In collaboration with IASE, RV Teachers College, Bangalore

Dr. Bhaskara, Principal ,IASE,RV Teachers College                  Mr. Anshul Sonak , South Asia Education Manager, Corporate Affairs – Intel   Prof. H A Ranganath, Director,NAAC                  Prof. S. N. Prasad, Former Principal, RIE, Mysore   Dr. T K S Lakshmi, Former Dean & Professor, Faculty of Education                  Sanjay Vir Singh, Registrar, Bangalore University   Prof. Krishna Reddy, Regional Director, NCTE – South                  Dr. Rama, Deputy Advisor, NAAC

With an objective to invigorate ICT usage in the teacher education program, a one day seminar was organized jointly by Intel, National Council for teacher Education (Southern Region) and Institute for Advanced Studies in Education, R V Teachers College, on the 30th of May, 09 in the Teachers College Auditorium, Bangalore.

The seminar proposed to support NCTE in its initiative of promoting ICT in Teacher Education programs and to orient the heads of institutions on the challenges of 21st century education so as to evolve and discuss the best usage of ICT in teaching and learning processes. It was also a platform to partner with heads of institutions and lay down recommendations to guide the education system towards enhanced technology usage in the teaching-leaning process.

Several eminent speakers addressed the gathering. Dr. Bhaskara, Principal, IASE, RV Teachers College presented the welcome address on behalf of Intel and NCTE and highlighted the collaboration of NCTE and Intel Teach Program. Mr. Anshul Sonak, South Asia Education Manager, Corporate Affairs – Intel, initiated the proceedings by speaking on ‘Enabling 21st Century Education’ and the challenges facing education. He stressed on the need for technology in education to equip students and teachers to face the challenges of a rapidly changing society and the need for institutions to meet these challenges.

Prof. H A Ranganath, Director, NAAC in his inaugural address, shared the benefits of ICT in real life and spoke about the evolution of technology from blackboard to latest technologies like Smart Class and requested Principals to make training in technology an important aspect of the teacher education.

Former Principal, RIE, Mysore, Prof. S. N. Prasad, shared the Initiatives taken by NCTE to promote ICT usage in Education and specially touched upon its integration in the pre-service teacher education curriculum.

Former Dean & Professor, Faculty of Education, Dr. T K S Lakshmi, reminded the audience that infrastructure / resource non- availability cannot be held as the reason for not implementing ICT in the B Ed Curriculum, and that motivation and attitudinal changes are the main hindrance for ICT implementation. She asked for colleges to solve these basic problems.

Sri Sanjay Vir Singh, Registrar, Bangalore University wound up the proceedings for the day by reinstating the importance of technology in day-to-day life and the need to utilize this opportunity by integrating it with education.

A group activity was organized to encourage participants to develop strategies for integrated implementation of ICT based learning in Colleges of Education. The groups were asked to focus their discussion around facilitating enhanced ICT integration and suggest strategies for effective ICT implementation in Colleges of Education in policies and interventions as also support required in terms of physical infrastructure, technology deployment, training, finance etc.

Dr. Rama, Deputy Advisor, NAAC summed up the activities for the day, stressing in her talk the importance of building quality in teacher education institutions. She felt an integrated and collaborative approach with sister institutions would lead to quality institutionalization in the community. Prof. B Krishna Reddy, Director, NCTE concluded the day by appreciating the role of Intel in conducting the seminar and motivating the principals to utilize the support given by Intel. He announced NCTE’s plans for conducting seminars regularly to improve the quality of the teacher education.

The seminar, unique in its approach, provided a platform for 5 Universities of Karnataka (Bangalore University, University of Mysore, Tumkur University, Kuvempu University and Bijapur University), NCTE, NAAC and IASE to come together and collaborate on strategies concerning ICT

As Mr. Karthik said in his vote of thanks, the seminar was a novel opportunity, where the Principals and Heads of Department of Education of various universities and the Principals of Colleges of Education affiliated to Bangalore University were able to draw up an action plan which would help them bring policy changes and implement successful ICT integration strategies.

A very successful venture, the seminar was widely acclaimed by the media, the esteemed speakers and audience.

A very good platform to bring all the educationists together.Thanks to Intel.
- Prof. Krishna Reddy, Regional Director, NCTE - South