"The biggest game changer in Education will never be a technology - It’s an educator who’s willing to be Innovative”
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Defence Ministry unveils statue of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram
Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Manohar Parrikar unveiled a life-size statue of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Peikarumbu, his burial site in Rameswaram Island on Wednesday. Today is the first death anniversary of the former president and the Ministry of Defence has planned a host of events.
An exhibition named “Mission of Life” depicting the life of Kalam and his achievements towards nation building is set to be inaugurated.
Dr. Kalam passed away on July 27, last year while delivering a lecture at the IIM-Shillong in Meghalaya. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest. IIM-Shillong will organise a lecture series on making the world a better planet.
In the lecture series, eminent personalities from different spheres would be invited to share their experience, a spokesperson of the institute said on Tuesday.
The first lecture of the series would be delivered at the commemoration event on Tuesday, by Manas K Mandal, Director General – Life Sciences, DRDO. The lecture series will be the latest initiative by the institute amongst others.
Institute director Amitabha De said, “Dr Kalam’s legacy is to make the planet more livable, not only for the present, but for future generations as well. To pay our respects to the legend, we would name the auditorium in our new campus after the former president with a life-size statue of him to be placed outside it.”
Kalam, widely known as the People’s President, was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour in 1997.http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/foundation-stone-for-dr-abdul-kalams-memorial-to-be-laid-in-rameswaram-today-2937938/
National Policy on Education
The National Policy on Education was framed in 1986 and modified in 1992. Since then several changes have taken place that calls for a revision of the Policy. The Government of India would like to bring out a National Education Policy to meet the changing dynamics of the population’s requirement with regards to quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge and to eliminate the shortage of manpower in science, technology, academics and industry.
For the first time, the Government of India is embarking on a time-bound grassroots consultative process, which will enable the Ministry of HRD to reach out to individuals across the country through over 2.75 lakh direct consultations while also taking input from citizens online.http://mhrd.gov.in/nep-new
Thursday, April 07, 2016
How to mark World Book And Copyright Day
How to mark World Book And Copyright Day: This year we have noticed that some booksellers are calling the World Book And Copyright Day 'World Book Day'. This is wrong. I don't know why we in Malta don't refer to the day by its proper name, as officially recognised by Unesco? The dropping of the word 'copyright' is a mystery.
Unesco...
Unesco...
Monday, April 04, 2016
LEDs at schools: Go green is the new mantra for KVS
Allahabad: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has given a clarion call to conserve environment. All the KVs, their regional offices and zonal training centres across the country have been instructed to replace bulbs and tube lights with LED lights to cut down on power bills.
The decision will be implemented in a phased manner, said KVS administrative officer Gautam Banerjee. As per the order, LED (light emitting diodes) lights and BEE (bureau of energy efficiency) star labelled electrical appliance will be used in all KVs, regional offices and ZIET.
The decision will be implemented in a phased manner, said KVS administrative officer Gautam Banerjee. As per the order, LED (light emitting diodes) lights and BEE (bureau of energy efficiency) star labelled electrical appliance will be used in all KVs, regional offices and ZIET.
Friday, March 18, 2016
CBSE will review ‘tough’ math paper, rework marking scheme
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday constituted a committee to review the Class 12 mathematics question paper that students and parents said was “unusually tough and lengthy”.
Students across India went into a panic mode after Monday’s exam, asking the board to address their concerns. By Tuesday, over 200 petitions were filed on change.org, with some asking for a retest.
The panel, which includes a subject expert, curriculum expert and board representatives, will take corrective measures and prepare a marking scheme before evaluation begins, said a CBSE official.
A copy will be sent to all checking centres and students will be marked according to the set formula, he said.
Usually, the board first sends feedback from teachers, principals and students about the question paper to the committee, said LV Sehgal, principal, Bal Bharti School.
“The committee then reviews, sets and finalises the marking scheme for that particular paper, taking the feedback into account,” he said.
