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Joylap: Innovating to make Learning Joyful

Having a sharp focus on student-centric approach, Joylap preschool refrains from using the word teacher, and instead uses the word mentor. This slight change in approach has helped a lot in bridging the gap between teachers and students, says Mamta Bansal, Managing Director, Joylap Preschool, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN).

How is Joylap helping its students build a strong foundation of future?

Joylap, as the name suggests, provides a ‘lap of joy’ to the ‘budding flowers’. We create a favourable environment and deliver curriculum to ignite the spirit of enquiry, creativity and moral leadership among our students.

We empower our children to have freedom of thought and promote critical thinking, problem solving skills, communication skills, collaborative approach, global awareness and social responsibility. We help them become green ambassadors of peace and happiness.

The school utilises the Tabkids technology (first time in north India) to connect children to the world of technology from the initial stages. Could you elaborate more on this?

We are about two decades old in this digital era. Tabkids is a next generation activity-based education platform which enhances self-interactive learning and assessment. It ensures that children understand and retain all the key concepts better and faster. We, at Joylap, use the Tabkids technology to provide a proper direction to the inquisitiveness of kids, though it forms only 10 per cent of the curriculum.

Tell us about the multi-sensory active learning system used at Joylap.

The multi-sensory active learning system involves using two or more human senses in the same activity. When this approach is used with the toddlers, the brain’s ability to reorganise itself and form new connections throughout life is highly enhanced. It increases concentration and  focus, develops sense of cause and effect, improves communication and sharing, and promotes mental and physical relaxation. It brings fun, joy and creativity to an activity through active involvement of kids. It is a win-win situation both for children as well as parents. With the help of this system, learning becomes an opportunity for the child to explore, learn and grow.

A good two-way communication between parents and the staff of Joylap is one of the key factors to ensure holistic development of the children. Various modes of communication, participation and acknowledgement are incorporated to focus on the learning of the child.

Which teaching methodologies are adopted by Joylap to stimulate the children’s growth and learning processes in a preschool environment?

At Joylap, we focus on a student-centric approach. We refrain from using the word ‘teacher’ because we don’t teach, but facilitate. We have mentors rather than teachers. This light change has helped a lot in bridging the gap between teachers and students. Our mentors and children have one-toone interactions that leads to higher achievement — promoting both team and class building. The lesson plans are tailored to meet the individual needs of students. Allowing children to select activities based on their areas of interest is an excellent motivation for kids.

How cordial relationship between parents and preschool staff plays a crucial role in the holistic development of children?

A good two-way communication between parents and the staff of Joylap is one of the key factors to ensure holistic development of the children. Various modes of communication, participation and acknowledgement are incorporated to focus on the learning of the child. Besides maintaining a healthy parent-teacher relationship, we have also succeeded in contributing towards husbandwife- child relationship to an extent, with an aim to spread happiness all around.

200 KVs and 125 Navodaya Vidyalayas running without principals: Report

A report submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) revealed that at least 200 Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and 125 Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country are running without principals.

According to the report, there is a shortage of around 10,000 teachers, including those for primary classes of KVs.

The revelation comes against the backdrop of demands from aspiring teachers and education stakeholders for filling up vacant positions in various institutions including the prestigious IITs and central universities such as the DU.

The annual report submitted for the year 2015-16 by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) disclosed, out of total 1,081 posts for principals, 200 of them are vacant while Vice-Principals’ position is vacant in 113 schools.

“10,039 teaching posts including TGTs, PGTs and PRTs are also vacant in Kendriya Vidyalayas besides 14,144 non-teaching posts”, the report pointed out.

Currently, KVS manages 1,142 Kendriya Vidyalayas, including three abroad — Moscow (Russia), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Tehran (Iran).

Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti that supervises functioning of the Javahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) across the country, is also facing similar kind of faculty shortage pointed out in the annual report of the. JNVs are government-funded residential schools set-up in each district of the country for gifted students.

“Out of 589 sanctioned posts of principals in JNVs 125 are vacant while 53 schools do not have vice-principals. A total of 2,023 teaching posts and 1,734 non-teaching posts are also lying vacant in JNVs across the country,” the annual report said.

Varsity launches app to track and monitor work of medical students and teachers

Yenepoya University has launched a multipurpose mobile/web app for medical/dental students and teachers to analyse, track and monitor their work.

 The Android app – Yengram acts as a workstation on wheels. It helps doctors to monitor complete database of work done. The app helps improving communication capabilities, keeps record of every electronic medical records (EMRs), picture archiving and communication systems (PACSs). It also provides several other options like fixing appointments, search and add patients etc.

