Beyond the good deeds! From the pages of my memory

 

The countdown had started! In another few hours, we would leave; leave the Land of opportunities, the Land of the free, the Land of the bold, and interestingly the most popular country on this earth. It was a big move after a decade long stay in America. It was indeed a pronounced feeling of being on the crossroad, not sure which path to choose. This was a significant moment in our life, as hours, days and months had been spent on mulling talks, evaluating our decisions and researching on the influence of the change on our future endeavors. Finally, the love for our family, our people, and all that appeals to our five senses, which could be called as „our own‟, overpowered us. We smiled away at the comments that defined our move as „leaving behind the luxuries and embracing the struggles‟.

The rumbling thoughts became uncontrollable as I sank into my chair while the empty house glared at me. How would I forget the place that harbored my dreams, a place where I began my family life, a place that imparted ingenuity, a place that never asked about race, caste or creed? I emotionally ruffled the pages of my diary to ink my thoughts; what would I miss the most and what would be that significant ideology that I could carry forward to my own country? I asked myself.

Yes indeed, I would miss my Bangladeshi friends who cooked exotic fish; I would miss my American friend who addressed me „Ms Saaashi‟; I would miss my Chinese friend who loved my cardamom tea; and off course my Indian friend who grew gongura herbs in her backyard. I would never forget the Seventeen-Mile drive, the Super bowl Sunday, the six flags, the mesmerizing Grand Canyon and the monumental bridge of San Francisco. But at this point, my pen stopped wielding as I spoke aloud to my-self, “These memories would gradually fade with the passage of time.”

My eyes then fell on the blue, fluffy teddy bear peeping out of the carry bag. It took me into a flash back of all the voluntary activities that I had engaged myself with during my stay. I usually extended help to my son‟s teachers though I was teaching in a community center. Filed trips are very special to children in schools because it contributes towards a joyful and enormous learning. My visit to the Teddy Bear factory as a volunteer with my son‟s class was an enriching experience. The process of making the teddy bear was a revelation. It revealed to the children that the huggable teddy being made for the little ones was not just a lifeless object. It was being created with a touch of emotion. A little spongy red colored heart was placed inside each teddy bear before it was stitched completely. This spoke volumes about the ethics of business and the message enveloped with it. This infused the thought within the children that it was important to be gentle with their toys.

Another memorable volunteering opportunity that I got was when parents were invited to make presentations for children. My presentation on Indian Solar Cooker created interest and curiosity. The model was displayed for days in the school and experimented in the sun. What touched me most was the pampering given to the volunteers. Though volunteers work without any expectations or returns, the kind of treatment given to them transforms them. Each one was made to feel valued and the contribution was considered priceless. It was an

honorable moment. The thought of being useful to the community replenishes the soul. My pen generously etched these words.

On my return to India, I did have many setbacks. However, unlike my friends who packed their bags, headed back to US and chose not to return, I decided to address the concerns of the community. I extend my support in forming an association and serving the community, which I continue to do.This has been a gratifying journey.

Volunteering activity is a hallmark of civic life that can take one beyond the good. The benefits of volunteering are directly related to one‟s wellbeing and self-esteem True essence of living lies in contributing towards the construction of the world that you live in. Volunteering creates an aura of positivity. It gives the opportunity to connect with others, share values, and concerns. Dedicating time, energy and resources to uplift the society will make one a valued and trusted citizen. It undoubtedly displays one‟s broad and selfless thinking.

It‟s now time to pause. You may think about it for a moment: would you prefer to spend your Saturday afternoon sitting passively on the couch in front of the TV or rather go out and make a difference by helping the local schoolchildren plant vegetable saplings? Their smiles would be your reward!

Always remember these golden words as you begin your journey as a volunteer:

‘You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give’ –Winston Churchill.

Mrs Shashi Prabha Nagendra

Assistant Professor

BNM Institute of Technology

The material on this website is not to be used by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message. 

