A good read for teachers from school and colleges with useful resources and tips

1. April 2012
Volume 6, Issue 4 Inspiring Teachers
Driving educational change through excellence in teaching
Guest Editor – Dr Ramakalyan Ayyagari, NIT-Trichy
We fondly remember a folk which there is a vast multi- exposed. Let us realize that
tale in the epic Ramayana. dimensional space of our teaching at higher levels
When Rama was a little boy he unexplored mineral resources; becomes unproductive if the
demanded Moon for playing; the boundary, which is raw material is not properly
this obviously impossible talk apparently abstract and needs delivered to us; it becomes
was, sort of, accomplished to some effort to visualize, is as imperative that we participate
the satisfaction and joy of the important as the space within; actively in the outreach
Pic above: Dr
Ramakalyan A boy the Moon is brought a teacher ought to understand programmes and contribute to
apparently closer to him using this idea and should be able to strengthening the
a mirror. communicate this to the foundations. Though our chief
Faculty of the
month ….2 Students, school children or students. Freedom is a editor Dr. Uma Garimella
A teacher and a grown-ups, are like the little responsibility, not just a right. might disagree with me, I’ll
counsellor
Prince always demanding always have a hearty laugh
Authentic things beyond our reach. We, At NIT Trichy, every year, we looking at the advertisements
Leadership….3 admit students who are among of coaching classes for IIT-
the teachers, need the
Google Science fair ingenuity and presence of the top 10% of their peers in JEE for children in class IV.
.................3
mind. the country. However, to my
Interesting links ..4 In this issue, as a guest editor, disappointment, I do not see, What do we do when our
Circuit Process I would like to put forth a few more than a handful, anyone children ask us for something
Mechanism – A words on freedom. In who has good understanding to play? We are too eager to
book by Sridhar
Chitta…………….4 particular, I’ll share a few of the fundamentals like give everything readymade to
thoughts about our Newton’s laws. It is the same our children, and very quickly
A compulsive
traveler …………..5 responsibility in school-level syllabus, typically CBSE, and we are frustrated that their
education even though we do the same books, typically excitement vanishes too soon,
not directly teach there. NCERT publications; but still, aren’t we?; on the other hand,
This 7 letter magic word (like only those handful are trained give them instructions to
to read in-between lines; make their own paper boats,
the 7 pious notes of music) is
which means that there are their creativity blossoms.
most of the time mistaken.
only handful committed Cont’d on page 3
Freedom means a framework –
teachers. It turns out that the
a polyhedral – one within
teachers are not properly

2. Inspiring Teachers Page 2 of 6
Faculty of the month – Ms Vinita Sreepada
Q. You began your life in a from no lesser institute that we should contribute and
A lot of my time is very ordinary way, a small than TISS in Mumbai, and give back to the society in
taken in preparing for school, followed by an then to MPhil in mental whatever small way we can.
my classroom teaching intermediate (+2 health and neurosciences A chance visit to Bombay
as we do not have equivalent) with biology at NIMHANS Bangalore. (then, now of course
textbooks in our school. major, missed your seat in What prompted you to Mumbai) made me realise
The teacher has the medicine, switched over to such a steep switchover at that there is actually an
freedom to design the BA in English, but then the higher level? institute which trains people
lesson plans. dramatically, I mean A. The inner workings of in Social Work and
beyond anyone’s a person’s mind always Counselling. That made me
imagination in your fascinated me and I come realise my future path, and of
neighbourhood, switched to from a family who believe course my family completely
masters in social sciences backed me there!
Q. On a 0-10 scale how do you rate your professional satisfaction? A. Eight!
Q. Tell us about your their journey next academic deceptive! I do have my
current teaching and related year too(Grade-7)Most of struggles, frustrations and
assignments. the subjects are taught by mood swings. I try to work
A. I am a class teacher of the Class Teacher. through them. Fortunately
Never in my wildest
Grade-6 in a Waldorf Q. You appear quite my training in TISS and
dreams did I think I
School. The class teacher tranquil; what’s the secret of NIMHANS as also in
would ever become a takes the children from your confidence? Where do Anthroposophy help me cope.
teacher. I always Grade-1 through Grade-5 you get your energy from?
thought that there is and above. I’ll be going A. Do I appear so?
lot more for me to along with the children in Appearances can be
learn in this world
The good moments are when children imbibe what I teach and I am not talking about facts
and when I’m a based knowledge here. It also feels good when children come and share their day with me.
learner what can I The best moments are when I facilitate them to discover something on their own and when
they teach me how to be a better teacher. The worst moments are when I go unprepared,
teach! and when I forget to cater to the temperament of any particular child.
Q. Basically how do you manage your time and energy between, at least apparently, two
different professions? Then, with your qualification and experience have you not thought
counseling as a more fetching career?
A. In a way they go together, for when I teach I also counsel and when I counsel I also
teach. Anthroposophy and my degrees help in both the professions. I try to limit my
counselling sessions to weekends. I do not want to make money out of another person’s
anxieties and worries, so for me counselling is not fetching.

