 50 of 1,300 local chapters. The university also runs NPTEL courses under credit transfer method
- RGUKT, Basar is running NASSCOM’s QP and FSIT programmes in Data Analytics, Production Design Engineering and Heavy Construction Machinery
- Active encouragement for students to pursue Industry internships. Two students from RGUKT, Basar bagged the Young Achiever Scholarship at the 5th Internshala Trainings in August 2018. RGUKT, Basar also stood at an All India rank of 14 (for April – July 2018) from out of 1,574 colleges all over the country where internship opportunities for students is concerned. The South India Zonal rank of the University is 6
- Industry – Institution MoUs with NASSCOM, CITD, NCRI and NFTDC. More in the offing
- MoU with TITA (Telangana IT Association) to establish TIIC (Telangana Innovation and Incubation Centre) at RGUKT, Basar. The Centre is already hosting a Japanese company ‘SafeTraceHub’ which was the first one to set up an Industry Incubation Centre here. In the first phase, TIIC is being set up to host up to 15 Industry Incubations and about five student incubations. Expansions are being planned in later phases
- MoU with NCRI (an MHRD Institution) for offering courses in Rural Entrepreneurship and Empowerment and also undertake projects contributing to rural uplift
- Won the SKOCH Award for 2018 along with TITA for Social Contribution in working to convert Basar Village into India’s first fully digitally literate village. Working closely with the District administration of Nirmal District of Telangana to help bring innovation into agriculture and rural entrepreneurship. Already delivered a few solutions like developing e-commerce web platforms for the world famous Nirmal arts and toys Cooperative Society and Ankapur model village, farm equipment like a unique straw baling machine and seed-sowing machine, etc
- One of the five universities in the State of Telangana – and the only one in the rural districts – to be hosting the Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurial Development Programme
Student Progression and Achievements
- That the objectives and programme outcomes of RGUKT, Basar model of education is a success and is testified by the achievements of our students.
- Close to 70 companies – including MNCs – come to the campus to place our students. Some of them include TCS, Bosch, SAP, L&T, Wipro, Infosys, EPAM, ADP etc
- 3 of RGUKT, Basar students bagged the ET Campus Stars award for 2017-18
- A number of our students have gone on to become entrepreneurs and have set up their own companies working in the domain of IT and Civil Engineering
- RGUKT, Basar students have obtained top ranks in IES exams (3rd AIR to 99th AIR)
- RGUKT, Basar students consistently obtain top ranks (within 100) in the GATE examination. In 2017, our student obtained the 1st rank in GATE (Instrumentation)
- One of our students has become the CEO of a company (iB Hubs) which has over 45 hubs all over the world
- RGUKT, Basar students compete at national level with the best and get employed in several government organisations like ISRO, DRDO, BARC etc
- Over 400 of our students are employed in the State government as engineers, forest range officers, police officers and surveyors
- RGUKT, Basar students consistently compete and win prizes at the global NASA Space Settlement Contest – AMES Research Center which sees worldwide participation. RGUKT, Basar students have won prizes every year since 2013, including the first prize in 2015 and the second prize in 2017
What We are Looking For?
- Partnering Institutions that will collaborate with us in joint academic programmes – faculty and student exchange, twin degree programmes, capacity building skill workshops and programs and joint research programmes
- Offer short term joint-certification technological programmes in frontier technologies across engineering domains of mutual interest and expertise
- RGUKT, Basar has a uniqueness with respect to its location and key focus area – both are rural-centric. We would therefore be able to offer an excellent opportunity for institutions that would be interested in partnering us in encouraging rural empowerment and entrepreneurship through technological intervention
MHRD invites applications for training-cum-entrepreneurship competition
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is inviting applications for “Ideate for India – Creative Solutions Using Technology” competition from class 6 to class 12 students.
Students are required to send their ideas on 11 core themes including environment, women safety, education, health, traffic, infrastructure, agriculture, social welfare, disability, travel and digital literacy.
In an official notification regarding the above initiative, the MHRD stated, “The aim of this challenge is to give young students of our country a platform and opportunity to become solution creators for the problems they see around them and their communities”.
