Blended Mode Courses for Teachers and Teacher ... - Shikshak

Blended Mode Courses for Teachers and

Teacher Educators

2016-17

www.shikshak.orgSupported by Quality Educati on Support Trust (QUEST) and Central Square Foundati on

About ‘Shikshak’Shikshak is a program that off ers a unique opportunity for teachers and teacher educators to update their professional knowledge and skills through blended mode courses (face to face contact sessions and online mentoring).

At present, these courses are available for pedagogy in Elementary Mathemati cs. Courses on language and literacy pedagogy and other subjects will be launched soon.

Shikshak Courses are designed by experienced educators, who have been working on enhancing the quality of educati on for over 20 years.

Shikshak Objecti ves

To facilitate professional development of teachers and teacher educators

To off er a combinati on of theoreti cal and practi cal knowledge to the parti cipants

To mentor the parti cipants for planning and executi ng diff erent units of the curriculum

To off er resources which could be used directly in the classrooms

To build a peer network of teachers for knowledge sharing and guidance

Shikshak Courses have proved to be benefi cial to over 120 teachers so far and the team is planning to reach out to 350 more teachers in 2016-2017.

Shikshak Highlights

1. Face to face contact sessionsThese contact sessions are conducted by mentors using group discussions, videos and simulated sessions.

Group discussionsGroup discussions on arti cles based on recent research are conducted. These discussions help the parti cipants to develop a sound theoreti cal understanding.

Working with classroom videosThese videos are shot live with a multi -camera set up through which the rich teacher-student interacti on in a live classroom has been captured. It brings actual classroom situati on into the contact sessions and parti cipants can observe the perti nent interacti on between the students and the teacher. The mentors ask questi ons at criti cal points of the video to trigger a discussion.

Simulated sessionsParti cipants practi ce a part of each unit plan with their peers, which gives them an opportunity to refi ne their instructi onal skills before they undergo the practi cum.

2. Assignments Reading and video-based assignmentsThis gives an opportunity to refl ect upon the reading material and videos studied during the contact session. The parti cipants are expected to give online tests which are specifi cally designed to check their progress.

Guided classroom practi cumEach practi cum is of fi ve-day durati on. Parti cipants are supposed to implement an enti re unit plan over fi ve days which gives them an overview of students’ learning process. Parti cipants submit their daily log of acti viti es and interacti ons with students along with their own refl ecti ons for feedback from mentors.

Online mentoring‘Moodle’, an online learning management system, is used for interacti ons between mentors and parti cipants. The mentor gives parti cipants a daily feedback on their work log during practi cum. He/she also suggests alterati ons to parti cipants’ lesson plans when needed to suit the needs of students.

3. Certi fi cati on on completi onA certi fi cate of completi on along with parti cipants’ grades and credits will be awarded aft er successful completi on of the course. Non-teacher parti cipants will not receive a certi fi cate. Grading scheme for assignments is as per the table provided here.

4. Medium of interacti onBatches are conducted in Marathi, English as well in bilingual medium (English + Marathi) to suit the needs of the parti cipants.

Grade Percentage

O ≥ 90%

A ≥ 80% to < 90%

B ≥ 70% to < 80%

C ≥ 60% to < 70%

D ≥ 50% to < 60%

E < 50%

Shikshak Highlights

The courses are aimed at helping teachers understand how children develop a profound understanding of mathemati cs and how they can scaff old this process of concept formati on through appropriate instructi onal practi ce. The courses cover pedagogic considerati ons related to criti cal curricular areas of elementary math and help teachers to update and enhance their teaching methods.

Foundati on Course in Math Pedagogy - 4 weeks

Teaching Number Concepts and Additi on Subtracti on - 12 weeks

Teaching Multi plicati on Division - 12 weeks

Teaching Fracti ons part 1 - 12 weeks

Teaching Fracti ons part 2- 12 weeks

Teaching Units and Measurements - 12 weeks

Teaching Elementary Mathemati cs (Long term course) - 32 weeks

Courses on Math Educati on

Shikshak Courses in DetailFoundati on Course in Math Pedagogy

Course durati on : 4 weeks

Recommended for : All beginners who wish to take up the courses on math pedagogy

Contact sessions : 1 contact session of 2 days

No. of assignments : 2 (1 online test and 1 mock assignment)

Intake : 40 parti cipants per batch

This course is a gateway to the study of math pedagogy. Nuances of how children develop mathemati cal concepts, the obstacles they face and the patt erns of mistakes made by them while learning parti cular concepts are covered in this course. The course will moti vate teachers to refi ne their classroom instructi on based on their understanding of recent research and help them familiarize with the objecti ves of the primary school level math curriculum (grades 1 to 5). Parti cipants will be introduced to ‘Moodle’, an online learning management system. Parti cipants opti ng for Marathi medium will learn Marathi typing using ‘Inscript’ through ‘Type Scout’, an online tutor.

