As a global technology leader, Intel is committed to enhancing lives by accelerating access to uncompromised technology for everyone, anywhere in the world. That is why, since 1999, Intel, as part of a sustained global commitment, has been involved in India in education programs, advocacy, and technology access to enable tomorrow’s innovators. Intel works with governments, local NGOs and academic institutions through public private partnership to make a significant difference not just to the lives of the teachers and children it has touched, but also to their families and the communities they live in.

National Educators’ Network (NEN) is an innovative educators’ forum of like-minded and techno savvy educators and teachers, which carries forward the essence of Intel® Teach Program and facilitates technology supported Project Based learning in the school curriculum across the country. The NEN chapter at Chandigarh functioning under the banner of Koshish Educators’ Forum is dedicated to harness the power of technology to transform the lives of government and Private school students.

Background:- Koshish Educators’ Forum

KOSHISH is an attempt to support and motivate schools and teachers to take the cause of TAL (Technology Aided Learning) forward. We were first introduced to TAL by the Intel® Teach Program which has taken the initiative to equip the teachers with a tool to enhance their teaching learning process and to use the computer effectively and judiciously while teaching their subjects to students.

KOSHISH the Educators’ Network of Chandigarh was brought about into being on January 1st 2003, to oversee, monitor and facilitate the implementation of learning in the classroom through the aid of Technology.

KOSHISH (with its 275 individual and 35 institutional members) drives Intel® Teach Program by conducting several workshops and principals’ conferences in government and private schools of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. These include Workshops on Thinking with Technology, Essentials Course, Technology Plans for Principals, IRIS workshops for budding scientists & researchers, student workshops for building 21st Century Skills, Workshops on Assessment Plans, Refreshers etc.

The Network also organizes an array of events every year to inspire teachers and students to integrate technology in curriculum and offer a number of unique advantages for the schools. One of the major events is Technology Aided Learning (TAL) Fortnight, which is an annual feature. Technology Carnival is an annual event hosted by the network to give an opportunity to children to exhibit their computer skills by participating in the competition.

The Network has also extended itself to the underprivileged children of the slums by imparting computer literacy to them under their CAP initiative.

Koshish is the recipient of Prestigious Chandigarh UT Commendation Award for the outstanding contribution in the field of education in 2007 and 2008. The network was felicitated with certificates and mementoes by Gen. Rodrigues (Retd), Administrator of Chandigarh UT and Governor of Punjab.

Agenda of the Workshop

• Orient Teachers on Interactive online curriculum Project Based Approaches Curriculum

Project Based Approaches: Course Description

• Using specific classroom scenarios, teachers explore characteristics and benefits of Project- Based Learning (PBL). Throughout the course, teachers consider their own teaching practice as they follow a teacher new to project-based learning who discusses strategies with a mentor teacher. Planning and project design modules guide teachers through organizing the curriculum, the classroom, and students for successful 21st century projects. The assessment module demonstrates strategies for assessing students’ 21st century skills throughout an open-ended project. The course offers opportunities to apply the PBL concepts with action planning exercises

Objectives of the Workshop

• Give participants insight how Project-Based Approaches, helps teachers improve their understanding and application of project-based approaches in the 21st Century classroom.
• Hands-on and interactive activities to introduce and explore concepts including project characteristics, project design steps and planning tools, project management strategies, and assessment of content knowledge and 21st century skills.
• By the end of the course, participants will get an idea about Action Plan

Achievements

• Total 24 teachers from 10 schools were oriented on Project Based curriculum to strengthen their classroom teaching.
• It was a widespread response from the teachers that the Project-based learning is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying. Students were quite enthusiastic to go through the course and found it to be attractive as well as useful.

Glimpses of the PBA Workshop

   
Teachers engaged in the session of Project Based Approaches during the training program

   
Teachers engaged in the session of Project Based Approaches during the training program

Quotes from the teachers

• Training provided an In-depth knowledge about Project Based Learning.

  Ms. Rashmi Anand, Teacher, Gurukul Global School, Near IT Park, Manimajra, Chandigarh

• It was interactive session with lots of activities involved. Benefits of Project Based approach are clear.

  Ms. Puja Dixit, Teacher, Gurukul Global School, Near IT Park, Manimajra, Chandigarh

• Session was very motivating and interactive. Project based approaches basically helps in improving the performance of teacher as well as students.

  Ms. Nidhi Sharma, PGT, Stepping Stones Sr. Sec. School, Sec- 37 D, Chandigarh

• Training helps teachers to be acquainted with the latest teaching strategy to improve their teaching skills. Consequently better learning will take place. Such Trainings are to be organized in all schools and a large no of teachers are to be participated in it. This will really make a difference. Intel is really doing its best to bring a change in the field of education.

  Ms. Manju Sarwal, PGT English, Shishu Niketan Sr. Sec. School, Sec – 22 D, Chandigarh

• Fruitful and have gained lots of information regarding assessment of children

  Ms. Prabjot Kaur, TGT Geography, DAV Public School, Sec – 8 c, Chandigarh

• The Concept of the training is Project Based Teaching. With this we can make the teaching learning process easy and interesting. The training program helpful in CCE Pattern teaching

  Ms. Anita Syal, Teacher, Shishu Niketan Sr. Sec. School, Sec – 22 D, Chandigarh