The ministry will conduct the competition in three phases. In the first phase, students will be required to submit their ideas through a 90-second video-based proposal. Last date for video submission is 31 January 2019. On the basis of the proposals, a total of 360 students, 10 out of each State/UT will be selected for the second phase. Students will also get online learning content to help them ideate.
In the second phase, five residential four-day boot camps will be organised across the country where students will be given mentoring to convert their idea into a prototype.
In the third phase, interview rounds will be conducted out of which the top 50 students will be selected.
CAT 2018 Result likely to be released by next week
CAT 2018 Result is expected to be released next week by the Indian Institute of Management of Calcutta (IIM Calcutta).
As some posts on social media to check Common Admission Test (CAT) 2018 Score, IIM Calcutta has denied releasing the result for the exam. The institute has released the Answer Key for CAT 2018 last month. It is expected that the CAT 2018 conducting body – IIM Calcutta will release the result next week, by January 7.
The candidates who have appeared for CAT 2018 will be able to view their marks on the official website: iimcat.ac.in.
The test was conducted of 25 November, 2018, for admission to business courses conducted by various institutes across India. Over two lakh candidates appeared for the CAT 2018. Qualified candidates will be eligible for admission to management courses, including PGP, PGDM, PGPEM, EPGP, PGPBM, PGPEX at the IIMs and other management colleges across the country.
CAT 2018 score is valid till December 31, 2019, and will be accessible on the website accordingly.
Bhartiya Skill Development University: Paving Way for Global Excellence in Skill Development
The Bhartiya Skill Development University (BSDU) Jaipur is the first skills university in the country incorporated by the State Government of Rajasthan in the year 2016. BSDU is spread over an area of 51 acres in Mahindra World City Jaipur. It has state-of-the art infrastructure with high-end machinery, imported from Germany, Austria, Spain and Switzerland.The University is the vision of Dr Rajendra Kumar Joshi and Ursula Joshi.
The students are trained in the university on world’s best machines to become Industry-ready even before they join the industry. The training is based on Swiss Dual System comprising “On the job Training” and “Vocational School” which has been adopted after carrying out due modifications to suit the Indian industries.
The University has been honored with notable awards. Some of them are: Best Educational Excellence award, Best Preferred Skill University award, Global Intellect awardand India’s Best Vocational Training University award. Bhartiya Skill Development University is the first of its kind to play a stellar role in ushering in a new era of skills training in India and is a small step in the direction of making India skilled.
BSDU Model of Education offers Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor of Vocation (B Voc), Master of Vocation (M Voc) and Ph D in various skill areas and the programmes are in compliance with UGC, AICTE, NSQF, SSC, and NOS.
Why BSDU:
- Speedy and assured promotions and growth path
- Flexible Entry/ Exit plans to suit industry and student
- Training on the world’s best machines
- One student on one machine concept
- Training under the supervision of foreign trainers
- Hands on practical exposure in all programmes
- Possibility of earning while learning
- Swiss dual system of training
- Every alternate semester in the industry
BSDU offers the following modular programmes:
| B.Voc (3 Years) | ||
| Agriculture Skills | Carpenter Skills | Electrical Skills |
| Automotive Skills | Construction Skills | Entrepreneurship Skills |
| Garment Making and Fabric Printing Skills | HVAC & Refrigeration Skills | IT/Networking Skills |
| Logistics Skills | Manufacturing Skills | Machine Learning and AI skills |
| Office Administration Skills | Plumbing Skills | Renewal Energy Technology Skills |
| M.Voc (2 Years) | ||
| Automotive Skills | Carpenter Skills | Embedded Systems and IoT Skills |
| HVAC & Refrigeration Skills | Smart Power System Skills | Entrepreneurship Skills |
| *Eligibility: B.Tech/B.Voc/M.Sc (Physics & Maths) | ||
| Other Programs | ||
| Diploma (1year) | Advanced certified course (6 Months) | Ph.D Minimum 3 years |
| Medical Nursing Assistant Skills | Eligibility:B.Tech VII Sem/ Graduates | |
Is Indian Education Sector Ready for Industrial Revolution 4.0?
