Language instructor who built ‘learning apps’

Language instructor who built ‘learning apps’

Nimesh.Khakhariya@timesgroup.com

05.09.2021

When schools were locked due to the Covid pandemic, educators were left with no option but to search for learning tools to overcome the distance barrier.

But many years before the lockdown, Nahid Khan Ligari, a teacher working at a district panchayat-run school in Junagadh district, had tapped on to the benefits of alter native modes of learning and developed ‘learning apps’. What more, he also devised a way to overcome the internet connectivity issue, by developing apps that worked in offline mode too.

What makes his efforts even more praiseworthy is that apart from facing the usual ‘limited or no resources issue’, Ligari also had no ‘technical or software’ background. A language teacher, Ligari teaches Gujarati, Hindi and English. Yet he took the pains of learning the basics of app developing.

The desire to make education accessible to all drove him on, says Ligari. “I was always thinking of making education available to students at their doorsteps,” Ligari said.

Ligari’s work was recognized by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). He was recently conferred the ‘National Information Communication & Technology’ award by NCERT.

Ligari has developed two apps so far — an encyclopedia and a dictionary. Once downloaded on mobile phones, the two apps work in offline mode. The Internet is needed only at the time of app update.

Out of the WhatsApp, video-calling world

Out of the WhatsApp, video-calling world

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

05.09.2021 

The time-table of Nathabhai Chavda, a school teacher from Bhavnagar district, is a bit different. Instead of classes, the timings show the ‘sheri’ (bylane) he will be conducting classes at. Chavda starts off from the lanes of Sipaiwada at Hathiyadhar village near Palitana and proceeds to nearby areas.

“I have about 45 students to teach. While colleagues elsewhere conducted classes through WhatsApp calls, my students didn’t have the facility – their fathers have just one phone and would take it to work. They also did not have TVs. Thus, I started conducting classes at their doorstep,” says Chavda, a teacher at Jhaverchand Meghani Primary School. “We also installed a few TVs in houses so students can catch classes through DD Girnar.” While many teachers toyed virtual classrooms, for many in the state, that was not possible due to the lack of phones or TVs. Thus, these teachers went the conventional way to take education to their students.

The In-Shodh platform of the Ravi J Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation (RJMC) at IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A) documented several such practices over the past 18 months. In all, the online platform has 800-odd innovations, which are accessed by teachers from Gujarat and beyond.

Another innovation documented is by Gaurav Joshi, a teacher from Pahadbhai ni Muvadi primary school in Gandhinagar district. When Joshi goes to the village to teach, he carries a load worthy of a small carrier. The students get a mini library, a space to conduct science and mathematics experiments, and a ‘performance space’ for kids to sing and dance.

“We call it ‘Bal Melo’ or Children’s Fair, so students are attracted to the space and learn while having fun,” said Joshi.

You may take drones on domestic flights soon

You may take drones on domestic flights soon

Govt Working On New Rules, Say Officials

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:05.09.2021

You may soon be able to take your small drones with you on domestic holidays by air and post envyinducing pictures of chilling out on beaches or hills. After relaxing rules for drone usage, the government is working out ways to ensure that people can take drones with them on domestic flights for recreational purposes.

“Drones can’t be taken on (domestic) flights as of now, but we have to find a way to let people carry it for vacations for use at their destination. Whether they can be taken in handbags or check-in (luggage) and how, these things are being worked out,” said top aviation officials. For international travellers, regulations on carriage of drones at destination countries will have to be complied with.

This clarity of rules is needed to ensure people can at least take nano drones (weighing up to 250 grams), that now come with great cameras, on vacation when flying within the country. A new set of relaxed drone rules were enforced late last month, by junking stringent regulations put in place this March. The carriage of drones by air travellers passengers still remains a grey area that needs to be cleared.

People operating nano and micro (weighing between 251 grams and 2kg) drones for non-commercial or personal uses do not require a remote pilot licence.

The government is working out an airspace map for unmanned aircraft system operations that will have three colour zones. This map is expected to be on Digital Sky drone platform by the month-end. That will clearly show where a drone can be operated or not. Red, like areas in vicinity of airports, will be “no go” areas. In yellow zones, air traffic control clearance will be required.

Education amid Covid-19: Road to recovery

Education amid Covid-19: Road to recovery

The traditional education system will get back on track post mass vaccinations. With the schools reopening for the higher classes in Tamil Nadu, we look at the challenges and examine the benefits of reopening schools

Respedit.Chennai@timesgroup.com

05.09.2021

Science has proved, yet another time that effective research, precaution and execution can prevent the spread of virus. This also allows normalcy to slowly resume, bringing back all sectors, including education, back on track.

As schools reopen after the vaccination drive, they must balance the educational, social and emotional needs of their students, as well as ensure the health and safety of students and staff. “The world that lies ahead of us may look different from the one we’re leaving behind. Slowly, and as the vaccine drive gains momentum, schools are beginning to get back to normal, with students getting back to the classroom, of course, with stringent protocols to ensure the safety of all. Teaching methodologies have changed, and while teachers and students have welcomed digital teaching, it will now be coupled with in-classroom activities and field visits too, ensuring the overall development and learning of a child. This is a welcome move, and the vaccine only ensures extra safety. The new model of learning focussed on classroom as well as digital learning is known as hybrid schooling and is the new normal teaching pedagogy not only in India, but across the globe,” says Siddhi Sankhla, a school principal.

