The document summarizes the keynote address and panel discussions from the 18th State Level Annual Conference on higher education in Maharashtra, which focused on making higher education more meaningful and value-based, and discussed challenges in higher education including the role and training of faculty. It also provides updates on upcoming events for the editor and highlights an open call for contributions to an open source book on teaching best practices from experienced teachers.

1. December 2011
Volume 5, Issue 12 Inspiring Teachers
Driving educational change through excellence in teaching
Editor’s Comments
I attended and participated in the 18th super computer PARAM in the 80’s, was
State Level Annual Conference by there to inaugurate and give the keynote
Maharashtra Council for Education address. Several other luminaries in
Management and Administration. This education from the state spoke. The
Articles this month: year’s theme was “how to make higher message was loud and clear. Education
Faculty of the Month education meaningful and value cannot continue the current ways if we need
……………..….2
based?”. It was on 31st Oct and 1st Nov to leverage the huge population of youth in
Third Choice …..3 at Sholapur, hosted by AG Patil Institute the country. Apart from inculcating
Caption Contest of Technology. The partner of this thinking and values, education needs to
……………….3 conference was Gokhale Education restore dignity of labour by including some
Must Watch Websites Society. This society, established in 1918 manual work in the curriculum. The role of
……………….4 faculty and the need for training and
operates 91 institutions with more than
Comments on Newsletter 1,00,000 students, 3100 staff and a motivating them was also underlined.
……………….4 Uma Garimella
budget of 100 crores in three Zones -
Open Source Teacher’s Nashik, Mumbai & Thane with 16
Handbook November / December Events
……………… 5 Centres.
It was a pleasure to hear the 1. Addressed Alumni at AMS School of
proceedings conducted in chaste Informatics – Hyderabad, 26th Nov
Marathi – any language when spoken 2. Classroom management, Using ICT and
without adulteration is always a delight. Differentiation – lectures at UGC
Anyway, due to this, no one used Academic Staff College – JNTU-H Nov
LCD/Presentations and it was even 13th , 23rd
more delightful to listen to passionate 3. Speaking at Grace Hopper Celebration
speakers on various issues of education. of Women in Computing at Bangalore –
There were several sessions and panel 15th Dec in student track – “Learning
discussions on challenges in higher how to learn”
education, embedding values, using 4. Visiting NIT Trichy, 19th Dec
technology, training faculty and 5. Meeting VNIT Alumni to chalkout a
interdisciplinary teaching. learning improvement initiative Dec
Dr Vijay Bhaskar, the architect of India’s 24th, 25th

2. Inspiring Teachers Page 2 of 6
Faculty of the month Dr Joy Anuradha, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad
(Read full interview at answers that students give. workshops and refresher
www.theprofessor.in) For me it is always the courses also can be a
What kind of teaching function of a piece of stimulant for improving
methods do you use to writing that was relatively teaching skills.
keep students more important than its What are the challenges
interested in your form. Formats keep you face from students
classes? changing with times yet the and how do you
I try to take some art of expressing oneself overcome them or turn
language puzzles or clearly in a variety of them around?
language activities which situations is very important In my current position, I
involve them. I gather to me. teach technical
language gaffes to entertain What could be a communication skills, both
Joy Anuradha is an
Assistant Professor in them and hopefully to drive sustainable model to oral as well as written to
Language and home the point. I also give improve the teaching future scientists and
Communication at
BITS Pilani, them a chance to practice skills of existing engineers. We have large
Hyderabad since 2009. their communication skills faculty? classes with students whose
She specializes in
Technical by encouraging them to I would recommend every communicative competence
Communication and participate in a discussion institution to make a is a wide spectrum. Re-
ELT in Technical
Education. Her areas of on current events. At BITS practice of publishing at engineering their
interest are teaching we have the freedom to least once a year the best communication skills to
and training ,
curriculum design, choose our own materials, teaching practices/methods suit professional contexts is
psychology, an article on a website or a used in their respective a major challenge.
communication and
soft skills, personality paper clipping also works class rooms. There are lots Fortunately, BITS Pilani
development, well in the class room. of good and successful has a Practice School
classroom
management and How do your colleagues teachers around and component as part of the
educational react to your ideas and everyone can benefit if their curriculum in the second
administration.
initiatives? How do you experiences are shared. year of the coursework to
She obtained her Ph.D respond? That kind of newsletter or a familiarize the students to
from Central Institute
of English and Foreign I’m basically a functionalist bulletin exclusively for the industry. That
Languages in 1996. She in my approach to teaching teachers can also update experience to a certain
worked in the
Humanities and language. Some of my teachers about the latest extent changes the
Management Group colleagues who are more trends and methodologies orientation of the students.
from BITS Pilani, Goa
and at Aurora traditional and formalist in being used across the world.
Consortium. their approach could never Encouraging faculty
see eye to eye with my members to participate in
acceptance of certain seminars, conferences,

