Innovations in Education

Innovations in information and technology can make education and learning accessible and interesting. This fact is supported by the recent step taken by 200 government schools in Delhi who used animated character Pokemon to teach lessons to primary class children. In Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district, children from 170 deprived families call a boat their school. This is a brilliant example of teaching children close to their parents and the environment they can relate to.

Another major step, “India’s Curriculum of Tomorrow” promoted by Jiva Education publisher based in Faridabad is an enterprising step in constructive learning. The new curriculum is designed to bring about a fundamental change in traditional and obsolete syllabi.

Internet services provided by n-Logue in Indian villages is another commendable step in imparting learning. With the help of n-Logue local service providers recruits local entrepreneurs to open kiosks in small cities and rural areas.

These innovative measures have to deal with social and cultural challenges as well as slow creative development in India. Teaching, schooling, and learning are generally rigid and change resistant systems. There is also a lack of infrastructure and finance. Let’s imagine a condition where all students go to school, the school building will explode.

In spite of all the odds, Internet technology and e-learning can help to bring innovation in learning by making learning more user friendly. A teacher residing in any part of the world can teach hundreds of students through virtual classrooms. Students have high quality study material that they can refer to any number of times at their own pace. Teachers are also left with more time to interact with students.

Schooling in India

Schooling in India is an expensive proposition. There are various boards that conduct exams (Xth and XIIth) in India:

CBSE Board

CISCE/ICSE Board

State Boards of India

Now you must be wondering which board is better? Varying level of evaluation between state and central boards makes it difficult to assess which board to opt for. In each state majority of states are affiliated to the state board while a few are affiliated to CBSE and ICSE board. However, best schools in India are affiliated to ICSE– Welhams, Doon, Mayo, CJM, etc. Some students may find ICSE board difficult. CBSE system provides uniform learning across India and is suitable for children of employees with transferable jobs. Some students also hold the opinion that entrance exams like engineering and medical are more closely modeled on CBSE syllabus.

Major concerns that are related to schooling and examination system in India can be sumarized as:

• There is thin line between what is taught and what is learnt. A change from mugging to applying is required.
• The percentage scored determines student’s admission to a university or employment. There should be inclusion of other means of evaluation based on extra curricular activities.
• A recent World Bank survey found that 25% of government primary school teachers in India are absent from work. There should be strict enforcement of teacher-student ratio of 1:40 and the attendance of teachers along with students.
• Schools books seem to teach everything. There is a need for a general reassessment of curriculum of textbooks keeping the student’s requirement and applicability in mind. It involves decentralization of curriculum design involving more teachers and educationist.
  
  

Planning Your Career

Are you puzzled about your future?

Case 1:
Riya opted for both Maths and Biology after class X because she wanted to be eligible for both medical and engineering entrance exams. Medicine and engineering are two different fields and require thorough planning to clear the entrance exams. She is now a dentist and remembers the dilemmas she faced earlier.

Case2:
After completing his MCA Raj joined XYZ firm as a pogrammer. He only worked in this field for a year, because he realized he was more interested in interacting with people than working at his desk alone. He got a new job in software support which was a better match for his interest and skill.

In order to have a satisfied and successful career it is important that we have a proactive career approach. These are some questions you should put to yourself:

• What subjects you should major in?
• What do you really want to be?
• How to gather indepth knowledge of various career options?
• What are skills and experience required to get into that field?
• How to understand the demands, responsibilities, and objectives of the career option?
• What are your competencies, strengths, and weaknesses?

It is important to understand yourself and then take steps to plan and act. These are some suggestions:

• Analyze your current situation and available resources.
• Try to match your skills and interest.
• Prepare startegies to move your career in the right direction.
• Take help of career counselor, talk to people in the industry, and read career guides.
• Learning by doing is a valuable way to research possible career paths - look for summer jobs or project assignments.
• Gather information to evaluate your options and make the right decision.

Education and Career Handbook

With changing nature of learning in India there are many questions that come into a student's mind.

• What career should I pursue to be successful?
• What is engineering?
• What is the scope of medicine as a professional career?
• Whether I should opt for computers, law, or management?
• What are vocational and diploma courses?
• What is government cadre A,B, C, D?

My blog aims at linking education and career. My blog will act as a career guide to industries by providing information on professional courses, competitive exams, vocational and non-formal education, career options in government and private sector, etc. I also encourage inputs, queries and suggestions from readers of my blog. You can mail me at richasmita@google.com.