ScooNews - December 2018 - Digital Edition by ScooNews

Children must be taught how to think, not what to think

Volume 3 Issue 5 Decmber 2018 CHANGING TEACHERS’ LIVES EVERYDAY, EVERY WAY!

Margaret Mead

STRAIGHT

Group Editor Ravi Santlani Deputy Editor Parvathy Jayakrishnan

TALK

Reporters Anushka Yadav, Anshu Pande, Ashima Sharma, Anuj Kr.

Ravi Santlani, CEO

Website Team Pranav Sharma, Ojas Godatwar Art Direction Rexsu Cherry Advisory Board: Anand Kumar, Founder, Super-30 Dr Jagpreet Singh, Headmaster, The Punjab Public School, Nabha Dr Neeta Bali, Director- Principal, G D Goenka World School, Gurugram Dr Swati Popat Vats, President, Podar Education Network & President, Early Childhood Association India Geeta Dharmarajan, Founder & President, Katha Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar,Trustee, Vidyadan Trust & Maharana of Mewar Foundation Lt Gen SH Kulkarni (Retd), Director, Mayo College Meenakshi Uberoi, Education Evangelist, Founder, De Pedagogics Nishi Misra, Principal, Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, Gwalior Prajakt Raut, Co-founder, Applyifi & The Growth Labs Sandeep Dutt, Founder & Chairman, Learning Forward India Skand Bali, Principal, The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet Pics Pressfoto Pixabay, Shutterstock Cover Design ATLT Inc

Founder & CEO Ravi Santlani Vice President Operations Vinay K Singh Vice President PR Vanya Bhandari National Sales Head Pankaj Sharma BD Executive Yashwant Parmar, Shivam Joshi, Kirti Mishra, Aryan Mudgal EDITORIAL OFFICE EduPulse Media Pvt Ltd, J-3, Jhalana Institutional Area, Second Floor, Jaipur 302004 India Email: editor@scoonews.com FOR ALL SALES QUERIES Pankaj Sharma +91-74120-27891 sales@scoonews.com FOR SUBSCRIPTION +91-72405-17913 subscribe@scoonews.com PRINTED AND PUBLISHED by Ravi Santlani on behalf of EduPulse Media Pvt Ltd PRINTED AT Popular Printers, Fateh Tiba, MD Road Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. PUBLISHED AT, J-3, Jhalana Institutional Area, Second Floor, Jaipur-302004, India Editor : Ravi Santlani Publishing Date: 10 December ‘2018 Total number of pages 60, including Covers

Missing the wave

he early 2000s in India was widely known as the Smartclass Era, where a school was considered as a future school only if it had Smartclasses - however the failure of the same is a topic for another day. The root problem that everyone is fighting today is the rote learning method and how our future leaders can understand the content before memorising the same. This is the billion-dollar question. Day in and day out we hear jargon like AI, AR, VR, MR, etc but how many of our teachers have actually gone deep to understand how these technologies can help them solve that billion-dollar question? The answer is not even 1% of our teaching community. While doing the cover story, we at ScooNews decided to speak about AR-VR to 50 principals spread across 29 states in India and none of them had any clue about the subject except for a few of them sharing their limited knowledge based on a Google expedition tour on a VR cardboard. Trust me when I say that AR-VR is much more than a google expedition tour! Look out for Zspace on YouTube and you will have your basic understanding on how AR-VR can bring about a revolution in the way teachers teach and the way students learn. From providing the feeling of experiencing something in front of your own eyes, to bringing everything from the inner workings of the heart to the structures of ancient Rome, gloriously alive… It’s no wonder that AR-VR helps students focus on their area of interest and sparks encouragement to chase their dreams. Additionally, it can cater to children with special needs, and builds empathy with situations, enabling better and more unbiased situations. These revolutions in education are not merely smart technologies but have the power to mold younger minds into better citizens of the future. Do we still want to stay in the dark?

December 2018

OUR ESTEEMED PANEL OF ADVISORS

Anand Kumar Founder, Super-30

Dr. Jagpreet Singh Headmaster, The Punjab Public School, Nabha

Dr Neeta Bali Director-Principal, GD Goenka World School

Dr Swati Popat Vats President, Early Childhood Association, India

Geeta Dharmarajan Founder & President, Katha

Lt Gen Surendra Kulkarni

Skand Bali Principal, The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar Trustee, Vidyadan Trust & Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation

Meenakshi Uberoi Founding Director, De Pedagogics

Nishi Misra, Principal, Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, Gwalior

Prajakt Raut Co-founder, Applyifi & The Growth Labs

Sandeep Dutt Founding & Chairman, learning forward india

December 2018

Director, Mayo College

CONTENTS

12 HOW HAS MAYO COLLEGE

ADAPTED TO THE 21ST CENTURY?

Lt. Gen. S.H. Kulkarni shares insights into how teaching and learning at Mayo college has evolved to meet the needs of 21st-century learners

22 COVER STORY AR-VR THE NEXT REVOLUTION IN EDUCATION

27 1918 VS 2018

2018: Of smileys, paper leaks and good intentions

WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR GIRLS

40 WHAT AILS GOVT SCHOOLS? ANSHU PANDE examines the reasons behind the dropping popularity of government schools

It is the responsibility of educators to understand the relevance and importance of introducing AR-VR in the classroom, writes ANUSHKA YADAV

December 2018

YOURS TRULY RIGHT SAID It was an eye opener to read Lt. Col. A Sekhar’s views on the #MeToo movement in the education ecosystem. It is imperative that we introduce a process for checking facts before pointing the gun on male educators. I agree on his viewpoint that the blind allegations that we often follow have “collateral damages” that are irreplaceable. No one had addressed the issue with such subtlety. I’m glad Col. Sekhar addressed the key points that we need to keep in mind in accordance with the movement to protect the education sphere. Every movement needs to be nation-inclusive instead of being gender specific. Urmila Sethi, Jharkhand

MONTHLY INSPIRATION I was extremely happy to see that the editorial team inculcated Maria Montessori’s quotes in the magazine’s November issue. She was a superhero for children and an inspiration for educators all across the globe. My favourite quote of the ten quotes is “The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.” I’ve put a bookmark on the page and read one quote every day before I go to school and meet my students. It is my request to your team to keep publishing quotes in Take 2 every month. Ronit J, Mumbai

SATIATING SURPRISES This month’s issue was a special one because it revealed the great initiative that ScooNews has taken up. #ProjectGiving is a wonderful news shared by Ravi Santlani. I really liked the idea of an education media house fulfilling their role of bringing change. All schools deserve to get all the help to become a twenty first century ready school, especially the ones who are working for the underprivileged. We, as readers, are delighted for

PYDS and the progress it has made. With the help of #ProjectGiving, it will reach new heights. Wishing the entire team good luck for the project. Savitri Jaiprakas, Chennai

INSIGHTFUL PIECE The article on Safety in Schools provided a deep insight into the burning issue of student safety in school. The views of students were enlightening and informative. One must be vigilant in present circumstances especially when it comes to the safety and security of students. A lot of wrong happenings around the world have shaken the faith of parents and students regarding safety. I hope the students’ opinions are taken into consideration. Shivi Malhotra, Mumbai

GREAT INITIATIVE I would specially like to congratulate the whole team of ScooNews for coming with a wonderful idea of #ProjectGiving. I believe that every school should become 21st century ready and educators and parents should equally participate in making that happen. It is a very positive initiative and I hope it fulfills its aim. Best of luck! Rani Jaiswal, Delhi

TRAINING NEEDED The initiative taken by Delhi schools of sending their teachers for training is a positive step towards making the education system better. We are in need of educated and trained teachers. The progress of our children depends on them. It is imperative that every school learns from this example and makes sure that their teachers are well qualified. Radhika Singh, Patna

TOUCHING TRIBUTE I loved reading the tribute to teachers by the students. The way they have expressed their feelings through poetry, prose and art is simply lovely.

Teachers do play an important role in moulding the students. They are selfless and do their best to get the best out of students. I am still in touch with teachers who have inspired me to do well in life. I feel it is important that students pay such tributes to their teachers because that is what matters most to them and not anything else. Madhuri Rao, Hyderabad

TECH NEEDED It is heartening to know that children want technology in their classrooms to supplement the teacher's teaching. However, in India be it because of financial woes or because of lack of exposure to new technology, we often see that schools stick to the age-old rote learning method which is not good. We must make use of new technology because it will enhance learning and give a chance to teach students in a different way, rather than follow a set pattern. There are a number of apps, YouTube channels and other media that support digital learning. I believe that even if a school does not take an initiative to bring in technology, parents must try and inculcate the habit of using technology for learning in their children because as we know, technology is going to be primary source of information. Manisha Madan, Chennai

AN EYE-OPENER As an educator and a parent, I loved what ScooNews did for the recent issue – bringing out the views of students was a brilliant idea. It was an eye-opener for me to see the young students speak with such insight and wisdom about a range of topics. I was particularly touched by their views on whether school is preparing them for life. We need to buck up and give children the education they need to be ready for the real world. Suma Phillips, Mumbai

TALK TO US

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JAIPUR: EduPulse Media Pvt Ltd, J-3, Jhalana Institutional Area, Second Floor, Jaipur 302004 India

Please recycle this magazine and remove inserts and samples before recycling

December 2018

TRENDING Learn the beauty of Sanskrit, says Delhi Ed Min

Education minister Manish Sisodia, while addressing the students and teachers at a language competition, stressed on learning the Sanskrit language. He expressed his belief by saying that the language carries the roots of Indian culture which is necessary for building a disciplined and responsible society. "The beauty of the Sanskrit language is that those who understand it will never be a restriction on someone's path and it is one of the reasons why I want people to understand the language,"

said the Delhi Education Minister during the event. He explained that government’s aim “is not to make Sanskrit popular, but to make life beautiful with it". He also said that the students shouldn’t “mug it up for exams” bur rather should learn and enjoy the ancient beliefs. He concluded by saying, "We don't want a particular section but 100 per cent children to get a good education and this will help in building the nation and I want that in building the nation, there should be a role of Sanskrit as well."

App developing KG students’ skills

‘Superhero’ takes a final bow A recent report threw light on developing creative skills in the kindergarten students of Japan. In Coby Preschool of northeast Tokyo, students are given tablets instead of books to colour birds and animals that come alive with 3D technique. About 400 kindergarten schools are using this method of digital play technique for teaching. The smartphone software application called "kits" is designed for these toddlers. These applications encourage creativity and collaboration.

December 2018

Stan Lee, the man behind Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Mighty Thor, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, Daredevil and Ant-Man, and countless other characters, passed away on November 13 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created," Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. "A superhero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain and to connect. The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart." He leaves behind a legacy previously unheard of in cinema — making a linked series of 20+ award-winning blockbuster movies — not to mention a lifetime of extraordinary comic book creation. Thank you for being our Guardian of the Galaxy. Rest in peace, somewhere in the universe.

Launched: LEAP and ARPIT Dr Satya Pal Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development, launched two new initiatives; Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) and Annual Refresher Programme In Teaching (ARPIT). Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) is a three weeks flagship leadership development training programme (two weeks domestic and one week foreign training) for second level academic functionaries in public funded higher education institutions. The main objective is to prepare second tier academic heads who are potentially likely to assume leadership roles in the future. The programme would provide senior faculty, with high academic credentials, the required leadership and managerial skills including skills of problem-solving, handling stress, team building work, conflict management, developing communication skills, understanding and coping with the complexity and challenges of governance in HEIs, financial and general administration.Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT) is a major and unique initiative of online professional development of 15 lakh higher education faculty using the MOOCs platform SWAYAM. For implementing ARPIT, 75 discipline-specific institutions have been identified and notified as National Resource Centres (NRCs) in the first phase, which are tasked to prepare online training material with focus on latest developments in the discipline, new and emerging trends, pedagogical improvements and methodologies for transacting revised curriculum.All faculties who have successfully completed the online refresher course will be certified. The courses will remain open from November 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019. All in-service teachers, irrespective of their subject and seniority are requested to register and complete these refresher courses which will help them in career advancement. The training materials will be uploaded and made available through SWAYAM.

A remedial education programme for government schools called Aparajitha (one who cannot be defeated), which aims to help children up to grade V to improve their reading, writing and comprehension skills has been started in Chandera village in UP. It is a village of about 200 households, mostly labourers and farmers, in Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur district, which lies on the border with Madhya Pradesh. Aparajitha is run by World Vision India, an international nonprofit that works in several states across India. India has been successful in increasing primary school enrolment to the extent that more than 83 per cent of primary school-age children were enrolled in 2016-17, according to data from the District Information System for Education (DISE). But fewer than half (47.8 per cent) of grade V rural students could read at least a grade II text in 2016, the Annual Survey of Education Report 2016 found. This learning crisis does not bode well for India’s young school population- about 22 per cent of India’s entire population, and its future citizens. A programme like Aparajitha, which reaches 4,300 students in 130 villages in Lalitpur, could be one way to help students improve their learning outcomes. Its 3,683 students who enrolled in financial year 2017 display progress on the programme’s reading scale, as per World Vision data, and the programme is widely accepted in the community. From a zero baseline, within a year 1.55% of enrolled students could read local content (such as newspapers) and understand it; 6.2% (up from 1.8%) could read a story and comprehend it; and 10.4% could read a story (up from 5.1%).To study the impact of the programme, World Vision also studied a control group of students who did not take remedial classes, but had the same socio-economic characteristics as those enrolled. They found that more students enrolled in the programme progressed through the six levels than in the control group, but are yet to conduct a thorough statistical analysis to prove their findings conclusively.

After-school experiment in UP village tackles learning crisis

‘Children should educate elders’ Minister Prakash Javadekar stated that the Centre is working on a scheme which promotes children to educate their elders at home. After visiting a family in Jaipur and interacting with the kids, he urged them to educate their illiterate grandparents. He also added, "Preparations are underway and the scheme will be launched in two months. We will also issue study material."

