Parable Of A Pencil

Reflections on the Journalism course I 've done recently

‘A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study’. So goes a Chinese proverb and I feel that’s what happened in my life during the past 8 weeks though it was not one person but many people I had been interacting, exchanging ideas, critically analyzing, interviewing. I thank each and every one of my classmates for all the learning experiences I have gathered in this course. I extend my gratefulness to our facilitators Saeed and Asma for their enduring support and encouragement and for showing immense patience to read and comment on each of my (sometimes rather Silly) postings. I’m indebted to iEARN for all this enriching experiences in my life.
Some of the assumptions I had about online learning and international collaboration project work before this course are ….
That I may not get time to work on the Internet for a long time due to power cut and slow Internet connectivity. That I may not be able to submit assignments in time and the facilitators will not be very understanding. That I may not be able to understand the recourses they provide me to read.
I found each and every aspect of this course most useful in the following way...
• My name project gave me an insight into myself.
• About iEARN provided an understanding of iEARN.
• Constructive learning and youth media theory facilitated me to realize the importance of Media literacy to be imparted among the students right now.
• Project Based Learning taught me how effective it is to teach by collaborating.
• Multimedia reporting tools enriched my technological skills.
• Assessments and evaluation guides helped me to develop professionally as a teacher.
• By sharing my project plans, I could actually discover new ideas to improve.
• Interviewing activity is a great fun and increased my friendship.
• I was overwhelmed to hear my facilitator’s voice during Elluminate webinar session.
• Creating a blog gave me a confidence that I too can publish online.
• Shooting videos is a meaningful act for me now.
Some challenges I faced were
After completing two weeks work,I came across a problem and I could not get back to my course forum for another two weeks. I was apprehensive whether I could catch up with my course mates or not. But I could succeed by the end. Webinar session was little disappointing as I could not see anything on the whiteboard. But I’m happy that I could join the session and hear my facilitators’ voices. Power cuts now and then irritated me but if I think back they actually provided time for me to think and reflect.
In future I would like to start a newspaper in my school, post articles for PEARL virtual room and Empower Peace forum, participate in Learn Central webinars and would like to play the role of a facilitator for the next course!

Sweet Nothings in my Teaching life

‘Look at my drawing! Ma’am! Is it not beautiful?!’ exclaimed Sowmya admiring at her own creation in Paint Application. It was on the final practical test – she selected ‘Children’s’ Park’ among the 5 themes given and worked deeply engrossed. At the end of the period, after saving her work fondly, Sowmya confided ‘Ma’am, you know , I was unable to draw well earlier . But now I can ‘. ‘Yes Sowmya, you did very well today’, I appreciated heartily. She left the lab, her face beaming with a sense of achievement.

‘I found it ! Ma’am, I got it!’ Harshit shouted one day with excitement on exploring a way out of a problem using his common sense. It was on the first day of introducing LOGO programming to their class, grade III.

(There are numerous such enriching experiences which I treasure for my whole life.)

It has been my pleasure watching these young students working seriously on their computers, creating original master pieces adding wings to their imagination. These many success stories wouldn’t have happened I know, if students have to share a computer with another student/(s). I thank my school management for providing such an infrastructure and for the satisfaction I get because of it at the end of every computer period. May every child in this world get all the facilities to increase their knowledge and skills !

Beautiful Minds

Today is Sunday .Morning I was talking to my maid leisurely while she was cleaning the vessels. We stay in a flat in the first floor of an apartment building. Adjacent to our building is a big house whose backyard is visible to us. My looks naturally fall on the big mango tree and the jackfruit tree whenever I stand in my balcony. I saw the landlady of that house many times under that tree casually walking or sipping her morning coffee. We never spoke to each other before. But today she waved her hand moving nearer and gesturing to come near. I thought she wanted to inquire about the maid as it is common for the maids to be absent on a Sunday. She said “Please do not stop singing. You sing so sweetly. Continue singing.” Initially I was confused and then I understood what she was saying and said shyly, “Oh! Is my singing audible to you too! See its my habit to sing while working in the kitchen…”. Keeping one hand on her ear, she said, “the music reaches our ears so melodiously, do not stop singing.” I murmured a thank you .Later I realized for the past one week, I was too irritated with the heat and stopped singing. I started reflecting on this. Is it so easy to appreciate somebody so sincerely?! Is it possible to be open minded like her?! Indeed she is beautiful not to mention that she made my day!

Music for the Soul

A Vision of Students Today

Global Song

Let’s rejoice the friendship that conquers every heart!
Let’s envision others as we look at ourselves!
Let’s abandon war, discrimination and unauthorized occupancy!
Let’s acquire the greatest knowledge of peaceful
co-existence from Nature!

The one and only Earth that can fulfill all our desires Be our Mother!
The ever-forgiving kind Almighty Divine is our Father!

Let’s learn the art of living with love, cooperation, compassion and mutual help!
Let’s reveal the divinity embedded within us!
Let’s progress towards greater perfection
Let’s pray for the welfare of all beings in this Universe!

Om Peace! Peace! Peace!

This is a translation I did for a Sanskrit song written by a great Indian saint Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swami of Kanchi Kamakoti Math .


Om Peace! Peace! Peace!

My journey of learning

Five things I learnt from iEARN

1. Internationalism
2. Empathy
3. Accountability
4. Respect for all
5. Noble cause to live

A Complete Woman- My course mate Fatimzahra's profile

Fatimzahra was the name given by her grandmother . She got a BA in English literature and a certificate as a teacher of English for high school students.As a teacher the challenge she faces relate mainly to behaviour problems, lack of motivation and noise due to crowded classes and she does her best with honesty and consciousness to face these challenges. She thinks that motherhood is one of the greatest experiences a woman may go through in her life. She says, “Giving birth to a human being after carrying him for nine months and watching him grow until being a fully independent person is really awesome”.She is proud of having freedom of choice in the most important decisions in her life. For her books are outlets and companions in moments of solitude and boredom.
She is Zealous, in the sense of being enthusiastic about things. Ambitious, in that she has so many dreams that she didn’t realize yet but continue to wish to make them come true one day. Rebellious, in being against injustice and oppression. She feels there is a lot of social hypocrisy going on these days among people and that really angers her. She loves people who are straightforward and truthful but she hates double faced ones. She wants her daughter to be proud of who she is and lives up for her dreams.

It was really a great experience to interview this young Morocco lady, Ms.Fatima and write her profile. After getting the answers to my questions , I felt that she is a complete woman who can be a role model for the aspiring teachers and young mothers . So I gave the title. Hope you enjoy reading .