महाविद्यालयांशी जोड्लेले क्लासेस बंद करणयाविरोधात याचिका

 

लोकसत्ता, July 28, 2016

A P J Abdul Kalam's Only Regret

 A P J Abdul Kalam's Only Regret

_the speaking tree 

Srijan Pal Singh





In 2014, we visited Mumbai to attend the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of a local college. It was a modest celebration, and A P J Abdul Kalam was happy to see that the college was catering to students from low-income families, giving them quality education at affordable fees. Kalam was greeted with a lot of cheering when he entered the hall.Through his speech he addressed the concerns of the youth who had come from challenging economic conditions.He spoke about his own life, his failures and his successes. He spoke of the great Nobel Laureate Mario Capecchi, a victim of the Second World War, who had lost most of his family in the war.He had to spend his childhood in an orphanage. But despite his difficulties, he persevered and went on to ... become a renowned scientist. At the end of his speech, Kalam was given a standing ovation. This was followed by a question-and-answer session. He answered each question with his usual wit and grace.
Suddenly , a young student of about twenty stood up to ask a question: “Sir, you have had so many successes.I am sure you had some failures too. You always say that you have built your successes over the lessons learnt from failures. I want to know something. Is there something that you could not do, and still regret not doing it?“ A P J Abdul Kalam took his time to think through the answer and finally replied, “You know, back home, I have an elder brother who is ninety-eight years old now. He can walk slowly , but steadily, and completely on his own. He has a little problem with his vision and hence there is always a need to keep the house well lit, especially in the night.
“Now you see, in Rameswaram, there are power cuts sometimes. Thus it becomes difficult for him to move about freely. So, last year I got a rooftop solar panel installed at home, with a good battery . When the sun shines, the panel gives power, and in the night the battery takes over the power supply . Now there is plenty of power all the time.
My brother is happy .
“When I see him happy ,I also feel happy. But I am also reminded of my own parents.Both of them lived for almost a hundred years and towards their later years they had difficulty seeing things well. Three decades ago, the power cuts were more frequent. Back then I could do nothing for them. There was no solar power. The fact that I could not do any thing to remove their pain is my greatest regret, something which will remain with me forever.“
The answer touched a chord in the hearts of everyone in the audience.Here was a person, more than eighty years old, who had achieved so much in life, but still had the compassion and the humility to speak publicly about his greatest failure. He was still bothered about failing his parents. How many of us think of such things?
I couldn't help but wonder when I had last stopped to consider my parents' situation, when I had tried to do anything to ease their burden.
(Courtesy: Penguin Books, `What Can I Give?' ­ Life Lessons from My Teacher, A P J Abdul Kalam.)

Source:The Times of India (NaviMumbai), Jul 28 2016.

7 Things Kids Should Never Share on Social Media

7 Things Kids Should Never Share on Social Media (or You May Lose $80,000)

By Sherry Huang

We all know today's tweens and teens are prone to oversharing every aspect of their lives on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram -- and even adults are guilty of oversharing -- but in the case of one young woman, college undergrad Dana Snay, herovershare accidentally cost her family thousands of dollars.

When Snay's dad, a former headmaster at Gulliver Preparatory School, sued his former employer for age discrimination and won an $80,000 settlement, Snay couldn't resist posting this cheeky Facebook update: "Mama and Papa Snay won the case against Gulliver. Gulliver is now officially paying for my vacation to Europe this summer."

Her careless post started a domino effect: it was seen by other Gulliver students (in her network of 1,200 friends) and eventually made its way back to the school's attorneys, who reported it back to the ruling judge, who then revoked the settlement. Even though the court stipulated that it was Snay's parents who couldn't talk about the case, her Facebook status still violated the confidentiality agreement.

Obviously, Snay was old enough to know better than to boast about something better kept private, but her mistake highlights our society's addiction to social media and to oversharing (and oversharenting). Our constant need to be plugged in can lead us to weaken our sense of privacy and diminish our better judgment. So as your children being spending more time on social media, start teaching them the things they should never reveal (on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram)...no matter how tempting. Even if they have exclusive "friends only" settings on their social accounts, remind them to avoid sharing the info below for privacy and safety reasons.

1. Personal IDs. This seems like a no-brainer, but teach kids not to type social security numbers, credit card numbers, and account passwords of any kind (email, social media, bank) in any messages. They should also not share photos or videos that show credit cards in them. You can never be too careful...especially when child identity theft can be prevented.

2. Mailing/home address. Street View on Google Maps is just a few clicks away. (And no one wants a repeat Bling Ring situation.) And tell your kids to avoid posting photos or videos of the house (or selfies with the house in the background), especially with street signs in prominent view. And be careful about Foursquare, especially if you don't want too many people to know where your kids are at certain times.