IIT Kharagpur's Young Innovator's Programme, a success Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur organised a science and technology competition for students of class 8 to 10. It is an initiative to make the younger generation aware and oriented about the new innovations in scientific and technologically.The 'Young Innovators Programme YIP 2018' competition was attended by many schools in the country and also from Singapore. The final round of YIP 2018 was held at IIT Kharagpur campus on October 27 and 28. The different participating teams came up with solutions to problem statements in the areas of Clean Energy, Health and cleanliness, Resource management, Hardware Modelling, Product Designing and Disaster Management in the YIP 2018. On top of the programme was Kaanger Valley Academy, Raipur, Chattisgarh. They devised a low-cost home-made herbal mask to help breathe in a polluted environment. The Crossword School from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh was the first runner-up. They developed 'Pothole Warrior', an electronic device for instantly fixing potholes for smooth and safe surface transport. Tarapore School, Jamshedpur came up with a project on smart management of wastage using solar and ultrasonic sensors. They emerged as the second runner-up of the competition. A total of 24 teams presented their models in the semi-final round which were judged by faculty and alumni of IIT Kharagpur. The final six teams were further evaluated on the originality of their projects, societal impact, quality of presentation and overall project idea. Speaking about YIP, 2018 - Dean, International Relations, IIT KGP Prof Baidurya Bhattacharya said that young talents need to be groomed and motivated towards understand the challenges faced by the world and ideate feasible solutions.

December 2018

TRENDING Digital games raise drug abuse awareness The State Department of Education (Primary and Secondary) is launching a session to spread awareness about substance abuse through a series of digital games in Kannada. The Department of Education along with Diageo and Pernord Ricard India Charitable Foundation wishes to spread this initiative across several government schools in the state. These two firms will be executing and implementing a school-based sensitisation programme on behavioural life skills called ‘Cool Teens’. Based on life skills, the programme will tackle the sensitive topic of substance abuse in the context of psychosocial problems being faced by adolescents.The programme will be set in government schools (both urban and rural) under Department of Education with the help of an execution partner -IL&FS Education. The programme is proposed to be conducted for 10,000 students from classes 8 to 10.A spokesperson from Diageo remarked on its working, “We have devised an online Kannada game for kids. This game is basically how a ‘devil’ will try to trap a person with various kinds of questions, puzzles or riddles of sorts. But the player should ensure that he or she will not get trapped by this ‘devil’. Basically, this is how the game will take one through the whole process of learning, where kids will come across various aspects of substance abuse.”The games will be uploaded on an online portal where the school will have access to log-in IDs of students. Students will be monitored; the scores will be recorded and intimated to the institution.Abanti Sankaranarayanan, chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer, Diageo India, stated, “We are delighted to partner with the Karnataka government as we expand our national Cool Teen’s initiative to state-run schools. Our young adults in the school are India’s future and we recognise that they are vulnerable to peer and societal pressures.”

Six professors bag Infosys Prize 2018 for science and research Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) celebrated its 10th anniversary and six eminent professors were awarded the Infosys Prize 2018 across different categories of science and research. The Infosys Prize endeavors to elevate the prestige of science and research in India and inspire young Indians to choose a vocation in research. The award is given annually to honour outstanding achievements of contemporary researchers and scientists across six categories: Engineering and Computer Sciences, Humanities, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Each carries a cash award of Rs.65 lakh, a citation certificate, and a medallion. 1. Engineering and Computer Science Navakanta Bhat, Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore was awarded for his work on the design of novel biosensors based on his research in biochemistry and gaseous sensors that push the performance limits of existing metaloxide sensors. Navakanta Bhat devised gas sensors with ultra-precise detection accuracies necessary for space and environmental monitoring. (Image: infosyssciencefoundation) Bhat devised gas sensors with ultra-precise detection accuracies necessary for space and environmental monitoring, especially useful for India's growing space, atomic energy, and security programmes. 2. Humanities Kavita Singh, Dean, School of Arts & Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, was awarded for her illuminating study of Mughal, Rajput and Deccan art. Singh's work showed the significance of museums in highlighting the social impact of art and thereby relates visual culture to large contemporary questions of secularity, modernity, and political conflict. 3. Life Sciences Roop Mallik, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research was awarded for his work on molecular motor proteins, which are crucial for the functioning of living cells. Roop Mallik was awarded for his work on molecular motor proteins, which are crucial for the functioning of living cells.(Image: infosyssciencefoundation) Mallik identified and measured forces needed to transport large particles inside cells, and demonstrated their role in fundamental processes such as targeting pathogens for their destruction and moving lipid droplets for fatty acid regulation in the liver.

December 2018

4. Mathematical Sciences Nalini Anantharaman, Professor and Chairman of Mathematics, Institute for Advanced Study, University of Strasbourg, France was awarded the prize in Mathematical Sciences for her work related to 'Quantum Chaos.' The quantum world is one of the deepest secrets of the universe and mathematics is the language that helps us understand this world, ISF said. Mathematicians and physicists have been trying to unravel the mysteries of this subatomic world for decades. 5. Physical Sciences In the field of Physical Sciences, SK Satheesh, Professor, Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, was awarded for his pioneering scientific work in the field of climate change. His studies on black carbon aerosols, the dark, light absorbing, microscopic particles in the air which greatly influence the energy balance of the atmosphere over the Indian subcontinent, have enabled a better understanding of the role of these particles on climate change, precipitation, and, human health in the Indian subcontinent. 6. Social Sciences The Infosys Prize 2018 for Social Sciences was awarded to Sendhil Mullainathan, professor of Computation and Behavioral Science, the University of Chicago in the US for his path-breaking work in behavioural economics. Mullainathan's research has had a substantial impact on diverse fields such as development, public finance, corporate governance, and policy design. A significant part of this work is relevant to India, ISF said.

Berea College brings a fresh change in the air. Founded in 1855 by a Presbyterian minister who was an abolitionist, it was the first integrated, co-educational college in the South. And it has not charged students tuition since 1892. Every student on campus works, and its labor programme is like work-study on steroids. The work includes everyday tasks such as janitorial services, but older students are often assigned jobs aligned to their academic program, and work on things such as web production or managing volunteer programs. Students receive a physical check for their labor that can go toward housing and living expenses. Fortyfive percent of graduates have no debt, and the ones who do have an average of less than $7,000 in debt, according to Luke Hodson, the college’s director of admissions. Not only this, 96 percent of Berea College students are eligible to receive the Pell Grant—often used as a proxy for low-income enrollment. Most of those students, 70 percent to be exact, are from Appalachia—where nearly one of every five people lives below the poverty line. This recruiting pipeline in Appalachia produces a rather diverse class— more than 40 percent of the student body identify as racial minorities. There are 1,600 undergraduates, representing nearly every state and more than 60 countries.Berea’s educational experience provides students the knowledge and skills to successfully navigate the world. Berea provides a stimulating and challenging environment. Whether in the classroom, attending a convocation, interning, studying abroad or linking labor with academic goals, the educational experience is truly like no other. Students have experiential learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. There are 32 majors in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. There are also select professional programs, independent, student-designed majors and a dual-degree engineering program. About 160 students study, intern or teach abroad each year, most with the generous support of education abroad scholarships or grants.Higher education in America is plagued by many problems: limited access for lowincome and minority students, affordability, etc.—but Berea is different than much of the rest of higher education. While this is positive, it also makes it fragile. It’s unclear if its model will last forever, but for now, it has a simple purpose: it wants to keep education tuitionfree for its students for as long as possible.

BEREA

COLLEGE, SYMBOL OF HOPE

India’s mostliterate states use ed funds effectively According to analysis of data from the government’s auditor, India’s smaller and most-literate states tend to efficiently distribute money given to them by Delhi for education to schools, unlike larger, less-literate states. For instance, Mizoram, India’s third-most-literate state, was fastest in moving central money for education to implementing agencies, within 30 days; Goa, India's fourth-most-literate state, was fastest in moving money from state agencies to schools, within 30 days, according to a 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. 35 states/UTs did not spend Rs 10,681cr ($1.53bn) in 2010, rising to Rs 14,113cr ($2.15bn) in 2016 under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA or Education For All), leading to lower enrolments, fewer classrooms and more teachers in government schools, said the CAG report. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, provides that all children in the age group of 6-14 years have the right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till the completion of their elementary education. SSA, a central government programme, is the main vehicle for implementing the Act. The SSA was revised in March 2011 to correspond to the RTE Act and state RTE rules. Unspent SSA money rose 24 per cent, from Rs 10,680 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 14,112 crore in 2015-16, the highest being Rs 17,281 crore in 2014-15, although the proportion of funds not utilised fell. One reason for higher unspent balance of funds was the delay in moving the money from centre to state to nodal department to various implementing authorities in districts, blocks and schools. The delay in fund transfers from state government to implementing agency ranged from 373 days in Nagaland to 30 days in Mizoram. Fund transfers took longer from state agencies to district agencies and schools, from 300 days in Arunachal Pradesh to 30 days in Goa. As many as nine states and union territories (Andhra Pradesh, Daman & Diu, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh & Nagaland) did not spend money on research, evaluation, monitoring and supervision, the shortfalls ranging from 9 per cent (Gujarat) to 65 per cent (Jharkhand). The CAG survey also found misappropriation of funds in districts; for example, Odisha -where the literacy rate is 73 per cent reported Rs1.04 crore as withdrawn and retained by 58 headmasters, without executing 80 infrastructure works allotted to them. The RTE Act demands that local authorities maintain a record of all children in their jurisdiction through an annual household survey from their birth till age 14 . The CAG found that 21 states and union territories had not maintained any such records or conducted any such surveys between 2010-2016.

December 2018

OP-ED

How has MAYO COLLEGE adapted to the Lt Gen Surendra Kulkarni,

21ST CENTURY?

PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) Director Mayo College, Ajmer

Our endeavour is to equip our students with Knowledge, Skills, Work Habits and Character traits that encompass the 21st Century Learning Skills. We foster Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Global & Cultural Awareness amongst students using the Mayo College Museum and the entire campus as a Classroom.

In my view, 21st century learning skills enable organising (collect and retrieve) information, managing information, evaluating information, and analysing information

Our pedagogy has been realigned to revolve around the students and their needs, make learning fun and evoking a curiosity that stays with our students, thereby helping them to become lifelong learners. We have undertaken the following steps to sensitise our staff and students about the need to realign to current needs & trends viz. the 4 C’s - Communication, Collaboration, Creativity & Critical Thinking and the 3 R’s – Receptivity, Retention & Retrievability. Concept and project-based learning, regular in-house and external workshops, seminars and interventions, inter-disciplinary approach to teaching and learning, helps both our students and faculty, co-relate and learn easier, retain better and also aids excellent retrieval. Technology has been upped on campus over the past few years, overall, cloud technology been engaged to minimise dependency on ground infrastructure. Empowerment for staff to create content suiting their teaching methodology and a Wi-Fi enabled campus helps deliver excellence easily. We follow the 3-R approach to learning and engage students in multiple ways viz. flipped classroom technique, design thinking workshops and case studies, group-learning using mindmaps, blended learning, online learning tools and field and industrial visits.

December 2018

Concepts are introduced to our students up to class 8 and we follow an open curriculum and source, derived from best practices across Indian Boards and international curricula. This will ensure that they can adapt to any kind of curriculum or board or mediums in future. In my view, 21st century learning skills enables organising (collect and retrieve) information, manage information, evaluate information, and analyse information. This can be achieved digitally by use of technology, inventive thinking, effective communication and high productivity. Essentials of a 21st century enabled classroom A 21st century enabled classroom should be able to communicate, share, and use information to solve complex problems. It should also be able to adapt and innovate in response to new demands and changing circumstances, involve the stake holders in being able to command and expand the power of technology to create new knowledge. How modern classrooms will affect students… A 21st century enabled classroom should enable students to acquire the creative thinking, flexible problem solving, collaboration and innovative skills they will need to be successful in work and life and also thrive in today’s global economy. It should give them a good exposure of real world issues and how to tackle them. The communication and collaboration skill sets refer to the ability of individuals to communicate clearly, using oral, written, and non-verbal languages and collaborate effectively and responsibly with diverse populations. Students that follow tra-

ditional learning methods have communication challenges. They are often taught what is given in a text book and seldom do they relate to actual processes. Reference is made to many phenomena that are common like formation of ice and waves in water, baking of bread or for that matter formation of yeast, yet many students have never actually seen or felt it. While education has focused on the fundamentals of good communication â&#x20AC;&#x201C; speech, writing, and reading- the demands of social relations and global economy call for a much more diverse set of communication and collaboration skills. Also with technological advances in the field of education, the students should be able to handle these devices at ease so that education can be holistic and not a formality. Collaborative learning cat fetch rich dividends in learning a concept and at the same time demonstrate the ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams. It also teaches the art of flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal and assume shared responsibility for collaborative work. It also teaches you to value individual contributions made by each team member.

Do modern classrooms help in critical thinking and problem solving? Critical thinking and problem-solving skills include the ability of individuals to reason effectively, ask pointed questions and solve problems, analyse and evaluate alternative points of view and reflect critically on decisions and processes. They also specifically focus on the ability of learners to reason effectively and this can happen only if they understand the concept in-depth. It also helps the students to think in variable environments, make judgments and decisions and solve problems. Critical thinking is the ability to analyse, interpret, evaluate, summarize, and synthesize information. What gives these, perhaps traditional, critical thinking skills a twist in the 21st century is the availability of advanced technologies for accessing, manipulating, creating, analysing, managing, storing and communicating information. How does technology foster creativity and innovation? Numerous case studies have shown how technology allows individuals to produce

high quality work in a range of media that provide opportunities for creativity and also highlight the interconnection between technology, learning and creativity. Lack of attention to developing creativity and innovation skills is often based on a common misperception that creativity is only for geniuses and is a domain for select few. With the help of technology, creativity can be nurtured by teachers and learning environments that encourage questioning, openness to new ideas and learning from mistakes and failures. Creativity and innovation skills can be developed, like other skills, with practice and over time. Just as successful business establishments constantly adapt to the rapid shifts with time, so must education. This calls for a culture of innovation supported by data, research and critical and creative thinking and this in turn develops

December 2018

OP-ED

the ability to work creatively with others. Though it is difficult to assess creativity, there are multiple instruments and assessments that have been designed to measure creativity in specific fields such as problem solving and design. Smart environments in classrooms that aids collaborative learning is a sure shot way to instil creativity and innovation. Schools have developed innovative methods by introducing learning management systems that is mapped to the curriculum and teachers use it as a part of teaching to enhance the conceptual understanding of the processes involved. Smart Boards also play a very impotant role in enhancing collaborative learning practices amongst students and at the same time increase their participation in various activities that enhances academic interest.

