Sakal News Papaer | २७/०९/२०१६ | p.8
Source: http://epaper.esakal.com/sakal/27Sep2016/Normal/Mumbai/page8.htm

Make books part of children’s natural habitat: Ken Spillman

• Henna Rakheja, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Australian author Ken Spillman visited India recently.

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“It’s important to stay in touch with the child that is in all of us,” says Ken Spillman. The Australian writer, who was in the city, shares how children in Indian schools are still kept away from books, and how freedom of thought and speech makes one more tolerant.
Spillman has written 35 books spanning across genres, including the Jake Series, which is also popular in India. Ask the author how difficult is it to write engaging tales for young adults and pat comes the reply, “It is easier to draw young audiences.”

His reply might come as a surprise to parents who get exhausted trying to keep their young ones amused and entertained. He says, “One way to make a child read is to leave books on the table and say ‘Don’t read them’. For sure they will fiddle with them… even if they just browse; they will surely register the visuals in the book.”

Spillman first came to India 10 years ago. “Since then, I have been coming here regularly and have seen a tremendous change in the book industry. Indian writing for children has moved beyond Ruskin Bond and RK Narayan, who were earlier always talked about… Now there are more writers and titles. More Indian authors are household names,” he says.
On this trip, the author participated in the annual congress Jumpstart, and travelled across states. “In one of the sessions at a school in Mangalore, a boy asked me ‘Are we allowed to read novels?’ I have been to so many libraries and have noticed that the books are locked away behind glass doors. If we want children to read, we have to make books a part of their natural habitat.”

Known to present social history in a lucid-style, Spillman says: “Giving voice to the past is important. Societies have a very short remembrance in today’s 24-hour news cycle. In this age, it is important to narrate history to children through engaging narratives, without screens blaring at us.”
What seems to worry him more is curbing the right to freedom of speech. “The 21st century is calling out for more understanding and kindness. Leaders in politics and education must recognise that developing readers deliver more than academic success – it can make our societies more tolerant and cohesive,” he says

Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/make-books-part-of-children-s-natural-habitat-ken-spillman/story-4vLv9Twv8BZz1edrM5OTsL.html 

Just 15 minutes of TV may kill creativity in kids: study

Just 15 minutes of TV may kill creativity in kids: study

Sep 22, 2016 | 

Over time if children are less creative in their play, this could negatively impact their development.

London: Children who spend just 15 minutes or more a day watching television may become less creative as compared to those who read books or solve jigsaw puzzles, a new study has warned.

Watching TV for short periods does not impact on the number of creative ideas that young children come up, researchers said.

However the research, conducted with 60 children of three years of age at Staffordshire University in the UK, has found that 15 minutes of children's television temporarily reduces the originality of the ideas they come up with.

"We were looking at the immediate impact of television on children's creativity," said psychology lecturer Dr Sarah Rose, who conducted the study. "We compared children who watched slow and fast paced episodes of Postman Pat with children who were left to play with books and jigsaws. We then tested the children for the numbers of creative ideas and the originality of those ideas," Rose said.

"While there was very little impact of TV on the number of creative ideas generated, there was clear evidence that the children came up with less original ideas immediately after watching television although these effects seemed to disappear after a short time.

"Over time if children are less creative in their play, this could negatively impact their development," Rose said.

The new research is potentially useful to producers of children's television, early years' educators and parents as little study has been carried out on the development effects of television on young children, researchers said.

"There is a belief that the more slow-paced programmes are more educational but our findings do not support this," Rose added.

Source: http://www.asianage.com/life-and-style/just-15-minutes-tv-may-kill-creativity-kids-study-326           

Second hand books still in demand in times of e-reading

In the age of e-books and reading devices, second hand books are still doing a roaring business on the pavements of bustling Mumbai where open books markets sell works by an array of writers like Homer and Kalidasa.

By: PTI | Mumbai | Published: September 18, 2016 2:14 PM

Interactions with a host of booksellers in the sprawling metropolis, including one of the biggest “open book” sellers at the iconic Fountain, revealed that though digital era mounts tough challenges to their businesses, there is still a great demand for the books on display on the sidewalks.