3. Medical history. There have been amazing stories of kids being diagnosed and saved through Facebook, but like personal IDs, medical information (e.g. specific conditions, diseases, and allergies) should be kept private. You never know what people may do with the info -- child identity theft can also occur with medical records.

4. Specific vacation days. Sure, your kids may be excited about going to Disney World or Hawaii, but it's probably best to avoid posting status updates that say, "Can't wait to see Mickey in two weeks!", or posting photos with the caption, "I can't believe I'm in Hawaii right now!". Don't let others know when your house will be or is empty. Instead, encourage your kids to post photos and share stories after the vacation is over.

5. Problems with other people at home or school. It's easy to vent about some annoying parent, sibling, friend, teacher, etc., online but you never know who will see a Facebook or Twitter status and be hurt. It may be hard, but it's best to wait and talk to someone in person (whether it's venting to an objective person or confronting the problem person). Embarrassment will be nixed and online fights and dramas will be avoided. Personal problems won't drag on...and on.

6. Improper photos or videos. These include any photos and videos that can be misconstrued or misinterpreted, including ones showing nudity or risqué looks, hard partying, smoking, drinking, drugs, etc. Basically anything that show your kids in compromising situations. And have your kids ask their friends (and vice versa) to grant permission before any photos or videos are posted and tagged.

7. Sensitive information attached to a court case. Obviously, don't do what Snay did. If your family is involved in or going to be involved in any court case, instruct your child not to reveal anything (even in person) before, during, or after the case...no matter the outcome. After all, no one wants two sentences, 140 characters, or a photo or video to be the cause of unhappiness (like, um, losing money) and unwanted media attention.

Source: http://www.parents.com/blogs/parents-perspective/2014/03/03/big-kids/7-things-kids-should-never-share-on-social-media/?esrc=nwpdtodd072616&did=44949

7 Things Kids Should Never Share on Social Media

7 Things Kids Should Never Share on Social Media (or You May Lose $80,000)

By Sherry Huang

We all know today's tweens and teens are prone to oversharing every aspect of their lives on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram -- and even adults are guilty of oversharing -- but in the case of one young woman, college undergrad Dana Snay, herovershare accidentally cost her family thousands of dollars.

When Snay's dad, a former headmaster at Gulliver Preparatory School, sued his former employer for age discrimination and won an $80,000 settlement, Snay couldn't resist posting this cheeky Facebook update: "Mama and Papa Snay won the case against Gulliver. Gulliver is now officially paying for my vacation to Europe this summer."

Her careless post started a domino effect: it was seen by other Gulliver students (in her network of 1,200 friends) and eventually made its way back to the school's attorneys, who reported it back to the ruling judge, who then revoked the settlement. Even though the court stipulated that it was Snay's parents who couldn't talk about the case, her Facebook status still violated the confidentiality agreement.

Obviously, Snay was old enough to know better than to boast about something better kept private, but her mistake highlights our society's addiction to social media and to oversharing (and oversharenting). Our constant need to be plugged in can lead us to weaken our sense of privacy and diminish our better judgment. So as your children being spending more time on social media, start teaching them the things they should never reveal (on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram)...no matter how tempting. Even if they have exclusive "friends only" settings on their social accounts, remind them to avoid sharing the info below for privacy and safety reasons.

1. Personal IDs. This seems like a no-brainer, but teach kids not to type social security numbers, credit card numbers, and account passwords of any kind (email, social media, bank) in any messages. They should also not share photos or videos that show credit cards in them. You can never be too careful...especially when child identity theft can be prevented.

2. Mailing/home address. Street View on Google Maps is just a few clicks away. (And no one wants a repeat Bling Ring situation.) And tell your kids to avoid posting photos or videos of the house (or selfies with the house in the background), especially with street signs in prominent view. And be careful about Foursquare, especially if you don't want too many people to know where your kids are at certain times.

3. Medical history. There have been amazing stories of kids being diagnosed and saved through Facebook, but like personal IDs, medical information (e.g. specific conditions, diseases, and allergies) should be kept private. You never know what people may do with the info -- child identity theft can also occur with medical records.

4. Specific vacation days. Sure, your kids may be excited about going to Disney World or Hawaii, but it's probably best to avoid posting status updates that say, "Can't wait to see Mickey in two weeks!", or posting photos with the caption, "I can't believe I'm in Hawaii right now!". Don't let others know when your house will be or is empty. Instead, encourage your kids to post photos and share stories after the vacation is over.

5. Problems with other people at home or school. It's easy to vent about some annoying parent, sibling, friend, teacher, etc., online but you never know who will see a Facebook or Twitter status and be hurt. It may be hard, but it's best to wait and talk to someone in person (whether it's venting to an objective person or confronting the problem person). Embarrassment will be nixed and online fights and dramas will be avoided. Personal problems won't drag on...and on.

