inspiring teachers june 2010
DESCRIPTION
Monthly newsletter sent to school and college teachersTRANSCRIPT
June 2010
Volume 4, Issue 6 Inspiring Teachers
Pic above: Group in a role play at Sevalaya, Kasuva, Near Chennai (2009)
Articles this
month:
Professors Beyond
Borders…2
SRISTI….2
Police, Police! ..3
Quotes fwded by KV
Jayakumar…sides
Openings in DRF’s
Pudami Schools…4
EmployAbility 2010
for disabled….6
Interesting links …4
Driving educational change through excellence in teaching
The newsletter has a
familiar name. Though
Sphoorti and Prerana were
close contestants from the
website poll, and my own
favourite was Tea-Time.
People who know me, know
that I am a tea lover. But
this Tea Time was for
Teacher Time. But my team
felt that it doesn’t convey
Editor’s Comments – What’s in a name?
Reflecting on May
1. A session for teachers attending
Principles of Programming workshop at IIIT-H
2. IIIT-Hyderabad has a summer batch of 70 teachers from engineering colleges in AP. A weekly pedagogical session is included along with their CIT program.
3. CfBT-ES invited me to give a few sessions for Principals of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and AP Social Welfare Residential Institutes.
4. After rigorous training, the faculty at NMREC have embarked upon the mammoth task of writing learner oriented objectives and performance criteria for all subjects in all branches and they are doing a good job of it. First step in active learning initiatives.
the purpose of the
newsletter. So we
decided to stick with
Inspiring Teachers.
Wonder, why it didn’t
strike us before!
Sometimes, what we are
searching for is right in
front of us. That’s true
in life too.
This month has been
quite busy with training,
review of courses, working on
new modules and reaching
out to more people. Mrs
Indira Narayan’s article on
punctuality and some regular
dose of inspiring stories of
real heroes. Some unusual
opportunities for teachers and
thought provoking websites,
completes this issue. Enjoy
and get inspired!
These methods work !
We have tried out Learning Through Teaching in Team based
learning (in Mech, Textile and IT depts) that was explained in
the workshop in Nov 09. This was done for the whole
semester and according to a survey conducted after the
exercise, almost all students felt that they learnt better, they
enjoyed it and they recommended that this mode should be
extended to other subjects and should be started in first or
second year. Based on this we are refining and expanding
this mode of teaching.
Prof Suresh Mahajan DKTE's Textile and Engineering Institute, Ichalkaranji
A heartening feedback from DKTE’s engineering college after using innovative teaching for one semester with a pilot group of final year students. When they called me for the workshop in Nov ’09 they were clear that they will implement a few methods. Congratulations for the courage to change!
Inspiring Teachers Page 2 of 6
Anil Gupta, a professor at the IIM-A has spearheaded the documentation of 1,00,000 ideas of creative individuals scattered all over India. The Honeybee Network reaches out to thousands of grassroot innovators.
It began as a special project
of the Fulbright New
Century Scholars 2009-
2010 focused on water and
sustainable development. As
an independent, non-
governmental network of
academics and
professionals, PBB engage
with real world problems
that impact quality of life in
diverse communities. This
entails problem-based
Professors Beyond Borders
The Professors Beyond
Borders team consists of
academics and professionals
with varied backgrounds
from around the world.
Economists, Engineers,
Scientists, Sociologists…
Who can join
There is no cost and
obligation to join. You can
consider volunteering your
For more details log on to
http://www.professorsbeyondborders.org/
knowledge creation,
innovation, and mapping
expertise to community
needs and ground realities.
The paradigm is that of
Mind to Market or Lab to
Land initiatives.
Dedicated to public health
and a secure global village
for all, they offer academics
of our global community the
ability to organize their
individual experiences and
expertise into a greater effort
wherever there is a need. They
work as volunteers, using
their knowledge to impact
communities by providing
expertise in program
implementation and
effectiveness, as well as
disseminating knowledge of
tools, techniques, technologies
and resources.
time in the summer or for
distinct periods during the
year. PBB will raise funds
for travel funds and
stipends.
The question is not about joining Professors Beyond Borders – but can we do similar
work in India? We have something happening the other way round in India. SRISTI, an
NGO was setup to strengthen the creativity of grassroots inventors, innovators and
ecopreneurs engaged in conserving biodiversity and developing eco-friendly solutions
to local problems.
As you see, PBB believes professors can give solutions to societal problems, SRISTI
believes that solutions have been found and they need to be strengthened. The core
philosophy is to acknowledge the innovator and ensure that good ideas get funding.