“It is a simple, yet powerful app that makes management easier for doctors in medical and dental colleges. Its features include manage team, view team appointments, add patients, schedule appointments, search patients, track patients’ records and monitor health conditions wherever we are. The app, which was launched last week, will be used by nearly 300 doctors and postgraduate students of the Yenepoya Dental College and it will be introduced for the students of Yenepoya Medical College in future”, said Dr Sham S Bhat, Vice-Principal, Yenepoya Dental College.

Explaining how useful the app is for students and teachers, Dr Shailesh Shenoy (reader), Department of Pedodontics, Yenepoya Dental College, said, “Registered users can update data and upload pictures related to patients to the app instantly. Meanwhile, professors will be able to monitor and assess their students based on the information uploaded through the app,” he said.

IIT council to review 122 percent fee hike by Smriti Irani-led HRD Mininstry

In a meeting proposed on April 28, IIT Council will review the decision taken by MHRD for increasing the tuition fee.

An official source said that the review of the fee hike and financial assistance to special category students will be one of the priority agendas to be discussed at the meeting, reported NDTV.

In its last meeting held in August last year, the council raised its concerns over the fee hike. The directors of several IITs said then that the whole purpose of increasing the fee to enhance revenue had been failed by the financial concession introduced for special category students.

MHRD decided to hike the fee of India’s premier engineering colleges by 122 per cent last year. In its meeting, the apex body for IITs would take a decision about the hike in tuition fee and awarding financial concessions to special category students.

The official source said, “There is a proposal that either the HRD Ministry or the Social Justice Ministry should reimburse the IITs for the cost of educating students entitled to complete fee waiver. It has also been recommended that students from the economically backward sections should be given interest-free loans instead of full or partial waiver.”

The hike increased the tuition fee for undergraduate courses in IITs from Rs 90,000 to Rs two lakh for all new admissions. A complete tuition fee waiver was also introduced for the students belonging to SC, ST or Differently Abled category or for students whose family income is less than Rs 1 lakh per annum.

JEE-Advanced likely to be conducted over mobile phones: JAB suggests

In a recent meeting of the Joint Admission Board (JAB), a proposal was tabled to conduct JEE Advanced over mobile phones.

As of now, the proposal is at primary stage and will be soon taken up by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) council, the apex decision-making body for the institutes.

Around 1.2 million aspirants participated in JEE Main examination last year, out of which approximately 2 lakh students qualify for the JEE Advanced.

The officials are looking to conduct the JEE Advanced exam online whereas the option to take the Mains test online has already been introduced, reported Hindustan Times.

For conducting JEE Advanced online, the exam pattern is likely to be changed. A senior official in this regard said, “There are many issues that have to be looked into before implementing it.”

Another official said, “The infrastructure available presently requires the conduct of the online exam in multiple sessions. Establishing equivalence of the papers used in the different sessions is an unsolved problem.”

Reports also suggested on formation of panel in order to focus on the development and testing of online platform for JEE Advanced. If implemented, issues like lack of computer awareness would also be taken care of

A report in this regard also suggested for computer-adaptive tests splitting the examination into three papers of two-hour duration for each subject.

IIT council will conduct a meeting in this regard on April 28.

Centre to set up central university for differently abled students: HRD Minister

The Central government has decided to set up a Central University for differently-abled students, said Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Human Resource Development.

Addressing the convocation ceremony at Shakuntala Mishra Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, Javadekar said, the government is sensitive to needs of disabled and which is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has coined the term “divyang”. Prime Minister has asked all higher education institutions to ensure barrier-free movement for disabled students by constructing ramps and lifts in their premises, said Javadekar.

The new education – inclusive in nature – where the differently abled are given education along with the normal kids inside the same classroom is a sign of free and new India, Javadekar said. “Inclusive education encourages the disabled to learn more and boosts their confidence, but it is the already empowered students who gain more. They learn to be sensitive,” Javadekar added.

Expressing his happiness on the Indianess of convocation attire, Javadekar said, “I am happy to see students and teachers dressed in Indian attire. There are no black British gowns, finally.” He added, the naming of auditorium (where convocation was held) after Atal Bihari Vajpayee is another reason that makes him happy.

He also offered financial assistance to the university for setting a Braille Press inside the campus, and sought a proposal in this regard.

VIT University To offer full fee waiver to board toppers

VIT University, leading private education institutes of India, has offered 100 per cent fee waiver to state and central board toppers across the country.

The board toppers will be offered direct admission to four year B Tech programmes of the university. “Under the G V School Development Programme, Central and State board toppers would be given 100 per cent fee waiver for all the four years,” said Sankar Viswnathan, Vice President, VIT University.

