CONCEPTUALISATION WORKSHOP EMERGED AS A FORUM FOR DYNAMIC INTERACTION AND VISION GENERATION

TWO DAY CONCEPTUALISATION WORKSHOP ON CURRICULUM REVISION

22nd  AND 23rd FEBRUARY 2013

SENATE CHAMBER, UNIVERSITY OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Day 1, Feb 22^nd 2013

Objective:

·         Formulating vision statement

·         Discussion and finalization of curriculum vision and framework

The meeting commenced with prayer and a welcome speech given by Dr. G.R. Santosh Kumar.  The day’s programme was divided into 2 sessions- the first session concentrated on paper presentation and the second was an open forum. Before moving on to the sessions, there was an introductory speech given by Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair.

Highlights of the introductory speech by Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair:

21^st C challenges for teachers:

·         Creating knowledge constructors

·         Creating  knowledge lovers and those who enjoy building knowledge

·         Teaching how to analyse/reprocess knowledge

Some truisms about teacher education:

·         High quality of teacher education results in high quality of the general education system of the country.

·         If you want to assess the quality of research of a country look at the teacher education system of the country.

Suggestions

·         Professionalized practice of education

 It means the use of scientifically validated procedures in the practice of education.

·         Ethical code of conduct

Teacher organisations should have well defined codes of conduct for teaching to be a respected profession.

·         Theory for practice

The content included should aid practice.

·         Essential principles of practice for classroom operation

Trace out the principles relevant for education in philosophy, psychology and sociology and give stress to that alone.

·         Methods should be taught in such a way that the importance of methodology should be obvious to the student teacher.

·         A sound system of theory aiding the practice should be the vision.

·         Make provisions for indicating the methods which will be used.

·         The change should be from declarative concept to experiential concept.

·         One teaching subject + one supporting area should be introduced.

(optional subject + guidance and counselling/ measurement and evaluation/ educational technology)

·         Opportunity for Free observation of teaching for student teachers. Notes are to be prepared on what they have seen and later discussed.

·         Micro observation  and practice (a particular skill at a time)

·         Group work for designing lessons where the methodology will be selected by the student teacher.

·         Evaluation should be based on the performance of the student for the whole period.

Conclusion

Reject the assumption that the old methodologies are outdated and only new methods are valid in the 21^st C. The change shouldn’t be a patch work, work a total restructuring enabling our university to compete with other universities.

Session I

Presentations by experts

1.      Challenges of education by Dr. Sindhia

·         Knowledge explosion

·         Technology revolution

·         Sustainable learning practices

·         Value system

·         Health and well being of citizens

·         Social problems specific to our country

·         Women empowerment

·         Economic self sufficiency

·         Upliftment of the marginalized society

·         Challenging learners

·         Inclusive education

·         multiple roles of teachers

·         education for entrepreneurship

·         legal literacy and human rights awareness

2.      Teacher competencies by Dr. Jibby George

Classification of competencies:

·         Classification based on (1) management function and (2) instruction function

·         Classification based on classroom interaction

·         Competencies listed out by NCTE

·         Others related to skills, values, and life skills

Seminars, discussions, practicum, SUPW and other activities help in developing competencies.

3.      Professionalism in teacher education by Dr. Rany S.

Characteristics of professionalism in education:

·         Preparation: a teacher needs to be prepared for challenges he will face in the classroom.

·         Knowledge of subject matter

·         Performance of teacher

·         Conduct

·         Professionalism in teachers comes from a combination of personal skills and job training.

                      Characteristics of professional behaviour:

·         Up grading skills acquired

·         Equitable treatment for all learners

·         Documentation of curriculum/evaluation

·         Knowledge and expertise in the science of teaching

·         Understanding and experience managing student behaviour

·         Organizing and managing multiple priorities

·         Special education

·         Assessing students

·         Provide assistance to counsellors and administrators regarding academic concerns

·         Maintain records

·         Management plan

·         Behaviour management

·         Ethics and profession

4.      Techno Pedagogy by Dr. Lekshmi

The curriculum should focus on technology which has a deep pedagogical relevance.

Aims of techno pedagogy:

·         To develop skills

·         Meta teaching

·         Technology exposure

·         Critical reflection

·         Focus on application level of technology

                    Objectives:

·         Communicate

·         to support learning

·         Problem solving using digital resources

·         Promote student learning and creativity

·         Provide for diverse learners

·         Safe and ethical use of digital information

·          

5.      Entrepreneurship in education by Dr. K. Y. Benedict

Entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action.

Skills acquired by entrepreneurship integrated teacher education:

·         Decision making

·         Problem solving

·         Risk taking

·         Reflective practices

·         Proper communication

·         Flexibility

·         accountability

Possible areas of educational entrepreneurship

·         Educational journalism

·         Educational still photography

·         E- content development and editing

·         E publishing

·         Educational museum curatorship

·         Job consultancy and project designing

            Model for general framework of the curriculum:  VASK (vision, attitude, skills, knowledge) 

            Change Pedagogical Analysis to pedagogical content knowledge analysis (PCK Analysis)/ Techno Pedagogical Content Knowledge Analysis (TPCK Analysis)

6.      Assessment by Dr. Rajeswari K.

Classroom assessment based on:

·         Standardized tests

·         Evidence based performance assessment

·         Performance assessment

·         Using scoring rubrics

·         Capstone

·         Course embedded

7.       Physical and Health Education by Dr. Venu

The curriculum should ensure:

·         Student participation in activities

·         Awareness on health and nutrition

Session II

Open Forum

Highlights of the discussion

·         Transparency in assessment

·         Being responsible in preparing student teachers

·         Infusion of current information into the curriculum to create knowledge construction

·         Gender disparity in enrolment on teacher education. Decreasing number of male teachers in teacher education colleges.

