WIDENING HORIZONS* debate contest #7

Madhvi

A really good write which has triggered some productive debate and contribution. I especially liked your points about:

1. Virtual classrooms - the advances and affortdability of technologies means that Virtual Classrooms have to be the way of delivering education from now on. This is an immensly poweful opportunity to democratise the availability of education regardless of location or financial means. Infact, it can even go a considerable way towards overcoming the perennial teacher shortage and the various excuses society uses to exlcude many young people from an education. This is an area worthy of development. 

A QUESTION TO ALL - Come on, are there any innovative IT business houses out there who will venture to invest in the nation's future????

2. Assessment methods - these have to focus on thinking skills, on problem solving and on innovating rather than cramming. 

Living in Europe, I have often seen Indian youngsters with excellent academic qualifications fall behind in the workplace because they are less capable in the areas of thinking, organising and communicating ideas. Fortunately, things are chainging for the better, but more has to be done to overcome the archaic methods of assessment in use today.

Regards

JayJi

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Discusion Topic 7: Good teacher and a motivated student make a great combination!

NandaRamesh

Thank you for posting this blog in response to the competition!

You make many practical points of which I shall point out two that stand out to me:

1. Respect for Teachers - both society at large and individual students and their parents have to respect teachers for what they do. Without this respect, the viscious circle of poor teaching, unmotivated students, and a semi-educated society just continues. Respect for teachers, both in the form of public recognition and remuneration are essential to break this circle.

2. Communication - the ability to communicate, in the appropriate fashion to enable student understanding are the key to effective teaching. All the other blogs also spell this out clearly.

Now, the challenge for us all - HOW to implement the change?

Thanks again!

JayJi

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25 Wonderful Places to visit in your Lifetime!!!

Dhanraj

Thanks, 

Actually it goes to show that one does not need to travel too far to see spectacular nature or superb achievments in architecture or art by humans. There is plenty to see at our own door step. We often forget it. Only yesterday evening I mentioned to my daughter that despite living in my city in Europe for over 30 years, I have not ever visited any of the three cathedrals here. Must do it!

I am sure you can educate people on the amazing locations near where you live. I have found that India is full of wonders.

Regards


Jay

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25 Wonderful Places to visit in your Lifetime!!!

Dhanraj

An intersesting selection. I suppose that this your personal list and so it is bound to attract controversy. Having myself been to several of the places you list, I would beg to disagree on at least five from your list:

Firstly, New York and Paris are like most other western cities as is Sydney. 

Second, I hold my children''s judgement of the Taj to be in proper perspective. They have been to around 10 of the 30 odd UN nominates places of world heritage in India, and  every time they have added a new one to the list, the Taj slips further down the rankings. Even as teenagers, they looked at Indian monments from their social and cultural importance, and as such, in their minds, places like Vijayanagar, Fatehpur Sikri, Khajuraho, and even Kanchipuram score higher than the Taj. 

Third, you list Florida. Indeed, it is a great place to visit, but its beauty is flattened by the overzealous commercialisation of the place. 

I would add some others to the list of my favourites:

1. The Ngornogoro Crater, Tanzania
2. The Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
3. Rome, esepcially the ancient monumnets around Palatine Hill
4. Prague, the old city
5. The Scottish Highlands - the secluded lochs, rivers and mountains
6. The two sources of the River Nile
7. The Rift Valley and the Rowenzori Mountains, Uganda
8. Edinburgh
9. The Kremlin and St Baslil's cathedral, Moscow
10. Sasan Gir, India
11. Halebid and Belur

As I said, it's a matter of taste and where each of us have been lucky to visit.

I liked your list!

Thanks

Jay

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The Muzzafarabad March: Let them Go!

Sankrant

Very direct and to the point. These separatists should be made to choose and take a one way ticket. 

I would go a little further; even those in the Valley who think independence is an option should be made to choose. J&K has four distinct constituences, Jammu, the Valley, Ladakh and the rest. The separatist voices only emante from the Valley. They do not speak for the whole state. The Indian govt should have the courage to administratively divide up this already bifurcated state and let's see whether "azaadi" will last more than a few nano seconds without the handouts doled to the Valley from the rest of India.

On a related note, you may wish to look at a piece I wrote at http://jayji.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/jammu-uprising-where-next.htm

Thanks

JayJi

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VISION 2020: BUILDING GREAT TEACHERS

Ramesh Great article, written with empathy and understanding. I especially liked your telling us about your teacher in grade 2. Apart from a swollen face, she also left a lasting impression on you about what a poor teacher is! Thanks for your contribution, and the link to the You Tube video of one of Pradeep's songs. Regards Jay

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Let us Discuss Contest No. 7

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Let us Discuss Contest No. 7

Punam I defer to your wise cousel on this. You are right; the aim of this is to get more people engaged in the discussion and to get the best ideas forward. The judges cannot be contestants, but should be allowed to contribute to the debate. We shall continue in this vein by getting more entries and contributions - let us all "egg" our friends to do this. Jay

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What makes a Good Teacher? Let Us Debate - 7

R.K

What do you mean by  your point "could not survive not because of poor pay but those who believed that students must be taught found my presence very threatening"?


Would you explain, I am curious,

Jay

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What makes a Good Teacher? Let Us Debate - 7

Meera

This is a lovely piece. This is written from the heart of a teacher. Much in common with other contributions, but I particularly like your points about APPRECIATION, ACTIVE PARTICPATION, and NO PARTIALITY


You mention that teachers must Stop punishing and hitting children - I agree with your sentiment and this is an area worthy of a separate discussion in itself.

Your starting point that we are all teachers and pupils, throughout our lives is something we all need to bring into our consciousness. 

I always get reprimanded by friends and family and those close to me when I use blase words like "oh... that is simple..." when discussing abstract concepts like Physics or Mathematics, or even sometimes, practical things like reading a map. 

This dismissive attitude of mine only came to my consciousness a few months ago. After a major operation, I had to learn a totally new skill in using medical appliances to ensure that I could take care of myself after discharge from hospital. The nurses, bless them, were wonderful, and patiently showed me how to do this, and for several days I struggled like a child. The self confidence that I always show evaporated, and held back my return home. I analysed the situation, and only got to fully understand what was going on when I discussed it with my doctor friend. 

I came to realise two essential things: First, just because it is obvious to you, does not mean it is obvious to everyone. A good teacher has to get into the mindset of the learner. This takes patience and determination.

The second thing I learnt was that totally new skills are actually very to acquire. They require encouragement from the teacher and determination with patience from the student. Let me explain further: As we grow older, we have more experience, and this experience provides a firm basis and makes it easier from which to learn new skills. So, for example, once the basic concepts of number and addition are mastered with single digit numbers, the step towards more complex additions or subtractions is not so difficult. However, we forget that for a four year old, the concept of number was a totally new concept in its entirety.  

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