3. Page 3 of 6 Inspiring Teachers
Third Choice - a high school principal’s strategy
students started to think. In
Two doctors discuss the found out all the schools
the course of the discussion,
possible problem about a whose children come to his
he brought out the point that
man limping towards them. centre for exam and visited
probably having a goal or
One thinks it is polio and them one by one. He spoke
taking the next step towards
another thinks it is fracture, to the students and shared
it was a more appropriate
because one is a neurologist study tips and exam tips. At
way of asserting that they
and another an orthopedic. the end, he told them that if
were adults.
A third man who overhears they are found copying
By the end of the talk, they
their conversation suggests during exam, he is going to
had a plan. Mr Yeole quickly Caption describing
they should ask the limping act tough. And yes, his idea picture or graphic.
organized an exhibition of
man himself. Well, ‘I broke worked. There were three
120 career options through
my sandal strap’ finally the surprise raids by three
posters and information
limping man tells them. different agencies that year
brochures for three days,
Mr RM Yeole was a very during exams, and they
through some agency. To his Dolly Sandhu TEACHER! Leave
interesting speaker who could not find a single
joy, even much later in life,
started his talk with this instance of mal practice.
Dolly Sandhu:
several of the students of that
story and had several others TEACHER! Leave those kids
batch told him how they
during his speech. The The second incident alone... to find their own path
benefited from that exercise. those kids alone... to find their
moral of this one was not to happened during New Year.
One fellow joined the army own path
diagnose problems based Several class XI, XII
and he said that was possible
on OUR tools and expertise students asked for Chrys Cattirisetti:
only because of that
but to find the truth. permission to wear normal Try to BEE someone :-)
exhibition. The point is – Life Know a lot to have a super
I am sharing with you two clothes and not uniform on
is not just yes or no. powerful edge over others
situations that he handled 31st Dec and 1st Jan. Now,
Adolescents don’t like to be
in an interesting way. he had a choice of agreeing
shown the rod. But agreeing Neelu Vig :
(and setting a bad To Worker Bee or not to Bee......
to everything they say is not
The first incident was when precedent) or turning down
good. It harms the student as
he took over as principal of their request. He tried a
well as the institution. But
a high school (including XI third choice. He asked them
there are always innovative
and XII), he was told that why they chose this way of
options available – provided
the school was notorious celebrating New Year. The
we have an open mind and
for not able to curb students said they were soon
open ears and the right
‘copying’ during exams at going to be adults and
questions.
its centre. And his mandate wanted to assert that. Then
Mr Yeole is also actively
was to change that. So he asked them “was dressing
involved in improving maths
instead of doing something the only way to assert
teaching in his state.
during the exam, he started adulthood? Is that why they
Unfortunately or otherwise,
at the beginning of the come to school, to show
he is not on internet!
academic year. He first their dresses?”So the