Teachers and Technology

 Teachers and Technology

                             Learning through Whiteboard.fi; a collaborative teaching and learning tool  

Much light has been shed upon the challenges that are existing due to technological transformation in the field of education, ever since the pandemic has cast its rage upon the world. Seamless focus has been on the student and their career prospects. To disseminate knowledge and remain connected with students, is the prime goal of the Education Industry. But what about the teachers? Has attention been paid to the opinion of those teachers who are awestruck with the overflow of technology and grappling to keep pace with the rapid changes? A survey that was conducted to get an insight into the reaction of teachers on this regard highlighted that teachers face several challenges. Did the findings reflect a positive attitude of the teaching fraternity? Take a look !

It is true that e-learning has become a crucial aspect of the educational system, and is constantly gaining momentum, nevertheless, the challenges faced by the teachers in being acquainted to the e-learning, pedagogy, cannot be overlooked. Teachers’ plight if shadowed, may affect the effective dissemination of knowledge and result in a learning loss.

A survey through a questionnaire accentuated the opinion of teachers handling students at the tertiary level. According to the teachers, the shift is seen not only from board to screen, but also in the assessment process, the attendance updates, and above all, the human connectivity. In such a scenario, where there is an information bloom and knowledge explosion, teachers have to supplement their teaching methodology with technology and equip themselves with advanced Information and Communication Technology Tools (ICT). Most of the respondents mentioned that they faced a challenge in familiarising themselves with a different software after every three months for grading, assessment and attendance. Furthermore, imparting practical knowledge to students in an online teaching mode is limited. When the teachers acquaint themselves with a particular software, it is time for a change of software. The software by Start-up companies, which intelligently collect feedback from clients to improvise their product, gives little respite to the users. This leads to excessive dependency on the unprofessional platform for professional correspondence, like Whatsapp groups. Miscommunication and insecurity becomes inevitable in these circumstances. As the students have access to teachers’ numbers, teachers are flooded with messages and calls by students even during the weekends. Though we call it technology and refer to it as a rather comfortable platform, the manual procedure is not reduced and it requires much more involvement as compared to the documentations.

The present generation is enamoured and adept at handling technology. However, a generation of teachers may not be as well acquainted with technology as the present generation of students. The outcome of the study revealed that despite the struggle with embracing new technology, teachers are willing to adapt to the demands of communication technology. The pandemic has not lowered their work ethics and mental well being.

 Conjuring the fact that technology is here to stay, teachers have diligently chosen the path of acquiring excellence through the integration of technology in teaching and learning. The teaching fraternity has developed a positive attitude towards the implementation of ICT tools and they have begun to explore innovative ways of imparting knowledge. The interest and the effort of the educators when amalgamated with well-tested and licensed software can increase productivity of the faculty and staff. The need of the hour is a platform that carters to the need of the Institution from the administrative level to the classroom activity. Software that provides a thorough training to support teachers in digital teaching and learning would connect the Institution more than the islands of software, which fails to integrate all the requirements. Moreover, by adopting the set norms for the flow of information through technology, Institutions can mitigate the risk of hacker’s intervention.

A popular quote by Henry Adams, “Teachers affect eternity; they can never tell where their influence stops,” is apt for the current situation where teachers have gathered momentum and surpassed the expectations of teaching online. Since technology is here to endure, it is important to groom teachers to make use of innovative tools for imparting practical knowledge with the help of a licensed and well-tested platform that comprehensively caters to the needs of the Institution.

 

 

Dr Shashi Prabha Nagendra

Assistant Professor

BNM Institute of Technology

19-7-2021

 

The material on this website is not to be used by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message. 

English is Astonishing ! Read to believe !

•  

                                                                     English is Astonishing !

Have you ever thought about this?

The words  'Jail" and 'Prison' are synonyms

           But  'Jailer ' and 'Prisoner are antonyms

Read the sentence and see the power of a comma

• People who enjoy life rarely, have a flat tummy.
• People who enjoy life, rarely have a flat tummy.

                                                            Puns in English*

Quarantine travel puns for lovers of English language..

* *Oman*, I really can't wait to *Rome* around. *Venice* this going to get over? You can't say when this lockdown will be over, *Kenya*? Quarantine has made my *Delhi* routine too boring. I've been *Washington's* of utensils. This *Spain* is real. Stay home, stay safe. What's the *Russia*? Maybe

 

*Indore* is not such a bad place after all. Wives are now *Cochin* their husbands new skills (dish washing, mopping?) At this rate, I see my savings *Dublin* I've decided to finally wear my *New Jersey* which I've been storing for ages *Mysore* throat is on account of endless Zoom chats these days. We need all the *Lucknow* more than ever before.. I'm sorry, but *Iran* out of travel puns. *DUBAI* your masks and gloves and wear them.

A Collection of Brilliant Composition form Whats app

DISCLAIMER: The material on this website is not to be used by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message.      

Build your communication framework!

 

Managing Communication Skills in the New Millennium

Dear readers,

The need for effective communication skills has surged and it ranks among the most important skills. Surveys and research continue to cite soft skills above STEM skills. We, as educators and learners are the ambassadors of our organization ought to develop professionalism in communication. Let’s see how this requirement relates to the changing trend and what measures can be taken to address this requirement.

The Changing Trend:

It is palpable how we have stepped into a new daring decade, which is marked by advanced technology, stunning gadgets, and break-through innovations. We have also been witnessing our presence in a world where human minds work with robots. This significant change has made us so comfortable with Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence and other digital technologies that we have started giving the reigns of control to machines. Though the change is positive, we have been experiencing a sense of drift from our set goals because we are shrinking under the fear of joblessness and loss of vision. However, to hide in fear and lose vision is against human ingenuity. So how do we thrive in a mechanical world gripped by relentless change? The answer to this lies in amplifying our human traits and bringing it to the fore; these traits are far from being automated. Hence upskilling our soft skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills and problem solving skills, is the need of the hour. 

The Human Touch:

As we stand in the sea of changing trends, we have several challenges to face. One such challenge is managing our communication skills in this new millennium. The changes in lifestyle and business dealings have made communication skills and Interpersonal skills imperative for success. This dawns upon us the fact that we have to embrace changes with a human approach. Evidently, our human traits must complement technology! We need to express ourselves and understand the expressions of others. Our home and our workplace, is made up of people. So it is people skills that we need to excel to complement our technical skills. This will help us gain credibility and sustain us in the storm of change.

Credibility through Communication:

Credibility is the reputation we build over the years with the integrity and honesty in everything that we do. To a great extent, our credibility hinges on effective communication skills. Our words must match our action. Exuding energy and enthusiasm while interacting at work will attract committed followers. Unarguably, it is our commitment to excellence and self-improvement that will strengthen our credibility.

Managing Communication Skills:

In today’s globalized workplace, English has become the Lingua Frank in the domain of communication.  To be able to communicate with a multilingual, cross-cultural, and multi-generational team, managing our communication skills is imperative. Failure to do so can result in jeopardizing one’s career and the image of the organization. Therefore, it is imperative to build professionalism in our communication.

Business English Certification:

To achieve professionalism in communication, it is essential to build the four skills: Listening; genuinely listening to a person who is speaking builds rapport, trust, and empathy; Speaking: articulating the message and speaking clearly enhances interpersonal skills; Reading: reading messages carefully before replying reflects attentiveness and maturity; Writing: writing emails and reports with dexterity avoiding rambling highlights the command over the language.

This can be addressed by Business English Certification course. BEC is a high quality international English language exam designed by Cambridge. Based on the Common European Framework of Reference, the exam is set at three levels: Preliminary (B1), Vantage (B 2) and Higher (C1). The assessment of English language ability in this certification is done for all the four skills –Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The test is followed by an interview with an examiner. Unlike the courses like ‘Coursera’ or ‘LinkedIn’ Courses, the BEC certificate issued by Cambridge University is valid for life and is accepted globally by Multinational Companies.