Candidates with ranks up to 50 would be given a 75 per cent tuition fee waiver, from ranks ranging from 51 to 100 would be given a 50 per cent and from 101 to 1000 would be given a 25 per cent tuition fee waiver, he added.

He also informed that the students who appeared for VIT Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE) and also secured top ranks in class XIII at district level from State Board affiliated schools will be given 100 per fee concession and free boarding and lodging in the VIT hostels under STARS scheme.

The Chancellor of the university said that admissions would be done only on merit, based on the marks obtained by the candidates in the VITEEE.

IIM-Indore announces Training on Innovation programme for MSMEs

Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Indore has launched Innovation Management Training Programme.

The course is specifically designed for Small and Medium Enterprises of India and developed by experts from premier German and Indian Institutes.

The programme – “Managing Innovation in Small Businesses” is a 7 day programme. (5-days of practical training followed by a 4 weeks implementation break and ending with a 2-day finishing school) spread over a period of 6 weeks, said a release from IIM Indore.

Training on innovation management in MSME’s workshop aims to enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs and is also designed to equip the participants with hands-on tools to start or manage product, process or business model innovation in their enterprises.

During the programme, students will gone through exercise based sessions and practical case studies. The students will also get an opportunity to work on individual innovation ideas/projects – supported by experts and facilitators from Germany and India.

Programme’s first phase of will be held from April 24-28 while the second phase will be held from May 30-31 at IIM-Indore.

AICTE to revise curriculum to make students industry ready

Students from Capital Region BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services), Questar III, Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES and beyond were at Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York, on March 18 to compete in the regional SkillsUSA competition. The students tested their skills in carpentry, vehicle maintenance, heavy equipment operation, welding, nursing and more. They first took a written test on their general knowledge of their specialized subject, and then went on to the hands-on portion of the competition. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. William Gizara/Released)

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is taking steps to revise the curriculum to meet the industry needs and to make the students more employable.

Revealing the reason for the initiative, AICTE chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe said, considering the fact that nearly 60% of those passing out of technical education institutions are not industry-ready, the step is being taken by the Council.

AICTE recently sponsored a workshop on “teacher training workshop on +E learning: challenges and opportunities”, at the Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology (SKCET). At the occasion he said the council has taken various initiatives to transform education at all levels.

A very important initiative was to revise the curriculum at regular intervals to make it a model one. Before taking up jobs, it would be mandatory for students to pursue industry-internship for about two to three months, even during summer vacation, so that they imbibe skills, he said.

During the workshop, AICTE Chairman said that “swayam — free online education” is designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of educational policy — access, equity and quality. The objective was to take the best teaching learning resources to all and to bridge the digital divide for students who hitherto remained untouched by the digital revolution and had not been able to join the mainstream of the knowledge economy, he said.

About 40 faculty members from various engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are participating in the training programme, which would pave way to enhance e-learning in India, SKCET chairperson, S. Malarvizhi, said.

Ronnie Screwvala sets up Rs 100 crore online education fund

In order to enhance the skills of professionals through online courses, Ronnie Screwvala, media and entertainment industry doyen, is planning to set up a fund of Rs 100 crore.

“The inspiration for the scholarship fund was really our experience over the last two years with Upgrad (his online education startup) and understanding that the need to push the credibility of online learning as a viable option is still not there,” said Screwvala. Such a fund will help in bringing credibility to online education in the country, He added.

The former CEO and founder of UTV Group said that he has already pledged Rs 10 crore as initial corpus and plans to raise Rs100 crore in the next 12 months.

 Through the scheme, scholarships ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh will be given to working professionals looking to take up an online course of their choice. The online courses will not be restricted to Upgrad, professionals will be free to choose a course from any platform.

“The key criterion for selection outside of a normal aptitude test is that firstly, they should be working professionals… secondly for me personally, having seen what we have built, and me being an entrepreneur for the last 20 years, is attitude. So, when we are scrutinising people for the scholarship (it) is really going to boil down to attitude. If the attitude is right, your learning would be right,” he said.

 “Online education is a must for India. Statistics are that about 120-130 million people in India should be doing higher education today but only 25 million are doing it… It’s not that they can’t afford it… It’s about I have to start working. So, online is a must to-do thing and the only thing is it should be credible,” Screwvala said.

The fund would be raised mainly from high net worth individuals and companies, said Screwvala who has made investments in 14 firms— mostly start-ups including Zivame and Lenskart— through his venture capital firm Unilazer Ventures.

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