4. Inspiring Teachers Page 4 of 6
academy teachers of the world can be
throwing away corruption,etc. and
made aware of the changing attitude
Anita Saxena will surely be able to build a
Head co-ordinator- Staff Training of not only the students but also of developing world.
and Development Programs, the society towards teachers and
Blue Bird Senior Secondary I hope I have not wasted your
School, Aligarh education.
precious time. If ever you feel that
There was a time when parents and
I can be involved in any of the
I have received the letter students had a blind faith on
session as a part of your academy
celebrating the 50th issue of the teachers; whatever a teacher said was
to attend any workshop or
academy. I present my heartiest always taken as God's words. Now we
session; its a humble request to
congrats and best wishes for the need to change the teaching
you, to please inform me. I will be
academy. I am in this teaching techniques and also try to make our
highly obliged.
profession for 18 years and it is students be aware of the rapidly
my passion. I love to teach as well changing society and enable them to Waiting for your motivating words
as interact with the students. I eagerly….
take the right decision. Because I feel
conduct grooming sessions and these students are the future citizen
motivational sessions for the of the society who can bring the
students of classes XI and XII. I desired changes in the society
feel that through your prestigious
Must watch websites
1. Atlanta's solution to finding math and science teachers? Train them!
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlantas-solution-to-finding-1227499.html
2. Top Indian Academics Press Government to Allow Foreign Universities
http://chronicle.com/blogs/global/top-indian-academics-press-government-to-allow-foreign-universities/31476
3. Reliance announces entry into Education in a big way
http://www.educationinsight.in/2011/news/reliance-industries-to-enter-education-in-a-big-way/
4. Virtual schools are multiplying, but some question their educational value
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virtual-schools-are-multiplying-but-some-question-their-
educational-value/2011/11/22/gIQANUzkzN_story.html
5. CBSE moots Integrity Clubs for ‘value’ addition in kids
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbse-moots-integrity-clubs-for-value-addition-in-kids/879729/0
6. Indian Engineering Congress
http://iec2011.in/
7. Stanford puts its CS lectures free online
http://www.i-programmer.info/news/150-training-a-education/3361-stanfords-free-computer-science-courses.html
8. Video games that teach math
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-11-29/video-games-college-learning/51478224/1

5. Page 5 of 6 Inspiring Teachers
Open Source Teachers’ Handbook
Many people understand what is Open Source in software – a philosophy which gives access to the product’s source
material. It is also a philosophy where people contribute and cooperate to build a product. Bhagirathi Behera, a
teacher with more than 10 yrs experience and now working as a principal has initiated a book compilation project
with the help of the community of teachers. He has partnered with Teacher’s Academy to bring out this compilation
of experiences, opinions, ideas and expertise and make it available to all teachers. Your contributions will appear
with your name in the book.
Involving Parents Deadlines
What do you need to do? 1. What role have parents played
(and are playing) in shaping 30 March 2012- Last date to
Please respond to the following today’s education system? receive responses for
questions and send to us along questionnaire.
2. What are some ways you
with your picture and brief profile
involve parents in your 30 April 2012- Announcing
(include information about high
school, college, activities, honors, student development editorial team and title of the book
work experience, why you have strategy?
chosen teaching as a career, what 3. How do you approach a 5 September 2012 -
are your strengths as a teacher, parent who is upset and Inauguration of the book at
your career goals in next 1, 3, 5 and/or angry? Hyderabad
and 10 yrs ) Teaching
If you want to be on the
4. Explain how you structure the
QUESTIONS editorial team
40/45 minutes of a class
Your philosophy of teaching period? Any educator interested to be a
1. Think of your best teachers. 5. How much effort do you put part of the team can contact
What positive characteristics in planning this lesson? (in personally on 8084125247, or
do you believe these teachers terms of subject, method, 9440607287
had? Which of these aids)
Mail us at
characteristics do you believe 6. How do you cater to the bhagijune19@gmail.com/rediffma
you have? different needs of students in il.com
2. Think of your worst teachers. your class? info@inspiring-teachers.com
What mistakes did they make 7. How do you incorporate
or qualities did they have? technology into your Project Coordinator:
instructions? BHAGIRATHI BEHERA
How are you avoiding those
PRINCIPAL
mistakes/qualities? Classroom management
1. How do you handle disruptive GREEN VALLEY
3. What three words would your INTERNATIONAL
students use to describe you? students in the classroom? SCHOOL,MALINAGAR
4. Define student and school Any special strategies for the SAMASTIPUR ,BIHAR-848125
according to you. occasional and for the
5. How do you see the teacher’s repetitive behavior?
status and role in society 2. How do you create an
change in the recent past? atmosphere of tolerance and
Beyond class friendship among students in
6. What is the purpose of your class?
homework / projects? What is
your typical homework /
project?

6. Inspiring Teachers Page 6 of 6
Teacher’s Academy
Send in your New Year goals
Hyderabad
Its already the last month of the year! Time for reviewing the past year and working
PHONE: for a better 2012. A time to appreciate your successes and work in the areas of
97011 41118
improvement. If you have set yourself some professional and personal goals for the
E-MAIL: year 2012, there’s an opportunity to share it with the community.
info@inspiring-teachers.com
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