As the Industrial Revolution 4.0 is all set to occur in a big way soon, the education sector may experience its influence in a major way. With modernday technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and others expected to play a major role, how does our education industry perceive this dawn of a new era? explore Sandeep Datta and Akash Tomer of Elets News Network (ENN).
It’s likely that today not many of us may bother to visualise the probable impact of Industrial Revolution 4.0 which will involve a combination of innovative practices and approaches. It could be anything in terms of processes, services, applications or products. But it will certainly transform education ecosystem in a major way.
What is immediately obvious here is that due to Industrial Revolution 4.0 the employees of the future will need to use their knowledge and skills in new ways and keep upgrading and improving their knowledge to be successful. It may mean employers will prefer employees who are able to apply a series of skills and attributes with ease. Implicit in this approach is the fact that knowledge will be constantly changing. To meet these requirements it is incumbent on educational institutions to adjust their curricula accordingly.
With the arrival of Industrial Revolution 4.0, it is possible the technologies powered by AI will supersede everything else as they are so much capable of transforming the present world or that of the third industrial revolution where information technology was the key driver.
Some believe in the new scenario in future, the skills required will be critical thinking, people management, emotional intelligence, critical judgement, negotiation, cognitive flexibility, as well as knowledge production and management.
WHAT IS INDUSTRY 4.0?
When computers were introduced in Industry 3.0, it was called disruptive, thanks to the addition of an entirely new technology. Now, and into the future as Industry 4.0 unfolds, computers are connected and communicate with one another to ultimately make decisions without human involvement.
A combination of cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things and the Internet of Systems make Industry 4.0 possible and the smart factory a reality. As a result of the support of smart machines that keep getting smarter as they get access to more data, our factories will become more efficient and productive and less wasteful. Ultimately, it’s the network of these machines that are digitally connected with one another and create and share information that results in the true power of Industry 4.0.
TEACHING IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (TEACHING 4.0)
Having a 100% digital education is not an all-inclusive solution, nor should it be the only method of teaching in use. However, benefitting from ‘hybrid education’ can only happen if teachers’ digital skills are encouraged and implemented through experimental collaborations and partnerships with tech industries. With a spike in educational technology solutions, professionals can help transform school environments to become hybrid learning communities, where teachers can truly embrace innovations, become digitally literate and assume their role as facilitators.
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corporation and philanthropist is known to have once said: “The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.”
Let’s look at how does a section of top industry experts and edupreneurs look at this enigma called — Industrial Revolution 4.0.
Some of the experts feel Machine Learning is the way ahead, where computers will automatically learn and re-programme themselves as per the need, without human inputs. It’s both an exciting and challenging aspect for students and teachers. Industry 4.0 demands major skill sets in educationists for understanding the future needs and showing the futuristic vision to students. That itself is the foreseeable challenge. Then comes the challenge of preparing students for an unknown and unseen fast changing future.
Dr Manjula Pooja Shroff, MD & CEO, Kalorex Group, says the revolution has already started, Industry 4.0 has kicked off the thought process for Education 4.0 as well. “The industry demands will push education to raise its standards. Skill development and sustainability has to be the focus of the curriculum in the near future.”
Explaining how will STEAM learning foster innovation into the global education ecosystem in the Industry Revolution 4.0, Dr Shroff says: “Big Data processing and coding will be an integral part of all school subjects. The way forward is to introduce it at the earliest with an interdisciplinary approach towards teaching all subjects with focus on applicability. With the high level of machine integration into our lives, while Science and Math will be required to support this technological drive, the element of Art and Humanities will be necessary to strike a balance between Humans and Machines.”
According to Shreevats Jaipuria, Vice Chairman, Seth M.R. Jaipuria Schools & Jaipuria Institute of Management, the future of school is human, not institutional. “The concept of industrial scale dominates how we think about and do school. I don’t buy it; I want school to be human scale. I argue for smaller learning spaces of close to 150 students or less where we can invest in students teaching each other. This is the future, and this is where technology will change the game.”
Mentioning about the aspects that Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) may influence in the education sector, he says: “We are very bullish about technology, and see AI as the next-bigthing. We have set up AI and VR labs at our schools already. We do hope the future of school can break through the barriers we put up between ourselves and others, and the barriers between ourselves and knowledge we’ve yet to attain.”
