The Monthly Newsletter
Issue 120 | November, 2015 | www.ei-india.com
ASSET Talent Scholars - Inspiring Students UChicago Arts and Sciences
ASSET
Student’s Zone
COVER Story Can India Get A New Process To Recruit Teachers? I have been moving around several schools in different states of India and meeting various teachers. I often wonder why don’t we have a rigorous recruitment process of teachers like that for IAS, when various stakeholders are collectively making efforts for quality education in India? This process could be followed by a 4-5 year master degree. The admission process can comprise a written and verbal test and an interview. Why am I saying this? In India, we hear it often – If you can’t be anything, be a teacher. Well, I do not intend to derogate anyone by stating this. But this whole belief about considering teaching as a secondary choice of profession is disheartening. Especially when we want the educational levels to improve, we need to ensure that we have teachers who are there because of a love for teaching. In the current scenario, there are different types of teachers which includes contractual teachers known as Shiksha Mitras of UP and Bihar,
and by different names in other states. These contractual teachers are not qualified enough and lack a basic degree in education. While having Shiksha Mitras make the number of teachers per school look decent, during my visits, I have encountered some of them who were not able to solve certain questions based on competencies of classes 4 & 5. Not pointing fingers, I believe, we should collectively develop a system where we can get the best teachers to give our students quality education. Finland is one such example. At present, different states follow different recruitment procedures. In some states, recruitment is made on the basis of the candidate’s performance in a competitive examination, whereas, in some other states, recruitment is made on the basis of the academic and professional background of the candidate. The merit of each candidate is determined on the basis of his/her score in the examinations he/she has passed in addition to the previous teaching experience, if any. In some other states, a combination
of the two procedures, i.e., performance in a competitive examination and merit determined on the basis of academic credentials is adopted; some weightage is given to the performance of candidates in an oral examination held through interviewing the candidates. To start with, we need to have a common admission procedure and standard for teachers to enrol them for B.Ed. and further studies. We can be ambitious and can design a national level entrance test followed by an interview to get admission in an Educational degree. Once a candidate is selected to get admission for a proposed degree, he/she should be placed in his/her own district’s college. Candidate teachers should get all the exposure required during the proposed degree mainly focusing on field visits, ground level realities, international teaching practices which can equip them to help and contribute in the learning levels of children across all types of schools. The course should be made research based to ensure that the teachers themselves are learning with understanding. By Kashinath Jha, Member of LSA Team, EI
Like some important administrative portfolios, teachers should also go through rigorous training. As there are no ad-hoc or temporary appointments in administrative services, similarly no contractual or under experienced teachers should be appointed. By following these universal procedures, we will have teachers of a certain level and orientation, who will be more oriented to teaching than to secure a job. The level of learning of the students of such teachers, I am sure, will show a steep rise as the teachers will be equipped fundamentally to deal with different types of students. Like all of us, even I am aware that this can be called wishful thinking. However, to have world class teachers who can focus on bringing in a change in the way education is perceived, we need to brace up to rigorous processes in recruitments and tender approaches inside the classrooms.
Student’s Zone
UChicago Arts and Sciences Summer in Asia Passionate. Engaged. Global. Groundbreaking. The University of Chicago fosters a community of thinkers who asks tough questions and embraces new ideas. This summer, learn, explore, do, and become more. A centre for intellectual innovation, the undergraduate College at the University of Chicago is ranked 4th in the US and 9th in the world. Now students in China and India can join our community without leaving home, by taking courses taught onsite by University of Chicago faculty. This two-week intensive onsite program will offer students rigorous training in the critical thinking, reading, writing, and discussion skills that are essential for students in U.S. universities and colleges. These skills are embodied in the famous General Education Core sequences in the College at the University of Chicago: small, discussion-based classes that encourage wide-ranging conversations across cultures and time periods, tackling big problems and fundamental questions in the University’s unique interdisciplinary style. Program Benefits: •
Rigorous training and preparation for competitive undergraduate college and university programs
•
University of Chicago transcript for use in the application process at any U.S. or global university
•
Online information session for program participants conducted by the University of Chicago College Admissions, offering valuable insight into the U.S. college admissions process
Only one course will be offered in India, with limited enrollment to ensure the best possible experience for the strongest possible candidates. We encourage competitive students to apply to join our global community this summer! •
Classes begin in May 2016 coordinated by
the University of Chicago Centre
Questions?
•
Location based in Delhi or Bangalore TBD
•
Applications accepted online starting midNovember
Contact Dr. Balaji Srinivasan balajis@uchicago.edu or +91 97 425 99924
•
Scholarships available
Watch for updates on summer.uchicago.edu
MISCONCEPTION Series Living Organisms- Form & function
Q
Class 9: Science
Mitochondria are known as the 'powerhouse' of the cell. D. 20.2%
Which of the following cells are likely to contain most mitochondria? A
Blood Cells
B
Skin Cells
No. of students 2729
D
P
Stomach Cells
.8% B. 5
C. 35.4%
C Muscle Cells P
A. 37.8%
Only 35.4% answered correctly
in comparison to the other options provided.
1 Why was the question asked in ASSET test?
• Students should be able to rule out blood cells based on the fact that the blood doesn't move on its own, but is pumped by the heart. They should be able to eliminate option D- stomach cells - by comparing it against muscle cells which require the most amount of energy.
This question was designed to test whether students will be able to identify the cells that will require a certain type of cell-organelle in larger numbers, given the function of the cell organelle.