6. Improper photos or videos. These include any photos and videos that can be misconstrued or misinterpreted, including ones showing nudity or risqué looks, hard partying, smoking, drinking, drugs, etc. Basically anything that show your kids in compromising situations. And have your kids ask their friends (and vice versa) to grant permission before any photos or videos are posted and tagged.

7. Sensitive information attached to a court case. Obviously, don't do what Snay did. If your family is involved in or going to be involved in any court case, instruct your child not to reveal anything (even in person) before, during, or after the case...no matter the outcome. After all, no one wants two sentences, 140 characters, or a photo or video to be the cause of unhappiness (like, um, losing money) and unwanted media attention.

Source: http://www.parents.com/blogs/parents-perspective/2014/03/03/big-kids/7-things-kids-should-never-share-on-social-media/?esrc=nwpdtodd072616&did=44949

18 Campus safety tips every college student should keep in mind

18 Campus safety tips every college student should keep in mind





Being on a college campus is fun, but it's easy to gain a false sense of security when surrounded by your peers. After all, they're just honest students like you, right? Wrong. It's important to acknowledge and remember that you don't always know who you can trust, even when you're in the college campus. Unfortunately , several students fall victim to on-campus crimes.While colleges do their best to make student safety a priority , students are ultimately responsible for their own safety .Here are some precautions you should take on campus.

1 Don't allow technology to make you unaware of your surroundings. As everyone with headphones, a smartphone and an MP3 player knows -the minute you're plugged in, the world barely exists anymore! You stare at your phone, zoned out and not knowing what is going on around you.

2 Share your classactivities sched ule with parents and a network of close friends. Make sure they have all the numbers they need to get in contact with you.

3 Carry your purse close to your body and keep a firm grip on it; carry your wallet in an inside coat pocket or your front pant pocket.

4 Be aware and stay alert. Whether you are hanging out at a party or walking across campus, pay attention to what is going on around you. Avoid being isolated with someone that you don't know or trust.

5 Get to know your campus and find out a well-lit route back to your hostel or place of residence.

6 There have been many complaints of physical and psychological injury due to ragging (another term for bullying) in colleges and educational institutions. Despite rules against it, seniors often find `safe' spots where they can torment juniors and freshers. These places need to be identified and guarded so as to prevent such activities.

7 some reason, talk with people you If you are feeling threatened for trust such as friends, family , teachers is happening and talk about ways they and security staff. Let them know what might be able to help.

8 needed to. If you live in a college Plan how you would escape if you building, make sure you know all the exits. Consider what routes you could take to get to transportation, and where you could go to get to safety.

9 Escape is the primary objective if you become involved in a dangerous situation. Do not attempt a physical confrontation if escape is possible.

10 Always include emergency num bers in your mobile phone's contact list for easy access.

11 Don't flaunt large sums of cash or expensive jewellery . Such actions may provide temptation to a thief.

12 Tell a friend or roommate where you're going before venturing out to ensure they are aware of your whereabouts, in case you are stuck in some crisis situation.

13 bag or other belongings Avoid leaving your electronics, unattended.

14 whistle to attach to your keychain Purchase pepper spray and a or store it in your bag.

15 on your campus and share Learn ways to get involved important information about sexual violence.

16 Enhance your personal security with technology and safety devices. Though it's not a substitute for quality self-defence training, safety apps or other devices can be value additions to your arsenal.

17 If you see anyone suspicious in and around the premises, alert the campus security . It's always better to be safe than sorry .

18 It's always a good idea for stu dents to use a buddy system to keep an eye for each other when going to campus events, parties, concerts and other activities.

Source: Jul 24 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai)

Higher Education: 

What test taking strategies do top students use?

There are 2 different sets of strategies:
1) Test Day - Good test taking
2) During Semester - Good study habits

Test Day:
 

1. State of mind: Make sure you are at optimum state of mind, that means things like sleeping well the night before, drinking coffee in the morning, exercising, whatever you do for peak productivity. Your state of mind is the most important input to your test result. If you are sleep deprived you are already loosing.
2. Calm + Confident: Don't psych yourself out before the test, the number 1 way to do this is simply to not cram till the minute before the test. Instead relax for the hour before the test, go for a walk, whatever.
3. Start Test With Confidence: The best way to do this, is when they say 'start,' don't. Instead take a deep breath, think positive thoughts, and then slowly open the test.
4. Navigate the Test: Most people who do really well is tests, are just really good at navigating tests. Essentially, go through and answer everything you know first. Don't go in order of the test! So if you don't know Q1, skip it, leave space, mark it, and come back to it later. Answering what you know first does two important things: (1) It builds confidence cause you are knocking things off the test. (2) It makes the best use of time possible, saving you time for the hard things at the end.
5. Revise: With 15 min left, always make sure the ones you are sure of are the first ones you check, you don't want to loose out on 'easy' points for a silly mistake.