Moderation of marks is generally reserved for rare occasions when it is clear the paper was difficult, a CBSE source said.
Moderation, by large, is a process of academic leveling through a slight “upscaling or downscaling” of marks. It is followed by most school boards and universities and usually benefits low scorers.
“A similar situation arose last year for the same subject. The board took a similar measure,” an official said.
The board set up an experts’ panel last year too to rework the marking scheme.
For particularly vague or tricky questions, marks for every answer step are also mentioned in the scheme.
“In case there are out-of-syllabus questions in the paper and students attempt them, the evaluators generally award marks for the attempt alone,” said Sehgal.
Students may also get marks for correct application of mathematical concepts and formulae, even if the final answer is incorrect. http://www.hindustantimes.com/education/cbse-will-review-tough-maths-paper-marking-scheme-to-be-reworked/story-ecYT2vncJZSCr1y0La557K.html
Students across India went into a panic mode after Monday’s exam, asking the board to address their concerns. By Tuesday, over 200 petitions were filed on change.org, with some asking for a retest.
The panel, which includes a subject expert, curriculum expert and board representatives, will take corrective measures and prepare a marking scheme before evaluation begins, said a CBSE official.
A copy will be sent to all checking centres and students will be marked according to the set formula, he said.
Usually, the board first sends feedback from teachers, principals and students about the question paper to the committee, said LV Sehgal, principal, Bal Bharti School.
“The committee then reviews, sets and finalises the marking scheme for that particular paper, taking the feedback into account,” he said.
Moderation of marks is generally reserved for rare occasions when it is clear the paper was difficult, a CBSE source said.
Moderation, by large, is a process of academic leveling through a slight “upscaling or downscaling” of marks. It is followed by most school boards and universities and usually benefits low scorers.
“A similar situation arose last year for the same subject. The board took a similar measure,” an official said.
The board set up an experts’ panel last year too to rework the marking scheme.
For particularly vague or tricky questions, marks for every answer step are also mentioned in the scheme.
“In case there are out-of-syllabus questions in the paper and students attempt them, the evaluators generally award marks for the attempt alone,” said Sehgal.
Students may also get marks for correct application of mathematical concepts and formulae, even if the final answer is incorrect. http://www.hindustantimes.com/education/cbse-will-review-tough-maths-paper-marking-scheme-to-be-reworked/story-ecYT2vncJZSCr1y0La557K.html
Monday, February 29, 2016
National Science Day 2016
National Science Day 2016
National Science Day 2016 in India was celebrated on 28th of February, at Sunday.History of National Science Day Celebration in India
28th of February, 1928 was the great day in India when an invention in the field of Indian science was completed by the famous Indian physicist, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. He was a Tamil Brahmin and first one in the science, who had researched such invention in India. To commemorate and honor this event always in the future, 28th of February was asked to the Indian Government to designate as a National Science Day in India by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in the year 1986.From then, the national science day was started celebrating all across the India as a great event in the field of Indian science. It is celebrated every year by students, teachers, scientists and researchers in all the schools, colleges, universities, educational institution including scientific, academic, medical, technical and research institutions of India. On the first celebration ceremony of the National Science Day in India, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication had declared the institution of the National Science Popularization awards in order to recognize an excellent and wonderful endeavor in the field of science communication and popularization.
Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman had worked from 1907 to 1933 at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, West Bengal in India during which he had researched on many topics of the Physics from which the Raman Effect (effect on scattering of light when passing through different materials) became his great success and discovery which has been marked in the Indian history. For his big invention he was honored through the various Indian awards including the Nobel Prize in the year 1930. From the year 2013, the “Raman Effect” has been designated as an International Historic Chemical Landmark by The American Chemical Society.
