IREX - WORKSHOP WITH DANIEL GREENSTONE, THE VISITING US TEACHER
11 & 12, February, 2010.
A REPORT
The two day workshop, a result of a cross-cultural educational program sponsored by the Teaching and Excellence Achievement (TEA) fellowship, which is overseen by the International Research Exchange (IREX) Board, Washington was inaugurated by Dr. Mrs. Y.G.Parthasarathy, Dean and Director, PSBB Group of Schools.
The TEA fellows Mr. Daniel Greenstone, an American Teacher from Oak Park High School and Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee, PGT– Geography, PSBB, Nungambakkam, conducted a workshop on Educational Methods, Materials and Management.
About 50 city school teachers participated in the 2 day workshop. Mr. Daniel Greenstone gave a presentation on Classroom Management and Six Traits Model of Writing. Mr. Greenstone’s session covered students in the classroom right from the 1950s. With apt slides he was able to capture the situation. He discussed the current scenario in the US and expressed how times have been changing and what problems teachers face in their respective schools.
Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee gave a presentation on the Dynamics of Classroom Arrangement. She spoke about Individual and Collective Discipline and Micro- Teaching and Analysis. She elaborated effectively on the principles of the above mentioned topic. A joint presentation on Assertive Discipline by Mr.Greenstone and Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee was well received by all the participants.
Mrs. Ananthi Karthic, Counsellor, PSBB, spoke on The Role and Qualities of a Good Counsellor.
Day two began with an interesting presentation on ‘Interactive Methods for Civic Education by Mrs. Hemalatha Seshadri, HOD, Social Science, PSBB, Nungambakkam. The presentation included a mock debate by a couple of students. Dr. R. Jaganathan, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Madras, Gave an exhaustive presentation on GIS and Map Skills. It was greatly appreciated.
In the Post-Lunch session Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee came up with a presentation on Objective Processes on Global Curriculum Development. With a ‘Correlation Model’ she outlined the importance of universal learning objectives and the related subjects in Global Curriculum Development. Mrs. Vaidehi Madhavan, a Fulbright Scholar and Maths PGT in PSBB, Nungambakkam spoke about the Use of Rubrics for clarity in Assessment. It was greatly welcomed with the CBSE moving towards Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation. Finally the presentation of Mrs. S. Vasanthi, HOD, Science, PSBB, Nungambakkam, on Scientific Literacy and English Language kindled the need to read and synthesize media articles critically and acknowledge the contribution of Science to English Language.
Dr (Mrs.) Y.G. Parthasarathy, highlighted the necessity and the benefits of the two day workshop and she stressed on the Assertive Discipline in the Class Room Management. Mrs. Valli Arunachalam, Principal, PSBB, Nungambakkam welcomed the gathering. Mrs. Sheela Rajendra, Correspondent, gave away the Certificates to the participant and said this kind of Seminars would be truly meaningful when the knowledge gained is applied in our classroom situations. Mrs. Shyamala Shekar, Additional Vice-Principal proposed a vote of thanks. Dr. (Mrs) Chandra Ramani took charge of the overall arrangement and helped in the conduct of the program.