TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
(5TH BE THE CHANGE… EDUCATION CONCLAVE BY DBYA EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL DIMENSION-SOUTH ASIA)
The 5th edition of” Be The Change Education Conclave”, a series of online Education Conclaves being organized by the DBYA Educational and Cultural Dimension, South Asia, had the privilege of having Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed, Minister of State for Education and the Head of the National Institute of Education, Maldives as the Keynote Speaker. He made his presentation on the topic, “Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century”.
The Session on ‘Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century’ began with a Prayer by Rev. Fr. Januarius Sangama, Provincial in Charge of the DBYA Educational and Cultural Dimension, South Asia who thereafter welcomed the participants and complemented Fr. Joseph Manipadam for his innovative initiative to keep the education sector of the Salesian Youth Ministry well animated and relevant in spite of the Covid 19 induced locked down situation, through these series of online education conclaves. Fr. Joseph Manipadam in his orientation talk before the keynote presentation introduced the day’s programme as a curtain raiser towards a number of online sessions that he was planning in the weeks to come on preparing the education sector to take on the new mode of education awaiting us in the Covid 19 initiated new normal, with the help of a Comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) or Blended learning that would make education move into an all-time relevant methodology for the future.
Among the many innovative teaching and learning processes Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed described, he mentioned that Science and Engineering Processes of teaching and learning could be used in order to boost the STEM Approach which is the future of Education System in the 21st Century. The participants found the presentation both interesting, clear, innovative and effective and sought clarifications on a number of issues during the interactive session that followed his 40 minutes long presentation. Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed’s presentation exhibited very clearly not only his ability as a teacher but also his passion about education and his ability to innovate teaching methodology to meet the challenges of the 21st century. His friendly approach and charming personality literally won the hearts of the participants from across the country.
The interactive session that followed the talk by Dr. A.R. Ahmed, was moderated by Rev. Fr. Sunny Jacob, Secretary, Jesuit Educational Association, South Asia EASA (JEASA). He also summed up the main presentation and the relevant points of the interactive session referring also to the 8 salient features of the NEP 2020. The session was finally concluded with a Vote of Thanks given by Mr. Harshit Chokhani, CEO, Delhi World Public School and Delhi Wonder World, Siliguri who is also an alumnus of Don Bosco Liluah and St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.
The session was attended by more than 100 Salesian Fathers and Sisters, Priests and Sisters belonging to other Religious Orders and the Dioceses and Lay people and friends from all across the country.
Fr. Joseph Manipadam SDB
Fr. Babu Varghese SDB