SRISTI - society for research and initiatives for sustainable technologies and institutions
See Anil Gupta’s work @
http://www.nif.org.in/
http://www.gian.org/
http://www.sristi.org/
Inspiring TeachersPage 3 of 6
The traffic signals in our
country are a source and a
window to look into the
mindset of people. Many a
times traffic signals have
been violated by various
drivers especially when
they notice that the
Policeman is NOT around.
When they spot the
Khaki/white uniform they
slow down and like good
law abiding citizens wait for
the green signal. Ironic isn’t
it? Should the cop not be
around most people are
happy to ignore the signal
and make their way
through even if meant
waving a fist at the other
driver in the opposite side
who is actually obeying
signals! If you happen to
stop at the red and await
your turn in these
situations don’t be
surprised if the fist is
waved at you or if teeth
are gritting… for stopping
at the Red signal when the
policeman is not
there!!…understand one
thing -- people do not like a
person who makes them
aware of their wrong.
Simple human psychology
Police…Police! Indira Narayan, HM, St Ann’s HS, Sec’bad
We are born with only
one heart,
deep in our ribs
it reminds us
to appreciate and give
love from deep within..
works this way... ‘There
isn’t anyone checking or
watching over me so why
should I bother about right
and wrong. I won’t get
caught so here I go
violating rules!’ This
paradigm is sadly applied
at most places by us
humans, which is ‘if there
no one watching or
checking me let me do
things the way I want to.’
In offices such attitudes ,
which basically come from
lack of self discipline ,
may eventually lead to
some kind of trouble ; but
in the teaching profession
these will only aid in
warping the tender mind
of a student who learns
from what he sees. It is a
student who will bear the
brunt of being taught by a
teacher who has no self
discipline This is not
meant to deride a teacher
but to point at a major
wrong which is in turn
very influential in giving
wrong ideas . Man by
nature loves a path that is
trouble free, easy and not
hard to tread on. Go to the
railway reservation
counter. There will be
queues no doubt, yet
many would like to jump
the Q if they feel they
won’t be noticed in doing
so. The same applies at
the Cinema theatre or at a
temple. We are in a
mighty hurry to see the
movie; we do not have
the patience to wait for
our turn for a ‘ darshan’
Sadly, along with our
devotion God also likes to
test our patience which
most of us cannot show
outside His temple! Why
do we all need a
policeman or should I ask
do we educated people
need ‘policemen?
When a teacher continues
to teach after the bell has
rung and the class is over,
students, at least some of
them, will be looking at
their watches as though
reminding the teacher
that it is time for her to
leave the class. Right?
But these very students
will forget that they have
worn a wristwatch during
the break time;
Continued on page 5
Caption describing picture
or graphic.
Visit our website for
latest poll and other
updates. Give your
feedback and contribute
resources.
Inspiring Teachers Page 4 of 6
Supporters – Navin, Venu, PV Narasimham and Madhan
Inviting Talented
Teachers, Teacher
Educators, Educationists,
Professionals Working
With Schools to provide
education to children from
all economic and social
backgrounds from the
neighbourhood/communi
ty.
Post Graduates in
Opportunities at Pudami – a chain of 35 schools by Dr Reddy’s
• Nirmaan - expert academic and career guidance to, specially, the economically
backward students in rural areas through a toll-free helpline
http://www.nirmaan.org/page/Home.aspx
• Is Iron Man possible ? http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_00e8965c-5980-
11df-8842-001cc4c002e0.html
• An amazing clock with loads of information – world statistics
http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf
• Hundreds of ideas with bamboo - http://bamboohouseindia.org/home.asp
• The best education system in the world
http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/koulutusjaerjestelmae/?lang=en
Must See Videos on Education
• TED Talks Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for
creating an education system that nurtures creativity. See both 2006 and 2010 videos
with subtitles.
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
• Who really failed? A teacher is taken off course for setting high standards -
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/04/15/lsu
• A one minute film that talks about child labor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN8o9w6eLlo&NR=1
• In pursuit of success (four parts) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lVleH3f1BA
• Active learning method transforming Tamilnadu schools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gajJ9huCog
Interesting Links – Sridhar Chitta, Raman, Learning-Net, Vinish Gupta
Apply within ten days.
E-mail your resumes
Address: Dr. Reddy’s
Foundation, 87/A, MLA
Colony, Road No. 12,
Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 34
We are born with two eyes in front because we must not always look behind, but see what lies ahead beyond ourselves. We are born to have two ears one left, one right so we can hear both sides, collect both the compliments and criticisms,
English/Science/Social
Studies/Mathematics
(preferably with B.Ed)
willing to travel in the
suburbs in Hyderabad,
with a passion for
teaching and creativity,
excellent English
communication skills and
a desire to ensure student
learning.