3. Page 3 of 6 Inspiring Teachers
How does the principal lead the school or college?
Shanthi Thomas, a research one of the latest theories educational leadership in
student at the university at of leadership now, and it general and on authentic
Brunei Darussalam has sent is gaining currency in leadership in particular. It
the following request. Do education as well. The would also be interesting
send your response to uniqueness of the theory to know of any real life
info@inspiring- is great importance it incidents in which the
teachers.com places in the leader being personal values of the
Caption describing picture
a genuine person, with principal could change a or graphic.
Specifically, my area of the right personal values school or college for the
interest is the kind of and strong organizational better or worse. I think
leadership practices that ethics, in order to be an that the ancient Indian
educational leaders engage 'effective' leader. concept of the 'guru' is
in. I am also interested to I would like to know what very much in line with
see to what degree they are kind of discussions and this theory.
'authentic leaders'. research are being done
'Authentic leadership' is in India on the topic of What are the leadership
models heads of
schools and colleges in
Google Science Fair – prepare for next year, high school teachers! India are using?
In the corporatized
Google is looking for the down to 15 global finalists the age categories, 13-14, 15-16, education scenario has
brightest young scientists from announced in early June, 17-18. One of the finalist winners the role of the principal
around the world to submit along with Science in Action will be announced the Grand changed? How does the
investor influence the
interesting, creative projects Award winner. Prize Winner.
institute? Send your
that are relevant to the world The 15 global finalists and Well, a world-class science fair
opinions/views/incidents
today. the Science in Action Award calls for world-class prizes. They
Students aged 13-18 yrs can winner will be flown to include once-in-a-lifetime
enter the competition – either Google HQ in California, experiences like a scientific trip to
alone or in groups of two or USA for celebratory Science the Galapagos Islands with
three. Fair event and the final National Geographic Expeditions,
All projects are judged by a judging round which will unique scholarships and real-life
panel of teachers and take place in July. The work opportunities in iconic
university professors finalists will present their science centers of excellence like
according to the judging projects before a panel of CERN in Switzerland. Details at
criteria. Towards the end of acclaimed scientists and http://www.google.com/events/sci
May, 90 regional finalists will tech visionaries. A winner encefair/index.html
be announced and finally will be selected from each of