Are smart boards/ classrooms helpful in enhancing required skills amongst students? Smart board increases interactivity manifold and help the students in better participation during various class-room based activities. Multi-touch sensors helps group activities amongst students and at the same time help the introvert students to come out of their groove and participate. Group activities foster better understanding as the slow learner takes the assistance of some of his better placed students in his group. Carefully designed classroom activities help the teacher to reach out to the entire spectrum of students including the differently abled students. The collaborative feature in the board can be put to best use during group project work where all categories of

December 2018

students get a chance to take part. Technology helps in laying stress on the following to analyse (distinguish, examine, compare, contrast, investigate, categorize, identify, explain, separate, advertise) to Synthesise (create, invent, compose, predict, plan, construct, design, imagine, propose, devise and formulate) and Evaluate (judge, select, choose, decide, justify, debate, verify, argue, recommend, assess, discuss, rate, prioritize, determine) the capability of every students which enhances the level of teaching learning in the class. Overall, smart boards promote inquiry-based learning experiences, provide opportunities for collaborative project approaches to learning and focus on teaching students “how” to learn rather than “what” to learn.

FEATURE

2018:

OF SMILEYS, PAPER

LEAKS AND

GOOD

INTENTIONS MARIE D’SOUZA highlights all that made news in education through 2018

Think teaching as a profession is way down on the scale of popularity? Apparently, not. According to a study by the Global Teacher Status Index 2018, over 54 per cent of Indian parents want their children to become teachers. India stands alongside Malaysia when it comes to encouraging children to take up teaching jobs. Teacher status in India is the 8th highest out of the 35 countries surveyed.

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued a notice to the head of an NDMCrun school accused of segregating students on the basis of religion. The DCPCR said such segregation can have an ill-effect on holistic learning and development of students and also negatively impact the social fabric of the country.

A study found that globally, mathematics is the most commonly studied subject. This study pub-

lished in the Global Education Census 2018 by Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International), showed that Mathematics (cited by 88 per cent) ranked highest in every one of the 10 countries surveyed. It was followed by English, Chemistry and Physics.

In a move to reduce homophobia and discrimination, Scotland made it mandatory for government schools to teach LGBTI issues. The country passed a law to embed LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) inclusive education in the curriculum, including use of LGBTI terminology, ways to address homophobia and history of LGBTI equalities and movements.

A UP teacher chose to send out his wedding card with a girl child message and logo of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'. Mohammad Aqueel, Assistant Teacher in Maulana Azad Inter-college, Sant Kabeernagar dis-

December 2018

It has been a year that has seen its share of lows – demeaning admission forms and a question paper leak epidemic, to name a few. But there were also innumerable highs such as 550 students of a Lucknow school setting a new Guinness World Record by extracting DNA from bananas! Read on to relive the newsmakers of the year that was…

tributed over 300 invitation cards with the message, as he believes that girls get fewer chances to get educated because of existing illiteracy in our culture.

The Delhi government education department announced that its officials would attend classes in its schools which have recorded poor performances in their jurisdiction to identify loopholes in teaching and suggest measures for improvement or recommend the hiring of additional resource persons using the School Management Committee (SMC) fund.

In a study conducted by Cuemath over six months, collating the opinions of over 500 parents, it emerged that parents believe studentteacher relationship is one of the biggest factors that affect student's motivation and development. Over 90 per cent of the parents surveyed stated that their children are more actively involved in evaluating problems

cation fund. This would be done to ensure the wards of policemen could get a qualitative education in police public schools in the state.

Indo-Canadian expatriates donated more than $7 million dollars to a Toronto-based non-profit organisation which builds and runs education hostels in rural India. The non-profit AIM for SEWA (Canada) builds hostels in far-flung, rural areas of India to educate children from poor families. The non-profit, started by famous Toronto dentist Terry Papneja, has already built 26 hostels in rural India.

16 and are more confident analysing new concepts with the presence of a teacher.

No less than 265 schools in Delhi received the green signal to set up health clinics. The students and teachers of these schools will have the facility for their treatment, medicines, and tests, while each student will be tested and their health record will be maintained.

Stressing on the road safety of students, Himachal Pradesh banned school vehicle drivers above 60 years of age. The new guidelines will be applicable to all modes of transport, including buses and small vehicles like cabs and vans. Plying of school buses older than 15 years was also banned.

The Delhi government asked all schools in the national capital to take measures for prevention of defacement of public property and also sensitise all students of the school in the morning assembly talks, through SMC members and PTM against defacing and harming public property such as school building, historical monuments, municipal properties and flyovers.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Centre was working on a scheme under which kids will

be encouraged to educate their elders at home. "Preparations are underway and the scheme will be launched in two months. We will also issue study material," the minister said.

Samay Godika, a 16-yearold student from a Bengaluru school, won $400,000 or Rs 2.92 crore as educational prize money after winning the fourth annual Breakthrough Junior Challengeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a global science video competition based in the US. A student of the National Public School Koramangala, Samay won this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s science video challenge with his submission on circadian rhythms in the life science category.

ter a further worsening in air pollution levels, Delhi schools shifted the school assembly indoors, made masks mandatory for students and also distributed gooseberries to students to minimise the effects of air pollution on the lungs. An asthma manual for schools was also launched by the Environment Minister to tackle harmful effects of air pollution in school children.

After the decision to provide free education to the children of police martyrs up to class 12, the Haryana Police announced their decision to contribute about Rs 50 lakh per month from the salaries of its personnel for the state police edu-

The Arunachal Pradesh Government and the British Council inked an MoU to build educational cooperation. As a result of the MoU, 50 faculty members from government higher education institutions of the state would be trained by the British Council every year, starting in December 2018, while 50 students of higher and technical education institutes would be trained annually by the British Council in English language skills.

A study found that teenage girl gamers who played over nine hours a week were three times more likely to pursue degrees in Science and Maths. The study also found that all of the girls from the study group who were already in PSTEM degrees were gamers.

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) alerted its D.El.Ed learners about fake websites and agents which are providing misleading information to them. The institution informed that students must stick to the official websites of NIOS only, to avoid being cheated by unauthorised agencies/coaching institutes.

According to the findings of a study, applying green filters on computer screens can help children with dyslexia read faster. The filters had no effect on age-matched children without dyslexia.

CBSE revamped its affiliation bye-laws, to ensure speed, transparency, hasslefree procedures and ease of doing business with the board, said Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar. Moreover, the board has reportedly cleared around 8,000 pending applications for affiliation, some of them dating back to 2007.

December 2018

FEATURE

Praja Foundation, a non-government organisation, highlighted and questioned the status of nutrition of children in civic-run schools. It also suggested several measures to improve conditions of these students on the ground.

In a first in India, Rabindranath World School (RWS), Gurgaon introduced an innovative method of teaching music. Called the Wirth Method, it allows children to learn the fundamentals of music in a fun way, which will help them to realise their hidden potentials.

The CBSE board revealed its decision to ease the passing criteria for class 10 students from 2019. For the new year, the board will conduct the Class 10 and 12 examinations from February and a list of vocational subjects that will be conducted during that period has been released.

The CBSE issued a major rule change whereby schools cannot register over 40 students per section. If they do, they will be penalised. Hundreds of schools are facing the heat!

In order to empower schools and to lessen red-tape, Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government approved the School Management Committee (SMC) Funds, under which the SMCs will get at least Rs 5 lakh per annum per shift. Through the funds, the schools can take care of their various needs on their own.

Education ministers of Afghanistan and UAE among others attended 'happiness classes' in a Delhi government school. The 'Happiness Curriculum' launched by the Delhi government focuses on holistic education by including meditation, value education, and mental exercises in conventional education curriculum.

In the wake of self-harming games such as the Momo challenge, schools released advisories to prevent students from indulging in them. Parents and teachers were also advised to monitor a child's online and social media activity, look out for unusually secretive behaviour, and install a good cyber/mobile parenting software.

At the inauguration of the Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence conference, PM Narendra Modi highlighted the challenges before the Indian education system and discussed how to work on a plan for a paradigm shift both in terms of achieving academic outcomes and also in the regulation of education. He also stressed that education should not be confined only to classrooms, but that students should also learn from reallife challenges.

According to a Cambridge study, Indian students engage in more extra classes and co-curricular activities than their peers in other countries. Almost twothird of Indian students take extra tuition for key subjects after school.

December 2018

They also rank high on the time spent doing homework, with 40 per cent spending two to four hours on their homework every day.

In Lucknow, 550 students set a new Guinness World Record by extracting DNA from bananas. The students of classes 7 to 12 participated in the event to extract DNA from the fruit using a custom-made kit.

CBSE revealed that it is mulling introducing sign language or braille as a subject, along with computer-based tests, attendance waivers and flexible subject selection options for students with special needs. The board is in the process of formulating comprehensive guidelines for students with special needs.

In good news for the young â&#x20AC;&#x2122;uns, fresh directives issued by the Human Resource Development Ministry ban homework for schoolchildren of classes 1 and 2 across India. There will also be prescribed weight limits for school bags of every class.

At a Teachers Day event, VP M Venkaiah Naidu made a strong pitch for imparting school education in mother tongue throughout the country. He also pointed out that while technology has made rapid inroads into the education sector, it cannot replace the teacher who only can mould the students into good citizens.

At the Annual International Career and College Counselling Conference it was estimated that India’s 350 million students need at least 1.4 million career counsellors to maintain a globally acceptable student-to-school-counsellor ratio.

The perception that online is for amusement and not studies is changing and a KPMG-Google study estimated that online education in India is set to become a $1.96 billion industry by 2021 with 9.6 million users.

There was a significant drop in the number of candidates who registered for the class 10 and class 12 board examination in UP. The drastic fall in the number is largely attributed to the crackdown on cheating mafia undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh government earlier this year.

The Maharashtra government decided to introduce a foreign education scholarship scheme for the open (general) category and other backward class (OBC). Students from the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) already get scholarship for studying in foreign varsities. The new scheme will cover the open category students, OBCs, as well as those from nomadic and denotified tribes.

In encouraging news for students, it was announced that students in Maharashtra clearing class 10, 12 re-exams can apply for professional courses by August 31.

Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar declared the launch of ‘Operation Digital Board’ in all schools within five years. The Connected Learning Initiative (CLIx), a technology programme for high school students, was seed-funded by Tata Trusts and it is being delivered through a collaboration with MIT Boston and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai. CLIx aims to demonstrate effective and sustainable changes in classroom learning, using ICT to both improve student learning and create effective models of teacher professional development.

The Union government cleared a proposal to set up 13 new Kendriya Vidyalayas in the country, five of which are in Uttar Pradesh. It will benefit 13,000 more eligible students.

According to the information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, it emerged that of the 918 posts of principals nearly 600 of Delhi’s government schools are running headless — some of them for the past six years.

The Assam government announced its salary revision of teachers of all higher education institutes as per University Grants Commission (UGC) scale. The salary revision will benefit 8,800 teachers of universities and provincialised colleges.

Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar announced that four-year

integrated BEd courses will be started from the next academic year. “The four-year composite courses are B.A (B.Ed), B.Sc (B.Ed) and B.Com (B.Ed). Those who want to become teachers can apply for these courses after Class 12,” the minister said.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) initiated the process of introducing Quick Response (QR) code in their textbooks, a move aimed at helping students understand chapters better by watching a film or reading additional content on laptops and digital boards.

The Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the Right to Education (RTE) that abolishes the ‘no detention policy’ in schools. While the no detention policy has been done away with, it will be at the discretion of the states whether or not to continue with it.

According to its free education for poor policy, the Delhi Government will allot Rs.600 more per child to all private schools in the national capital as monthly reimbursement for admissions under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category from the upcoming academic session. The amount is raised to Rs 2,242 for students from class nursery to 5 and Rs 2,225 for students from class 6 and 8.

In a weird turn, all 24 girls of a government school in Hisar failed the HBSE class 10 exam. The sarpanch of the village claimed that the school didn’t have

December 2018

FEATURE

teachers for Sanskrit, Hindi, Science and Mathematics.

dents till April. The helpline received nearly three times more calls from boys than from girls.

Private coaching centres in Chandigarh were barred from giving tuitions to school-going students from 8 am to 3 pm for 60 days from July 1 in public interest. The tuition timings of these coaching centres clashed with the school time of children.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu maintained that the upgradation of elementary schools to high schools and the latter to higher secondary schools has reduced the number of dropouts in the state.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar assured that the much-awaited National Education Policy's "zero draft" is ready and will be implemented by the end of 2018 The Minister said that 33 new initiatives have been taken in the last four years to strengthen the educational system.

In keeping with the NCERT textbooks revision exercise, more space will be allotted to historical figures like Maharana Pratap, Peshwa Bajirao and Swami Vivekanda. The deeds of nationalist icons will feature in text books for classes 6 to 10.

In a relief to parents, the Arvind Kejriwal government ordered 525 private schools to refund excess fees with interest. The fees had been charged citing the 6th Pay commission recommendation.

52 53

In the aftermath of the SSC paper leak case, the CBI registered a case, and conducted raids at 12 locations.

More boys called the CBSE counselling helpline with stress-related queries during exams than girls, statistics have revealed. This annual outreach programme which helps students beat exam stress begins in February every year and provides counselling to stu-

Sports icon Sachin Tendulkar suggested to the CBSE that sports period be made mandatory for all classes. The ‘Master Blaster’ stressed that efforts should be made to build a strong sporting culture in the country, adding that India is at number 3 when it comes to obesity and it is a matter of serious concern.

The Delhi government asked its schools to collect used textbooks from students, and form book banks. The banks will offer the books to under-privileged children.

A committee was formed to suggest measures to combat mathematics phobia among students after a national survey of state-run schools revealed "fear complex" about the subject. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the committee, with educationists and officers as its members, would submit its report on the same.

Haryana’s school admission forms attracted flak for asking students a slew of personal questions including whether they were suffering from genetic disorders, if their parents were engaged in any ‘unclean’ occupation, whether they are income tax payees, and also their religion and caste details.