In the age of e-books and reading devices, second hand books are still doing a roaring business on the pavements of bustling Mumbai where open books markets sell works by an array of writers like Homer and Kalidasa.
Advent of social media or e-reading devices and apps have failed to dampen the zest of bibliophiles for printed books, including the second hand ones which they can buy at affordable prices.
Interactions with a host of booksellers in the sprawling metropolis, including one of the biggest “open book” sellers at the iconic Fountain, revealed that though digital era mounts tough challenges to their businesses, there is still a great demand for the books on display on the sidewalks.
“Of course, the advent of digital tools like android apps have kept a large chunk of book readers away from us. But we have not given up hope and devise new methods to attract readers or say book lovers,” said Rajendra Chandel, treasurer of Mumbai Novel Book Welfare Association, himself a seller at Hutatma Chauk’s open book market.
Explaining how they are coping with the challenges from “digital distractions”, he said, “Primarily, we sell second hand books which are cheaper by more than 50 per cent.”
“Apart from that, to maintain long-lasting relationship with buyers, we also give books on rent, which has been very helpful in making the customers, mainly students, return to us,” Chandel told PTI.
This largest open book market of the city sells all kinds of titles ranging from fiction, biographies, fashion trends, history, war and wildlife, whose prices range from Rs 10 to Rs 5,000.
For instance, an internationally reputed home-learn set comprising 22 books is sold at a price of Rs 5,000-6,000, far below the price of over Rs 50,000 tagged by book stalls.
What often attracts readers to second-hand joints is that they have a wide variety on display, from pulp fiction to hi-tech thrillers and from science to management.
Though English titles continue to dominate, many of the sellers have in their stock books in Hindi and other Indian languages, including Sanskrit classics and devotional classics like “Ram Charit Manas”.

Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/jobs/second-hand-books-still-in-demand-in-times-of-e-reading/381030/ 

Research, innovate, invent, PM tells youth

Aug 01 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Research, innovate, invent, PM tells youth

New Delhi: TIMES NEWS NETWORK





Curb Deaths During Child Birth: Modi 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pitched for technological solutions to day-to-day problems and exhorted the youth to go for research and innovation in a big way and use central schemes like `Atal Innovation Mission' which the government has devised to create an ecosystem of innovation, experiment and entrepreneurship in the country . “If we have to create next generation of innovators, we will have to prepare our children for that and therefore the government has taken initiative of setting up `Atal Tinkering Labs' (ATLs) in schools,“ Modi said in his monthly radio programme `Mann Ki Baat'.
He said if any school established such lab, it would get Rs 10 lakh and an equal amount for maintenance of these labs for five years.
The objective of ATLs, being established under the `Atal Innovation Mission' (AIM), is to foster curiosity , creativity and imagination in young minds.
Noting that innovation was directly linked to 'Incubation Centre', Modi said under the `Atal Incubation Centre' (AIC) programme, the government plans to earmark a “big amount“ of Rs 10 crore (to each AIC for five years to cover the capital and operational expenditure cost in running the centre).
Such centres will support and encourage startups to become successful enterprises. It will provide ade quate infrastructure along with high quality assistance or services to start-ups in their early stages of growth.
Inviting youth to do research and invent solutions through technology to the problems they see, the PM also referred to the 'Atal Grand Challenges' and said, “The government of India wants to reward technology that is developed to address our problems.“
He said this will be the real tribute to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, whose first death anniversary was observed four days ago. “The more our young generation works for research, innovation and inventing technology for solutions to our daily life problems, it will contribute immensely to making of the modern India of 21st centu ry and that will be the real tribute to Abdul Kalam,“ Modi said.
In his 'Mann Ki Baat', the PM also talked about a number of other subjects, including Indian participation in the Rio Olympics, his recent visit to South Africa and passage of a bill by Parliament that aims to provide huge money to states for their compensatory afforestation programme.
During the 35-minute broadcast, he also spoke about the need to curb deaths during child delivery and said government hospitals will offer free check-up on the 9th of every month which poor pregnant women should avail. He urged gynaecologists, who do not work in government hospitals, to devote one day for this purpose.

Now on, FYJC students can't change colleges without online application

Now on, FYJC students can't change colleges without online application

Vinamrata Borwankar   |  Mumbai





First Year Junior College (FYJC) students unhappy with seats allotted to them in the online admission process and who were hoping to change college in the middle of the academic year or next, may not get a chance to do so offline. The education department plans an online mechanism through which junior college admissions will have to be routed. Many students look at changing colleges in the middle of Class XI or in Class XII if they want to secure admission at a college of their choice. Until last year, students could approach individual colleges and they would be allotted a seat if there was a vacancy .
But this year, the Bombay high court said that no offline admissions be permitted.“We conducted over nine online rounds to ensure 100% admissions through the sy stem. Hence, we cannot allow students to change colleges offline even in future as we will then be back to square one,“ said B B Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai. Officials said that until last year less than 50% students continued at colleges allotted to them in the online process.
The education department is setting up the online system. “We are wrapping up ad missions for students who passed the SSC re-exam but we have told the agency to create the online set-up. Students will have to log in through the website and the online process will allot them to colleges they pick if there are vacancies,“ said Chavan.
The department, which had planned only three online rounds, had to hold nine to accommodate complaints from many students that the system had not been allotting them colleges as per their choice and marks.
But students are unhappy with the education department's plan.
“Despite applying online in almost five rounds, I could not get a college of my choice, and students with lower marks made it to that college. I was planning to try my luck next year at least, but if the online system will make allotments, we may yet again not get a seat. We do not know how the system works,“ said a student who scored 79%.