·         Lack of teacher modelling

·         Creating student teachers with emotional integrity

·         Generate new competencies

·         Lack of importance given to physical and health education

·         The educational system should address development at personal, academic, national and international level.

·         Technology should be integrated

·         Curriculum should reflect local needs

·         School curriculum should be considered while framing curriculum

·         Continuous and comprehensive evaluation/ online evaluation

·         Digital classrooms

Day2, February 23^rd 2013-02-23

Session I

Objectives:

·         Preparation and presentation of vision statements and general objectives of the curriculum

The experts were assigned groups to discuss on the 6 topics and prepare vision statements and general objectives. The six groups presented their definition of vision and objectives.

Group 1 on Challenges faced by the 21^st C teachers

 Team members- Dr. Sindhia, Dr. Ushakumar K., Dr. T.P. Jose, Dr.K.K.Venu, Mr.Praveen R., Mr.Suneeth Ben, Mr. George Varghese, Mr. Rahul, Mrs. Karoline K. Varkey, Mrs. Beena O.

Vision

Empowerment of prospective teachers by providing value embedded quality teacher- training to equip professionally competent, socially committed teachers to meet the challenges on the national and global scenario.

Objectives

·          To acquire professional competencies of prospective teachers through qualitative multilevel strategies and practices.

·         To preserve, transmit and transform the culture for instilling the spirit of peaceful co- existence.

·         To promote holistic development of prospective teachers which help the future generation to be emotionally stable, socially and spiritually intelligent and healthy citizens.

·         Social upliftment by upholding constitutional obligation for eradicating social evils for national development and security.

·         To equip student teachers to meet the challenges of knowledge society.

·         To equip student teachers to meet the challenges of knowledge society.

·         To equip the student teachers to met the international standards of educating by integrating ICT and soft skills. 

·         To internalise the psychological principles to cater to the individual differences among learners.

·         To develop proficiency in planning, transacting, monitoring and evaluating the various curriculum aspects.

·         To be proficient in administration and leadership skills.

·         To sensitize student teachers in environmental issues and to develop capacities to intervene for promoting sustainable development.

Group 2 on Teacher Competencies

Team members - Dr. Jibby George, Smt. Smitha, Smt. Deepa, Smt. Sheeja, Prof. Abraham Thomas, Dr. Sony

Group 3 on Professionalism

 Team members -  Dr. Rany, Dr. Praveen, Sri. Rev. Fr. Joseph J.,  Dr. Vijayakrishna Pillai, Sri. Thomas Uzhavathu, Dr. Narayana pillai, Dr. Radhamani Amma

Professionalism is the acquisition of adequate knowledge, skills and values related to teaching and learning for ethical and responsible standard- based performance.

Objectives:

·         To involve student teachers in planning and organizing activities with a professional but humane touch to promote student learning.

·         To prepare student teachers who can equip the adolescent learners capable of contributing to the development oriented and progressive growth of the nation.

·         To engage in professional development activities individually and collectively.

Group 4 on Techno Pedagogy

Team members - Dr. Lekshmi, Smt. Anila Chacko, Mr.Pramod, Dr. Bindu, Smt. Suma,

Vision

·         Moulding techno pedagogically competent prospective teachers to meet the comprehensive application of information and communication technologies to all facets of education.

Objectives

·         To create sync with man, machine and material with regard to technological resources.

·         To empower prospective teachers through the technological aspects with pedagogical principles.

·         To facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools on the light on information explosion.

·         To acquaint the learner with application and use of e- resources, free and open sources and software.

·         To sensitive the prospective teachers regarding the ethical use of digital information.

·         To explore creative avenues in technological advancements.

Group 5 on Assessment

Team members  – Dr. K. Rajeswari, Dr. Mariamma, Dr. A.V.Sujith, Dr. Sheeba, Sri. Suresh Kumar, Smt. Shaiba P.C.

Vision

Nurture prospective teachers with professional outlook and competency to make inferences about the learning and development of students through democratic, valid and evidence based performance assessment.

General objectives

·         To understand, design and select assessment strategies to assess the learning outcome and to use these result to modify and refine teaching and learning.

·         To make inferences about the learning and development of students thorough evidence based performance assessment.

·         To examine the process of assessment and to equip the students with innovative strategies.

Group 6 on Health and Physical Education

Team members - Dr. Venu & Dr. Jose

Objective

To provide the required theoretical and practical inputs in order to render an integrated and holistic understanding and developing positive attitudes, values, skills and behaviour related to health and physical education and to promote health and fitness for current and future lifestyles among teachers.

Session II

Objective: general discussion and finalisation of curriculum framework