The Delhi-based NIIT, which offers it training and knowledge solutions to over 5 million students in 40 countries, announced the launch of its Vishwanathan Anand IT Olympiad — the first ever national programme which provides participating students with IT aptitude ratings — on October 20.
More than 1,000 schools in 300 locations across India are expected to participate in the first IT Olympiad. The olympiad will have over 75,000 students writing the aptitude test in two groups — Group I comprising class XI-XII students, and Group 2 for class VIII-X students. The tests will be conducted between November 16-21 and results announced on November 24. NIIT will provide all participating students with detailed score cards.
Speaking on the occasion, G. Raghavan, president, Global Individual Learning Solutions, NIIT said: “IT is emerging as an all pervasive discipline, and will play a key role in career advancement for students in today’s knowledge economy. NIIT has for long felt the need for an exam for school students to test their IT aptitude. Hence, our first ever IT Olympiad for next generation students.”
The winners will be awarded scholarships of up to Rs.100,000, and will also be mentored by the company.
CIE’s Global Perspective programme
On October 20 pupils from schools in more than 30 countries participated in a first ever global programme which offers students a chance to develop greater understanding of world issues. Eighty schools from around the world took part in the 24-hour global lesson to launch the new Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives study programme. Participating schools were from the UK, USA, New Zealand, Peru, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Canada, Spain, Norway, France, Jordan, China, Cambodia, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Argentina, Italy and the UAE.
Under the guidelines of the programme, at the start of their school day on October 20, students logged on to a special website and joined debates with other students around the world on discussion boards. They also posted news articles and photos on issues affecting their country, and designed a T-shirt for Global Perspectives Day. The lesson continued in the next country to come online. “It was like a 24-hour relay, beginning in Columba College in New Zealand, and ending at Churchill College, Col. San Pablo Tepetlapa, Mexico, at about 11 p.m GMT,” explains the CIE spokesperson.
Students from ten schools across India participated in Global Perspectives Day. They were from the Amity Global Schools in Gurgaon and Delhi; DPS International, Saket, New Delhi; Vidya Sanskar International School, Faridabad; and KiiT International School, Bhubaneswar, among others.
Dr. Manisha Mehta of Amity Global School, Gurgaon says that Global Perspectives Day supports the school’s aim of developing responsible global citizens. “We wanted to be a part of this forum because global peace can be spread through education and cultural exchange. This interactive session made our students aware of the diverse cultures and traditions existing in other communities. The programme will broaden their horizons,” she says.
Topics on the online discussion boards reflected 16 key themes in the Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives course, including belief systems, disease and health, trade and aid, tradition, culture and language, climate change, conflict and peace, and water. Indian students also contributed their views on issues such as whether children should be responsible for their ageing parents, and whether there should be a sole global language.
Comments Ian Chambers, CIE regional manager (South Asia): “Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives really stimulates students, because it encourages them to think beyond their own experiences and play active roles in the classroom. Cambridge schools around the world which took part in Global Perspectives Day told us how much their students enjoyed the online lesson, particularly the chance to interact with Cambridge students in other countries.”
Axiom morphs into Mexus Education
The Mumbai-based Axiom Education Pvt. Ltd, an education innovations company, announced the change of its name to Mexus Education Pvt. Ltd with effect from October 30.
Under its flagship brand — Iken — Mexus Education will continue to deliver innovative and interactive learning tools. These learning tools include: Iken Books, India’s first ever comic textbook-cum-workbook game which enables learning through fun reading; Iken Joy, a wide range of educational toys designed to help children learn the fundamentals of science through play-way pedagogies; Iken Library, India’s first and largest digitalised collection of subject and standard specific learning resources; and Iken Pro, an exclusive collection of short informative films ranging across a multitude of subjects and themes.
“The name change has been made to suit our strategic business plans. With our new identity and distinctive strategy, we intend to extend our reach not only in the domestic markets but across the world,” says Saurabh Saxena director of Mexus Education.
Imagine’s Techstars Program
The Mumbai-based imagine enterprises which provides turnkey solutions to schools and preschools with specialised curriculums, lesson plans, ongoing course development, teacher training and international certification, has launched its Techstars Program.
Established for over 25 years, Techstars offers a wide range of courses from Microsoft Office® applications to programming robots, engineering, filmmaking and video game animation. In addition, by incorporating project based learning, the program enhances and builds general education disciplines in reading, maths, science and social studies. “These innovative courses are already being taught in over 1,000 schools worldwide. In the US alone, a team of over 600 technology instructors teach over 30,000 children each week. The Techstars program is also being taught in Europe, Middle East, Far East and Australia. Imagine Enterprises is now offering Techstars — for the first time — in India,” says a company spokesperson.
According to company sources, the Techstars Program can be offered as part of the school curriculum, as electives, as after school activities or during vacation camps. “The courses are taught by qualified teachers who have been specially trained by experienced trainers based in India and the US and awarded international certification by Imagine Enterprises. Techstars curriculum and lesson plans are created by educators for educators and are designed around the latest educational software and products,” adds the Imagine Enterprises spokesperson.
GlobalScholar-EW Young Achievers Awards 2009
GlobalScholar (USA), which manages one of the world’s largest online learning portals (www.global scholar.com) and EducationWorld, India’s sole education news and analysis magazine, invite nominations for the GlobalScholar-EducationWorld Young Achievers Awards 2009. The awards aim to acknowledge and inspire young achievers (between 12-25 years of age) across India in four fields of endeavour — Science, Maths and Technology; Arts and Music; Social Work, and Sports. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.Globalscholar.com/yaa or www.educationworldonline.net.
“The objective behind the awards is to give young Indians a platform to showcase their ideas and achievements. GlobalScholar, whose mission is to integrate and align all stakeholders and resources in education — parents, students, tutors, teachers, administrators, and content — to improve efficiency, performance, and educational access both inside and beyond the classroom, is proud to be associated with these annual awards. It’s our belief that there is no shortage of young people in this country with great ideas and achievements. We hope that chosen young achievers will serve as inspiration to all children and youth countrywide,” says Kal Raman, founder chief-executive of the Seattle-based GlobalScholar.
SMART Response CE launched
The Canada-based Smart Technologies Inc has introduced its SMART Response CE, an interactive response software which allows flexible, automated assessment in 1:1, computer-enabled classrooms. SMART Response CE is the latest in the company’s line of interactive response systems. Instead of handheld remotes (clickers), students can use their computers and SMART Notebook SE (Student Edition) software to answer questions.
SMART Response CE can be used alone or as part of SMART Classroom Suite interactive learning software. With support for short answer, numeric response, yes or no, true or false, multiple answer and multiple choice questions, teachers can design assessments that suit the needs of their students and the material being taught.
“Spontaneous, instant assessments during lessons provide teachers with valuable information about areas on which they need to spend more time, as well as individual student strengths and weaknesses,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO.