No school bags till class 2: Upendra Kushwaha

NCERT and the Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE have taken several measures to reduce curriculum load and the weight of school bags.

By: IANS | New Delhi | Published:November 22, 2016 2:20 pm

 
In its latest circular, it has advised schools to take all possible measures to keep the weight of school bag under control. (Express File Photo)
 
The CBSE has directed schools affiliated to it to ensure that students do not carry school bags till class II and also to restrict the number of books to be prescribed in classes I-VIII, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

In a written reply to a question, he said both the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have taken several measures to reduce curriculum load and the weight of school bags.

“In its latest circular dated September 12, 2016, it has advised schools to take all possible measures to keep the weight of school bag under control,” said the Minister.

He said that the NCERT has not recommended any textbook for early childhood education, while only two books for classes I and II and three books for classes III to V have been recommended.

“The Government has also launched a platform for showcasing and dissemination of all digital and digitisable resources for its stakeholders in collaboration with the NCERT,” said the Minister, adding that the NCERT has made available all their textbooks and other teaching-learning material for free access on its website.

In a written reply, Upendra Kushwaha said the CBSE has also developed an online mechanism for submission and scrutiny of affiliation applications. “710 Affiliation applications are pending with Central Board of Secondary Education for more than six months,” he said.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/no-school-bags-till-class-2-upendra-kushwaha/

ROBOTICS MOVES FROM FUN TO SERIOUS LEARNING TOOL

ROBOTICS MOVES FROM FUN TO SERIOUS LEARNING TOOL

Amrutha Varshinii & Adarsh Jain

TNN





A Mix Of Engg And Electronics, Science Is Now In Demand Among IT Cos & Service Sector

From being assembled with lego kits or used in high-end programming, robots have moved from being considered mere play things. In Tamil Nadu schools, they are be coming an important tool of learning. In the past few years, the niche branch of science has become a craze among students. Today , it interests a child from as early as Class 1, when heshe is introduced to simple lego-like kits and gradually advances to assembling and coding.
Robotics,today is considered a separate branch of engineering, and has evolved from a fairly new branch called mechatronics, an amalgamation of mechanical engineering and electronics. Sneha Priya, founder of Kidobotikz, clarifies that robotics is not as niche as touted. “Robotics is more a platform than a subject.It provides a platform to put various disciplines to test,“ she says, adding that it helps make students more knowledgeable.
Vijay Shah, who created the banking robot `Lakshmi' recently, points out that young children tend to be more creative with technology. “Students need intuitive learning in which they can explore concepts and try things on their own, like making a sensor, or programming a movement and this needs to be taught to them early,“ he says.
Experts in the field feel that though the education system has allowed for the new-age subject to find space among other extra curriculars, it has not understood its potential. The transition from the classroom exercises to real-world application remains doubtful. “It isn't like smaller crafts; robotics is an interdisciplinary subject and this takes time to comprehend. If schools are serious about offering robotics to students, it should be brought in as an elective,“ says Shalini, a parent.
While more children are willing to take up robotics, companies offering the training feel it should become part of the curriculum. Arun Yogesh, CEO of Jay Robotics, has been helping schools like MCC and DAV Public conduct workshops to spark interest among students. “There are more schools lately willing to bring us on-board to teach robotics. Despite growing interest, it will still take some time for robotics to be in the curriculum,“ he said. The problem is that most schools do not have the infrastructure to teach students and end up outsourcing it to private companies.
In the past few years, there has been a flurry of startups using software-bots to offer various services -finding nearby restaurant, booking cabs and analysing legal contracts. Despite the promising career in the highly evolving science, the subject is taught only in a few colleges. B Vinod, head of robotics and automation engineering at PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore, points out that the demand for trained robotics graduates has increased exponentially. “We have a batch of 30 students, and we have 22 of them placed. As enough do not offer robotics course we are unable to meet the industry requirement,“ he says.





Source : Nov 25 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

The international school curriculum creates a perfect balance between academics and sports provides a holistic educational experience

SPORTS EDUCATION

Pooja Mahimkar





The international school curriculum creates a perfect balance between academics and sports provides a holistic educational experience

All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.

 

True to this saying, apart from studying day in and day out, students need a certain amount of physical activity daily. International boards pay special attention to physical education apart from the regular theory syllabus. They take physical education a notch up and provide students a variety of sports to choose from. Sports education not only trains students in cricket and football as a game but also equips them to decide whether to make a career in the field of sports or not.

Physical activity plays an integral part in the growth and development of a student's mind and body. It also helps the student develop skills like persistence, perseverance and patience. Sports education also trains a student to take a defeat in the right spirit and maintain humility when victorious.