During the national science day celebration of the year 2009, the Indian Department of Science and Technology has awarded the five Indian institutions through the National Award for Science Communication in order to recognize the big efforts and achievements of the Indian scientists of the government and non-government organizations for popularizing and leading the modern science in the country. The Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre was given the highest award in the year 2009 to recognize its big contribution to the science.
The national science day has been started getting celebrated as the Science Carnival to recognize scientific activities and programs by the participation of students from school and college, scientists from the state and national faculties. This event celebration has provided a real platform for various new comer scientists to fix their feet and bright their career in the science profession.
How National Science Day is Celebrated
National science day is celebrated as one of the main science festivals in India every year during which students of the schools and colleges demonstrates various science projects as well as national and state science institutions demonstrates their latest researches. The celebration also includes public speech, radio-TV talk shows, exhibitions of science movie, science exhibition based on themes and concepts, watching night sky, live projects and researches demonstration, debates, quiz competitions, lectures, science models exhibitions and many more activities.It is celebrated every year with immense passion at the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (also called GMRT) at Khodad which is a worldwide famous telescope getting operated at low radio frequencies by the NCRA (National Centre for Radio Astrophysics) established by the TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research).
Variety of activities is organized by the NCRA and GMRT at the ceremony of national science day celebration in order to recognize their leading research activities in the field of radio astronomy and astrophysics. Variety of programmes is also held for the common public and student community to popularize the science and technology in the country.
The minister of science and technology give a message through his speech at this day to the students, scientists, researchers and general public of the nation
SOURCE-
http://www.indiacelebrating.com/events/national-science-day/
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
How to Overcome Examination Stress
Exam Stress
Quicklinks:
General exam stress-busting tips
Tips for the revision period
Tips for the exam itself
After the exam
A few anxiety reduction techniques
Exam Stress
Exam anxiety is:- excessive worry about upcoming exams
- fear of being evaluated
- apprehension about the consequences
- experienced by many normal students
- not mysterious or difficult to understand
- manageable by following a plan of helpful suggestions
Lifestyle issues:-
- inadequate rest
- poor nutrition
- too many stimulants
- insufficient exercise
- not scheduling available time
- not prioritising commitments
- strategies for exam-taking
- academic information such as course requirements, lecturers' expectations, exam dates and exam location
- knowledge of how to apply anxiety reduction techniques while studying before any exam
- Inefficient: inconsistent content coverage; trying to memorize the textbook; binge studying; all-night studying before exams
- Ineffective: reading without understanding; cannot recall the material; not making revision notes; not revising
- feeling little or no control over the exam situation (rather than knowing and applying exam strategies)
- negative thinking and self-criticism (rather than being one's own best friend)
- irrational thinking about exams and outcomes
- irrational beliefs "If I don't pass, my (family/boyfriend/girlfriend/friends) will lose respect for me"; "I will never get a Degree."
- irrational demands "I have to get at least a 2.1 or I am worthless."
- catastrophic predictions "I'll fail no matter what I do—there’s no point."
General Exam Stress-Busting Tips
Believe in yourself. If you prepare for the exams properly you should do fine, meaning that there is no need to worry excessively.Don't try to be perfect. It's great to succeed and reach for the stars, but keep things in balance. If you think that "anything less than a 2.1 means I've failed" then you are creating mountains of unnecessary stress for yourself. Aim to do your best but do recognise that none of us can be perfect all of the time.
Take steps to overcome problems. If you find you don't understand some of your course material, getting stressed out won't help. Instead, take action to address the problem directly by seeing or talking to your Tutor or getting help from your classmates.
