Followership (A Workshop on Leadership)

Article Written by Dimple K Mathew (III MCA)

Conducted by Jibrael Jos

They say something's can’t be taught and they also say something's you need to experience to learn better and so it was on 3^rd July 2015 when we had one good day full of high quality edutainment, where we did not just learn but also enjoy every bit we learnt.

The day began with reflecting that how nature ­ with every living and non ­ living thing inspires us, from the waves that rise in the sea displaying it’s strength to the dragon flies that soar over the waters and A light house that is a “ A ray of hope “ , and a rock that said “never let it go”. Everything that is around us teaches us a lesson.

 

As we went down with the flow we understood how important it is to listen, because everyone can speak, but how many do listen? We had many entertaining sessions like every group had to memorizing couple of countries and capitals in a minute and then choose correct option on the question paper. Also we made a bridge with newspaper it was a group activity again, we solved the jigsaw puzzle of a world map in group and understood the importance of group work, like quote goes “united we stand and divided we fall”.

We also were given various tasks group-­wise where we had to in act that we are in a train or in a fruit shop without speaking and the others had to guess . Then JJ sir taught the Steven Covey concept of interdependence, where we can remodel our lives from the state of dependence to interdependence(via independence), it is where we need to break ourselves and make ourselves into something more valuable. He elaborated on the seven habits which can help us be more effective people.

For some Life is a complex concept where you need to achieve success with enormous formulas ,for some it is a song you just sing it and life passes by, but for few Life is all about giving and attaining happiness , because the feeling of being selfless is over all the success you have achieved.

We all had a pizza lunch together. Next was a video featuring Robin Sharma a specialist. The leadership traits as per him are :

I    ­Innovation
M­  Merchant of Wow
A­  Authenticity
G­  Guts
E­  Ethics and Excellence

The day’s last task was a mime where the students were divided into 2 groups and they have to act on the various situations. In all it was one of the most fabulous day we had at Christ University, and we will cherish this memory all through our lives. Thank you Sir for all that you did and you do.

In the morning when I left for the college I was envying my roommates as they were sleeping, but now I realize the day was all worth it. One of the best days in Christ University!

Some Feedback

"After yesterdays workshop I was all puffed up with energy. I took up your advice of writing journals and started a blog" Jonathan Fidelis Paul

"It was an awesome experience sir. .thanks a lot" Sindhu A

"It was an AMAZING session sir!!!" Tony Mathew 

"I am not the same person I was yesterday :-) I feel happier" Vincy L

Why do graduate students in India not retain core technical concepts by the end of the course?

(Article written by Jibrael Jos for an online course on FutureLearn.com)

Students do not retain core technical concepts by the time they reach the final semesters. It has been observed that concepts which were covered in the first three semesters are not recalled by students at the time of placement for a job in the sixth semester.

One of the main reason is that the current exam system encourages rote learning. Questions are mostly of “recall” nature.  Even though some questions outwardly seem as an “application” problem, they are in reality a recall question. These case studies are normally covered in the text book or in class. Students in the semester system study the topics but invariably do not appreciate the core concepts. They move on to next semester without imbibing and understanding them well.

A second important reason is the ineffective learning in primary and secondary school. The salary structure for school teachers do not tend to attract the best talent. The student- teacher ratio is heavily skewed. Most children generally have poor reading writing and comprehension skills. For example some students are not able to extract the key point in the paragraph, some students cannot explain the algorithm after reading the text a couple of times. Students are not able to organize their thoughts in interpretive questions and tend to skip them in case of a choice. By the time they play catch up with the outstanding students in college, two three semester would have gone by.

In good public schools, teaching would be better than government schools but I feel what really makes it click is the fact that parents are spending extra time and money to ensure they ward gets one to one attention if possible. The middle class families in small towns and metros make it a point to pick and drop kids to dance, karate, tuition, sports etc.

Schools are worried about their image and vary of failing students. Government is afraid if students will drop out. The end result is that shoddy assignments are approved and failed exams are absolved and child is pushed to the next class. Tenth board is made as easy as possible, so as to paint a rosy picture. You spoil them for seven years and want a miracle in three years in a graduate program. Sadly colleges also fall in the same trap and when the time to place them in an organization comes we realize there is a serious gap.

Some people wrongly assume that students lack motivation and discipline. They assume the children are addicted to Social Network, friends and parties. Children are the future of the nation, every batch is generally smarter than the previous. Students generally know what is best for them and realize when to put in the extra mile. You give our students any system and they invariably crack it, may it be IIT entrance test, IAS exams or Gate/GMAT Scores. Indians also know how to succeed at workplace and all major of MNC have a healthy percentage of successful Indians in them

Exam System and Ineffective Schooling is the main reason but tuition centers or finishing schools are not the solution for this panacea. Is a change possible? We are seeing a revolution in education here in urban India. There is a lot of focus on curriculum and pedagogic changes. The sixth pay commission has substantially increased teachers’ salaries and is now attracting good talent. How successful we are in motivating the teachers, parents, educators and students today will decide whether in years to come we will be able to take these advances to the remotest parts of the nation. Progress for the top ten percent only can be catastrophic lets unite for a better educated, motivated and skilled India.