Seven batches of this course will be conducted in 2016-17, as per the following schedule:

Batch No. Last date for registrati on Contact session

1 26 June 2016 02-03 July 2016

2 03 July 2016 09-10 July 2016

3 10 July 2016 16-17 July 2016

4 17 July 2016 23-24 July 2016

5 24 July 2016 30-31 July 2016

6 09 Oct 2016 15-16 Oct 2016

7 16 Oct 2016 22-23 Oct 2016

Please check www.shikshak.org/calendar for updates

Teaching Number Concepts and Additi on Subtracti on


Recommended for : Teachers of Grades 1 to 3

Contact sessions : 2 sessions of 2 days each

No. of assignments : 6 (2 online tests and 4 practi cum)


Math teaching at primary school level begins by introducing numbers to students. In this course, teachers will understand exactly which pre-number concepts of the children play an important role while introducing numbers. Furthermore, the course facilitates a detailed study of improving counti ng skills and forming place value concept of the children. It off ers a new approach to teaching the inter-related concepts of additi on and subtracti on. Helping children solve word problems, teaching fl exible approaches and procedures for mental calculati ons will be a part of this course. How to teach the concepts of ‘carry over’ and ‘borrow’ will also be covered extensively in this course. Uti lising the four practi cum, parti cipants will learn to organise their teaching acti viti es through model lesson plans.

Two batches of this course will be conducted in the year 2016-17, as per the following schedule:

Batch No. Last date for registrati on Contact session 1 Contact session 2

1 07 Aug 2016 13-14 Aug 2016 24-25 Sep 2016

2 06 Nov 2016 12-13 Nov 2016 24-25 Dec 2016


Teaching Multi plicati on Division






Learning multi plicati on-division forms a big cogniti ve leap in the learning process of children. This course off ers an understanding of the qualitati ve diff erence it makes to the students’ thought process, once they comprehend these concepts and master the procedures. The course also covers diff erent types of word problems to understand diff erent meanings of multi plicati on-division and their usage to develop multi plicati ve thinking. What teaching aids could be used for teaching multi plicati on-division, when should they be introduced and when disconti nued, and other related details will be covered in this course. Also, the course elaborates on how to plan a step-by-step program for teaching multi plicati on-division with increasing levels of complexity. Through the four practi cum, the parti cipants will learn how to teach multi plicati on-division concepts using model unit plans.

Two batches of this course will be conducted in the year 2016-17, as per the following schedule:


1 14 Aug 2016 20-21 Aug 2016 01-02 Oct 2016

2 13 Nov 2016 19-20 Nov 2016 07-08 Jan 2017


Teaching Fracti ons part 1






This course introduces diff erent approaches of teaching fracti ons. It covers the journey from half, quarter, 3/4th and other familiar fracti on concepts to complex concepts such as unit fracti on, composite fracti on, proper fracti on, improper fracti on, equivalence of fracti ons etc. What teaching aids could be used for teaching fracti ons, when should they be introduced and when disconti nued, and other related details will be covered in this course. It will cover the understanding of fracti ons as ‘equal sharing’. The course will help teachers identi fy the common mistakes made by children while learning the concept of fracti ons, and how they can be addressed eff ecti vely.

Three batches of this course will be conducted in the year 2016-17, as per the following schedule:


1 21 Aug 2016 27-28 Aug 2016 08-09 Oct 2016

2 20 Nov 2016 26-27 Nov 2016 14-15 Jan 2017

3 04 Dec 2016 10-11 Dec 2016 04-05 Feb 2017


Teaching Fracti ons part 2






Successful completi on of ‘Teaching Fracti ons part 1’ is a prerequisite for this course, as it is built on basic concepts covered in part 1. ‘Teaching Fracti ons part 2’ will cover how to teach students to perform operati ons using fracti ons with understanding. How to help children to use the numberline to place and compare fracti ons will be taught during this course. How to teach decimal fracti ons, place value in decimal fracti ons and operati ons using them will be another focus of the course. The videos screened during the course will help parti cipants to plan their instructi onal schedule of teaching fracti ons.

The schedule for ‘Teaching Fracti ons part 2’ will be announced aft er the batches for ‘Teaching Fracti ons part 1’ are completed.