Don't keep things bottled up. Confiding in someone you trust and who will be supportive is a great way to alleviate stress and worry. You are welcome to come to (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/studentservices/ ) to talk to one of our Advisers or Counsellors, perhaps just for some initial advice or if you feel you want to take things further. You can drop in to make an appointment either at The ASC (The Advice and Support Centre) at 79 North Street, or our offices at Eden Court on The Scores. Alternatively, you can:-
Phone: 01334 462020
Email: theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk
Book an appointment with a Support Adviser via our Online Booking System
Keep things in perspective. The exams might seem like the most crucial thing right now but, in the grander scheme of your whole life, they are only a small part. Interrupt negative thoughts with positive ones. Examples: “I can do this”, “I will do my best”, “I can pass this test”, “I will focus only on the question in front of me.” "I have done it before, so I can do it again." Actively challenge your irrational thoughts. Life will be worth living regardless of this exam. Respect yourself for taking this course and getting this far, regardless of the outcome.
Plan your study time. Too much material + Too little time = Anxiety. Plan your studying with regularly scheduled study sessions about 50 minutes long separated by 5 – 10 minute breaks.
Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Anxiety increases when one feels tired, run down and overwhelmed. Overall resilience depends on one's physical and mental health, which can be strengthened by:
- enough movement and exercise (vs. couch potato lifestyle)
- balanced life (vs. over-stress)
- positive thoughts/beliefs (vs. self-defeating thoughts/cynicism)
- health focus (vs. self-neglect)
- replenishing nutrition (vs. junk food)
- regular and adequate sleep (vs. late night lifestyle)
Get yourself into exam mode. Practise on sample tests in the textbook or study guide. Look at past exams. Ask for suggestions from your Lecturer what to expect in the exam, what course materials should be emphasised, how to prioritise study time for the course.
Plan. Rest well the night before the exam. Plan to arrive at the exam location early. If you can pick your seat, choose one away from the doors, windows or other distractions. Plan to monitor the time during the exam so wear a watch or sit where you can see the clock. Plan to wear layers of clothing so you can adjust your need for more warmth or coolness. Check out the examination room ahead of time if you can.
Avoid bad things. Give coffee and other stimulants a miss the night before the exam or on the day of the exam. Avoid anxious or talkative students. Avoid other people or things that may disturb your self-confidence, focus and level of relaxation. Definitely avoid arriving late.
Tips for the Revision Period
Leave plenty of time to revise so that you don't have to do last minute cramming. Giving yourself adequate time will help to boost your confidence and reduce any pre-exam stress as you know you have prepared well.Develop a timetable so that you can track and monitor your progress. Make sure you allow time for fun and relaxation so that you avoid burning out, but avoid drugs and alcohol.
Take a short break as soon as you notice your mind is losing concentration. Make yourself a sandwich. You will then come back to your revision refreshed. Be careful that you don’t reward yourself during your break with five minutes of TV or checking your e-mail or Facebook. A few minutes can easily turn into an hour before you know it.
Experiment with alternative revision techniques so that revision is more fun and your motivation to study is high. Try mind-mapping, use multi-coloured index cards, get yourself an assortment of highlighter pens.
Don't drink too much coffee, tea or fizzy drinks; the caffeine will 'hype' you and make your thinking less clear. Eat healthily and regularly; your brain will benefit from the nutrients. Don’t give in to a Saturday evening of binge drinking, either!
Regular moderate exercise will boost your energy, clear your mind and reduce feelings of stress. Try out some yoga, pilates, tai chi or relaxation techniques. They will help to keep you feeling calm and balanced, improve your concentration levels and help you to sleep better.
Tips for the Exam itself
Avoid panic. It's natural to feel some exam nerves prior to starting the exam, but getting excessively nervous is counterproductive as you will not be able to think as clearly.The quickest and most effective way to eliminate feelings of stress and panic is to close your eyes and take several long, slow deep breaths. Breathing in this way calms your whole nervous system. Simultaneously you could give yourself some mental pep-talk by mentally repeating "I am calm and relaxed" or "I know I will do fine".
If your mind goes blank, don't panic! It will just make it harder to recall information. Instead, focus on slow, deep breathing for about one minute. If you still can't remember the information, then move on to another question and return to this question later.