The advantages in accelerating your communication skills:

As educators and learners, you are the ambassador of your organization. So by working towards your communication skills:

·         You will not struggle to get the message across

·         Your confidence will not be misunderstood as arrogance

·         You will develop problem solving and negotiation skills

·         Finally, your communication skills will unlock the board room

But by stagnant skills, you may find yourself being overshadowed though you may be brimming with knowledge.  You may struggle to put forth your message and never get a desired outcome. Your career growth and your personal relationship will be impeded. Your future will be at stake.

Build your communication framework!

 

Ms Shashi Prabha

Assistant Professor

BNM Institute of Technology

DISCLAIMER: The material on this website is not to be used by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message.      

Benchmark your skills !

 

Set Your Benchmark at Global Standards

 

Business English Certification from the University of Cambridge will make your resume visible, placement process easier, and assuredly, your institution a cynosure for high-caliber students.

 

Business English Certification is a high-quality, international English language exam that

provides the learners an opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills. Based on the Common European Framework of Reference, the exam is set at three levels: Preliminary (B1), Vantage (B 2) and Higher (C1). The assessment of English language ability in this certification is done for all the four skills – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The test is followed by an interview with an examiner. The certificate issued by Cambridge University is valid for life and is accepted globally by Multinational Companies.

The credibility of the certification lies in the fact that the exam and the assessment process is designed by the University of Cambridge, the world’s leading organization for testing and certifying English Language. It is also important to note that, the conduction process of the suite of high quality International English Language Exam is strictly monitored by the Cambridge Officials. Finally, the exam papers are dispatched to the University for Assessment, whether it is a paper-based or computer-based exam.

            The Business English Certification is more than just an exam. The unique approach adopted in the exam process imparts an in-depth knowledge, which is enjoyable and rewarding. The organization provides a broad range of learning and support materials. The business scenarios, practice tasks, and the dialogues are based on authentic situations. This gives the learners the confidence and skills to communicate in a given business scenario. The practice eventually prepares the learners at the Institution as well as the corporate level. The learners can express their opinion, present their ideas in a meeting, write Emails and reports, and negotiate in the workplace with ease.

            English has become an indispensable tool for success as it plays a vital role worldwide. While on one hand leading employers seek staff who can communicate effectively, on the other hand, job seekers are required to demonstrate their English-speaking competency. In this scenario, BEC qualification offers to bridge the gap and fulfill the requirement. With this mark of excellence, students are bound to increase their career opportunities.

            We at BNMIT are committed to preparing our students for a world that will be more demanding, challenging and complex in the future than what we share today. Therefore, here at BNMIT, we offer the young aspirants a gateway of opportunity for a brighter prospect by offering Business English Certification Course at the Vantage Level.

Staff:

Ms Shashi Prabha Nagendra

Assistant Professor, Training and Placement

DISCLAIMER: The material on this website is not to be used by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message.      

Present Perfect Tense

 

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; it is there that Education Prevails.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; it is there that education prevails. 

When the results were announced, I was in a state of ecstasy! BNM Institute of Technology emerged in the media, topped the ranking list, ranked 24th amongst the top 50 Institutions in India as graded by IIRF, awarded QS ranking for E-learning Excellence in Academic Digitisation, stood foremost in the doners list ... it's popularity growing manifold! I could see the education and the educationists touching the zenith. It is truly said that. "Success begets success!" It is the outcome of the fearless and dignified minds at work.

I paused to look back at the journey in an Institute that has been lucidly progressing towards the pinnacle. It has indeed been an engaging and enjoyable journey. 

The significance of report cards, results or an outcome is palpable. Report cards have always played an important role in our lives. They remind us that we are capable of soaring higher. Report cards are much awaited with the same anxiety at every level: a child awaits a report card after exams; an employee awaits feedback after the teaching and assessing marathon; similarly, an Institution awaits a ranking list after each year of hard work. It mirrors our assiduous attitude and gives us solace. It is not a lifeless paper. A report card is a powerful feedback that glares and tells us - Stop not till your goal is achieved!

Ms. Shashi Prabha Nagendra

Assistant Professor

BNM Institute of Technology

The material on this website is not to be used by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message.