Desirable: Leadership
qualities, analytical
ability, an insight into the
functioning of school and
working with Principals to
bring about development
in schools. Experience of
working with
economically deprived
children would be an
advantage.
Inspiring TeachersPage 5 of 6
they cannot hear the bell
and will come to class late!
What is the direction of
my thoughts in writing
this? It is to highlight that
time sense and self
discipline, the backbone of
any successful venture,
are losing their hold in
today’s lifestyle. In a
school, the day’s schedule
is worked out and bells are
rung at specific times;
each bell announcing the
beginning or the end of
the teaching period or the
commencement or end of
a break. There are no
secrets about this and
every one on the campus
knows to identify each
bell. When the tutor and
the taught fall in place in
obeying these, that school
will be the best both in its
ccademics and its all
round credibility.
Example is better than
precept... is what I
strongly believe in. It is
upsetting to see teachers
enter their class rooms
late, especially after the
break with the confidence
that they are not being
monitored or watched by
the Management. Do they
Police.. Police! (Continued from page 3)
We are born with a brain concealed in a skull so that no matter how poor we are, we are still rich, for no one can steal what our brain contains, packing in more jewels and rings than you can think.
realize that their judges
and policemen are sitting
in their classes? I recall
some students of mine
saying what they do not
like is when a teacher
comes to the class late and
then continues beyond the
bell especially the break
bell thereby cutting into
their break .
When the other person’s
time becomes as
important as mine, a
sense of efficiency comes
into my work. Our
thinking should go along
the lines ‘do not unto
others what you want
them to do unto you’.
Outside a bank the
timings read: 10 AM
to….This means that the
bank is ready to begin
serving its customers at
10am. In reality if you are
at the bank at 10am sharp
you will find that the
concerned personnel will
be busy keeping their
personal belongings away,
then they will go to their
counter , take the required
material, maybe arrange
the tokens in a serial
number etc. , thereby
taking at least 10 minutes
to attend to you . So much
of customer time lost …. A
bit of the credibility of the
bank is also lost in the
bargain. Time is precious,
yours and mine. In an
educational institution it
is the precious time of
students that is lost and
the teacher’s workload
suffers , leading to
her/him rushing through
the syllabus , taking extra
classes both of which
will affect the academics.
Remember Newton’s
third law of motion!!!
So let us make ‘respect’: of
self, of others, of time our
guiding light. Rewards
follow and are very often
built in.
Subscribe to and/or write for
Teacher Plus – an excellent
magazine for school teachers.
Provides new ideas for teaching
with ready made handouts,
gives perspectives on topics of
current interest for teachers and
has many more features
relevant for the contemporary
teacher!
040 2780 7039
E-Mail:
www.teacherplus.org
KV Jayakumar, Executive Director,
CWRDM & Prof, NITW
A cool picture for summer: DRDO scientists, ITM, Mussouri, Feb ‘10
The much awaited job opportunities fair for persons with disabilities, will be held in Chennai in August 2010. (Organised by Ability Foundation and Lions Club of Padi Shenoynagar in association with www.naukri.com) If you are a graduate from a recognised institute and have good English and computer skills, get connected to unbiased equal-opportunity employers from across the country. It is a platform where you will be considered strictly on the
EmployAbility 2010 – a great opportunity for job seekers
Started three years ago, already 1350 teacher members on-line, 40 colleges and many schools touched by the training. Long term projects are being taken up for schools and colleges. Continuous support and multiple initiatives will be included for holistic and sustainable change.
About Teacher’s Academy…
Teacher’s Academy
Hyderabad
PHONE:
97011 41118
E-MAIL: [email protected]
See us at:
www.inspiring-teachers.com
Contact Details: Pavithra Parandhaman Programme Officer-Placement ABILITY FOUNDATION No. 28, Second Cross Street, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar Chennai 600 020 India Tel: 91 44 24452400 Fax: 91 44 24413013 Website: www.abilityfoundation.org
basis of your qualifications and skills, not disability. You need to pre register to participate in the fair. Details and application form can be downloaded From http://www.abilityfoundation.org/employability_2010.html (Please note that even if you are already registered with Ability Foundation, you must register separately for EmployABLITY2010) Last date for registration: June 30, 2010
Please do leave your feedback on workshops on the site About Us� Clients say Share articles, useful links, teaching resources and tips for effective teaching with a growing community of our teacher mailing list. Our forthcoming workshops are at St
Arnold’s school and Holy Cross College at BHEL; Nizam’s Institute of Engg (NIET), Deshmukhi; Sevalaya, Chennai; HPS, Hyderabad; Anyone wants to work with me can send your resume. --Thanks Uma Garimella