Chandigarh, Tuesday, August 17, 1999
Chandigarh, Tuesday, August 17, 1999 |
Novel strategies for teaching science By Kulwinder Sandhu KNOWLEDGE of science is growing at a rapid rate due to research in various areas, but science textbooks for primary school children do not contain recent findings. Many textbooks are prepared by private agencies in which new findings are given as mere information. Carve a niche in airlines industry Importance
of open schools Career
hotline |
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Novel strategies for teaching
science KNOWLEDGE of science is growing at a rapid rate due to research in various areas, but science textbooks for primary school children do not contain recent findings. Many textbooks are prepared by private agencies in which new findings are given as mere information. Often in English-medium primary schools, the untrained teacher covers the science textbook sentence by sentence. Some even go to the extent of writing questions on the blackboard. For each question, the child is asked to mark the answer in the textbook and memorise it. Parents are asked to help the child to come prepared for the monthly tests. This has resulted in science being a boring, non-productive and futile exercise, both for teachers and children. What about science education in state government schools and aided-management schools? They follow the departments. Wherever state education departments have curriculum experts in their SCERTs, excellent science textbooks have been brought out with the help of competent and committed school teachers. Once I asked science teacher: “Have you forgotten what you learnt about photosynthesis?” She relied: “Where is the question of forgetting when I haven’t learnt anything of what is written in the Standard IV textbook?” Teachers need to be equipped with skills and strategies “to uncover” the syllabus and textbook information. In our primary schools, the focus is on using environment-based materials. Our primary school teachers need to be trained to utilise the diversity of materials available in the immediate environment to create a congenial climate for learning inside the classroom. In one of his research projects a friend of nine used this method. The lesson was on potted desert plants. The teacher had prepared a large number of potted desert plants using throwaway containers. These were displayed on window-sills and on the sides of the walls. Some of the collected desert plants were assembled together and a “rock garden” formed in one corner of the classroom. Another novel teaching strategy for taking primary school science curriculum outside the classroom is eco-walk. The teacher ought to locate appropriate spots in the neighbourhood for children to observe the diversity of flora and fauna. The local ecology is in state of dynamic equilibrium were constant interaction between the biotic and abiotic. Recently, a batch of primary school teachers were taken on an eco-walk, as part of their training module in Dalhousie. During the walk, they came across a place where there was much grass. In between many acalypha weeds were growing. The teachers pulled out both types of plants along with their root system. The 15 teachers with their project co-ordinators were divided into three groups. The groups were asked to took at the root and shoot systems of both types and find out similarities and dissimilarities. The three groups later joined and shared their findings. For many teachers, this was an eye-opener for structuring leaning strategies through an eco-walk. Generally, in a primary school, you do not expect a laboratory. In a few schools catering to the elite junior laboratories are created for children for routine experiments. There are hundreds of possibilities of structuring simple experiments using throwaway (no-cost/low cost) materials. A variety of plants and animals can be easily collected from the immediate environment for designing simple experiments. The classroom could be converted into a science activity room by rearranging chairs, tables and benches. In a rural primary school, there is no problem as rarely do you find tables, chairs and benches for children. Therefore, children can sit on the ground in small groups and perform experiments under the guidance of the teachers. Recently in a rural primary school in standard IV, children were given a glass of water each. They were also given plastic ink-fillers. The lesson was on air pressure. Instructional cards were prepared containing a list of sequential teaching learning activities. Each activity had a set of questions which enabled them to think and find answers. Planning and involvement in simply investigative projects was one of the requirements earlier in the CBSE science curriculum. Unfortunately, parents did most of the work and the expected educational outcome was lost. Finally, the CBSE decided to withdraw the scheme. Here is an illustration. Near a rural school, a large number of weaver birds built nests from the high-tension wire on the roadside. Children from standard V were taken to the spot for initiating an investigatory project. They were given ample time to observe different aspects of the nests. The observation process was facilitated with the help of guiding questions from the teachers. An initial set of data was collected and taken to school for evolving a preliminary project. The class was divided into three groups. Each group selected a leader from among themselves. Each group were given questions for the project work during the next three weeks. The teacher monitored the progress of the project every three days and provided feedback and guidance. At the end of three weeks an afternoon was set apart for presentation of reports by the three groups. The reports were discussed by the entire class. Many questions were raised by the children and teacher for further observation and study. The above