4. Inspiring Teachers Page 4 of 6
Editorial Continued from page 1
We have a tendency to have this sets in repetition and
ambition, distraction,
the polyhedral meshed leads to the monotony and
uglification, and derision.
inside so that children listlessness in the young
would safely climb up; it is minds.
I thank Dr. Uma for giving
high time we realize that In essence, let us guard the
me this opportunity to
there are two potential freedom space zealously,
share my thoughts with all
disadvantages in this possibly inflate it further
of you in this issue. I am
approach. First, the with our experiences and
One of our regular readers Sridhar also thankful to my friend
Chitta has written a book(795/-) children might actually get commitment, and allow the
Ms. Vinita Sreepada, for
Most textbooks neither describe lost in the maze; they children to gleefully explore
readily accepting to share
accurately nor precisely the mistake the mesh, that too the wonderland. A thorough
mechanism of the processes in the her views too, as the
in only one plane, for the understanding of the
operation of electrical and faculty of the month.
electronic circuits. entire space. Secondly, they fundamentals, beyond
Reach me at
The contents provide an accurate are prevented from familiarity, is as important
rkalyn@gmail.com and
and correct viewpoint of these very exploring the nooks and as the alphabet and the
fundamental electric and magnetic send me your comments.
corners, which we the arithmetic; otherwise,
processes. Every case has been Dr Ramakalyan
mesh-layers could not thanks to Lewis Carroll,
dealt so that a present-day Ayyagari
reach, of the polyhedral; children end up in
electrical and electronic engineer
understands these physical and
applied aspects at the first level
Interesting Links
before he/she studies topics of The power of the question
electromagnetic field theory and http://www.ias.ac.in/resonance/August2009/p818-819.pdf
electrical circuits or networks. DST-Stanford Biodesign fellowships
An Assoc Pro@ Mahaveer http://biodesign.stanford.edu/bdn/india/
Institute of Science and Tech,
Hyderabad, he obtained B.E. in It is possible to be an inventor while in college
http://students.egfi-k12.org/student-inventors-manu-sharma/
ECE from NIT-Trichy, in 1976 and
M.E. in Control Systems from VJIT Dr Suprio Das’s low cost inventions
(Bombay University) in 1980 He http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Kolkata/Citizen-scientist/Article1-
was a practicing engineer in 828939.aspx
industry in India, the Middle East
A report on National Workshop for Undergraduate Biology Teachers
and Canada. As an active life 11-14 January 2012, Pune.
member of I.S.T.E, he has http://www.indiabioscience.org/node/493
delivered scintillating lectures on
Circuit Process Mechanisms using An organization that works for R & D by conducting competitions
http://www.xprize.org/
animated power point
presentations to various
Interactive courseware
engineering college faculty http://www.prism-magazine.org/jan12/tt_01.cfm
members and students.You can
order online at Flipkart Crisis in technical education
http://www.scribd.com/doc/85938990/Crisis-in-Technical-Education
http://tinyurl.com/bnx87af or
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/catmtpb Employability issues
http://www.theprofessor.in/blog/teachers/what-is-this-chasm-between-jobs-and-
curriculum/

5. Page 5 of 6 Inspiring Teachers
A compulsive traveler - Dr Arundhati Sardesai
She cycles 14 km everyday, whatever. I don’t question. spoke of foreign students who
and then walks for 8km. They have given with love work and look for discounts
Yoga for 1 hr just to be with and I eat.” for such trips. She wondered
her colony friends. These are the words of why Indian students don’t do.
Married to an IAF officer - Maya tai aka Arundhati A plunge into water at subzero
which was her choice since who recently visited temperature, bungee jumping,
women could not get into Hyderabad and spoke Himalayan trek..and this lady
armed forces back then – about her trip to is going to the Arctic circle in
she had ample opportunity Antarctica. June. And by the way, she
to travel. Not just the place She has been to many is only 67 yrs!
where they were posted but interior parts if India as Stay tuned for her updates.
several hundred km around well as many countries. Here is a local press
the place. She loves meeting However language has coverage of her talk at
with people and living with never been a problem, Ravindra Bharathi,
them, eating what they eat. since she knows to speak Hyderabad organized by
“When I was with Bodos, I the language of the heart! Teacher’s Academy.
was served something – may Fitness & finances are the
be a rat or a frog or key ingredients. She also

6. Inspiring Teachers Page 6 of 6
Teacher’s Academy
Fellows work on a
multidisciplinary team joining
Hyderabad
other innovators with a
PHONE: combination of engineering,
97011 41118 medical and business
backgrounds. Deadline 18th
E-MAIL:
info@inspiring-teachers.com
May; the teams invent,
The goal of Stanford-India centered in New Delhi and
prototype, develop and patent
Biodesign is to train the administered as a
one or more new technologies.
next generation of medical collaboration between
Fellows are also mentored by
technology innovators in Stanford University, IIT-
“real-world” experts from the
India. This is facilitated Delhi, and AIIMS in
medical technology, legal and
through a fellowship, partnership with the Indo-
venture capital industries in
internships and events. US Science & Technology
the United States and India.
Funded by DBT, Ministry Forum (IUSSTF).
More details at
of Science and Technology, Approximately half of the
http://biodesign.stanford.edu/b
GOI, Stanford University, fellowship period is at
dn/india/
and other supporters, the Stanford University and the
SIB Fellowship Program is other half spent in India.
See us at:
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for holistic and about changing the --Thanks
sustainable change. education scenario Uma Garimella
Please do leave your through and to work with
feedback on workshops on me can send resume and
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