December 2018

West Bengal board examination class 10 students were left smiling while answering their English second language paper… They were asked to write about Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli’s career and life in 100 words. Students shared that they were excited even after the exam ended.

A CBSE official was suspended over laxity in supervising an examination centre in connection with the paper leak case and a formal enquiry was initiated in the matter. Earlier, three persons, including teachers of a private school at Bawana in outer Delhi, were arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police for their suspected roles in the leak of Class 12 CBSE economics paper.

The Narendra Modi government removed the cap of Rs 10,000 per month imposed by it in July last year on educational assistance given to children of martyrs or those disabled in action. The Union government will now fully fund education of children of martyrs.

Experts at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai suggested that India needs to have a comprehensive relook at its education sector to prepare its youth which comprise over 50 per cent of the 1.3 billion population for the future. They called for a shift in the policy to meet the challenges of the changing times.

To increase learning outcomes in schools across the country, NITI Aayog's project SATH-E is promoting vocational education, skill development, teacher training and introducing technology in classrooms. The project also aims

at ensuring access, equity and quality in education, with a specialised focus on out-of-school children and dropouts, to enable a system-wide governance transformation in school education.

The Delhi government launched Mission Buniyaad in municipal schools in the city to identify the students who cannot read. It will join hands with civic bodies to improve the children studying in schools under them.

In his book Exam Warriors, PM Modi offered 25 mantras including yoga asanas, to help students face examinations without stress. He sent an inspirational message to students in his book, to prepare them to face the difficulties ahead of their exams.

Budget 2018 for education saw the government allocating an estimated expenditure of Rs 1.38 crore for health, education and social protection against the estimated expenditure of Rs 1.22 lakh crore in 2017-18. The major focus this year in the sector was on increasing the digital intensity in education and moving gradually from ‘blackboard’ to ‘digital board’, said Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley.

In a bid to make studies more fun and less stressful, report cards of class 1 and 2 students in Madhya Pradesh will now have smileys instead of marks. Once the changes have been made by the schools, the report cards of nearly 16 lakh students across the state will reflect this cheerful change.

The Maharashtra government has decided to form an education board to prepare the syllabus for non-English medium schools. In the first phase, 100 selected Marathi schools will function according to the new syllabus.

The principal of a boarding school and four members of staff were among nine people arrested over the rape of a 15-year-old student in northern India for their attempt to hush up the same. The year unfortunately saw a slew of abuse and crimes against students which brought the issue of safety in school into the spotlight.

“EDUCATION IS ON THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND PATH-BREAKING HIGHWAY”

he year 2018 was all about importance on all forays of education in various ways. Early Childhood Education had its place under the sun with the International conference of Early Childhood Association in February 2018 which had a meeting of great minds and speakers from all over the world discussing the Future of Kindergartens and the Kindergartens of the Future. Early Childhood Education being the foundation stage of human learning years is steadily getting the recognition and importance due to it since long, especially in India. We had the ScooNews Global Ed Fest in Udaipur with the complete support of the royal family especially Prince Lakshayraj Singh Mewar. The ed fest, which was one of its kind, brought together an array of top-notch educationists to share knowledge and pave the path towards making India a superpower in education. ScooNews have prepared the path for educators coming together to make a positive difference through all their endeavours like interaction with none other than Dr Sugata Mitra in April 2018 along with the Tech Dive in Hyderabad in October 2018. These ed fests and conclaves have proven to be master classes for masters in their fields, enlightening each delegate that there is no dearth or end to learning or sharing knowledge.2018 also saw The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) being asked by the Human Resources and Development Ministry to start working on the 4 year integrated B.A.-B.Ed. and B.Sc.-B.Ed. courses. This step is being taken to ensure that only serious students opt for the teacher training program. Students will be able to take admission to the four-year training program right after finishing class 12.An extremely important step was taken in the education sector whereby only seriously interested people armed with a degree in education and competently trained to impart learning can shape the future of the coming generations. As per the news resources, the Maharashtra government was to hold the first ever CET for the integrated B.Ed. program on June 21, 2018, and had finalised the curriculum for the same. They are likely start to the course and make it compulsory from academic session 2019-2020. Finnish education came forward and became known all over the world as the finest education system. India awoke to the concept of paying attention to the whole child and holistic learning instead of rote learning and age-old classroom methodologies. Mother tongue as the prime means of communication gained acceptance in schools along with learning other languages. Safety and security gained priority as background checks and police verifications came to the fore with an organization called Betterplace diligently taking it up to educational organizations all over the country in a big way with the skill ministry and Early Childhood Association backing them with trainings vital for management of safety in health and risks in schools especially in times when we came across unfortunate and heart-rending incidents of violence and rape in well-known schools in different cities of our country. Education in India is at the most progressive and path breaking highway now, with technology, child centric approach, culture and integrity becoming the blueprint of learning for the future generations. Smriti Agarwal, Senior headmistress, Podar Jumbo Kids, Mumbai

December 2018

COVER STORY

AR-VR The Next Revolution in Education

It is the responsibility of educators to understand the relevance and importance of introducing AR-VR in the classroom, writes ANUSHKA YADAV

December 2018

ut three generations together in a room and ask them about their education experience. It won’t be a shocking revelation that all three have been educated via the same old methods.

For decades the focus of Indian education has been on instruction based teaching and rote learning. Educators and often parents instruct students to memorise texts and vomit them out on the exam sheet. The ancient methods of education have been rewarding accuracy instead of curiosity.

Think! For a minute, think whether you have used this technology at any point of time in your life. If you have played Pokemon Go with your child or used face filters on Snapchat, Instagram or WhatsApp, you have experienced the magic of augmented reality. Virtual Reality (VR) is itself a whole new environment which can give a completely immersive experience to the user. It is simply a computer-generated simulation or replacement of one’s environment that is substituted by the digital world to fool our senses. What is VR in one word? It is Mental Teleportation. However, unlike VR, AR doesn’t rely on a dedicated device for display. Thus, it adds more to the reality, making it mainstream to the fourth industrial revolution.

Nonetheless, the education ecosystem has experienced varied waves of change; from traditional pedagogical methods to the use and evolution of Educational Technology or EdTech. However, we are miles away from creating a classroom that our students deserve. Educators often feel bedazzled by such advancements in technology. However, the need to inculcate EdTech in the syllabi is not very strongly felt. Are you an educator who believes in the constant evolution of education? Then, continue reading and journey through the miraculous and magical land of altered reality.

Two Sides of a Coin: AR and VR Remember dissecting a frog in science class? Our children can still do it and understand the functioning of a living being’s body without harming it. How? Through the revolutionary Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology. Two sides of a coin; Augmented Reality (AR) is simply projecting the digital data in 3D form on real-world surfaces. The technology enables the world to become its interface as users exercise more intuitive control. Who can use this revolutionary technology? The answer to this question is ANYONE and EVERYONE. From educators teaching a class using the revolutionary technology to parents helping out their child with techno-based homework, altered reality as EdTech will bridge the gaps between parents, educators and student in an interactive and entertaining way. Ankit Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, Pytorq Solutions Pvt Ltd says, “AR-VR technology has the strong potential to be a standard tool in education and can revolutionise the way schools are giving education to students. Teachers, as well as parents, can use AR-VR to make the student experience the knowledge

instead of just listening and watching it.” Future of Education: Why we need AR-VR in Education? Having trouble in understanding a topic? All of us face difficulty in grasping certain topics, subjects and complex concepts. When reading doesn’t suffice, AR & VR come to the rescue. AR helps in visualizing the subject because a picture is indeed worth a thousand words. “AR-VR lets students and teachers interact with each other in a threedimensional environment. It uses AR-

VR to create real-life scenarios exposing kids to distance education, education through games, visualize complex theories, and virtual campus visits etc. All of this leads to prolonged memory and interest development of students.” says Ankush Sharma, CEO, Yeppar. Students gain practical experience with better insight and understanding. And it’s easy on the pockets of education institutions as AR doesn’t require heavy investments on hardware. All you require is a smartphone or tablet with camera; place the camera in front of your textbook and experience a 2D image transform and come alive into a 3D object.

December 2018

COVER STORY FUN FACT: The term Augmented Reality was coined by Boeing researcher Thomas Caudell in 1990.

Headphones offered by Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Samsung

VR technology requires headmounted display (HMD) like the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, connected to a powerful desktop computer or a Sony PSVR connected to a PlayStation. Check this month’s TechItOut to discover some new and interesting AR & VR Apps you can download for free!

What kind of devices are required to set up an AR-VR Classroom?

To set up a magical classroom for your know-it-all students, you need “smart devices”. What are these devices? 1

Smartphone or Tablet with internet and camera

Smart Glasses such as Googleglass, Vuzix M3000 or Headsets offered by HoloLens, Meta2, Magic Leap These devices are often accompanied by smartpens, stylus and/or remotes that help the user access the information and “object” presented. The user can download additional apps to explore the varied advantages of the AR-VR world.

However, virtual reality apps require a headset to function. Nonetheless, the headsets provide a transformative experience. Availed with immersive content, VR allows the student to focus on profound details with a 360-degree realistic view. “Isn’t it going to be exciting to see the formation of the sun while flying in space and the reactions like nuclear fission and fusion happening in the book? Why are we still aligning our fingers to

know the directions of current, magnetic field and electrical field if all of these can be easily projected on a real wire with a very high accuracy using this technology?” Ankit Singh adds. He further states, “The technology is so powerful that a report estimates ARVR to be a $90 billion industry by 2022 and is expected to grow at CAGR of 76% over the next six years. Engineering, military, retail, and entertainment industries are already being disrupted by it. AR-VR can make

December 2018

infinite unimaginable as well as imaginable things possible. Many of these unknown beauties are already sparkling inside a child’s brain which deserves to come out with no limits and no boundaries.” With every year, we are causing more damage to the planet. Using the technology will enable our children to have eco-friendly classrooms. They will be learning subjects in real time at the click of a button.

Sounds like magic? It is the education our children deserve. The AR-VR Experience: Straight from the Educator Avnita Bir, Director-Principal, R N Podar School, Mumbai shares her thoughts and experience with the powerful yet simple technology of AR and VR. “There is no denying that technology is revolutionising education. Emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR)

and augmented reality (AR) are increasingly becoming the buzzword at education conferences. However, while their popularity in the gaming sphere is undeniable given the immersive experience they provide, their use in education is still rhetorical and at the preliminary stage. This is expected given that any new disruptive technology first impacts the entertainment industry while education as a sector generally responds to change only in a linear manner and at a slower

pace.“My first brush with VR was at the Google HQs in Mountain View when Google Expeditions, using the Google Cardboard, was being launched. The promise of experiential learning, not limited by classroom boundaries, was as fascinating for adults as for children. More recently I had the opportunity to try the HTC Vive that provides a much more interactive VR experience. “The extensive benefits of viewing content in an entirely immersive environment, or

December 2018

COVER STORY

“Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers is transformational.” - George Couros

layering digital elements over real life, are quite evident. There is so much potential for bringing the curriculum to life using virtual and augmented reality experiences, from visiting far off places in the world to holding the human heart in your hands. Mixed Reality blends virtual objects with real world views and allows students to physically interact with a huge range of exciting 3D models. Hold a human heart in your hands, get up close and personal with the Sun or any other planet, or step inside a medieval house. Students can even create, upload and view their own 3D creations. “The lessons using VR-AR enriched curriculum leave them with memories and experiences that help visualize and understand even the most complex of subjects, and engages and motivates them like never before. “One of the less frequently considered benefits of VR in the classroom is the unparalleled opportunity it gives students to truly understand the perspectives of others, thus building life skills like empathy in students. Imagine the understanding and emotional experience a student could gain from standing in the trenches during World War I, or the insight into life in other cultures. “More and more teachers are adopting EdTech to enhance their teaching methods to motivate their students. However, emerging technologies are not being optimised outside of STEM classes; science, technology, engineering and mathematics. There is very little use of technology across core subjects such as history, English and geography, and softer subjects like art and design. There is a considerable gap and therefore hugely untapped opportunity in pedagogy.

“While the prospects of AR-VR in education are promising, its use on the ground is limited by the inherent nature and pace of change in schools. The issues of cost, space, access and logistics compound the inherent challenges of large class sizes. There is also the issue of developing suitable VR content and structured lesson plans to guide teachers in their use of this new EdTech tool. While AR-VR simulated experiences can satisfy the need for instant gratification in the gaming sector, such is not the case with education. VR is set to make waves in education. The number of free applications and platforms designed specifically for virtual education is increasing. Some teachers dismiss VR as too complicated, too expensive or simply irrelevant to their teaching methods. “Virtual Reality, with a little bit of creativity and some planning, is a simple but underused EdTech channel for teaching subjects that are not traditionally tech-focused. Not only can VR bring locations to life, give students the chance to experience history through their own eyes, it can also encourage artistic, and photography skills. “The Google Cardboard is a viable tool that can solve some of the issues of affordability, access and logistics. Google Expeditions provide a huge database of imagery and information, converted into a one-stop teaching tool. Places of historical, geographical and political importance are highlighted and additional information is provided on the screen to supplement the learning experience. Schools using the BYOD model can easily introduce these experiences in their classrooms. The tool allows teachers to take their pupils on VR field trips around the world, through the Google Cardboard

December 2018

viewer. Students can go on self-guided tours, allowing more scope for homework projects and non-class based activities. “The future of education will definitely be shaped by the advent of AR-VR technology. However, it will go through many iterations before it can be fully customized for schools and teachers to embrace the same. Again, as with all EdTech tools, it will be at the intersection of educators, technologists and enterprise that this innovation will bring the best results. No meaningful change can be effected in silos.” What does the future hold for AR-VR in the education system? “Till now, only 5% of schools are making use of ARVR in their classrooms. But the dropping prices of AR-VR devices and an increase in awareness about this technology will lead to a positive response from school faculty to immerse headfirst into the reality world. In future AR-VR in schools would offer personalized learning to weaker students, prepare students for real-life experiences and self-defense, and teachers fully acquainted with AR-VR. AR-VR is at the doorstep of education, and ready to change the education system as we know it,” Ankush Sharma adds. Today, millennials are part of a world with infinite distractions. Therefore, it is imperative to keep students excited and interested about learning through interactive experiences. These 21st century solutions actively engage learners to produce fruitful results in the form of rapid learning and improved retention. However, for students to feel at home with EdTech, it is the responsibility of educators to understand the relevance and importance of introducing AR-VR in the classroom.