teaching-learning strategies focus on the process of
learning science. It is hoped that children at the
primary school stage itself would develop an analytical
mind through the process of participatory discussion of
the data collected through observation and
experimentation utilising their immediate environment. |
Carve a niche in airlines
industry THE multi-billion dollar airlines industry from a very humble beginning in the early twentieth century, today, has reached new heights with more than 10,000 commercial planes offering about two million seats everyday. With the introduction of the commercially successful Boeing 707, the age of air travel for the masses arrived and private airlines operators broke new ground with charter flights. The package holiday business resulted from cooperation between these carriers and entrepreneurs in the tour operating business. The jet aircraft enabled the mass movement of tourists to more distant destination. Now airlines are the second most popular mode of tourist transport, after automobiles, especially for international travel. The contribution of the air transport industry to the overall growth and development of tourism meant that air travel became more economical, quick and relatively safe and comfortable. Today the airlines industry is one of the most dynamic industries with a wide range of reach and scale of operations. With the information technology revolution now sweeping over the globe this vital sector of many a national economies, is going through various changes, such as multi-tier agreements, dynamic management and integrated computerised control systems. Indeed, the evolving commercial aviation industry, both in India and abroad, is expected to throw up challenges and new career opportunities in the new millennium. As global competition increases, airlines managements will be seeking smarter and more creative employees with a high degree of initiative. Estimate indicate that air passenger traffic among Indians is growing annually at around 5.5 per cent. The cargo traffic is also witnessing a surge in activities with domestic and international cargo traffic expected to rise to 8 per cent and 12.5 per cent respectively. Other than managing 120 airports in the country (including 28 civil aviation enclaves) the Airport Authority of India has unveiled an ambitious plan to develop 12 domestic airports. To lure tourists, Indian Airlines offer packages like the Discover India, India wonderfares, Youth Fare, and the SAARC Group Excursion Fare, while Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline has a year-round US dollar Visit India Fares for travel on its Indian network for non-resident Indians foreign nationals. Similarly, Sahara Airlines offers incentives to those who travel by it. The field of aviation is one of the most challenging and potentially rewarding career paths. There exists a great demand for Trained personnel. With tremendous advancement in modernisation of aircraft, service personnel on board, on ground, at the airport and at the city office need to be intelligent, educated and efficient enough to cope with the latest technology. It is the service personnel who are directly in contact with the service personnel on board and on the ground in any airline. From October this year domestic airlines like Jet Airlines are expected to commence their flights to Chandigarh, further enhancing the prospects of job opportunities for the younger generation. With deregulation, liberalisation, globalisation, and privatisation, and above all the burgeoning middle class with reasonable affluence who are keen to travel to distant places, the future of aviation is very bright, with the concomitant of more employment opportunities for the youth of this city, which has already carved out a niche for itself as a city of institutions. Travel by air would get a fillip due to increased disposal income, shorter working hours, urge to understand and participate in the lifestyles of other people, spurt in business travel, and, above all, intangible benefits like demolishing the walls of ignorance about other people and bringing about international understanding. To meet the human resource requirements of the fast-growing airlines industry, ITFT- Chandigarh, a premier institute imparting education in tourism and hospitality disciplines, has planned a national-level panel discussion on career opportunities in the airlines industry at Hotel Shivalikview at Chandigarh, on August 29. Eminent persons from
civil aviation and airlines industry representing both
domestic and foreign airlines would be participating.