Raghav Podar, Chairman, Podar World School, opines today children are growing up in an age of VR, AR and AI. They will be auto prompted with the information they will require to achieve their next tasks. “The education system needs to dramatically transform from one where memory retention and regurgitation is assessed, to a system where the ability of the child to effectively apply the knowledge that he has, is valued.”
Ryan Pinto, CEO, Ryan International Group of Institutions, believes one of the biggest challenges is to find solutions beyond the textbooks. “It’s time for educators to part ways with the old ‘lesson delivery model’ and shift more towards an adaptive model which leads to a more customised teaching-learning processes which is driven by students themselves. Additionally, students will ‘learn by exploring /doing’ especially for STEM subjects.”
“Second challenge is in creating a teaching community (and beyond that an ecosystem) which can help the young generation get ready for the future. With the rapid adoption of technology we need to equip our teachers to become facilitators who can leverage the new tools to enhance learning outcomes,” he adds.
Industrial Revolution 4.0 is a multifarious, dialectical and exhilarating prospect which can potentially alter and revolutionise the education sector across the globe for the better. The fourth industrial revolution is powered by artificial intelligence and it will transform education from tasks-based characteristics to human centric characteristics, states Anirudh Gupta, CEO, DCM Group of Schools.
“Because of the convergence of man and machine, it will reduce the subject distance between humanities and social sciences as well as science and technology. This will necessarily require much more interdisciplinary teaching, research and innovation,” he says.
K Lakshmi Rao, Academic Director, JGI Schools, opines the Industrial Revolution 4.0 certainly would revolutionise the education sector, as Automation which is the most important feature of Industrial Revolution4.0, is going to impact the career options as early as 2020.
“There will be more than 20% new job opportunities that emerge, some of them being: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, 3D printing, Digital marketing, Cyber Security Specialists so on and so forth. These careers were not heard by most of the 19th Century and 20th Century educators. Hence, there is a dire need for quick change in the education sector with a curriculum revamping from Elementary Education to Higher Education.”
Talking about challenges in education sector in near future due to Industrial Revolution 4.0, Rao says: “The major challenges I foresee in the education sector is the lack of adaptability skill of educators along with apprehension. The present educators are following 19th Century systems and teaching 21st Century digital natives as they feel that the Education system that they had under gone is still good to make a good living.”
In essence, the future will belong to the ones who are ready to accept change and adapt technology like new rules of the game. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 in education domain will be a beginning of new era making all of us look at learning and exploring things a distinct way. Let’s be ready, as the change is the ultimate reality of life.
Rajasthan’s new council of ministers to take education sector to new heights
After the new portfolios assigned to recently sworn-in ministers, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot Kept Science & Technology portfolio with him along with Public Works, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and Statistics.
In addition to that, ministers (Independent Charge) were allocated various departments related to education sector.
Dr Subhash Garg has been named State Minister (Independent Charge) Technical Education and Sanskrit Education.
Rajendra Singh Yadav is the State Minister (Independent Charge), Language Department.
Govind Singh Dotasra has been named the State Minister with independent charge, Primary & Secondary Education.
Ashok has been made the minister for State Minister for Department of Skill, Planning and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge).
Tikaram Jully is the State Minister for Labour Department (Independent Charge).
Days after being sworn-in, the Rajasthan Cabinet was allocated portfolios late Wednesday night. A total of 23 ministers have been portfolios.
Technology’s Role in Education’s Growth
The teaching profession is constantly evolving since we are dealing with the new and constantly changing needs of a rapidly-changing world, writes Hema Kalakoti, Principal, APS Academy, for Elets News Network (ENN).
Children of the 21st century are developing new habits for learning and social development. Digital media and electronic gadgets are now playing a critical role in development of their learning habits. When you take the combined ideas for projections of the impact of technology on teaching and learning and the order of priority of confidence ratings, there is a story being told here:
The highest expectation is that educators will embrace new opportunities for teaching and learning to improve resources and communications. The results of the increased power, flexibility and access to technology will change ‘What’ and ‘How’ we teach.
