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Knowledge
is essentially indivisible. Integrated approach to
learning is a way of combating challenges of the 21st
century. |
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Today, we live in a world that is dramatically different
from our world a mere decade ago : People are more
mobile; there is freedom in the air; societies are
more diverse; there is more physical comfort; aspirations
for prosperous life are rising at a phenomenal rate;
competition has increased. And, in the corporate world,
excellence is not an option but a way of life. Developments
in science and technology and market-driven economies
have compelled educational systems the world over
to change to suit the new job-profiles and needs of
the society. Numerous well-guarded practices in the
field of education are becoming redundant. |
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critically view the current practices in the field
of education and to visualise new paths a National
level Seminar was recently organised jointly by the
Waymade College of Education and the S S Patel College
of Physical Education, institutions managed by the
Chrutar Vidya Mandal, Vallabh Vidyanagar. The theme
of the Seminar, which was sponsored by the Charutar
Vidya Mandal, was: Education, Physical Education
& Yog Education in the Knowledge Era: Directions,
Issues and Concerns. |
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two-day National Seminar which was attended by over
400 participants from all over India, was inaugurated
on the 2nd of November and the deliberations continued
till late evening of the 3rd. During the inaugural
talk, Prof Sudarshan Iyengar, Vice-Chancellor, Gujarat
Vidyapith, Ahmedabad in a unique Indian style reminded
the gathering about the knowledge era that has prevailed
in India for ages. He further elaborated upon this
by quoting the how Gandhiji used to emphasise very
basic issues of life: dignity of physical labour,
logical/ rational thinking and emotional development.
Holistic education implies education of the brain
(rational, positive, righteous thinking), heart (development
of sensitivity, concern for the society) and hand
(readiness to put in physical effort, physical fitness).
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Dr
C L Patel, Chairman, Charutar Vidya Mandal, who in
his characteristic manner announced total financial
support to the Seminar since it aimed at getting equipped
for the challenges of the 21st c, it was a significant
development in the field of teacher education. He
challenges everyone present at the event to give one's
best to the society. |
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keynote speakers for the Seminar were three dignitaries
from different fields of specialization. Dr Vivek
Pandey from the Laxmibai National Institute of Physical
Education, Gwalior advocated teaching across curriculum.
Mr Anshul Sonak, South Asia Educational Manager for
Intel illustrated the ways in which individuals and
societies have benefited through the use of technology.
Brahma Kumari Usha from Mount Abu emphasized value
education sans which the rest is null and void.
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What emerged out of the two-day deliberations were issues such as the following. |
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Knowledge is indivisible.
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Division into fields
of knowledge/ subjects is for convenience.
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Knowledge of any
kind is to make life more worthwhile.
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Teaching, in this
sense, is creating experience.
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Education today
costs more than it did earlier. But ignorance
costs even more today than it did earlier.
Education, especially higher education, is no
longer the right of everyone distributed arbitrarily,
but an investment in one's success in life. How
shall we take care of the bright scholars who
cannot afford quality higher education?
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In knowledge-driven
economy, creating, sharing and using knowledge
are the key factors in prosperity and well-being
of people. Education, thus, drives economies.
But it's a slow process because formal education
is adaptive in nature. It follows and reproduces
existing social and economic systems rather than
triggering change and development. Society's learning
needs cannot be addressed merely by expanding
the formal educational system. We need new
ways to look at both access to and quality
of education and learning. What are these ways?
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In
the race to produce engineers, doctors, managers,
business personnel so necessary for a developing
nation, we have sacrificed humanities, sports
and arts. Will education in the knowledge era
elevate us as social beings? Will it advance our
sensitivity towards our brethren? Will human values
be valued? Will it help us look at the Earth,
our only home, as a living organism?
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In the days to
come, schools, colleges and departments will come
to be known by the work they do, the standards
to which they adhere. Rewards will commensurate
with performance. Are our educational institutions
equipped to face this challenge?
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Education in the
20th c was a subject/content-oriented paradigm.
In the beginning of the 21st c it is skill-oriented
paradigm. However, the attitude and sensitivity
paradigms have been a constant and are going to
be even more important in the time to come. Does
our system make enough provision to shape the
attitude requisite of combating the challenges
of knowledge era?
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In this context,
teacher education colleges need to be incubators
of knowledge and inculcators of positive attitude
in the true sense of the term. Teaching, in the
final analysis, implies reaching out and being
with the students and through them with the society.
No educational institution can exist in isolation
from the community it draws its students from.
A lot is to be accomplished in this area.
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The
students, faculty members, administrators from the
Waymade College of Education as well as S S Patel
College of Physical Education jointly had planned
and organised the programme under the leadership of
Dr Sulabha Natraj, Principal Waymade College of Education
and Dr Rajeev Choudhary, Principal, S S Patel College
of Physical Education. The programme was attended
by Heads and Directors of Departments and Institutions,
junior and senior research scholars a swell as students
from the fields of teacher education and physical
education from across India. |
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