Teaching Units and Measurements






Measurement is an important mathemati cal concept taught in primary school. This course brings to light the mental process through which children master the concept of measurement successfully. It covers what real-life examples a teacher should use while teaching complex concepts of measurements such as linear measurement, measurement of area and volume. The concept of unit, unit iterati on, usage of standard and non-standard units while teaching measurements can be understood through this course. The course highlights important issues like the mistakes made by children while learning measurements, the reasons behind them, and how to address these mistakes. Uti lisati on of diff erent teaching materials will be demonstrated while teaching diff erent concepts of measurement. How children develop visio-spati al esti mati on skills can also be understood through this course.

Three batches of this course will be conducted in the year 2016-17, as per the following schedule:


1 11 Sep 2016 17-18 Sep 2016 05-06 Nov 2016

2 27 Nov 2016 03-04 Dec 2016 21-22 Jan 2017

3 11 Dec 2016 17-18 Dec 2016 11-12 Feb 2017


Teaching Elementary Mathemati cs (Long term course)


Recommended for : Teacher educators, resource persons who conduct teacher training


No. of assignments : 24 (4 online tests, 4 writt en assignments and 16 practi cum)


A course designed specifi cally for teacher educators and resource persons who are involved in teacher training. The prime objecti ve of the long-term course is to introduce modern approaches and research, to bring out the relati onship between diff erent components of elementary math curriculum and to improve teaching techniques and subject matt er knowledge of the parti cipants.

Writt en assignments is an opportunity to thoroughly study and refl ect upon the reading material. Classroom videos showing live learning processes of children will also be provided during this course. There will be assignments based on pedagogical analysis of these videos. The parti cipants will get an experience of teaching all the important concepts of primary level math curriculum to children through practi cum. Guidance on how to use model unit plans eff ecti vely will also be provided.

Aft er completi ng this course, the parti cipants will be able to organise short training sessions for teachers using provided videos and study material.

The schedule for this course will be announced soon. Please visit www.shikshak.org/calendar for updates.

Shikshak Mentors

Ila KambliIla Kambli, an enthusiasti c teacher educator has an experience of more than 20 years. She has completed the long term course and has ample experti se and guidance capacity. She has been working as an online mentor for Shikshak Courses, enhancing the skills of teachers.

Pralhad Kathole Pralhad Kathole is a co-creator of Shikshak Courses. He has been working as a primary school teacher for 14 years and has implemented many progressive teaching learning methods using the ‘Constructi vist Paradigm’ in his classroom. In the year 2013, he presented his research at ‘Episteme 5’, an Internati onal Math Federati on. Aft er that he received a fellowship from ‘Observer Research Foundati on‘ to document his journey as a teacher, in a book ti tled ‘Goshta Guruji Ghadnyachee’, published recently.

Nilesh NimkarAn educati onist working for the past 20 years, Nilesh Nimkar is a Founder Trustee and Director of Quality Educati on Support Trust (QUEST). He is one of the pioneers of ‘Blended Mode Courses’ for teachers and has developed several innovati ve soluti ons in the fi eld of educati on. He has worked as a training consultant with District Primary Educati on Program, Government of Maharashtra. He is also associated as a visiti ng expert with eminent educati onal insti tuti ons such as Tata Trust, IIM Ahmedabad, and UNICEF.

Shikshak Mentors

Archana KulkarniWith an academic background in Electronics and MBA, Archana Kulkarni moved to the fi eld of math educati on 16 years ago. She is one of the senior resource persons working with QUEST, heading the remedial program , Saksham . For the educati onal videos fi lmed by QUEST, which are also used in Shikshak Courses, Archana conducted most of the live classroom sessions with students. She is also acti vely involved with SCERT for the development of educati onal material.

Subodh KembhaviAn educator who constantly strives for innovati on and simplifi cati on, Subodh Kembhavi has had an insightf ul experience of over 15 years in the academic sector. He likes blending innovati ve, experimental, alternate ways of learning into formal educati on. He is working as a consultant with schools and NGOs in Mumbai.

Niranjana ShahA young and yearning educati onist, Niranjana Shah has completed the long term course herself, and now serves as one of the mentors. She has been acti vely associated with many schools and organisati ons both as a teacher and as a socially responsible volunteer. She brings the much needed innovati ve enthusiasm to the Shikshak Courses.

FAQs

What is a blended mode course?The blended mode course is a combinati on of face-to-face contact sessions and online learning environment.

