Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Friday 14 August 2020

Congratulations , Smt Varshaji,




What for ?

For making Maharashtra the first state to launch VIRTUAL CLASSES


How ?

By tying up with Google , as reported below :




Extract :

Ø  Students and teachers will get access to Google Classroom and G Suite for Education that will provide solutions to support remote learning.

Ø  The tools allow interactive sessions, which will allow teachers to explain lessons, and students can also ask their doubts while sitting at home. Homework can be uploaded, and teachers can check them online
Ø  The project…. will cover over 1.09 lakh government, private, aided, and unaided schools, and benefit over 22.03 million students

Ø  “Coronavirus has forced us to adopt the changes that were supposed to come in the future,” Thackeray said while launching the project online.

Ø  Google Classroom and G Suite, which will be available free of cost, are the tools that allow the education institutes to conduct interactive sessions. Around 250 participants can attend it at a time.

 Teachers can make their audio or video presentations; students can clear their doubts, and upload homework and assignments. Even parents can submit their complaints or suggestions through the system,” said Dinkar Patil, director, Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT) [ dir.mscert@gmail.com ]


Ø  “We are beginning with the training of the teachers. As many as 40,000 teachers will be the master trainers for the remaining 2 lakh teachers. Once, training is completed, students will be asked to register their mobile numbers, and will get notifications with details of each session,” Patil added.

Ø  School education minister Varsha Gaikwad said,
“We have got responses from 1.34 lakh teachers within 48 hours after floating an invitation link for Google Classroom training. The process of teacher training is going to be started on August 7. We are turning the crisis into an opportunity.”  gaikwad.varsha3@gmail.com ]


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Just a month back, I sent following E Mail to CM Shri Uddhav Thackereyji :

Digitized India ?  ………………………………………………………………………………….[  12  July  2020 ]

Extract :

Ø    27 crore ( 270 million ) students are unable to attend classes due to lockdown


Ø    20 crore ( 200 million ) Indian households have TV sets


Ø  Hence, all Indian States should follow the example set by Maharashtra and launch TV channels for each SUBJECT taught at each STANDARD class


Ø  Disadvantage of TV Channel-based “ lectures “ is that these are one-way monologues.


Ø  There is no “ dialogue “ between teacher and students ( No questions / answers
    ensuring that TV watching students understood the subject being taught )


Ø  This is why ZOOM / GOOGLE MEET / JIO-MEET are preferred ( since interactive )


Ø  But, to use these platforms ( for online education purpose ) require :


    #   Internet-enabled device ( a Computer / Tablet / Big Smart phone )


    #   Internet connection ( Broadband Cable / Fibre or Wi-Fi )


Ø  The Union Human Resource Development ministry…… plans to launch a
     Rs 60,900 crore scheme to provide laptops/devices to over 4 crore college students
     over the next five years, to bridge the digital divide. [ 80 lakh / year ]


Ø  The ministry proposes to start with distributing laptops / tablets of about Rs 15,000
     each to 1.5 crore students in 2021-22 at a cost of Rs 22,500 crore


Ø  I urge Shri Prakash Javdekarji ( HRD Minister ) to consider my following proposal as a much cheaper alternative to the above-mentioned plan :
          
Ø  Let Central Government float a global tender for pre-owned desktops ( in working condition and less than 5 years old ) for 100 million units ( 10 crore ).

     I think we could get for Rs 2500 each ( at total cost of Rs 25,000 crore ).

======================================================

What makes this initiative of VIRTUAL CLASSES , extremely significant right now ?


Here is why :


25% SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN’T ACCESS ONLINE LEARNING: BMC



·         Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai)
·         13 Aug 2020
·         Ankita Bhatkhande ankita.bhatkhande@htlive.com
·          
Some of the key reasons behind a large number of students not being able to take part in online learning are migration of parents due to loss of livelihood, unavailability of android phones, not being able to afford internet connection and schools not having updated contact details of parents.

In a circular released on Tuesday, the education department has asked schools and teachers to take measures to ensure that 100% students are able to access online learning.

“It is worrying to see that some students are not able to join online learning due to several challenges. While the situation is unprecedented, it is also important for us to ensure that not a single child is left out,” said Mahesh Palkar, BMC education officer.

========================================================

One in two youths subject to depression, anxiety, says ILO survey on effects of COVID-19

Extract :

Over 12,000 responses were received from 112 countries, with a large proportion coming from educated youths with access to the Internet.

The survey found that one in two (i.e., 50 per cent) young people across the world are possibly subject to anxiety or depression, while 17 per cent are probably affected by it.

The report said 73 per cent of the young people, who were either studying or combining study and work before the onset of the crisis, experienced school closures though all of them were not able to transition into online and distance learning.

The coronavirus has left one in eight young people (13 per cent) without any access to courses, teaching or training -- a situation particularly acute among the youth in low-income countries and one that serves to underline the sharp digital divide that exists between regions.

It added that despite the best efforts of schools and training institutions to provide continuity through online delivery, 65 per cent of the young people reported having learnt less since the pandemic began.
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hcp@RecruitGuru.com    /   15  Aug  2020 


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