OP-ED

1918 VS 2018 — Nishi Misra,

What has CHANGED for GIRLS

Principal, Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, Gwalior

“ Today, most girls can dare to dream and know that with hard work and dedication, their dreams and aspirations will bear fruit. However, I use the word “most” intentionally, as there are still places in our country where social evil raises its ugly head against the female gender.

Looking out of my office window, when I behold the bright and happy faces of my girls as they merrily chatter on their way from their hostels to their classrooms, I cannot help but think that our venerable founder of Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, in her heavenly abode, must be delighted to hear the grounds of her palatial campus ring with the sound of girls being educated. This is the India of 2018, when the right to education is a fundamental right guaranteed to everyone in this country, irrespective of gender. However, was this the happy scenario one hundred years ago? It dismays me to discover that this was not the case. The great human tragedy that was the first World War, was drawing to a close by November 1918 and the death toll of young men who succumbed in that endless conflict was, indeed, a great blot on human history. Mercifully, women hardly played a part in that disaster as manliness and male domination was the order of the day. The one bright spot in those dismal days of 1918 was that women had finally been granted the right to vote in Britain, and would no longer have to chain themselves to the railings of Buckingham Palace to protest against the violation of their equal rights. Though in the far-flung regions of the British Empire that joy of equality was hardly noticeable. The hundred years that have gone by in the life of the girl has seen myriad changes. Many rights that women take for granted today were denied to their counterparts a hundred years ago. From everyday things like opening a bank account on their own or applying for a loan, to the denial of fundamental rights, such

as the rights to equal pay and holding property on the same terms as men, were non-existent for girls from any strata of society. When it came to career choices there was hardly much to choose from and most girls could at best look forward to a happy marriage, a comfortable home and a caring husband. However, if the latter did not work out, there was nothing she could do, as it was difficult for a woman to obtain a court order against a man. By 1918, in developed countries, girls could look forward to attending school to learn the “three R’s”: Reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic, along with “women specific” tasks such as needlework and sewing. In India, schools for the affluent Indian and Europeans had been established, mostly by missionaries, but credit must be given, when talking about girls education in this country, to the work of Jotirao Govindrao Phule, a social activist, who, along with his wife Savitribai (reported to be the first lady teacher in India) opened a school to educate underprivileged girls in India. Flash forward to 2018 and we see a different picture altogether. Women have attained high rank and great honour in their professional lives. From the battlefield to the boardroom, women have made their assured mark. Today, most girls can dare to dream and know that with hard work and dedication, their dreams and aspirations will bear fruit. However, I use the word “most” intentionally, as there are still places in our country where social evil raises its ugly head against the female gender. Instances of child marriage, dowry, denial of inheritance and even the entry into shrines and temples are blatant injustices that need to be confronted.

December 2018

OP-ED

The difference between the ‘emancipated’ and underprivileged women has increased over the last hundred years. Back then, disempowerment of women was more universal than it is now. The difference therefore is more stark today. But what is still universal is the crime against women. In this, the haves and have-nots are equally victimised. The difference is only in the reportage of the crimes. Laws, worldwide, have certainly been changed in favour of women. In India itself, the laws against dowry have helped end the horrible deaths at the altar of this evil even though the evil itself lives brazenly among us. Similarly divorce laws finally give a fair chance to women for breaking out of the shackles of exploitative and abusive marriages. The opening of the Indian economy in the Eighties drove the most significant nail in the coffin of suppression of women. Suddenly,

opportunities for women to become equal bread-winners presented themselves. The families that availed the opportunities had obvious benefits and a lifestyle that everyone else wanted a share of! Matrimonial classifieds suddenly looked upon the ‘working woman’ as a prize catch! The gold-rush for women to get jobs gained a frenzied pace. Sadly, however, the new dimension of the woman’s persona came with its own burdens. She now had to balance the expectations of home with the work place. ‘Multi-tasking’ was a new term that was coined to define the expectations from a modern woman. Her new identity saddled her with new responsibilities without giving relief from the traditional role of serving the family as a ‘house wife’. The cracks have begun to show. Many women are beginning to return to the traditional role in a new avatar as ‘home-makers’. The stay-athome-Mum is far from rolling in luxury. She is

December 2018

required to do far more today than ever before to enable her family to keep pace with the dizzying pace of the 21st century. On a positive note, though, when each successive batch of girls pass out from the portals of Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, it heartens me to dream as well – to dream that many of them will be the harbingers of social change. One cannot but see the obvious confidence among girls which was so rare even a few decades ago. Living in the shadows is not for the girl of today. She has stepped up to take her place in the sun. Sometimes I say to my students, only half in jest, that there is a big bad world outside and I used to fear for my school-leaving batches. But today when they step out, I fear for the world! So, when 2118 comes around, one can be certain that people will look back, the same way as we are doing today, and marvel at the progress made by the girl child in 100 years.

EVENT

TOP REASONS YOU SHOULDN’T MISS

EARLY ED ASIA 40 speakers, 600 delegates, one gorgeous palace and all the other factors that make EarlyEd Asia 2019 (Jaipur) an unmissable event on the education calendar

ur Children. Our Future’ – with this motto, EarlyEd Asia 2019 seeks to provide a platform for learning, networking and sharing the best practices of Early Childhood Education in Asia. Held at the City Palace Jaipur over February 12 and 13, 2019, it will focus on relevant research and developmentally appropriate practices in care, neurosciences, education and policies for the betterment of Early Childhood Education. Hosted by Princess Diya Kumari, The Royal Family of Jaipur, and organised by ScooNews and Early Childhood Association, India, EarlyEd Asia 2019 is the largest Early Childhood Conference of Asia. The conference will be an effort to bring in more hands

‘O

to join in and support the reform of Early Childhood Development (ECD). Collaborations will be established with local and international organisations, and professionals in the ECD space. It will be one of the largest international conferences devoted to modern childhood issues, attended by academicians, practitioners, and policy-makers from across Asia.

Here are the top reasons why this edition should not be missed… Invaluable content The two-day Conference & Expo at The City Palace, the heart of the Pink City, is a once in a lifetime experience, offering a wealth of precious content. Experts in the field will share the table

December 2018

to discuss the latest research and exemplary practice in care, neurosciences, education and policies. With workshops, presentations and sessions delivering unparalleled insights on the latest in Early Childhood Education, it is the perfect amalgamation of professionals who recognise the impact of quality Early Childhood practices on the lives of children and their families. From curriculum development and leadership enhancement to enriching and re-imaging the classroom experience and STEAM, teachers learn from renowned local and international experts and take away practical tips they can immediately implement in their classes to make learning more engaging for their students.Stalwart patronsEarlyEd Asia 2019 is organised

by ScooNews and Early Childhood Association, India, and hosted by Princess Diya Kumari, the royal family of Jaipur. Known as a princess with the strength of a warrior, Princess Diya Kumari is one of the most proficient women of modern India. With marvellous adroitness she manages her copious business ventures, school, museums and NGOs, while devoting a large part of her time to developing her constituency of Sawai Madhopur (a large area including Sawai Madhopur City and vast stretches of backward rural areas, along with the Ranthambore National Forest and Tiger Reserve) as an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan. In 2014 she was appointed Rajasthan

State Government’s Ambassador for the Save the Girl Child campaign and was awarded the YFLO Women Achievers Award in Politics. In January 2017, Princess Diya Kumari was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Award in acknowledgement of her mammoth contribution and impact in the field of benevolence and playing a lead role in family heritage.

Stimulating speakers From Princess Diya Kumari Jaipur, Dr Swati Popat Vats (President Early Childhood Association India) and Dr Daniela Lucangeli (Professor University of Padua Italy) to Dr Kamini Rege (Treasurer ECA-India) and Stefano Cobello (Coordinator Polo Europeo Della Conoscenza Italy), the

speaker list at EEA Jaipur is a treasure trove of inspiration. EEA is known for the relevant and insightful topics delivered by speakers who will inspire, energise and boost the morale of educators keen to enhance their craft. It offers a plethora of professional growth opportunities exposing participants to new trends and ideas that will impact the future of institutions and help discover ways of increasing quality and productivity. Listening to experts sharing their expertise can be a huge inspiration to take action! The ideas, research and best practices shared will help motivate you to think of what more is achievable. Many ‘Aha’ and ‘Eureka’ moments assured!

Path to success

December 2018

EVENT

What When Where

: EarlyEd Asia, Jaipur : February 12, 13, 2019 : The City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Visit https: //earlyed.asia

Teachers attending EEA Jaipur are bound to reap multiple benefits. For starters, this is an opportunity to mingle with their peers from other schools, absorb ideas from the experts on various topics and themes, discuss their doubts and broaden their perspectives. In addition, they will also get the chance to acquire certifications which enhance their professional careers. The experience is thus not only enriching, but also rewarding in the long run, as teachers learn from renowned local and international experts and take away practical tips they can immediately implement in their classes to make learning more engaging for their students. The deliberations and discussions will provide educators and organisations with the latest ideas and best practices and research in Early Childhood Education.

Outstanding contributions EarlyEd Asia will throw up inspiration galore as the focus is turned on remarkable efforts of those in the education firmament, including teachers, schools, ed professionals, ed tech com-

panies, and brands who offer a range of products and solutions for the education market. It is the ideal platform to keep abreast of the latest programmes and innovations as well as identify and emulate those who have achieved landmarks in education in Asia. Participants will learn what is new and move with the rapidly changing times. Success in ECE after all is all about innovative practice which is strongly based on research. Ideas are available on Google too, but EarlyEd Asia is the ideal ground to gain insights on why the ideas are important and how you can eliminate the pain-points of implementing ideas.

Products gallery A range of up-to-the-minute educational tools will be showcased at the event, displayed by several local and international companies. These educational products and solutions offer educators the chance to help deliver education most effectively, leading to improved results in students. School owners and decision makers would have the chance to choose the optimum tools to

December 2018

improve learning outcomes and upgrades. It is the perfect place to mingle, meet, try out products, choose and improve school resources.

Effective networking With delegates from across Asia in attendance, EarlyEd Asia offers a wonderful chance for educators and ed professionals to connect with contemporaries from a range of countries. It makes for an ideal platform for professional, personal and business growth. EEA is the perfect education conference to meet and connect with this invaluable grid.

Heritage venue The gorgeous environs of Jaipurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed City Palace will play its own part in the proceedings, lending its regal grace and aura of inspiration to the conference. It is also the perfect getaway to add in a dose of fun, as educators reconnect with old friends, make new ones from across Asia and let their hair down. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget those dancing shoes or, on second thoughts, just dispense with footwear completely like they would in the beautiful sands of Rajasthan!

EVENT

TOP REASONS

GESS DUBAI

IS WORTH VISITING From future professional success and educational tools showcase to inspiring speakers, GESS Dubai offers much that should not be missed

ESS Dubai, the biggest education show in the Middle East, is prepping for its 12th year in February 2019. Thousands of education professionals have visited this annual exhibition and conference year after year learning from great speakers and sourcing new educationfocused products and solutions. Here are the top reasons why its next edition should not be missed: Top-notch conference content More than 200 workshops, presentations and sessions deliver unparalleled

December 2018

insights on the latest in education. From curriculum development and leadership enhancement to enriching and re-imaging the classroom experience and STEAM, teachers learn from renowned local and international experts and take away practical tips they can immediately implement in their classes to make learning more engaging for their students. GESS Dubai is organised in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education, and since its inception has

come under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Ruler of the UAE. Adopting the theme of Empathy, GESS Dubai hopes to Inspire, Empower and Flourish. Future professional success Teachers attending GESS Dubai benefit in so many ways. They get to meet their peers from other schools, learn from experts on various topics and themes, but also get CPD certifications

that can give a boost their professional careers. The experience of participating at GESS Dubai is not only enriching, but also ultimately rewarding in the long-term. Inspiring speakers GESS Dubai has always received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the relevance and insightful content of its conference programme. Here are some of the speakers for the 2019 edition whose topics will inspire, energize and give a boost to teachers seeking new

December 2018

EVENT ways to improve their craft: • Kevin Ruth, Developing Leaders for an Age of Exponential Learning Elise Tarvainen, Pedagogical leadership as a catalyst for school transformation - Easy practices • Janet Larson, Three Ways to Get Students Talking about Your Academic Content and Teacher, I’m Bored!” How Schools Are Revolutionizing Teaching for Active Engagement • Zen Khan, Moral Education • Ronald Lalonde, Finding Simplicity in Complexity • Helen Wright, The diversity equation: how diversity in leadership can improve school outcomes (1hour workshop: How to make sure your next leadership role is the perfect fit) • Gilda Scarfe, Leadership: The link between instructional leadership and student wellbeing outcomes and SEN Talk: Positive Education: Empowering students and teachers to flourish • Ashley Green, Yoga & Mindfulness Education achievers GESS Dubai puts the spotlight on outstanding contributions from schools, teachers and education professionals as well as companies and brands providing various products and solutions for the education market in the Middle East through the GESS Education Awards. Find out who have made an impact, launched innovative programmes, and achieved new milestones to boost the growth and quality standards of education in the region. Educational tools showcase Over 550 local and international companies are showcasing the latest educational products and solutions that teachers can use to make them more effective in helping their students achieve better results. From hi-tech teaching aides and materials, to innovative STEAM equipment and tools, GESS Dubai provides school owners and decision-makers a wide-range of choices for their teaching professional boost or next classroom upgrade.

One of the exhibitors worth visiting is Irish virtual reality soft-

December 2018

ware firm, Immersive VR Education (IVRE), which will showcase the ENGAGE platform at their stand. The IVRE team will be available across 3 days to give demos to visitors wishing to see what the future of education looks like.

ENGAGE enables educators to host meetings, classes, private tutorials, training sessions and presentations with people from all over the world participating in a safe, virtual, multi-user environment. It is designed as a complementary tool to enhance classroom teaching, or as a standalone tool providing distance learners with access and opportunities to connect at a collegial level with their fellow students. The company is working on a unique ‘Dubai VR’ experience which will be part of its demonstration tool-kit for visitors throughout the event. Everyone from local school students to educators will be able to experience a view of Dubai in the 'virtual' world ...and get to appreciate the power and innovation behind the ENGAGE platform. High-value network Education professionals will also have a chance to network with their peers from 92 countries around the world.

