September 21, 2012 Report by: SHRUTH & SMITH FOUNDATION

Report on ADHYAPAN – 2012

An International Educational Conference for Teachers, Academicians & Institutional Leaders

Held on 13th & 14th September, 2012 at Jnana Jyothi Auditorium, Palace Road, Bengaluru

Organised jointly by Shruth & Smith Foundation, Academy for Creative Teaching

and EduAhead

Sponsored mainly by Department of Primary & Secondary Education, Govt. of Karnataka and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

Creativity, innovation and problem solving skills are the best skill sets needed to survive in this 21st century and to be a leader. Keeping this in mind, an International Educational Conference, Adhyapan – 2012, was organized on 13th & 14th September 2012 at Jnana Jyothi Auditorium, Palace Road, Bengaluru. Objective of Adhyapan – 2012 was to generate productive discussions, thoughtful reflections and share of best practices of teaching from different parts of the world. This was not only aimed to make a big difference in building a knowledge society but also to stimulate teachers, academicians and institutional leaders. This event featured three internationally renowned (Dr. Gururaj Karajagi, Chairman, Academy for Creative Teaching, Dr. Gerard Puccio, Chairman, Department of Creativity, Buffalo University, USA and Prof. Masao Ishihara, associated with CEEO, Tufts University and MediaLab, MIT) educators and thought leaders delivering thought-provoking, practical presentations on creativity and constructionism in education.

About 600 delegates participated in this conference and gained considerable knowledge about Creativity and Creative Teaching Techniques. Other than the teachers and institutional leaders of private educational institutions, representation from the schools and educational bodies of Government of Karnataka and BBMP was overwhelming. INAUGURATION (September 13, 2012 morning session) The Conference was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister, Primary & Secondary Education, Government of Karnataka, Sri Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri and Worshipful Mayor, BBMP, Sri D. Venkatesh Murthy. The inaugural session was presided by Dr. Gururaj Karajagi, Conference Director, Adhyapan – 2012. Sri Kageri, speaking at the inaugural session, felt that our students need to be given technology-based training as to face the future challenges. He opined that instead of continuing with the traditional model, we should focus more on research with the help of modern technology, as implemented in most of the foreign countries. He also suggested that the teachers and the institutional management should join hands to inculcate creativity and leadership skills among student community. Highlighting the involvement of educated class in antisocial and terrorist activities, Sri Kageri stressed that present day education should also focus on moral values, thereby to put the nation before self.

September 21, 2012 Report by: SHRUTH & SMITH FOUNDATION

Sri Venkatesh Murthy spoke about the lack of quality teachers in BBMP & Government schools and requested Sri Kageri to look into the same immediately. He felt that with quality teachers even these schools can match the private institutions. Conference Director, Dr. Gururaj Karajagi, who also presided this session, felt that only primary and secondary education teachers could bring the necessary change in the society. For that to happen, first of all, we must ensure that the creativity of these teachers should be improved. Learning will be joyful when the teaching involves creative techniques. Dr. T. V. Raju, Chairman of the Shruth & Smith Foundation, spoke and opined that the present education system is aimed only at information gathering and reproducing the same in the examination whereas, the real need is to ensure that this information brings transformation in the overall personality of the student. For this to happen, teachers should upgrade their teaching style with creative teaching techniques. SESSION 1: (September 13, 2012 pre-lunch session) Dr. Gerard Puccio took the session on “Skills for the 21st Century: A call for Creative Thinking and Creative Leadership”. This session focused on the need for higher levels of creative thinking to produce innovative solutions. Dr. Puccio also explained the methods of transforming rough concepts into robust and workable solutions, provided insights into introducing innovation within their institutions and accelerating the development of creative performance. SESSION 2: (September 13, 2012 post-lunch session) Dr. Gururaj Karajagi handled the session on “Creative Teaching Techniques for Changing Paradigms in Education”. Dr. Karajagi, with his innovative techniques, made the delegates understand that the traditional methodologies and classroom settings are transforming, expanding beyond the four-walled cubes into the ‘virtual’ amorphous cyberspace classrooms. He focused on the point that the teachers have a responsibility to be more innovative in their pedagogical approaches because of technology-driven telecommunications and the growing student diversity. This session witnessed the demonstration of some of the best creative teaching techniques. SESSION 3: (September 14, 2012 pre-lunch session) This session “Enhancing Learning Skills through Technology: Application of Creative Computing and Robotics to Education” was handled by Prof. Masao Ishihara. This session focused on how advanced technologies in creative computing and robotics can help young students to learn topics much easier and much more effectively. Participants were also made to experience the essence through hands on sessions using advanced robots / software and devices for creative computing. SESSION 4: (September 14, 2012 post-lunch session) ADHYAPAN – 2012 gave an opportunity for the participants to present their case studies about creative teaching techniques and success stories. This session also witnessed extensive display and demonstration of innovative learning tools such as Origami, Robotics, Magic Items, Models and Multimedia.

September 21, 2012 Report by: SHRUTH & SMITH FOUNDATION

September 21, 2012 Report by: SHRUTH & SMITH FOUNDATION

September 21, 2012 Report by: SHRUTH & SMITH FOUNDATION

September 21, 2012 Report by: SHRUTH & SMITH FOUNDATION