NATIONAL SEMINAR ON TEACHER EDUCATION THROUGH OPEN DISTANCE LEARNING IN THE CONTEXT OF RIGHT TO EDUCATION
Sub theme: Technology enhanced collaboration for promoting teacher education programmes under RTE
Date: March 22-24,2011
Venue: Convention Centre, IGNOU
Excerpt from the seminar paper presented.
Kerala- a step ahead
Teacher community of Kerala has decided to walk a step ahead in order to bring the fragrance and colour of IT enabled education by creating blogs and websites. State institute of Educational Technology (SIET) has produced and distributed hundreds of educational CDs with the support of LSGs and SSA project. They are also conducting children’s educational film festival every year.
it@ school
The pioneer project aiming at imparting computer aided learning even in the remote villages of Kerala has played a vital role in equipping the teachers. The project has designed a massive programme supplying laptops and net books to the entire teacher community.
The features:
- Owned by the Education department
Conducting massive teacher training Programmes for primary &HS teachers
IT text books for primary and secondary classes
Supply of computers and peripherals to schools
Providing internet facility to all schools and Edn. offices.
School wiki project
Propagating free softwares and operating system -GNU/ linux, ubundu, geogebra etc.
Victors channel-exclusively for teachers and students
www.itschool.gov.in
Choondu viral-A small step, a big leap
The attempt by Sri.Kaladharan, Programme officer, SSA, Kerala has evoked new trend in equipping teachers. Teachers from different parts of Kerala visit the blog regularly and discuss various issues related to classroom practices. The story of a blog how it became a trend setter for the teacher community of Kerala is influencing the educational scenario beyond our imagination. We can measure the amount of the effort in different gatherings. Choonduviral has been the focus of discussion in School SRGs, HM trainings, PEC meetings, Teacher empowerment programs etc. It has been a source of inspiration to educationists and to the general public who are interested in general schools.
Lets see how choonduviral interacts in blogosphere.
• It acts as a true mirror reflecting the remarkable activities conducted by schools in various districts.
• It brings forth the evidences of processes of learning activities planned . designed and carried out in a proper way
• Acts as an open forum for discussing academic issues.
• Acts as a pointer showing the right path.
http://learningpointnew.blogspot.com
English Corridor
The blog English corridor maintained by a team of practicing teachers and teacher educators under the guide line of Dr.K.N .Anandan, consultant, SSA, Kerala is a remarkable mile stone .This blog acts as a common platform for teachers to discuss classroom issues and process at micro-level.
The unique attempt by a group of English teachers has aroused interest. The blog discusses the theoretic assumptions on which the pedagogy for English has been designed and formulated. It gives the micro processes of class room activities. The bog gives a detailed account of discourse construction including the process for each discourse. It acts as a common platform for the English teachers to share their experiences, clarify their doubts and it acts as a source of inspiration.
The blog deals with the teacher role in the following areas
• Caring for individual achievements
• Monitoring group activities
• Ensuring collaboration and cooperation
• Raising classroom interaction to the level of dialoguing
• Formulating specific instruction to process different discourses
• Addressing slow learners and the gifted
• Addressing social issues
• Giving way for critical pedagogy
• Assessment
• Editing group products
http://keralaenglishgroup.blogspot.com
Maths Blog
The attempt by two maths teachers has become the “superhit” among the educational blogs .It tells the success story of a blog which was aiming the teacher community alone turned to be a blog owned by the general public The blog attracts laymen to engineers spread all over the world . The content of the blog presents a wonderful diversity .
The areas covered by the blog
• Puzzles
• Games in mathematics
• Riddles
• Discussion of evaluation tools
• Discussion on class room activities
• Solution to classroom issues
• Unit planning
• Official communications by department
• A helping hand for teachers to solve their academic and service problems
The blog has received l recognition from the educational department of kerala and from eminent educationalists in and out side the state.
http://mathematicsschool.blogspot.com/
BRC Edapal-Bonding 69 schools
In Edappal, Malappuram, a single blog keeps 69 schools bonded.
http://brcedapal.blogspot.com, started by Block Resource Centre (BRC) Edappal, under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), is the first initiative by a school cluster to use blogosphere for better communication .Though many schools have taken to blogging in recent times, Edapal BRC holds the title of having taken the first step in the direction of using it as a community tool for better networking.
The blog has been named ‘Vidyalaya Visheshangal’ and is a close favour ite of a section of teachers and students who have remained loyal readers to it from the beginning. It has inspired many teachers, schools and students to begin their own blogs too.
It had gained much appreciation during the Mikavu 2009 National Meet held in Thrivananthapuram.
Though, initially, teachers and students had shown hesitation to acquire internet skills, things have undergone much change now. This reflects the influence of cyber media in the teacher community.