Generally, a number of students only opt for cricket or football in India. Thus, it is necessary to introduce other sports as well in the curriculum to broaden the opportunities of a student.International boards offer a variety of sport options like, lawn tennis, table tennis, fitness gymnasium, volleyball, basketball, skating, swimming, squash, dance, badminton, etc. “Sports help students work towards a common goal, teaching them lessons on teamwork and co-operation. As students advance through the ranks of the team, they learn valuable leadership skills. It also focuses on management skills, creativity in finding ways to improve themselves, strong focus and concentration“, said Vandana Arora, principal, Nahar International School.
“Physical education lessons are carefully prepared to not only include the teaching of sports related skills but also with reference to health and fitness,“ shared David Ricketts, athletics director, Ecole Mondiale.
International schools focus on improving a student's overall academic performance. Training students in various sports opens up a new career option.

Increasing stress levels among students has lead to aggression and low tolerance levels. Sports help students attain a balanced state of mind. “International programmes ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop their skills and become all-rounded learners. The lessons students learn are pivotal in their personality development. No subjects teach skills and principles that physical education does,“ concludes Shane Russell, head, physical education, Oberoi International School.

 

Source:Nov 24 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Schools are now using innovative teaching methodologies to help students understand complex subjects

INNOVATIVE TEACHING





Schools are now using innovative teaching methodologies to help students understand complex subjects 

 

By Mithila Mehta The thought of trigonome try, organic chemistry and physics is sure to give a nightmare to most of us. However, gone are the days when students follow conventional modes of learning, where the motive was to pass exams and not necessarily increase the scope of knowledge. Explains Savita Desai, Education Counselor, EduPlus India, “Education is evolving and awarenessabout how children best learn is also growing. Championed by various boards and international schools, we are seeing the advent of alternative learning models for students. From the manner in which teachers are trained to the format of classroom sessions, role of practical learning, style of teaching, manner of testing knowledge, everything is very different.“ 

 

DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSIONS

Teaching through technology centres on learners. Technology driven learning develops effective approaches to teaching and learning and works seamlessly within different global contexts. Students are exposed to diverse cultures and languages, while exploring and constructing their own personal and cultural identities through technology. Additionally, there is a focus on developing interdisciplinary understanding, rather than looking at individual subjects in isolation. Explains Desai, “Education aims to transform students and schools as they learn through dynamic cycles of inquiry, thought and reflection.Teachers enable and support students as they develop the approaches to learning they need for academic and personal success.“

SHIFT IN PHILOSOPHY 

While these philosophies are all well in theory, how do they come alive in practice? Says Manisha Gupta, whose daughter is pursuing her IB Diploma at a global school says, “Whether you are a six-year-old child or a sixteen year old diploma candidate, the alternate way of learning is evident.Most of the learning happens in a very involved, hand-on manner. This is through discussions, solving case studies, field work and projects. The school organises interactions with relevant industry professionals, visits to interesting places, movies screenings that enhance learning. Every single session is unique, carefully planned is very dynamic in its approach!“ Agrees Nidhi Rathi, who graduated from UWC Mahindra College, Pune, “The learning experience was great. There is so much focus on encouraging cultural exchanges and interactions. Text books are purely in cidental to the learning ­ it is about understanding and applying concepts yourself. The focus is always on the student asking the right questions, rather than giving the right answers ­ a fundamental shift from conventional education system.“

 As a part of the holistic curriculum, students undertake activities beyond just regular subjects to those involving creativity (the arts), action (sports) and community service every week. This ensures that students are exposed to diverse experiences which will ensure they grow into well rounded individuals while expanding their scope of learning. Student exchange programmes between IB schools ensure diversity of cultural experiences.

Testing students is simply never about exams that encourage you to cram. From in-depth practical sessions in labs to long projects, experiments, presentations, oral conversations, case studies and other creative testing tools, a more holistic measure is achieved of where the student can strive to do better.

  
Source: Nov 24 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Now, study Amar Chitra Katha, Tintin, Potter in ICSE schools

 Source:Nov 24 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

JEE (Main) to be held on Apr 2, register by Jan 2

JEE (Main) to be held on Apr 2, register by Jan 2

Aadhar Card Must To Fill Application Form

Mumbai: TIMES NEWS NETWORK





 

The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) ­ 2017 will be conducted on April 2, 2017. The last date to register for the exam is January 2, 2017.

From this year, Aadhar card has been made mandatory to fill the application form. All those students who do not possess an Aadhar card should apply for the same.
In case the card has some invalid or wrong information, it should be rectified before applying for the entrance exam, noted an official from CBSE.