It’s a valuable community to connect with for business and professional growth. Among the top countries where visitors came from include Saudi Arabia, India, Oman, Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan, Kenya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain and Nigeria as well as from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For those exhibiting, 74% of visitors influenced or had purchasing authority. To meet and connect with this high-value network, make sure GESS Dubai is on your calendar. What’s new? The 2019 edition of GESS Dubai promises a new exhibition experience

through the Arena Active series which features sessions that include drama, dance and singing to foster discussions on how performing arts are powerful tools teachers can use in developing soft skills of students. Start-up showcase Meet enterprising new small businesses and entrepreneurs that are shaking up the education sector with their disruptive new ideas. Many of these startups are providing innovative solutions geared specifically for learning situations in the Middle East, tailor-fitting their offers for the unique needs of teachers and students in the region.

December 2018

EVENT Make the most out of your visit to GESS Dubai. Here are the areas inside the exhibition halls where you can sit for inspirational content from the event’s elite line up of speakers: GESS Talks Arena The Arena will feature an exciting range of talks from individual keynotes, to panel sessions and 1-2-1 interview style conversations. With inspirational keynotes and dynamic movers and shakers, these sessions are designed to inspire and engage to help you learn about the latest global education trends and to push your education agenda forwards. Leadership Stream Exclusively for our Leaders in Education members, these sessions are aimed at Leaders within education from pre-school, K12 to those from HE/FE colleges and universities. Looking at the challenges that leader of schools and educational institutions face, the qualities required to make a good leader and the skills required to advance in senior positions. Innovation Stage Find out about the latest innovations in products and services for educators today, featuring case histories, interactive showcases, features and benefits

of products. Be empowered and ask the questions you’ve always wanted to, experience these dynamic workshops first hand and learn how to future proof your school. Future Learning Essential workshops by educators for educators. Learn from the very best, experience real stories from schools and see students and teachers showcase themselves. These sessions are interactive and thought provoking, looking at innovations in teaching and will range from the latest trends in STEAM, Digital, SEN, VR, to showcasing sports, music, drama, happiness, SEN and Arabic in the classroom. Neuroscience and Wellbeing New for 2019 the GESS team are pleased to be showcasing a series of talks from consultants, and educators on Wellbeing in schools and the Modern approaches to SEN students in an inclusive environment in schools. Our regular Neuroscience sessions will be on the 27th -28th Feb 2019 and David Hodgson Master NLP practitioner is back by popular

December 2018

demand for 2019 and will outline the latest international research to help educators learn how to boost, motivate and inspire their students to achieve the very best. With topics as diverse as happiness in education, rules of influence and neuroscience of memory there’s something for everyone over two days at GESS 2019. Future Leaders New for 2019 a series of workshops for those wanting to know more about stepping into leadership, and acquiring useful skills and insights into the techniques and skills essential to aspiring leaders in schools

What: GESS Dubai When: February 26-28, 2019 Where: Sheikh Saeed Halls, Dubai World Trade Centre Free registration for education professionals, visit www.gessdubai.com

FEATURE

Ails GOVERNMENT WHAT

SCHOOLS? itali came running to me with her report card one afternoon. She had scored 89 per cent in the Class 12 boards. “I did it, Didi!” she said and placed the mark sheet in my hand. Mitali was the eldest of two sisters. After her father passed away in 2005, her mother became the sole breadwinner of the family. Their financial condition only worsened with time and her mother couldn’t afford to send any of the kids to a private school. One could lose hope in such a situation, but Mitali did not let her problems become a barrier. She was motivated and gave her best in her exams, making everyone proud. But what caught my attention were her marks, particularly in English. She had scored 85, the highest amongst the five subjects. When she saw me surprised, she said, “No one would believe at first that a government school student could score and score this well in English, but I, and all the other students of my school proved them wrong.”

This reminded me of a Bollywood film that released in May 2017 – Irfan Khan and Saba Qamar starrer Hindi Medium. A satire directed by Saket Chaudhary, it talked about the obsession with the English language, the immense pressure on Indian parents to send their children to private schools and to what extent they would go for their child’s education. With a touch of humour, the film made its point about the private school system and how it has become so important in our lives.

December 2018

ANSHU PANDE examines the reasons behind the dropping popularity of government schools

Enrolment ( in Million)

50 0 126.20 113.08

44.31

61.82

Enrolment in Private school

Enrolment in Government school

Tiny GOVT School, Top 5 State Rise in State

All Ind. rise

300 279.8 225

200

131.2 101.5

100

81.5

Odisha

Rajasthan

Jharkhand

W. Bangal

Small GOVT School, Top 5 State Rise in State

All Ind. rise

300

200

100

106.5 79.9

67.6 63.6

December 2018

0 Jharkhand

SILVER LINING However, there has been a remarkable progress in the past three years in terms of the performance. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) results have shown that the students of government schools have outshone pri-

100

Maharashtra

After 16 years of implementation of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, that aims to provide infrastructure facilities in government schools, children still sit on mats or the bare floor. Thanks to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, many schools in India are getting a toilet. But the problem lies in the maintenance.

A report released by ASSOCHAM has revealed that Indian schools suffer from acute shortage of teachers. The shortage is a problem pervasive at all levels of government schools in India. At present, there are about 50 per cent vacancies in schools across the country, with 30,000 vacancies for teachers in Haryana alone where more than 800 schools are being run without principals. Shortage of teachers obliges the government to recruit contract teachers who are often not well trained. Several states have exempted candidates from Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) as only 20 per cent of the aspirants clear it. This wrong move, in an attempt to quickly fix the issue of dearth of teachers, has deteriorated the quality of education in the states even further.

2010-2011

150

Radha Shashidharan, a mother to two, from Patna says, “Infrastructure in the government schools is a nightmare. The schools offer unusable toilets, non-functional fans and lights, some of them are even without electricity, how would you expect a parent to send their child to such a poorly equipped school?” Who could disagree with that?

Ramandeep Kaur, a parent, wrote a blog post on the conditions of government school in India. “Quality of teachers at government schools is another major concern. Most of the teachers do not themselves know what they are teaching. A few days back I saw a video of a school teacher teaching students in a rural government school. Every single spelling of the days of the week, the twelve months that she was teaching was wrong. Sunday was being taught as ‘Sundie’. When asked about the number of days in a year her answer was 300. It was so shocking.” Read her post.

2010-2011

W. Bangal

DECLINING FACTORS Why are students opting out of India’s government schools, which educate the poorest and most vulnerable students until the age of 14 for free, and migrating to fee-charging private institutions in such large numbers?

In the age of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), nearly 97,000 primary and middle schools are without power in Madhya Pradesh, if we go by the data presented by the school education department on electricity connections for the year 2017-18.

Private School Enrolment Rises 17.5 Million

Rise in tiny Govt schools (in %)

PRIVATE SCHOOL ENROLMENT RISES 17.5 MILLION The reason for this shift could be innocent explanations such as the parents’ desire to make their children learn English, their belief that private schools offer better value for money, has better teachers, to match the social expectations or the growing aspirations in the country. Tiny (with 20 or fewer students) and small (with 50 or fewer students) government schools are being abandoned, according to the study by Gandhi. If the past six years are taken into consideration, the number of tiny government schools rose 52 percent and small ones by 33.7 percent. As many as 5,044 government schools had no students in 2015-16, up 14 percent from 4,435 in 2010-11. West Bengal witnessed a 280 percent rise in tiny schools–more than any other state–followed by Madhya Pradesh (225 percent) and Jharkhand (131 percent). However, Bihar bucked the national trend by reporting a 98 percent decrease in tiny schools.

In the case of Telangana, according to the annual status of education report, 2016, about 15.2% of government schools in Telangana do not have a separate toilet for girls. Though the numbers are small, the real problem lies in the maintenance of existing toilets. A newspaper report says that none of the government schools in Telangana received the funds for maintenance of toilets and the prescribed salary of toilet/ workers is as low as Rs.2000 to Rs.3500 per month.

Rise in small Govt schools (in %)

caused as much as a loss of 6 million children in just two years. In the year 2010-11 and 2015-16, student enrolment in government schools across 20 Indian states fell by 13 million, while private schools acquired 17.5 million new students, according to a new study on India’s public-school education crisis by Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, Professor of Education and International Development at the Institute of Education, London.

FEATURE vate school students. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s result was also the first time in the last 20 years that the passing percentage of government school students crossed the benchmark of 90 percent.

Access to Electricity The graph shoes the percentage of schools per state that have access to electricity. Bihar, for example, provides electricity to only 10% of its schools.

Among the best performing government schools, state government's Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas (RPVVs) outperformed central government's Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs). RPVVs' pass percentage, standing at 99.7% is 5% ahead of KVs' 94.6%. As many as 33 students have scored as much as 100% in one or more subjects. The number of schools which have a pass percentage of more than 90% has gone up from 547 to 554 this year.

Schools with electricity (%) 9.96 16.35 19.39 23.47 24.49 24.94 27.88 28.27 30.97 36.35 56.78

Performance of Delhi Govt. and Private Schools (Passing Percentage) Year 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

Govt 88.67 88.11 88.91 88.27 90.68

Private 92.09 89.75 86.67 84.2 88.35

Delhi Government's investment in education Year 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

Budget allocation (In crores) 2016 4102 10690 11300 13997

December 2018

Source: DISE

Bihar Jharkhand Assam Jammu & Kashmir Meghalaya Tripura Odisha Madhya Pradesh Manipur Arunachal Pradesh All - India

Not just this, in 2016, according to Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), performance of government schools is better than the private schools. The percentage of children enrolled in Class 3 in government schools in the state who can read Class 2 level text is 41.2 per cent and the percentage of children enrolled in Class 3 in private schools who can read Class 2 level text is 38.8 per cent. The performance of Class 3 children in government schools who can read Class 2 level text is better than performance of Class 3 children in private schools, the report stated. It shows that reading levels in higher grades have also increased. In 2014, the percentage of children enrolled in Class 5 who can read a Class 2 level text was 53.5 per cent, it has increased to 62.5 per cent in 2016, the report said. In Delhi, the increase in budgetary allocation should be given credit. The Education Minister, Manish Sisodia made education a priority by proposing to spend Rs 13,997 crore this year as compared to the year 2017-18, where the investment stood at Rs 11,300 crore. Improved infrastructure also helped the teachers to manage students better. "The benefit of increased rooms is that now the teachers can teach the students without any hassles. If you are conducting classes in the open, the noise of the students prevents teachers from teaching them. Much of their energy got lost in managing them," said a teacher from a Delhi government school. CONCLUSION First, let us acknowledge the faults in our education system because there is some serious damage control that needs to be done. The children in schools today will be entering the workforce in the 2030s. Schools are

preparing them for their lives 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now. We have to focus all our attention on our future. Secondly, now more than ever, the future of our country lies in the hands of the educators. The teachers need to be trained immediately, especially those serving in in the poorest of urban and rural areas. They need to be viewed as professionals who require multiple skills to do their job, and accordingly professional standards need to be built into all teacher education programmes. Such programmes must focus on both, building an essential knowledge base, as well as skill sets required for making a difference in the classroom. Importantly, they must locate the professional development of teachers within the larger socio-cultural, economic and political context of contemporary India. Today, with the success of SSA and the RTE, classrooms are often diverse and many students are first generation learners who may not have any academic support system at home. Teachers need to factor in the socioeconomic backgrounds of children, for instance a hungry or an abused child

will not be able to learn effectively. Programmes must guide teachers on how to nurture and develop this set of children. The more a teacher knows about a student, the better they will be able to support their learning and progress. At the core of it, the role of government is all-important, and priorities must be put in order. Delhi set a great example for the rest of the country with the expansion in the yearly budget. Lack of clean water supply, unmaintained buildings, cramped classrooms, poor electricity and many such complaints have become a major reason why there is a drop in student enrollment in government schools. The budget needs to be drafted in such a way that it is able to cover these aspects of education too. It is no surprise that, even in 2018, outdated syllabus is being followed in schools. Like software and app updates improve quality, an update is needed in the cur-

riculum and books for the improvement in the quality of skills and knowledge. Another step could be to introduce the schools to the digital world. Digital facilities like computers, projectors and other accessories that support digital education, should be made available to all schools, not just the private schools. A targeted literacy programme could also be introduced for focusing on polishing skills in areas like vocabulary, comprehension, writing, phonemic awareness, phonic instructions, and many others. Such programmes could be beneficial for those who are unable to afford longterm regular education, for adults who havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had a chance to go to school and for those who have studied but need to polish their skills again. They could be conducted as individual workshops, weekly classes, night training for the working populations - the possibilities are endless. Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.â&#x20AC;? I believe in this, do you?

December 2018

FEATURE

ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BLENDED LEARNING PARVATHY JAYAKRISHNAN presents the advantages and challenges of this unique method of teaching and learning ransitioning from the traditional classroom method of teaching to newer methods requires immense effort from teachers. Teachers often try to supplement their teaching in the classroom with digital content. Blended learning is a formal educational programme that combines classroom teaching with computerbased/online training. This method ensures multichannel teaching which brings in the best of classroom teach-

ing and digital content. Students can access digital content at home and they are encouraged to watch educational videos, play games and complete assignments in the classroom. The techniques rely on technologies such as Google apps, Android and iOS devices, video, learning management systems (LMSs), and open-source tools

December 2018

such as WordPress to promote sharing and collaboration. Blended learning makes learning more fun as there is better involvement on the part of students. It also has a number of advantages over other methods of teaching. Blended learning gives the learner more control over what they learn and how much time they need to learn it well.

Blended learning makes learning more fun as there is better involvement on the part of students. It also has a number of advantages over other methods of teaching. Blended learning gives the learner more control over what they learn and how much time they need to learn it well.

Blended learning is flexible: There is immense possibility in presenting content. Complex topics can be covered in the classroom and since a chunk of the content is available online, students can work on learning the subject within a given timeline.