As schools increase resources, more and more students will succeed, given the curriculum and the approach to professional development change to ensure that instruction is more personal, real-life and the institution remains a safe environment for learning. New learning will also include new technologies such as digital textbooks and 3-D printers etc.
A dominant change, which can be achieved, is the strengthening of student ownership of learning through ubiquitous access to learning technologies, instructional models such as blended learning and more flexible models for students’ demonstrations of learning.
Access to information about learning can and will strengthen instructional practices through more accessible repositories of data and improved analytics. With improved access to information, more informed decisions can be made to improve instruction. The teaching, the learning expectations, the measures of achievement, and the environment need to change to capitalise on the use of technology.
Developing Teaching and Learning Approaches at All Levels
In the classroom, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be a powerful catalyst for pedagogical change, as students use educational technology. ICT has the potential to transform education by extending the learning space beyond the four walls of classroom. Given the increasing use of technology in teaching and learning, now and in future, it is imperative that teachers understand the role of technology and acquire the requisite skills to use it and blend it seamlessly into their teaching.
Teaching Ethics to Use Technology
The current trend of students’ disengagement from school is occurring at the same time as their phenomenal engagement with social networking, iPods and mobile phones because of which students are getting addiction of social media.
Teachers should develop such strategies which help the students not get distracted by some of the more enticing but less substantive features of technology. While teachers learn to deal with all sorts of technology issues including cyber ethics and Identifying ethic-related situations, it is important for them to outline both technology rules and the reason for the rules.
If a student is addicted to technology, the proper counseling is required too. Workshops and awareness programmes for students, parents and teachers on cyber crime, proper use of technology, ethics to use technology must be conducted from time-to-time.
Making Educational Meaningful with Creative Bent of Mind
Founded in 1998, RPS Senior Secondary School, Mahendergarh, is today a hub of education shaping up hundreds of careers every year, says Dr Pavitra Rao, Chairperson, Rao Pahlad Singh (RPS) Group of Schools & Colleges, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN).
What are the practices adopted at RPS Senior Secondary School to nurture self-reliant, confident, versatile and creative students?
The students are given full opportunity to develop holistically. The teachers identify diverse learning abilities and needs of students and encourage them to choose the field according to their caliber, interest and industry trends. The school management in cooperation with parents helps students to nurture and showcase their innate talent.
What are the innovative methods adopted by the school in its curriculum to make learning joyful?
The teachers create friendly environment in their respective classes, so that the students can express their emotions without any fear or hesitation. Different teaching aids are used to make the teaching more effective and joyful. The students are taken to different science labs, so that they may implement theoretical teachings practically.
How does the school train its teachers to keep a breast with the best and most innovative pedagogical approaches for effective knowledge delivery?
Seminars and workshops are conducted from regularly to make the teachers up-to-date with the latest practices. Meetings of teachers from all the streams are arranged to exchange their views with other teachers and adapt the best methodologies.
What extracurricular activities other than the studies are conducted at the school for holistic development of students?
The students are not only prepared for cultural activities but also encouraged to participate in various sport events. Every year, the students participate in zonal, state and national levels in various sports and extracurricular activities conducted by the CBSE from time to time.
How does the school help students from economically weaker section of the society to bring them at par with the other students in terms of education?
RPS always takes a lead in educating economically weak students. RPS gives full fee concession to such students. Economically weak students are not only exempted from paying fee but also provided free transportation, books and even extra coaching.
PRINCIPAL’S MESSGAE: “Education does not only mean academic excellence but harmonious and synchronised combination of hand, head, and heart. In the present era of digitalised world, it is the biggest challenge before educators to nurture the young minds with indelible impressions of holistic development. Therefore, Rpsians are nurtured under a vision to foster a sense of courage and exploration of different facets of a student’s personality. The aim is to ensure everyone develops as a responsible citizen and a generous and compassionate human being. To live up to the motto of holistic development of students and help children develop mentally and physically, Rpsians participate in various co-curricular activities, sports is just one of them.” – Dr Sarita V Singh, Principal (RPS) Mahendra Garh, Haryana