Take a small bottle of water into the exam with you and some sweets (if allowed—find out ahead of time). Have a drink of water. If you are really stuck, you might consider getting up and taking a short walk outside the room to compose yourself or going to the toilet. Ask the invigilator for assistance. When you are able, get back to work - remember that it is better to put something down rather than nothing.
Remember that the invigilator is there to assist you (for instance, if you have a problem with distracting noises inside or outside of the examination room, if the sun is shining on your exam paper, if you need a drink of water, etc.).
Survey what’s in front of you
- Read the instructions carefully
- Quickly survey every page of the exam paper
- See what will be expected of you
- Re-read the instructions a second time (are you really being asked to answer either one or three of the questions?)
- When surveying the exam paper, place a mark beside all questions you know you can answer
- Divide up your time according to the importance of the questions
- Answer the easiest questions first to guarantee marks in the least amount of time
- Do not rush through the exam
- Regularly check time left for the rest of the questions
- Give yourself time to proofread; you should not still be writing at the invigilator’s “5 minutes remaining” announcement
After the exam
- The day before the exam, you might want to decide what you are going to do immediately after the exam ends. Standing around and joining in with others' delight or dismay is almost always discouraging. If you have something already planned you can simply leave others to do the post-mortem, while you go and do something more enjoyable. Whatever you do, don't spend endless time criticising yourself for where you think you went wrong. Often our own self-assessment is far too harsh. Congratulate yourself for the things you did right, learn from the bits where you know you could have done better, and then move on.
- Plan to reward yourself for your hard work. After the exam, do something you enjoy that makes you feel special: take a relaxing walk, have coffee with a friend, buy yourself a present, exercise, have dinner at a favourite restaurant, take a luxurious bath with candles, soft music and a good book (not a textbook). If you are going to meet up with someone, you could agree with them that you will only talk about the exam for 5 minutes - or even not at all. It’s important that you let the stress of the exam go if you have more exams to sit over the next few days or weeks..
Some Anxiety Reduction Techniques
Take a deep breath:-- hold it for three seconds
- exhale audibly all at once and let your head, jaw and shoulders drop
- breathe easy ‘into’ your neck, jaw and shoulders and breathe again into the relaxed state
- repeat cycle once or twice
- if you try this in an exam, you will likely want to exhale more quietly so that you don’t disturb the other students
- tense your whole body one part at a time
- lift your toes and tense both calves
- tense your thighs and buttocks
- tighten your abdomen
- tense your chest and back
- tighten your arms and clench your fists
- tense your neck and clench your jaw
- tightly close your eyes
- take a deep breath and hold it for five seconds
- let your breath and the tension in your body go all at once
- feel the tension leave your body
- focus on the inner screen of your mind’s eye
- imagine your ideal, safe, relaxing place
- close your eyes
- in your mind, send yourself there for 15 to 30 seconds
- breathe easily and enjoy the relaxation
- go there whenever you need a quick relaxing break (make sure you don’t fall asleep if you are in the middle of your exam, though!)
- really feel that smile spread throughout your body
- take a deep breath and exhale through your mouth
E-Books
You might find these e-books helpful:-Coping with stress at University
The stress-free guide to studying at university
50 ways to prevent and manage stress
End procrastination now!
Overcoming anxiety, stress and panic
The complete anxiety treatment and homework planner
(Please note:- Whilst Student Services has obtained permission to provide these links, we cannot accept responsibility for their content.)
Library Books
Passing exams without anxiety: How to get organised, be prepared and feel confident of success, Acres, D. (1998) How To Books.
Passing Exams: A guide for maximum success and minimum stress, Hamilton, D (2003) Thomson Publishing.
Useful Websites
Living Life to the Full
Student Services has invested in this online package with E-Books, videos and worksheets. If you would like to talk about the material or have questions, then please contact the Support Advice Team at Student Services.
http://www.centreforconfidence.co.uk
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/podcasts/
SOURE-https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/advice/personal/managingexamstress/
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