This year, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Odisha have joined the JEE (Main). Hence, candidates seeking admission to institutions in these states, which were earlier admitting students based on their respective state examination, will also take the JEE (Main)-2017.
The JEE (Main) is an eligibility test for the JEE (Advanced), which the candidate has to take if heshe is aspiring for admission to the undergraduate programmes offered by the IITsISM Dhanbad. IIT Madras will conduct the JEE-2017 on May 21.

JEE Main is conducted by the CBSE for admission to the undergraduate engineering programmes in NITs, IIITs and other centrally-funded technical institutions. A detailed notification will be out on December 1, 2016.

IT-JEE (Advanced exams to be held n 6 countries IIT Joint Admission Board (JAB) released the name of six foreign countries, including three SAARC nations, where the IIT-JEE (Advanced) will be held in 2017.
Examination centres will be set up in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Dubai (UAE), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Singapore. Based on their performance in the exam, students can select IITs for undergrad courses. Earlier, it was expected that the entrance exam to the premier institutions would be conducted for the first time in all SAARC nations, except Pakistan. TNN

Source : Nov 23 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Mothers better at teaching math skills to children

Mothers better at teaching math skills to children

ANI





Astudy has found that young chil dren whose mothers supported them during play , specifically in their labelling of object quantities, had better math achievement at ages four and a half and five years. Early math knowledge is as important as early literacy for children's subsequent achievement. It can also predict later school success and income in adulthood.

Researchers developed ways to assess mothers' support of their children's math skills by examining how moms supported and guided their threeyear-olds' learning as they played with a toy cash register and blocks. The researchers applied their new assessments to previously videotaped 10minute free-play interactions between 140 economically and ethnically diverse mothers and children who were part of a longitudinal study .
Mothers supported their children's math skills in a variety of ways, helping them count objects, identify written numbers, or label the size of sets of objects. Children whose parents supported them in labelling quantities of small sets performed better on math tests in preschool than children whose parents didn't. These kids also did better on addi tion and subtraction problems.

“Many young children can count from 1 to 10 without understanding the meaning of the numbers they're counting,“ says Beth Casey , who led the study. “What may be particularly important at three is for parents to present their children with small groups of one, two, or three objects, and tell them how many objects there are -for example, by saying at the grocery store, `See, there are two apples in our bag. It's also important for them to encourage and help children label how many objects there are.

Source : Nov 25 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

CBSE makes Aadhaar must for JEE enrolment

CBSE makes Aadhaar must for JEE enrolment

KOLKATA: As if the demonetisation scheme was not enough. Now, a decision by the CBSE to make Aadhaar mandatory for all students appearing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), Mains-2017, is sure to add more ammo to Mamata Banerjee's armoury .The West Bengal chief minister has repeatedly protested against the Centre's decision to link Aadhaar with the different Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.

If the CBSE persists with its decision, students from West Bengal are likely to be hit the hardest. Unlike states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, where nearly 95% of the population have enrolled for Aadhaar and rece ived there Unique Identification (UID) numbers, the figure in West Bengal is only 78%.According to available data, only 7,54,67,010 people in the state out of a population of 9,66,22,186 have got Aadhaar cards. This leaves 2,11,55,176 people in the lurch.

JEE Mains-2017 will be held on April 2, 2017 and the last date of registration is January 2, 2017. 

According to CBSE officials, Aadhaar cards will be mandatory to fill up forms from this year. A circular states that students who do not possess Aadhaar cards should apply for them. In case cards have invalid or wrong information, they should be rectified before the forms are filled up.

Realising that the decision by CBSE to introduce Aadhaar is likely to kick up a storm, a senior HRD ministry official said: " A complaint has reached minister Prakash Javadekar. He will take every measure to ensure no eligible student is left out from appearing in the examination due to nonavailability of Aadhaar card." The announcement has already led to consterna tion among teachers and students in the state.

According to Rammohan Mission School principal Sujoy Biswas: "This will cause a lot of inconvenience to the students, particularly when they are preparing for a major board examination as well as competitive exams. The CBSE could have taken the decision to make Aadhaar mandatory from 2018. This would have given the students some time."

JEE Mains is an eligibility test for JEE Advanced, which candidates have to sit for admission to the undergraduate programmes offered by the IITs, ISM Dhanbad. JEE Mains also acts as an entrance examination for undergraduate engineering programmes in NITs, IIITs and other centrally-funded institutions.

TNN | Nov 23, 2016, 09.31 AM IST

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/CBSE-makes-Aadhaar-must-for-JEE-enrolment/articleshow/55574206.cms

Merit Scholarship Schemes_CBSE

Source: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com