Teachers Day Special-2: "Teachers Day in India"

Grateful thanks to SupremeMaster TV (http://www.suprememastertv.com) and YouTube.

Teachers Day Special: "To Our Dear Teachers"

Grateful thanks to Renn09 and YouTube.

Education for Digital World: Global Efforts

This interview of Prof.Asha S.Kanwar,Vice President & Programme Director, Commonwealth of Learning, Canada by Prof.S.Panda is presented by the IGNOU. It takes a look at the changing scenario of education in the digital world.

Grateful thanks to Prof.Asha Kanwar, Prof.Panda, IGNOU and YouTube.

For Teachers-20: "Teachers Today in this Digital World"

The above is a short commentary about how teachers are changing the culture of education in the 21st century through the use of technology and web 2.0. Video created at animoto.com. This should be interesting to teachers.

Grateful thanks to Animoto.com and YouTube.

Words of Wisdom-50:

Education has mainly two aspects: the cultural aspect which makes a person grow and the productive aspect which makes a person do things. Both are essential. - Jawaharlal Nehru

Words of Wisdom-49:

There is a brilliant child locked inside every student - Marva Collins

Education News-6: "Course in Value Education and Spirituality"

Annamalai University has launched a Postgraduate Diploma course aimed at making human beings live happier by improving their attitude, character and temperament in collaboration with Brahma Kumaris Education Wing (Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation). This one year course starts from July 1 and will be offered in Hindi, English and Tamil. Eligibility a degree from a recognized university. Spot admissions are open in the various centres of Annamalai University and that of Brahma Kumaris. Subjects covered include Value Education and Spirituality, Major Religions, Consciousness and the Divine, Personal Development and Values in Life, Meditation and Values in Society, Personal Progress and a field project with practicals.

Prospectus-cum-application form can be obtained on payment of Rs.100/- at the above centres.

For more information:

Mr.Padiamani
9442222157 and 0452-2640715

Source: The Hindu, (Education Plus), June 22, 2009.

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Open Educational Resources-1: "OER at different areas and different levels"

Posting below a mail received from Prof.Subbiah Arunachalam on the above topic, which may be of interest and use to readers:

Friends:

Here is a website particularly relevant to NMEICT:
http://www.oercommons.org/

This site provides links to open educational resources for different areas at different levels. I list a few categories here.

Subject Areas

Arts (1446)
Business (599)
Humanities (4028)
Mathematics & Statistics (2028)
Science & Technology (10534)
Social Sciences (4539)

Grade Levels

Primary (4376)
Secondary (6306)
Post-secondary (13324)

Grateful thanks to Prof.Subbiah Arunachalam, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Internet and Society.

Skill Development: "NMEICT and Skill Building"

I am reproducing below the mail received from Prof.Subbiah Arunachalam, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Internet and Society on the above topic for the benefit of readers:

Friends:

NMEICT should make special efforts to support the National Skill Development Initiative. In particular, we should tap the NIT faculty and ICAR scientists to prepare content for imparting skills in a variety of technical trades to a large cross section of people. The target audience could be unemployed youth and school dropouts, students at ITIs and Polytechnics and people already employed in farms and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises).

NMEICT may partner with NGOs to reach out to a large number of potential users of such content. The government would like to create a pool of over 500 million skilled people by 2022. A huge task indeed.

India has the advantage of large numbers. But we need to improve the skill base. Even among university graduates, it is widely conceded that a very large percent is unemployable.

Subbiah Arunachalam
Distinguished Fellow
Centre for Internet and Society

How To-139: "How to Develop Good Communication Skills"

How to Develop Good Communication Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Here are some guidelines for developing good communication
skills that you can practice anywhere and at anytime.

Steps

1. Know what communication really is. Communication is the process of transferring signals/messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods (written words, nonverbal cues, spoken words). It is also the mechanism we use to establish and modify relationships.
   
2. Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs. The attitudes you bring to communication will have a huge impact on the way you handle yourself and those with whom you interact. Choose to be honest, patient, optimistic, respectful, genuine, accepting, and believe in other people's competence.
   
3. Make eye contact. Whether you are speaking or being spoken to, looking into the eyes of the person you are in conversation with can make the experience successful. Eye contact conveys interest, and encourages your partner to be interested in you in return. In less intimate settings, when giving a speech or when in front of several people, holding the eyes of different members of your audience can personalize what you are saying and maintain attention.
   
4. Be aware of what your body is saying. Body language can say so much more than a mouthful of words. An open stance with arms easily to your side tells anyone you are talking to that you are approachable and open to hearing what they have to say. Arms crossed and shoulders hunched, on the other hand, suggest disinterest in conversation or unwillingness to communicate. 'Often, communication can be stopped before it starts by body language that tells people you do not want to talk:' Appropriate posture and an approachable stance can make even difficult conversations flow more smoothly.
   
5. Have courage to say what you think! Communication skills begin with simple communication. Take time each day to be aware of your opinions and feelings. Individuals who are hesitant to speak because they do not feel they have worthwhile opinions need not fear: what is important or worthwhile to one person may not be to another and may be more so to someone else. In a world so very big, someone is bound to agree with you, or to open your eyes to an even deeper perspective. The courage to say what you think can afford you the opportunity to learn more than you did before.
   
6. Speak loudly enough to be heard. When you are saying what you think, have the confidence to say it so as to be heard. An appropriate volume can inform listeners that you mean what you say, you have thought about what you are saying, and what you are saying is worth hearing. An appropriate tone and volume ensure your listeners hear exactly what you are saying, and decreases room for misunderstanding.
   
7. Practice. Communication skills can be practiced every day in settings that range from the more social to the more professional. New skills take time to refine, but each time you use your communication skills you open yourself to opportunities and future partnerships.
   
8. Develop effective listening skills. Not only should one be able to speak effectively, one must listen to the other person's words and engage in communication on what the other person is speaking about. Avoid the impulse to listen only for the end of their sentence so that you can blurt out the ideas or memories that come to your mind while the other person is speaking.

Tips

• Try to speak fluently and try to make sure people can hear you when you speak.
  
• Make sure you're using proper grammar as well.
  
• Never rush with your words. Listen carefully and speak slowly so the other person can decipher what you are saying

Related wikiHows

• How to Brainstorm With a Group of People
  
• How to Listen
  
• How to Communicate in an Assertive Manner
  
• How to Give Constructive Criticism

Sources and Citations

• http://www.tips-to-organize-life.com/organize-your-speech.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Develop Good Communication Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.