During Semester:

• Pay Attention In Class: My biggest take away from being in school for a long time is that you have to pay attention in class. I mean really pay attention. My strategy is to focus on listening, and to keep note taking to a minimum, mostly I write down only the things I don't understand. This way I know what to ask about later. More importantly, taking frantic notes is useless because you probably have a reference resource anyway, and if not, your classmates were taking notes anyway.
• Go to Office Hours: If you wrote down what you didn't understand from class, now you can ask good questions in office hours and actually fill gaps.
• Ask Questions in Class: Don't be afraid to ask questions. I used to think my questions were dumb, and slowly got over it, and now ask if I don't understand something. trust me this is the right move.
• Create a Good Study Group: In undergrad at least I had an awesome study group - I chose people who had the same schedule as me (roughly) and had different learning techniques and strengths so we would complement each other.

I assure you if you do these simple things, it will make a huge difference. I noticed over the years that while these may seem like obvious tips, almost none of my peers did these things. I stuck to these tactics pretty intensely - and they worked extremely well for me. I almost always outperformed on tests and did so about 40% faster than my classmates. The latter was because I navigated tests extremely well. In fact, I recall a quantum class where I did the entire test backwards, and ended up getting everything right... think about that... I started not knowing anything except the last question. Doing that built my confidence and momentum, and I got the second last, and eventually I got through the whole thing! 

These strategies really do work. 



Rishabh Jain,MIT PhD, Co-founder OpenLab,
Indian / American
Source: www.quora.com

‘Student life is all homework, no play’ 

 

EXPERTS SAY Too much homework could make children dislike studies, emphasise need to make it creative, engaging

MUMBAI: A recent manual published by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) suggesting guidelines to homework states that schools must assign only 20 to 25 minutes of homework every day.
ILLUSTRATION: SIDDHANT JUMDE DE But educators said that a student in Mumbai spends more than three hours a day completing homework, after six to eight hours of school and an additional two to three hours of attending coaching classes. This leaves them with little time for play or recreational activities.

“Homework is essential to reinforce and repeat what is taught in schools, but the burden doubles as tuition classes run at their own pace and assign additional work to students,” said Dr Samir Dalwai, development paediatrician and president, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Mumbai.

This practice is likely to create a dislike for studies among children, said specialists. “If homework has to be given, it should at least be creative and engaging. Teachers can also pace out the work so that students do not end up with too much work on weekends,” said Dhaval Mody, a psychiatrist.

A few city schools are trying innovative ways to lighten the students’ burden, but the results are limited.
Campion School in Fort, for instance, doesn’t give homework for students up to Classes 5. Even those in Classes 5 and 10 are assigned only a couple of application and result-based questions as homework.

Similarly, Lady Engineer School, Tardeo, assigns only classwork for students till Class 4. “The focus is on developing motor skills in the early years and so, there is no need to assign homework,” said Eric Elavia, the school’s principal.

But principals admitted they cannot extend this practice to the higher classes.
“In secondary classes, there is no escape from homework, as there are marks for books, project completion, journal submission and other tasks, which need to be done at home,” said Elavia.
Meera Isaacs, principal, Cathedral and John Connon School, Fort, said, “These days, even scoring a 90% is insufficient. If students are to score well in the board exams, they need to practice and revise daily.”
Isaacs said that parents pressurise students even for school projects.

“We introduced ‘Splashes’ as a fun activity in which students make charts and collages on different topics. This can be easily done by gathering some data from the inter net and using their own creativity but even that becomes competitive,” said Isaacs.

 YOUNG VOICES Puja Pednekar puja.pednekar@hindustantimes.com
Source: http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

National Institute of Fashion Technology, 2016 Admission

National Institute of Fashion Technology invites application from for NIFT Entrance Exam 2016 for admission to the Bachelor and Master Degree Program in Design Management and Technology at NIFT Institute for academic session 2016.

The Institute is offering the UG and PG degree in various fashion streams. The institute invites the application from all Indian and foreign candidates for the admission through the NIFT Entrance Exam.

NIFT, New Delhi Campus announces admission to Continuing Education (CE) Programme -216-17. All Programmes are industry focused and offer a range of career opportunities in fashion and related industries.

National Institute of Fashion Technology

An Institute of Design, Management and Technology

A Statutory Institute Governed by the NIFT Act 2006 and set up by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India

Admission for Continuing Education Programmes- 2016-17

CE Admission form Available                                  :               26^th May – 29^th July 2016

Open House                                                                     :               12^th July 2016

Last date of submission of Admission form     :               29^th July 2016

Interview for all CE Programme                            :               4^th August 2016

Declaration of Final Results                                     :               10^th August 2016

Payment of Fee                                                               :               22^nd August 2016