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What did students answer? 35% of students answered correctly, whereas 38% chose a common wrong answer, A. Possible reason for choosing A: Students probably think that blood needs energy as it is flowing and hence, the blood cells will need mitochondria within it to provide energy. Teachers should investigate students' thoughts about this. Possible reason for choosing B: Very few students have selected this option and are probably making a random guess. Possible reason for choosing D: These students probably believe that the stomach will require the most energy as it has to 'churn' food during digestion. Therefore, they think that the cells of the stomach will need a large number of mitochondria.
3
Learnings • Students study a lot of information about the human body. However, they are often unable to apply this information in an unfamiliar context or are unable to answer questions that require them to consider a different point of view on the same subject. • In this question, they are expected to analyze which part of the body will require the most energy and consequently, identify the cell-type that will require the most mitochondria. • The low number of students choosing 'skin cells' in this question indicates that the students have understood the function of mitochondria. However, they are confused about the type of cells that will require the benefit of a large number of mitochondria. • Students are expected to deduce that the organ system requiring the most energy is the muscular system as it does the most amount of mechanical work and therefore, muscle cells will require the most energy
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How do we handle this? • Students must roughly understand what kind of a role each organ/organ system plays in our body. Discuss these roles in a larger perspective so that students get an idea of each system being a part of a whole, rather than perceiving the system as a separate entity. • They should internalize that all these systems are running in coordination with each other and that each function performed by a particular organ system has a result on the other systems. • As a result of this linking, students will be in a better capacity to compare and contrast organ systems. Let students estimate the energy consumption by different organ systems. • Within the muscular system itself, ask students which part of the body will require the most energy. Ask them if it will be dependent on the activity the person is doing. • Present the detailed description of an organ and ask students to explain how the organ is super-specialized to perform its function. For example: 1. The lungs have bronchioles, alveolar sacs, etc. which provide a large surface area for gas-exchange. 2. The heart has many chambers and valves to control the flow of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood through it. • Students should also be given an idea about what can happen when certain organ systems fail to function at optimum levels or when something goes wrong with an organ system.
ASSET Question-A-Day (AQAD) AQAD is a set of thought-provoking questions picked from the ASSET database. Students, teachers and parents can register for free by visiting www.aqad.in
For more information about ASSET, write to us at info@ei-india.com
STUDENT’s Zone ASSET Talent Scholar – Interview The students who perform in the top 5%, in the Tip ASSET talent search in any one of the subjects like English, Maths or Science overall is awarded the title of ‘ASSET Talent Scholar’. These students receive certificate and medal from ASSET. To know more about ASSET talent Search write to us at talentsearch@ei-india.com
Abhiraj Lamba The Doon School Dehradun
Interview of an ASSET Talent Scholar Q.1 Apart from having a thirst for knowledge, what else excites your mind? Amazing question, really! There are things that excite my mind. Many of them but then how can something not be associated with knowledge. If anything excites me knowing more about it or learning it is necessarily going to be equally exciting, right? But to answer this question I guess I’ll just ignore that technicality. Well, I love debating and public speaking. That is one of the many things which excites me a lot and I really enjoy it. Q.2 If you were a time machine, what period in history would you go back to? And why? I would love to go back to the time when Apple was founded so that I could see what kind of technology was considered to be advanced at that time and I could compare it with today’s time. Reading about it would surely give me a good amount of knowledge about the evolution of technology but there’s nothing like first-hand experience. Q.3 Do you idolise anyone? If yes, then who and why? Yes, of course. I idolise the greatest of the people ever in the technology industry, namely Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, because I too want to be as successful as they are, maybe even more. I want to start off as a software engineer and then slowly grow to have a company as great (or greater) as those of these people whom I idolise. Q.4 What is your favourite book? Give reasons why? Favouritism is never easy, especially when it comes to books. Books are a great medium of entertainment and that too combined with knowledge. My favourite author is Rick Riordan and his books are just so great that you cannot choose one over the other but for the sake of this question, I will. The book “The Mark of Athena” from the “Heroes of Olympus” series would be my favourite because it actually gave my favourite character from the whole of Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series, Annabeth Chase, a role more important than any role she ever got before that.
Q.5 What is your favourite TV show? ‘Impractical Jokers’, for sure. It is an amazing show where four friends compete to embarrass each other. I love this show and other comedies which can make me laugh. What I love most about this show is that unlike other comedy shows, this one doesn’t have a predefined plot made specially to make the viewers laugh. Instead, it is something which the anchors of this show used to do in college and just decided to put it on camera and start a show for “their” personal entertainment but ended up entertaining thousands of people all around the world. Q.6 What other talents do you possess? I am a public speaker and I can debate very well, so that would be one of my talents. Also, I am quite persuasive. Our school goes for this global competition called the World Scholars Cup and we prepare for it in a school society. I am the boy-in-charge of this society for this year and I persuaded most of my form mates and juniors back at school to join this society, hence ending up as the boy-in-charge having the most people in the society ever. The strength of the society this year is 4 times last year’s strength. Q.7 If you could be someone else for a day, who would that be? I really enjoy being myself, but if given such an opportunity, I most certainly would not let it go. I would certainly love to be Bill Gates for a day, not because of his riches but because of my love for technology and software and I would love to see what his day at Microsoft is like. Q.8 If you get a chance to travel the world, which places would you like to see? I have spent my childhood travelling the world, though I do not remember many things as I was very young at that time, I do remember some, but of course, if given another chance I would love to visit these countries again along with many others which I haven’t. I would love to see the main headquarters of Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and other such companies. Bookpost
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