Chitkara University trains teachers with innovative tools under EDUREFORM project
The EDUREFORM Project has been established with the objective of mitigating the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Indian society by reforming education for both future and in-service school teachers. In order to achieve its goals, Chitkara University, the project’s partner and coordinator, recently organised a three-day vocational training program for in-service secondary school teachers in the target areas.
The primary goal of the training was to expose the teachers to EDUREFORM’s innovative pedagogical tools. On the second day of the program, participants had the opportunity to visit Chitkara University. The tour was designed to give the participants an insight into the academic and research facilities available at the institution. During the visit, the teachers were amazed to see the state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge research being conducted by the faculty members and the students. Col. Rakesh, along with other university officials, also briefed the participants about the various industry collaborations and research projects being undertaken by the university.
After the university tour, the program continued with presentations of EDUREFORM’s innovative pedagogical tools. The first tool, Tool 1, was presented by Professor Pathak from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Tool 1 focused on Concept Formation, and Dr. Pathak demonstrated how concepts are formed through the use of an activity that showed the interrelationship between elements of nature. He engaged the participants in a discussion about the elements of nature they represented in the activity and how it helped them form a concept.
The second tool presented was Innovative Pedagogy, proposed by JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Ms. Nidhi Waldia, Innovation Manager at Savitribai Phule Pune University, presented this tool, which is designed to help educators incorporate innovative pedagogical practices into their teaching.
Finally, the last tool for the day, Computational Thinking, was presented by Dr. Vidyanand, Assistant Professor at Shivaji University Kolhapur. He highlighted how this tool can help students improve their critical, creative, and analytical thinking skills, by enabling them to identify patterns, analyze data, and make informed decisions based on evidence.
The second day of the vocational training program for in-service teachers was a resounding success. The Master Trainers provided theoretical and practical training to the participants, with the aim of equipping them with new skills and knowledge that they could use in their classrooms.
Lastly, Dr. Sangeeta Pant, Dean Chitkara College of Education and Coordinator of the EDUREFORM project, motivated teachers by explaining how the vocational training program is a valuable initiative that can help improve the quality of education in the region. By providing teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge, the program can help to enhance student learning outcomes and contribute to the overall development of the community.