Expecting expansion in the airlines industry, the ITFT
would also be starting from September 4, an airlines
management course for air hostesses, flight stewards,
ground hostesses, airport, city and cargo handling staff
with thrust on developing multi-skills and personalised
customer care. |
Importance of open schools FEROZEPORE: A national-level seminar on the concept of development and promotion of open school education system was held at MLM Senior Secondary School here a fortnight ago. It was organised by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) with the assistance of New Delhi’s National Open School. Among those who spoke were Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman, PSEB, Dr M.R. Chalana, a former Education Adviser to the Government of India, Prof Harlal Singh, Director (Academic), PSEB, and Ms Pavittar Paul Kaur, Deputy Director (Open School, Punjab). It was stated that there were five autonomous open schools in the country. The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) had recommended that every state should have an open school. The Planning Commission wanted the distance education system to cover 35 per cent of students of higher education. The PSEB had started an open school with six subjects at the Matriculation level. To establish equivalency with the formal system, studies for open learners was made similar to that in the formal system and the system was converted into correspondence courses during the academic session 1994-95. But the system did not survive due to financial constraints and too much experimentation. Later, in view of recommendations of the National Policy of Education, CABE, and to achieve the goal of education for all, the PSEB adopted the pattern of the National Open School, New Delhi. In the first academic session (1997-98), 2,500 students were enrolled through 39 study centres. The following year, the strength went up to 2,600 through 45 study centres. The number now was 55, said the speakers. They said the Punjab Open School wanted to add new, including vocational courses, at different levels. Regarding the formal system of education in Punjab, they opined that much had been done in this regard. As a result, there was a school available to every child within 2 km of his house yet still a major portion of population is deprived of the fundamental right to get education”. They said the formal system was facing certain problems in Punjab. These problems, including school dropout and lack of facilities to disadvantaged sections of society such as women, SCs and BCs, had forced educationists to think of an alternative system of education. The most remarkable feature of the open learning system was its flexibility regarding the curriculum, number of subjects, duration and modus operandi. Speaker said: “This system enables the child to work at his own place, at his own convenience and with his own choice”. They said the open learning system, therefore, took education to door step of millions who dropped out from the formal system or were forced to do so due to one reason or the other. They, however, laid
stress on ensuring coordination among open schools,
correspondence or distance education institutes of higher
education and open universities in the country so that
there was a proper link-up of curricula between the open
education institutes. |
Career hotline I am keen on doing a postgraduate course in Library Science through correspondence. Could you please suggest some recognised courses. Prashant Vij, Chandigarh The following universities offer 1-year MLIS/MLISc (Master of Library & Information Science) through correspondence. Eligibility for most of these courses is a Bachelor’s in Library Science (BLIS/BLISc/BLib). * Andhra University, School of Correspondence Education, Waltair, Visakhapatnam-530003. Course: MA (Library & Information Science) Duration: 2 years. Eligibility: Graduation with concerned subject. * Annamalai University, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalai Nagar-608002. * Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Institute of Open & Distance Learning, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal-462026. * Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Department of Correspondence Courses, Gour Nagar, Sagar-470003. * Guru Ghasidas University, Institute of Distance Education, PO Koni, Bilaspur-495009. * Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068. Duration: 1-4 years. * University of Madras, Institute of Correspondence Education,Centenary Buildings, Chepauk, Chennai-600005. * Mahatma Gandhi Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya, Institute of Distance Learning & Continuing Education, Chitrakoot-485331. What exactly can I look forward to in terms of career prospects in the field of Library Science? Nidhi Saxena, Ambala If reading is your passion and you would love to spend your life surrounded by books, then being a librarian is just the thing for you. Librarians are increasingly in demand in schools, colleges, universities, research institutes, commercial/industrial/scientific organisations, newspaper industry, audio-visual media, public and private sector undertakings, government departments, national museums, public libraries and other organisations which require handling of large information. Another area of employment is the archives which contain historical documents. Embassies also employ professionals for their information centres in major cities. Two major libraries in the country — The American Centre and the British Council Libraries based in prominent cities all over the country also offer employment opportunities in this field. Openings in various ministries, government departments, attached and subordinate offices of the government and AIR Stations are filled up by a competitive examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The SSC conducts the Library & Information Assistants Examination for graduates with a degree in Library Science in the age group of 18-28 years. It consists of an objective-type written exam to assess general intelligence and reasoning skills, general awareness and knowledge of library science. Those who clear the written exam are called for a personality test. Library professionals can also diversify into teaching Library Science. However, for teaching jobs, higher academic qualifications are required. You can even become a lecturer after doing Master’s in Library Science and thereby qualifying the UGC-NET. If you are