Source : Sep 21 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

CBSE invites entries for national level science fest

TNN | Updated: Sep 18, 2016, 10.21 AM IST

 

(Representative Image)

 

Chandigarh: With an aim to popularize science and promote innovative learning experience, CBSE has invited entries for the upcoming national level science exhibition from all its affiliated schools. The activity aims at providing a common ground to schools, teachers and students to give shape to their innovative ideas and learn from each other's experiences.

In the first round the exhibition will be organized at a regional level in the month of November/ December 2016 and at national level in the month of January/February in 2017. The main theme of the exhibition is Science, Technology and Mathematics for nation building and the sub themes include health, industry, transport, innovation innovations in renewable resources for sustainable environment, etc. The students may prepare an exhibit/model on any sub-theme. K K Choudhury, director (academics, research, training & innovation) CBSE stated that, "Some ideas that are new and may be applicable in future may also be presented in the form of presentations and discussions." The circular also stated that the any exhibit developed by specially able students should be displayed. "The entries should be accompanied with a disability certificate issued from a competent authority. Disability norms followed by the government will be considered under this category, Chaudhary stated.

Rules for participation

- Students studying in Grade VI to XI are eligible to participate.

-A participating school can put up a maximum of two exhibits/projects/models.

- School team participating at Regional Level and National Level must remain the same

- It is mandatory to submit a neatly typed brief write up(not more than 1000 words) about the exhibit / ideas for presentation at regional as well as national level

The exhibits will be assessed by the experts on

Students' own creativity and imagination

Originality and scientific and mathematical innovations in the exhibit/model

Scientific thought/principle/approached

Technical skill, workmanship, craftsmanship etc

Utility for Society, scalability/educational value

Economic (low cost), portability, durability, scope of its applicability in future etc.

Presentation aspects like demonstration, explanation and display

What can be exhibited

Working model to explain a concept, principle or a process

An indigenous design of a machine/device

An innovative/inexpensive design or technique


Application of basic principles of Science/Technology

Scheme/design of a device or machine to reduce production cost

Investigation based study

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/CBSE-invites-entries-for-national-level-science-fest/articleshow/54388381.cms

National Olympiad Programme

Viewing Torrent websites will land you in jail for 3 years in India!

Logging in to blocked torrent sites might land a person with 3 years of jail time.

By: FE Online | Updated: August 22, 2016 1:31 PM

Logging in to blocked torrent sites might land a person with 3 years of jail time. Although no official statements have been given by the Government of India, on logging in, a few of these torrent sites, a warning is flashed on the screen. This warning reads, “This URL has been blocked under the instructions of the Competent Government Authority or in compliance with the orders of a Court of competent jurisdiction. Viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 which prescribe imprisonment for 3 years and also fine of upto Rs. 3,00,000/-. Any person aggrieved by any such blocking of this URL may contact at urlblock@tatacommunications.com who will, within 48 hours, provide you the details of relevant proceedings under which you can approach the relevant High Court or Authority for redressal of your grievance.”

The warning was visible on a few of the most used torrent sites in the country. The warning would come up on the screens of torrentz2.eu among others after the links got redirected. The ‘government’ warning states that viewing, downloading or duplicating any of the copyright contents would be a clear violation of Section 63, 63-A , 65 and the 65-A of the Copyright Act of 1957. One can be booked under an offence under Section 63 dealing with the infringement of copyrights conferred in the act and would lead to a jail time of 6 months to 3 years and a fine upto Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. One can also be booked under the Section 63-A and get an imprisonment time lasting from 1 year to 3 years and a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh.

Any person who does not agree with such a ban and considers it a violation of his/her rights could approach the relevant High Court. Websites like Torrenlinks.net, btstorrent.cc, torrentdownloads.me, limetorrents.cc, and more are all flashing this warning. Though a few websites haven’t been listed yet and are accessible to the users.

http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/tech/viewing-torrent-websites-will-land-you-in-jail-for-3-years/353734/