What is a face-to-face contact session? Contact session provides parti cipants an opportunity to interact with the mentors in person. During the contact session, guided discussions on arti cles and screenings of live classroom videos are conducted, to help parti cipants refl ect upon their practi ces and enhance their content knowledge.

What is an online learning environment? ‘Moodle’, an online learning management system is used for Shikshak Courses. Parti cipants use the online platf orm to be in touch with their mentors, to submit assignments and to interact with co-parti cipants.

What is the intake capacity of the course? Foundati on course: 40 parti cipants per batch Other short-term courses: 20 parti cipants per batch Long-term course: 20 parti cipants per batch

Who can do these courses? Teachers of grades 1-5 Teacher Educators Parents and others who are interested can also opt for the courses. However, non-teacher parti cipants will not receive a certi fi cate.

I am a parent, can I do these courses?Yes. However, you will not receive a certi fi cate, as these courses are specially designed for teachers and teacher educators.

What are the prerequisites for the courses? To have and regularly use a personal Email ID To be able to capture digital photos, upload and download fi les Using WhatsApp Successful completi on of the Foundati on Course for all the short term courses Typing speed of minimum 15 words per minute in English and Marathi (Unicode)

How much ti me do I have to spare for a course?Including contact sessions, the total number of hrs to be spent for Foundati on course - approx. 30 hrs. (over one-month durati on) Each short term course - 60 hrs. (over three-month durati on) Long term course - 240 hrs. (over eight-month durati on)

What learning material will I get in these courses? Arti cles based on latest research in math pedagogy Educati onal videos fi lmed in classrooms Model unit plans

Do I have to appear for an exam?No. Each course has a defi ned number of online tests and assignments. Marks obtained in all the assignments will decide the aggregate grade of the parti cipant.

What would I need to complete online assignments?Basic internet connecti vity, moderate typing speed (English/Marathi). Detailed orientati on on dealing with online assignments will be given during the Foundati on Course.

FAQs

FAQs

Do I need high-speed internet connecti vity?No. Assignments can be completed offl ine. During practi cum period, observati on logs are expected to be submitt ed online. With the help of regular internet connecti on they can be uploaded in 20-30 minutes ti me. You can upload them from cyber cafe / using mobile phones.

When will I get the certi fi cate? All the contact sessions are att ended All the assignments are completed Collecti ve grade for all assignments is ‘D’ or above

Where are the courses conducted?A batch is conducted in an area where 20 parti cipants are ready to take the course.

When do the courses start? Each course has a diff erent start and end date. The schedule is noted in the course details in this prospectus. You can also visit the link www.shikshak.org/calendar for updates.

How much do I have to pay? Fees for the Shikshak Courses are subsidised. Central Square Foundati on, Delhi has extended fi nancial support for conducti ng these courses which covers 70% of the actual course expenditure and parti cipants are expected to contribute only 30%. For details, visit www.shikshak.org/fees

How can I apply for the course? You can download the registrati on form from our website www.shikshak.orgYou can even write to us (email: [email protected]) or Call Vinayak Tanksale on +91 7709006779 for the same. Submit forms to: [email protected]

Registrati on Process & Parti cipants’ Contributi on

Name of the course Durati on Parti cipants’ Contributi on

Foundati on Course in Math Pedagogy 1 month Rs. 1000Teaching Number Concepts and Additi on Subtracti on

12 weeks Rs. 5000

Teaching Multi plicati on Division 12 weeks Rs. 5000Teaching Fracti ons part 1 12 weeks Rs. 5000Teaching Fracti ons part 2 12 weeks Rs. 5000Teaching Units and Measurements 12 weeks Rs. 5000Teaching Elementary Mathemati cs 32 weeks Rs. 16000

Fees for the Shikshak Courses are subsidised. Central Square Foundati on, Delhi has extended fi nancial support for conducti ng these courses which covers 70% of the actual course expenditure and parti cipants are expected to contribute only 30%.

You can download the registrati on form from our website www.shikshak.orgYou can even write to us (email: [email protected]) orCall Vinayak Tanksale on +91 7709006779 for the same. Submit forms to: [email protected]

Parti cipants’ contributi on includesReading material based on recent research in math educati onModel unit plans for each important concept covered Access to classroom videos used during contact sessions

Quality Educati on Support Trust

Shikshak TeamVinayak Tanksale : +91 7709006779Vaishali Wathare : +91 9689899834

[email protected]

Websitewww.shikshak.org

Blended Mode Courses for Teachers and Teacher ... - Shikshak

Documents

Transcript of Blended Mode Courses for Teachers and Teacher ... - Shikshak