Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Design Review - 1

    • researching now on education sector - how students can be hands on on topics taught in school

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • You are getting into teaching?

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • no - for school students - the method of teaching is read / write , now elearning and multimedia kits are in every school.
    • but the students lack the physical touch and feel and sensitisation to working hands on topics

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • so? yes, I know, Educomp and Co are everywhere
    • Fundamental problem with Schools is the manner of instruction

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • researching on kits that the teachers can use for demo purpose and kits that the students can use hands on
    • yes -many players in the multimedia space
    • what i am researching on is physical products - which the kids can see, play around with , experiment, - more hands on

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • Also only two modes usually work - student assumes he/she is facing a crisis problem to solve and uses whatever resources she can find to solve it, and second - the motivated student is self aware and practically 'plays' with the subject at hand
    • whats the research about? some project? or a personal venture? business intent?

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • personal venture + Business

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • Are you funded? Thought of a brand? I've already done a fair bit of work (esp with science) for higher classes

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • per grade for science / social / math subjects - about 20 kits per grade, from 3rd to 12th - about 20 x 10 - 200 kits which the schools would invest as a library
    • no its in idea stage - discussing with lots of people on this topic
    • what was your experience int he word that you did for science in higher classes

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • The problem is with the regimented school environment. That it is detailed-fed without a vision of outcome. It does not have to do with the tool

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • not funded - working on the baselines, then a few kits, put them in schools - evolve and perfect a few kits - then with a solid plan and business model to discuss for funding
    • yes - there seems to be lot of resistance .....
    • but everyone feels the need of hands on education - that is the only positive sign which i am working on

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • Another issue is with creating an interest in science and hence in creation. The architecture of engineering, for e.g. is all about stimulus, measurement, change stimulus, measurement, and so on -whether it is the process of work - or how a product itself works (such as robotics). This means that while end result is loosely definable, the process and method of achieving it is small chaotic blocks.

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • Those little chaotic blocks DO NOT fit into most school environments.
    • Higher education grapples with these issues. One, there is limited time beyond classroom monologue. Second, when there is time, students prefer an outlet of instant gratification, such as sports

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • trying to see a fit - which can get in to regular curriculum
    • I am not sure if you have experience it... when interviewing freshers - they lack the skills of visualisation very badly - observation and visualisation are very poor - since they dont get to see any thing as a physical product. They are only exposed to videos and the internet...as 2D

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • of course, and most freshers do not even know how to make a resume. Graduate school students have another problem altogether (Which is money, because of the way education is now structured)
    • So its the 'make (with your hands) Vs outsourced voyeurism (on TV)' dilemma as usual. Which has to begin at home and at school at the same time'
    • sorry, learning to make has to begin at home and at school at the same time. Most students culturally learn that 'doing' is uncool. Just buying is better.

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • a 1.5 x 1.5 x 6 inches toolkit - which the teacher carries to class - opens it up and it becomes a 1.5 x 3 x 1.5 ht. it is a physical demonstartion - as the teacher is teaching the topic, she interacts and explains on the model - which can move, explain by physcally positioning....

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • the above would be the demo kit - and a students kit - which the students use and then discard or have it with them

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • THe model is the main kit would be cheap and the schools with minimal investment can procure - the students kit will be chargeable and will act as a consumable

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • But look at yourself, most learning happens serendipitous-ly. So leaving the tools of discovery with no pressure at the hands of students is the better way to go
    • I see. So different kits for different subjects?

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • i agree

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • My wife's cousin is the person who writes the Physics textbooks for 7th-10th CBSE and is on the approval board for other subjects. Have this discussion with her frequently

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • Science as it is taught - the laws and equations are told as if it is gods given .... it has to be taught as a story - in a particular scenario - the person encountered some thing - which led to the discovery of things / new inventtions.....
    • Sure pass on the contacts - will discuss with her

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • In a way some 'factoids' are to be shoved down their throat. That will give them the models to understand what happens later. Early dissidence does not augur well.
    • Learning is like that comedy show format. Where there is no script. One person says something. Another has to follow without questioning what the previous said, and so on

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • FOr example - why geometry - it should be taught as it was discovered .... explain the probelem that was faced during building pyramids ... and the person came up with 5 basic rules.
    • between two points a short line... a line at a offset is parallel etc..... the stories remain and the students can relate to stories to understand concepts better
    • Yes- the present curriculam is like one person saying and the other listening .... The listening also is like it is the ultimate truth - you can go further to explore the truth .. what ridiculous pattern ....

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • better still show the kids a visual, and ask them to build it themselves. Maybe thats an idea for your kit. learn geometry inthe definitions of each of the elements of the kit

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • yes still not got in to specifics - defining the boundaries on what it should be ...
    • throw some light - -- think it over and pass on contacts if any one working on similar area ....
    • what is your first feel - is there a need for such a hands support toolkit - that goes hand in hand with curriculam...
    • will come up with some prototypes send you a video - give your comments ....

  • 2 hours ago
    Vinay Rao
    • Years ago we made a kit of hardware building blocks that could be used by engineering students to create devices by writing simple programs. It was pretty high tech. We did along with another bangalore co, who had a small govt grant. But it had limited success. but times are very diff now

  • 2 hours ago
    Ramesh Manickam
    • ok
    • pass on any contacts -associated with this.... Still doing my homework ...

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