Blended learning is efficient: With a well-planned blended learning strategy, you can efficiently and quickly deliver training to a broad audience. Also, digital content like videos, recordings and e-books can be reused, which is an added advantage.

Blended learning has extended reach: Creating a blended learning strategy reduces classroom teaching time and, by digitising the expertise of talented instructors or subject-matter experts, you can teach more students with worldclass content.

Blended learning enables collab-

oration: Online assignments, course commenting and discussion boards naturally encourage student collaboration. Therefore both online and offline teamwork opportunities are more. 5 Blended learning supports personalised learning: Each person learns in a unique way and blended learning supports it. For example, you can assign reading comprehension passages according to the comprehension level of each student which can prevent unnecessary burdening for students who need to work harder. 6 Blended learning enables tracking and reporting: One of the greatest benefits of online learning, especially through an LMS, is data tracking and reporting. LMSs have the ability to track each step the student takes throughout the course, including logins, time tracking and grading. This brings online learning full circle, allowing

you to better engage with your students and provide personalised materials based on what the data says. Ways to implement Blended Learning in classrooms 1

Lab Rotation: In the lab rotation model, students fulfill the online learning part of instruction in a computer lab. This model requires adequate access to a computer lab. By using this model, you can free up classroom space for other activities within the rotation model. However, the teacher needs to plan the timings and lessons to include all classes.

Station Rotation: This model is another very popular approach already in place in many classrooms, especially in the elementary classroom. In station rotation, students rotate through modalities within a classroom or a set of classrooms.

December 2018

FEATURE Any new method comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is important to check what your requirement is and see if the pros outweigh the cons. It is important to take student feedback and try and improve on the method even if it is implemented.

In part, students learn using software or other online-based coursework on classroom computers. Students can do a variety of activities, including but not limited to previewing, completing, or reviewing skill lessons, reading stories, or taking computer-administered assessments. Through these kinds of tech-based activities, students have opportunities to work independently and privately, free from concerns about how they will perform in front of their peers. For the offline part of their learning, students receive direct instruction from a teacher, followed up by a variety of activities, which could include modeled and independent reading, workbook pages or other pencil-and-paper tasks, one-on-one tutoring, small-group work, projects, games, flash cardsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the list of possibilities is nearly endless. 3

Flipped Classroom: Flipped classrooms are very popular today. In this set-up, instructional content is delivered online, outside the classroom. It even moves homework into the classroom. Students are encouraged to watch online lec-

tures, collaborate online discussions and carry out research at home while engaging in concepts in the classroom with the guidance of a mentor. Students can then take notes and jot down questions that this new concept provokes. 4

A La Carte: When you wish to offer courses for which you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a teacher, you can offer the students to take an online course with an online teacher of record.

Enriched Virtual: This method encourages majority of the instruction to be delivered online. There is face to face learning with a teacher but majority of the coursework is completed in a virtual environment outside the classroom. This method is beneficial for students who need flexibility in their schedules.

Blended learning also comes with its own set of challengesâ&#x20AC;Ś A basic knowledge of technology is mandatory to convert a classroom into a blended classroom. If all the students are not tech-savvy, they may start to lose interest. IT literacy among teachers is also a must.

December 2018

Even if students are tech-savvy, the institute needs to implement a large infrastructure to include online learning. The online content given for learning needs to be properly sourced. If not, there can be plagiarism and lack of credibility. It can result in students learning false information which is very wrong. Blended learning requires a lot of planning on the part of the teacher. Often, students also need to be motivated to keep up with the pace of teaching. This can prove to be an added pressure on the teachers. Any new method comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is important to check what your requirement is and see if the pros outweigh the cons. It is important to take student feedback and try and improve on the method even if it is implemented. With good quality course content, proper planning, best in class technology and good relations between the student group and the teacher, blended learning can be implemented in schools with great success.

TOP

STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY

TRENDS FOR 2019 The recent Gartner Symposium & ITxpo 2018 highlighted the top trends organisations need to explore in the coming year

artner, a trusted advisor and an objective resource for more than 15,000 organisations in 100+ countries, helps organisations gain the insights, advice and tools to achieve mission-critical priorities. This October, analysts explored top industry trends at the Gartner Symposium/ ITxpo 2018, in Orlando. Considered the world's most important gathering of CIOs and senior IT leaders, it unites a global community of CIOs with the tools and strategies to help them lead the next generation of IT and achieve business outcomes. The top strategic technology trends that organisations need to explore in the coming year were highlighted by Gartner, Inc. with analysts presenting their findings at the symposium.

WHAT IS A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY TREND? As defined by Gartner, a strategic technology trend is one with substantial disruptive potential, which is starting to break out of an emerging state into broader impact and use. Also falling in this category are swiftly growing trends with a high degree of volatility reaching tipping points over the next five years.David Cearley, Vice President and Gartner Fellow had stated that the Intelligent Digital Mesh has been a consistent theme for the past two years and continues to be a major driver through 2019. He illustrated the same by explaining how Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the form of automated things and augmented intelligence is being used together with IoT, edge computing and digital twins to

deliver highly integrated smart spaces. Cearley pointed out that combinatorial effect of multiple trends coalescing to produce new opportunities and drive new disruption is a hallmark of the Gartner top 10 strategic technology trends for 2019.For 2019, the following are the top 10 strategic technology trends as announced by Gartnerâ&#x20AC;Ś AUTONOMOUS THINGS The scope of automation has surged tremendously to grow beyond the automation provided by limited programming models. Now autonomous things, such as robots, drones and autonomous vehicles, use and exploit AI to automate functions previously performed by humans. They deliver advanced behaviours that interact

December 2018

FEATURE more naturally with their surroundings and with people. As Cearley maintained, as autonomous things proliferate, a shift can be expected from standalone intelligent things to a swarm of collaborative intelligent things, with multiple devices working together, either independently of people or with human input. For instance, if a drone examined a large field and found that it was ready for harvesting, it could dispatch an â&#x20AC;&#x153;autonomous harvester.â&#x20AC;? Another example, in the delivery market, would be the use of an autonomous vehicle to move packages to the target area. Robots and drones on board the vehicle could ensure final delivery of the package. AUGMENTED ANALYTICS This trend focuses on a specific area of augmented intelligence, whereby machine learning (ML) is used to transform how analytics content is developed, consumed and shared. It will not be long before Augmented Analytics capabilities will be adopted in the mainstream, as a key feature of data preparation, data management, modern analytics, business process management, process mining and data science platforms. The automated insights gleaned from augmented analytics will also be embedded in enterprise applications, in the departments of HR, finance, sales, marketing, customer service, procurement and asset management departments. This will help optimise the decisions and actions of all employees within their context. Augmented analytics automates the process of data preparation, insight generation and insight visualisation, even as it eliminates the need for professional data scientists in many situations.It is estimated that through 2020, there will be the emergence of citizen data science which will enable users, whose main job is outside the field of statistics and analytics, to extract predictive and prescriptive insights from data. Citizen data scientists will be used in organisations to fill the data science and machine learning talent gap caused by the shortage and high cost of data scientists. AI-DRIVEN DevelopmentIn the current times, a scenario is emerging wherein the professional developer operates alone to create AI-enhanced solutions using predefined models delivered as a service, as opposed to professional data scientists partnering with application developers. The developer is provided with an ecosystem of AI algorithms and models, including development

tools which are meant to integrate AI capabilities and models into a solution. As AI is applied to the development process to automate different data science, application development and testing functions, a new level of opportunity for professional application development emerges. It is estimated that by the year 2022, no less than 40 percent of new application development projects will have AI co-developers on their team. Eventually, AI-powered development environments will see the emergence of citizen application development where non-professionals will use AI-driven tools to automatically generate new solutions minus coding and with greater flexibility. DIGITAL TWINS Defined as a digital representation of a real-world entity or system, it is estimated that by 2020, there will be more than 20 billion connected sensors and endpoints. Digital twins will potentially exist for billions of things. While organisations will implement digital

December 2018

twins simply at first, they will evolve, improving their ability to collect and visualise the right data, apply the right analytics and rules, and respond effectively to business objectives. Enterprises will implement digital twins of their organisations, DTOs which are dynamic software models which rely on operational or other data to understand how an organisation operationalises its business model, connects with its current state, deploys resources and responds to changes to deliver expected customer value. Cearley pointed out that DTOs help drive efficiencies in business processes, as well as create more flexible, dynamic and responsive processes that can potentially react to changing conditions automatically. EMPOWERED EDGE Endpoint devices used by people or embedded in the world around us are classified as the edge. Edge computing describes a computing topology in which information processing, and content collection and delivery, are

experience. With time, the shift will occur from thinking about individual devices and fragmented user interface (UI) technologies to a multichannel and multimodal experience. According to Cearley, the multimodal experience will connect people with the digital world across hundreds of edge devices that surround them, including traditional computing devices, wearables, automobiles, environmental sensors and consumer appliances. The multichannel experience will use all human senses as well as advanced computer senses (such as heat, humidity and radar) across these multimodal devices. An ambient experience will be created in which the spaces that surround us define ‘the computer’ rather than the individual devices.

placed closer to these endpoints. It tries to keep the traffic and processing local, with the goal being to reduce traffic and latency. In the short term, the edge is driven by IoT and the need to keep the processing close to the end rather than on a centralized cloud server. In time cloud computing and edge computing will evolve as complementary models with cloud services being managed as a centralised service executing, not only on centralized servers, but in distributed servers on-premises and on the edge devices themselves. As 5G matures, the expanding edge computing environment will have more robust communication back to centralised services, leading to a dramatic increase in the number of nodes (edge endpoints) per square km. IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) are changing the way in which people perceive the digital world. The combined shift in perception and interaction models leads to the future immersive user

BLOCKCHAIN A type of distributed ledger, Blockchain has the potential to reshape industries by enabling trust, providing transparency and reducing friction across business ecosystems. Thus, it will potentially lower costs, reduce transaction settlement times and improve cash flow. Today, trust is placed in banks, clearinghouses, governments and many other institutions as central authorities with the ‘single version of the truth’ maintained securely in their databases. However, this centralised trust model adds delays and friction costs (commissions, fees and the time value of money) to transactions. Blockchain, on the other hand, provides an alternative trust mode and removes the need for central authorities in arbitrating transactions. Blockchain-inspired solutions can help achieve operational efficiency by automating business processes, or by digitising records. They have the potential to enhance sharing of information among known entities and improve opportunities for tracking and tracing physical and digital assets. SMART SPACES A physical or digital environment in which humans and technology-enabled systems interact in increasingly open, connected, coordinated and intelligent ecosystems is defined as a smart space. It sees multiple elements including people, processes, services and things coming together to create a more immersive, interactive and automated experience for a target set of people and industry scenarios. According to Cearley, the trend has been coalescing for some time around elements such as

smart cities, digital workplaces, smart homes and connected factories. He maintained that the market is entering a period of accelerated delivery of robust smart spaces with technology becoming an integral part of daily life, whether as employees, customers, consumers, community members or citizens. DIGITAL ETHICS AND PRIVACY This is a matter of growing concern for individuals, organisations and governments. There are increasing fears about how people’s personal information is being used by organisations in both the public and private sector. It is highly crucial that organisations proactively address these concerns. Cearley maintained that any discussion on privacy must be grounded in the broader topic of digital ethics and the trust of customers, constituents and employees. He pointed out that while privacy and security are foundational components in building trust, trust is actually about more than just these components – it is the acceptance of the truth of a statement without evidence or investigation. Thus, it is important that an organisation’s position on privacy be driven by its broader position on ethics and trust. QUANTUM COMPUTING A type of nonclassical computing, it operates on the quantum state of subatomic particles (for example, electrons and ions) that represent information as elements denoted as quantum bits (qubits). The parallel execution and exponential scalability of quantum computers means they excel with problems too complex for a traditional approach or where a traditional algorithm would take too long to find a solution. Industries such as automotive, financial, insurance, pharmaceuticals, military and research organisations have the most to gain from the advancements in QC. Cearley advises that CIOs and IT leaders should start planning for QC by increasing understanding and how it can apply to real-world business problems. Learn while the technology is still in the emerging state, he recommends, adding that real-world problems where QC has potential should be identified and the possible impact on security considered. However, he believes that the revolution is not around the corner – while most organisations should learn about and monitor QC through 2022, it would probably be exploited from 2023 or 2025.

December 2018

EVENT

FUTURE OF LEARNING: UNCONFERENCE 2019

BY KIDOVATORS ANUSHKA YADAV shares highlights of the upcoming unconference focusing on helping school leaders bridge the learning gaps

utomation driven by advancements in artificial intelligence is increasingly dominating rule or process-based work. This phenomenon is starting to take shape and will especially have a deep reaching impact on our children’s lives who are in schools today. In fact, World Economic Forum says that 65% students starting school today will do work that does not even exist.