enterprising enough, you can even open a library for children or special groups of professionals, or even operate a mobile library. Librarians can seek jobs at various organisations and documentation centres such as the National Archives of India, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), specialised libraries focusing on music, fine arts, drama, religion and philosophy such as the Sahitya Academy, Sangeet Natak Academy and Lalit Kala Academy, Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC) with regional centres at Bangalore, Calcutta and Chennai, Defence Science Information Centre (DESIDOC), New Delhi, and National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC), New Delhi. I am teaching in a private school. I am keen on enhancing my qualifications. Could you please tell me about the institutions offering further courses in education through correspondence. Ashish Pandey, Shimla The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068,offers PG diploma in higher education through correspondence. This course provides the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills pertaining to higher education to university and college teachers. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the apex statutory body established by an Act of Parliament for co-ordinating and monitoring teacher education in the country, may also consider making this course compulsory for all teacher educators in the country as it is relevant to the needs of the profession. I presume you have already done your BEd. If not, you can now do a BEd through distance education from the same university provided you have been teaching for the last couple of years. Since DU only offers a full-time BEd, this may be a boon for working teachers residing within the jurisdiction of IGNOU. The course is slated to start from January 2000. I want to join my father in his dairy business. Could you suggest relevant technical courses at the graduate level. Devinder Singh Kaura, Ludhiana BTech in Food Sc/Tech/Processing & Preservation is offered at 14 centres in India: * Univ College of Technology, Osmania Univ, Hyderabad 500007 * Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya, Instt of People’s Sc & Tech, Chitrakoot 485331 * Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, College of Agricultural Technology, Krishi Nagar, Parbhani 431402 * Dept of Chemical Technology, Amravati Univ, Near Tapovan, Amravati 444602 * Dept of Chemical Technology, Univ of Mumbai, Matunger Road, Mumbai 400019. [BChem Tech (3 yrs) Post Bsc.] * Laxmi Narayan Instt of Technology, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nagpur 440010 * Dept of Food Sc & Technology, GNDU, Amritsar 143005 * St. Longowal Instt of Engg & Tech, Longowal 148106, Dist Sangroor * Avinashilingam Instt for Home Sc & Higher Educn for Women, Faculty of Engg, Coimbatore 641043 * Tamil Nadu Agricultural Univ, College of Agricultural Engg, Coimbatore 641003 * Harcourt Butler Technological, Instt, Kanpur 208002 * Raja Balwant Singh College, Agra 282001 * Faculty of Engineering & Tech, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj Univ, Kalyanpur, Kanpur 208024 I am doing MBBS. Could you suggest courses in Psychiatry. Dinesh Kumar, Amritsar Courses in Psychiatry are usually offered at the post-MBBS level. Several medical institutions in the country offer courses in Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine. Some of the leading ones are: * All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029. Course: MD (Psychiatry). Duration: 3 years. Eligibility: MBBS with 55% aggregate. Candidates should not have more than two failures in qualifying exam. A deduction of 1% and 3% is made for one and two failures. * Lady Hardinge Medical College (affiliated to University of Delhi), New Delhi-110001. Course: MD (Psychiatry). * Maulana Azad Medical College (affiliated to University of Delhi), Delhi-110002. Course: MD (Psychiatry). * National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Post Box No.2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore-560029. Course: MD (Psychological Medicine). Duration: 3 years. Eligibility: MBBS with compulsory rotating internship; Course: DPM (Psychological Medicine). Duration: 2 years. Eligibility: MBBS. * Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi 834006. * Christian Medical College (affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University), Thorapudi Post Office, Vellore-632002, Course: MD (Psychiatry). * Madras Medical College
(affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University),
Park Town, Chennai-600003, Course: MD (Psychiatric
Medicine). |
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Architecture Aug 31 NICMAR, TVB Premises, D/2 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070. Tel: 6123225.
Elig: Degree/Dip
in engg/architecture, 2 yrs work exp preferred. Computers Trail Shatabadi Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College (Even), Ramsar Road, Amritsar.
Appln Form: Available at counter. Contact Ph: 556117. Correspondence Courses Aug 31 Institute of Rail Transport, Room No. 17, Rail Bhawan, New Delhi 110001. Tel: 3384171, 3303924, 3303236.
Elig: Degree in any subject or Dip in any Engg discipline after HSC Appln Form: Send Rs 50/- by DD in favour of "Institute of Rail Transport" payable at New Delhi along with a self-addressed, stamped (Rs. 9/-) envelope (9"x5") with your name and address on the back of DD or in cash at counter. Aug 31 University of Jammu, Directorate of Distance Education, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Road, Jammu Tawi 180004.
Elig:
Appln Form: Send Rs 20’- (for 7), Rs 30/- (for 1, 4, 5, 6), Rs 50/- for 2), Rs 60/- (for 3) by crossed DD in favour of "Directorate of Distance Education, Univ. of Jammu, Jammu" payable at Jammu along with a self-addressed, stamped (Rs 35/-) envelope (10c24 cm) or in cash at counter. Sept 30 Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068.
Appln Form: Send Rs. 50/- by IPO/DD in favour of "IGNOU" payable at New Delhi/at the city of the Regional Centre, to the Director (SR & E) till 15 Sept. or Rs 10/- in cash at counter. Forms also available at regional centres at IGNOU. Engineering Aug 17 Central Polytechnic, Sector 26, Chandigarh
Elig: 3-yrs Dip in Mech Engg. Selection: Interview Appln Form: Send Rs 70/- by MOor Rs 40/- in cash at counter. September 20 Hindustan Institute of Aeronautics, 5, Temple View, Near Neori Mandir, Lal Gathi, Bhopal, M.P. Tel: 748018.