With most schools primarily focused on the 3R’s of reading, writing and arithmetic, and having limited resources and expertise on these 21st century skills, there is an urgent need to help these schools and their school leaders bridge the learning gaps through external interventions. To address this very challenging issue at hand

as well as discuss, debate and deliberate the best 21st century education practices, Kidovators is bringing together the finest educators from India, Finland, Sweden, USA and Denmark, and organising the inaugural edition of the Future of Learning: Unconference on January 11, 2019 in Bengaluru (Karnataka, India). Priyadeep Sinha, founder of the Future of Learning: Unconference & CEO of Kidovators said, “There is a lot of work for all of us to do in order to ensure that school students of the 21st century get a 21st century education, an education that can help them create exciting and vibrant futures for themselves. The Unconference is an effort from our end to inspire schools to make real progress toward making this a reality soon and we are encour-

December 2018

aged by the enthusiasm shown by the school education community towards this initiative.” The focused themes of discussion at the Future of Learning: Unconference 2019 are: • Developing Future Human Capital: Evolution of Learning • Future of Learning Spaces: Schools & Classrooms • Frameworks of 21st Century Skills: Assessments & Evaluations • Educator Development for 21st Century Classrooms Leading school leaders, education industry experts and government representatives will be speaking and presenting at the Future of

KATHLEEN NAGLEE

ANIL SWARUP

CECILIA CARNEFELDT

Head of School, International School of Helsinki (Finland)

Former Secretary - Dept. of School Education & Literacy, |Ministry of HRD(GOL)

CEO & President Kunskapsskolan Education (Sewden)

ALLAN ANDERSEN

KIRAN BIR SETHI

RAGHAV PODAR

Former Principal, Orestad Gymnasium, Copenhagen (Denmark)

Founder & Director, The Riverside School & Founder, Design for Change

Chairman, Podar World Schools (India)

Learning: Unconference 2019 including three keynote speakers: Ms. Kathleen Naglee (Head of School, International School of Helsinki, Finland) Mr. Anil Swarup (Former Hon’ble Secretary, Dept. of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India) Ms. Cecilia Carnefeldt (CEO & President, Kunskapsskolan Education, Sweden) Some of the other speakers include Ms. Kiran Bir Sethi (Founder & Director, The Riverside School, Ahmedabad & Founder, Design for Change), Mr. Raghav Podar (Chairman, Podar Schools), Allan Kjaer Andersen (Former Principal, Orestad Gymnasium, Copenhagen), Arunabh Singh (Director, Nehru World School,

Ghaziabad), Tristha Ramamurthy (Founder & MD, Ekya Schools), Skand Bali (Principal, Hyderabad Public School Begumpet, Hyderabad), Peri Maheshwar (Chairman, Careers360), Kulbhushan Sharma (President, National Independent Schools Alliance) among others.

changes that neuroscience has revealed about pedagogy. Simply speaking, learning impact is dependent on the emotional landscape that a school cultivates. I look forward to speaking about this at the Future of Learning: Unconference”, said Ms. Kathleen Naglee speaking about her keynote address.

Talking about the Unconference 2019, Ms. Cecilia Carnefeldt said – “How do we prepare our children for an unpredictable future? This is a fundamental question for school leaders all over the world and the ‘Future of Learning: Unconference’, is an excellent initiative and opportunity to discuss this important topic that I am looking forward to.”

A report on the Correlation between Academic Performance and 21st Century Skills will be also released during the Unconference by Kidovators.

“The Future of Learning is dependent on school leadership to implement the needed

The Future of Learning: Unconference will see participation of 200+ school educators along with corporates, EdTech start-ups as well as 300 school students along with parents. It will be a great opportunity to meet stalwarts of the education world as well as network and learn for all stakeholders.

December 2018

FEATURE

THE NEED FOR

ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION

hysical education is an integral part of our school education system. Research has also proven that physical education is necessary to develop motor skills and aid in a wellrounded development of a student. Physical education in schools gives students a chance to learn to work as a team, develop interpersonal relations and it also helps them release any kind of stress that they may be holding on to.

ed physical education comes into play. Adapted physical education (APE) is the art and science of developing, implementing, and monitoring a carefully designed physical education instructional program for a learner with a disability, based on a comprehensive assessment, to give the learner the skills necessary for a lifetime of rich leisure, recreation, and sport experiences to enhance physical fitness and wellness.

For differently-abled students (mental/physical), participating in a regular PE class along with other students may become a challenge altogether. That is when the idea of adapt-

In the United States, Federal law mandates that a child with disability should be provided physical education in the school along with special education services that he/she receives. Any

December 2018

PARVATHY JAYAKRISHNAN stresses on the importance of APE as a life-changing experience for a child with disability

student who may have autism, Deaf â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Blindness, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury or visual impairment including blindness needs to be provided adaptive physical education for their development. APE services can be delivered in the general physical education setting or a self-contained one A child must first be assessed by a doctor for his/her weaknesses and strengths. Accordingly a physical

cal education settings. One-to-one instruction: one teacher or assistant for every student. Small group: 3-10 students working together with a teacher or assistant. Large group: entire class participating together as a group.

Mixed group: using various class formats within one class period. Peer teaching or tutoring: using classmates or students without disabilities from other classes for teaching and assisting students with disabilities. Teaching stations: several areas in which smaller subsets for the class rotate to practice skills.

Self-paced independent work: each student works on individual goals at his or her own pace following directions on task cards or with guidance from the teacher or assistant. Teachers must find the best class format to help the student achieve the goals for the lesson.

APE TEACHERS: Physical education teachers need to undergo special training to become an adaptive physical education teacher. They are trained to evaluate and assess motor competency, physical fitness, play, recreation, leisure, and sports skills. They are required to create a programme based on the findings of their assessment.

training programme must be customised to adapt and accommodate the weaknesses and strengths. In India, parents try their level best to educate their child in a special school if they need it. However, physical education is not an aspect that is given enough importance whereas it is equally important. Adding an element of physical education can improve a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confidence and skill. It is also a good way to make friends and prevent exclusion. Classes needed to be well-organised and well-planned in an APE set up. There are seven class formats that are most commonly used in adapted physi-

Teachers are trained to improve their knowledge of motor control for teaching physical education to students with disabilities. They improve their knowledge of developmental sequences and skill themselves in physical education techniques and procedures for developing individualized education programmes for physical education. Monitoring the progress of each student is also upto the APE teacher. Methods adopted for specific disabilities 1 Intellectual disabilities: The primary change needed while teaching students with intellectual disabilities is to use shorter sentences, use less verbal instructions and more of gestures and demonstrations. Teachers need to make sure that the activity is made fun and not too serious. They need to give mor e trial chances to help the child get it right. Activities should be

kept short to enable learning even with short attention spans. The play area needs to be structured and visually appealing to make it attractive to the student. For example, use a larger and brighter ball to make it easier to handle. And of course, the curriculum needs to adapt to reduce the number of objectives that need to be mastered. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Students with ADHD may have motor delays and the teacher needs to work on reinforcing confidence and positive feedback is the way to do it. For this, teachers can implement a reward system where a student earns rewards by meeting a minimum expectation. Autism spectrum disorder: It is important to understand student needs and preferences. It is possible that students can get very nervous and anxious during a physical education class. They need to be introduced into that environment with care. Students can also be introduced to the setting beforehand to reduce anxiety. They can be taken to the PE setting a few minutes earlier than the scheduled class to get acclimated to the environment. Peer tutors can also help improve the experience for a child with disability. Hearing impaired: It is important to communicate using his/her preferred means of communication. Incorporate visual aids with easy to comprehend images while instructing. Repeat comments and make sure that the student has understood the instruction by getting him/her to repeat the action. Visually impaired: It is important to give time to the blind player to walk around and understand his environment and be comfortable with it. They may need more instruction and time to master certain techniques and movements and patience is the key. With proper training, a blind player can participate in most sports and need not feel left out.

There is minimal awareness of APE in India. However, it is an important aspect that can be a life changing experience for a child with disability. It is important that parents and schools recognise the value of Adaptive Physical Education and make a positive step towards its implementation. It is time to usher in some change to make lives of students with disabilities a little better and improve their confidence in facing life on their own.

December 2018

TAKE2

FOR THE

TEACHERS, BY THE

TEACHERS 1 The Design of

2 Lifelong

Childhood by Alexandra Lange: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids

Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play by Mitchel Resnick

Parents obsess over their children's playdates, kindergarten curriculum, and every bump and bruise, but the toys, classrooms, playgrounds, and neighborhoods little ones engage with are just as important. These objects and spaces encode decades, even centuries of changing ideas about what makes for good child-rearing--and what does not. Do you choose wooden toys, or plastic, or, increasingly, digital? What do youngsters lose when seesaws are deemed too dangerous and slides are designed primarily for safety? How can the built environment help children cultivate self-reliance? In these debates, parents, educators, and kids themselves are often caught in the middle.Now, prominent design critic Alexandra Lange reveals the surprising histories behind the human-made elements of our children's pint-size landscape. Her fascinating investigation shows how the seemingly innocuous universe of stuff affects kids' behaviour, values, and health, often in subtle ways. And she reveals how years of decisions by toymakers, architects, and urban planners have helped--and hindered--American youngsters' journeys toward independence. Seen through Lange's eyes, everything from the sandbox to the street becomes vibrant with buried meaning. The Design of Childhood will change the way you view your children's world--and your own.

ANSHU PANDE selects five books that are written by teachers for teachers to inspire better teaching and increase student-teacher friendship

December 2018

In kindergartens these days, children spend more time with math worksheets and phonics flashcards than building blocks and finger paint. Kindergarten is becoming more like the rest of school. In Lifelong Kindergarten, learning expert Mitchel Resnick argues for exactly the opposite: the rest of school (even the rest of life) should be more like kindergarten. To thrive in today's fast-changing world, people of all ages must learn to think and act creativelyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the best way to do that is by focusing more on imagining, creating, playing, sharing, and reflecting, just as children do in traditional kindergartens. Drawing on experiences from more than 30 years at MIT's Media Lab, Resnick discusses new technologies and strategies for engaging young people in creative learning experiences. He tells stories of how children are programming their own games, stories, and inventions (for example, a diary security system, created by a twelve-year-old girl), and collaborating through remixing, crowdsourcing, and large-scale group projects (such as a Halloween-themed game called Night at Dreary Castle, produced by more than twenty kids scattered around the world). By providing young people with opportunities to work on projects, based on their passions, in collaboration with peers, in a playful spirit, we can help them prepare for a world where creative thinking is more important than ever before.

3 Becoming by Michelle Obama In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America - the first African-American to serve in that role - she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations - and whose story inspires us to do the same.

4 Shift This! How

5 Shattering the

to Implement Gradual Changes for MASSIVE Impact in Your Classroom by Joy Kir

Perfect Teacher Myth: 6 Truths That Will Help You THRIVE as an Educator Kindle Edition by Aaron Hogan

Do you want your classroom to be more studentled than teacher-driven? Do you want to offer personalised learning that meets the needs of the individuals? Do you want to build a sense of real community in your classroom and in your school? It’s challenging to make big changes, particularly if you attempt to change everything at once. (Just think about all those New Year’s resolutions that revert to status quo by January 5th!) But real change is possible, sustainable, and even easy when it happens little by little.In Shift This! Educator and speaker Joy Kirr identifies how to make gradual shifts—in your thinking, teaching, and approach to classroom design—that will have a massive impact in your classroom. You’ll learn how to shift learning to make it authentic and student-led, shift the classroom environment to make it a space in which students thrive, shift conversations and classwork to get kids thinking rather than repeating, shift away from homework and grades to keep the focus on learning, shift the way you spend your time at school so you have more time to enjoy life at home.You can create the kind of classroom you’ve always dreamed of. Make the first shift today!

Perfect teachers are like unicorns: a myth! The idyllic myth of the perfect teacher—the one who has it all together and breezes through the school year without fear or stress and whose well-behaved students always get straight As—sets the bar incredibly high for educators. The problem is that this myth also perpetuates unrealistic expectations that erode self-confidence and set teachers up for failure. Author and educator Aaron Hogan is on a mission to shatter the myth of the perfect teacher by equipping educators with strategies that help them THRIVE. You’ll learn how to shift out of survival mode and how to thrive through teaching expectations to get everyone on the same page, hooking your students to increase engagement and community, rejecting isolation to create a powerful support system, imagining ways your work can be better on the path to success, valuing vulnerability to empower students to take risks, everyday conversations— the foundation for meaningful relationshipsIf you’re tired of simply surviving and are ready to thrive, join Aaron in Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth.

December 2018

TECH IT OUT ANUSHKA YADAV lists 10 Educational Virtual Reality apps you should get your hands on before the year ends!

Discovery VR

The days of a conventional classroom have gone by. Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulation-based technology that

The days of a conventional classroom have gone by. Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulation-based technology that has proved its potential with the enormous change in 21st century classrooms. Use these seven innovative VR apps that offer effective ways to change teaching and enhance the learning experience.

has proved its potential with the enormous change in 21st century classrooms. Use these seven innovative VR apps that offer effective ways to change teaching and enhance the learning experience.

Unimersiv

The VR app includes multiple field trips, making learning a fulfilling experience. Learn about human anatomy, travel back in time to explore Ancient

Boulevard (BLVRD)

Art, architecture and culture classes can now be supplemented with virtual reality visits.

Tour to art museums around the world, interact with famous artworks and learn about the art. Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift with Touch Controllers, Oculus Go, and Google Daydream View are compatible with the app.

Cleanopolis

Fight climate change interactively and learn about CO2 with Captain Clean to save the world. A fun game built

Imag-n-otron

Art, architecture and culture classes can now be supplemented with virtual reality visits.

Rome, or explore the interior of the International Space Station. It is compatible with Homido, View Master, FreeFly, Durovis, VRBox, Lakento, Archos, and others Google Cardboard headsets.

December 2018

to function as an entertaining science classroom. The app promotes energy saving and the use of solar energy.

TECH IT OUT

EON Experience A collection of VR lessons on varied subjects ranging from physics to

history. Students and teachers can learn from lessons while creating their own VR lessons using the preloaded content. The app has both AR and VR mode. It is compatible with Zeiss VR ONE, DoDo Case VR, Google Cardboard, HOMIDO, Durovis Dive, Fibrum etc.

ThingLink

Storytelling made easy with easily augment photos with text, audio, closeup photos, links, and video. A canvas for students and teachers. Have fun creat-

Cospaces Edu

It isn’t impossible to create virtual and augmented reality. The app proves this through its user-friendly cre-

ation tools for building 3D content. Explore the endless creations while managing classes; observe students in real time creation process. It is compatible for both android and iOS and goes well with the samsung gear VR, Oculus, HTC vive, Oculus Rift

Anatomyou

Take a non-invasive trip inside the human body to learn more about its various systems such as the respiratory, digestive, circulatory and other systems. An extremely useful app for science classes, it can be used for all age groups. Take a seat

Apollo 11 VR

Want to take the seat and experience one of the most significant space expeditions? Apollo 11 VR allows students to relive the events of 1969 through original archive audio and film.

ing images with sound. Learn from pictures with notes and narration, document nature around you, send instructions for how things work, or tell an engaging story of what you’ve just learned.

The documentary style app allows you to take control and fly the command module, land the lunar lander, explore the Moon’s surface and deploy the lunar experiments all before returning to earth in a fiery re-entry. The award winning app is pushing the possibilities of VR as an educational tool.

December 2018

and tour through systems in the human body namely nose and throat, gastrointestinal, circulatory (divided into arterial, venous, and lymphatic), and female reproductive. The add-on options allow you to view the transbronchial tree and urinary system.