Appln Form: Send Rs 310/- by MO/DD in favour of "Hindustan Institute of Aeronautics" payable at Bhopal or Rs 290/- in cash at counter. Govt jobs Aug 20 Staff Selection Commission, Block No. 3, Ground Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Sector-9, Chandigarh 160017.
Elig:
Selection: Written proficiency test on 12 Dec., ‘99. Appln Form: See Employment News dated 31 July-6 Aug., ‘99. Insurance Aug 20 Bishop Heber College (affiliated to Bharathidasan University), Tiruchirapalli 620017.
Elig: BSc )1st Div) or BA/BCom (2nd Div) with Math/Stat as a subject. Appln Form: Send Rs 60/- by DD in favour of "The Principal, Bishop Heber College" or Rs 50/- in cash at counter. Management Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, College of Communication & Management, Sec. 27-B, Chandigarh
Appln Form: Available at counter. Mathematics Aug 23 National Board for Higher Mathematics, O.Y.C. Building, C.S.M. Marg, Mumbai 400039.
Elig:
Selection: Written test and interview. Appln Form: See Employment News dated 31 July-6 Aug., ‘99. Medicine Aug 17 Kurukshetra Univer-sity, Kurukshetra 136119.
Selection: Entrance test on 31 Aug. Appln Form: Send Rs 530/- (Rs 280/- for SC/ST) by crossed DD in favour of "The Registrar, K.U., Kurukshetra" payable at Kurukshetra/Thanesar along with two self-addressed slips mentioning prospectus Code No. MDS/99 to the Manager (P&P) or Rs 500/- (Rs 250/- for SC/ST) in cash at counter. Aug 23 Darbhanga Dental College, Mir Gheyas Chak, Millat College West Road, Darbhanga 846004, Bihar. Tel: 06272 — 23531, 21936, 20107.
Elig: 10+2 with 50% marks in Phy, Chem, Bio & Eng. Selection: Entrance test. Appln Form: Send Rs 500/- by DD in favour of "Darbhanga Dental College" payable at Darbhanga or Rs 450/- in cash at counter. Scholarships Ministry of Welfare, Govt. of India.
Elig:
Appln Form: Contact your educational institution or Distt Social Welfare Office/Directorate of Social Welfare (SC & ST Dvpt) of the State to which you belong. Oct 1 Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, 5, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, New Delhi-110001.
(a) Canadian Studies Faculty Research (5 weeks) (b) Faculty Enrichment (5 weeks) (c) Doctoral Research (10 months)
(a) Dvpt Studies in Social Sc. & Humanities (4 months) (b) Women and Dvpt. (i) Faculty Research (4 months) (ii) Doctoral Research (8 months) (iii) Pilot Project Award (2 Months) (iv) Visiting Lecturership (3 weeks) (c) Media (4 months) Elig:
Appln Form: Send a self-addressed, stamped (Rs 25/-), envelope (26x30 cm) superscribing the name of fellowship. Technology Aug 27 National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST) (M/o Steel, Gol), Post Box No. 92, GT Road, Mandi Gobindgarh 147301 (Pb). Tel: 01765 — 58079, 58080, 59532.
Elig: 10+2 (PCM). Candidates with Dip. in Mech/Metallurgy or B.Sc. will be given preference. Appln Form: Send Rs 150/- by DD in favour of "NISST, Mandi Gobindgarh" or in cash at counter. Sept 11 Central Institute of Tool Design (CITD) (M/o Industry), Balanagar, Hyderabad 500037.
Elig:
Selection: Entrance test on 26 Sept at Hyderabad. Appln Form: Send Rs 250/- (Rs 75/- for SC/ST) by crossed DD in favour of "The Principal Director, CITD" payable at Hyderabad drawn on State Bank of Hyderabad, Balanagar Branch, Hyderabad 500037 or any nationalised bank along with a self-addressed, stamped (Rs 9/-) envelope (26x13 cm) superscribed with the name of the course. Last date for issue of Forms: 31 Aug. Unless otherwise specified, the dates mentioned above are deadlines for receipt of completed application forms. CARING (Career
Information & Guidance), New Delhi. |
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