The closure of schools had impacted the daily lives of students. The change was sudden, unexpected and there was no substitute system in place. While the collective efforts of parents, students and teachers did pay off, children do need to interact in person to develop and learn better.

One major benefit that students gain from the opening of schools is equal access to education for all. “In keeping with India’s vast student population, it was discouraging to see only a minority of students from privileged backgrounds access online classes. Students from tier-II and tier-III cities, as well as remote districts of India had little access, either due to the lack of gadgets, internet services or their inability to use them. This led to only a fraction of students receiving online education. Multiple surveys have shared data proving that most students have missed their virtual exams, and have wasted a year in the process. Hence, the move to reopen schools is encouraging for more than one reason,” says Kiran Bhatia, a school teacher and parent of an eight-year-old. “Meanwhile, schools should follow the government’s SOP guidelines and ensure a classroom size of not more than 50 per cent until the virus is eradicated. Classroom teaching, coupled with a vaccine jab and necessary precaution, will bring back normalcy to India’s disturbed education system,” concludes Kiran.

Don’t waste time dwelling on past events: Stalin to his MLAs

Intervenes As MLA Recalls ‘Humiliation’ Of Party Over 10yrs

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.09.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday sought to send a strong message to his legislators to stop recalling past events in the assembly as it amounted to wasting the time of the House.

More than once in recent days, he had also asked his MLAs not to indulge in sycophancy by showering compliments on him. On Saturday, participating in the debate on demand for grants for various departments, DMK (Kumbakonam) MLA G Anbalagan said his party had suffered humiliation in the assembly in the past one decade, with many AIADMK leaders making acerbic remarks against the DMK and its leadership. “A leader made an outrageous statement that there were no rivals for her to see in the assembly. Another leader said Stalin can never win and never become chief minister. Those faces are not to be found in the House. But others have come,” said Anbalagan pointing to Royapuram MLA Idream R Murthy, seated near him. Murthy, who defeated former AIADMK minister D Jayakumar, rose from his seat with folded hands, evoking laughter among the ruling party MLAs.

Stalin intervened at this stage to say the member had been given only 15 minutes by the speaker and hence, he should confine himself to the issues relating to the demand for grants for the department and should not waste time speaking about “unnecessary” things. Leader of the opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami said the DMK MLA should also talk about the vote on the motion of confidence in 2017 (when the DMK legislators created ruckus). Responding to this, the chief minister said, “I have told my MLA to limit himself to relevant issues to avoid wastage of time. If the Leader of the opposition is ready for a discussion (on the trust vote), then the DMK is also ready.” Palaniswami said the DMK MLA was making unnecessary remarks in the House.

Anbalagan went on to say the DMK was not against any religion and the party remained a fortress for spiritual people. It was portrayed as an anti-Hindu party way back in 1967 elections and in 2021, but people reposed confidence in the Dravidian party. Former CM C N Annadurai deputed his PWD minister M Karunanidhi to oversee the arrangements of mahamagam festival in Kumbakonam, he said. “In 11 seats, known for their spiritual significance, including Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai and Mylapore, the DMK won in the last election,” he said.

Later, DMK (Tirupattur) MLA A Nallathambi said rivals (the BJP) took out Vel Yatra to defeat Dravidam and the DMK, but it was Karunanidhi who took out a yatra for tracing the missing diamond spear of Lord Muruga in Tiruchendur.

TN Covid-19 cases rise slightly for 3rd day in row

TN Covid-19 cases rise slightly for 3rd day in row

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 05.09.2021

Fresh cases of Covid-19 went up marginallyvfor the third consecutive day to 1,575 new cases on Saturday from 1,509 on Wednesday. At least 23 districts including Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar and Karur reported an increase in new cases in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the 20 deaths took the toll to 35,000 and the state reported a cumulative case tally of 26.2 lakh. At the end of the day, after discharging 1,610 patients there were 16,315 people still undergoing treatment for the viral infection.

On Saturday, with 244 new cases, Coimbatore reported the highest number and was also the only district to report more than 200 new cases. The western district reported 239 cases on Friday and 215 cases on Thursday. The number of cases in Chennai increased to 167 from 162 on Friday. Besides Coimbatore and Chennai, the Erode (109) was the only district to report new cases in three digits.

The sharpest increase in new cases between Friday and Saturday came from Chennai’s neighbours Tiruvallur and Chengalpet. Cases in Tiruvallur increased to 79 from 65 on Friday while Chengalpet reported 99 compared to 88 on Friday. Districts such as Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Karur and Tiruvallur reported six to nine cases more than their Friday tally.

However, 20 districts in the state reported less than 25 cases. Five districts – Thoothukudi (9), Theni (8), Perambalur (5), Ramanathapuram (4), Thirupathur (4) and Tenkasi

(3) — reported cases in single digits.

Of the 20 deaths reported on Saturday, four were in Coimbatore, three each in Chennai and Trichy and two each in Erode, Salem and Tiruvallur. While four districts (Chengalpet, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukottai and Ariyalur) reported one death each, 28 districts reported zero deaths.

The state vaccinated 6.2 lakh people on Saturday compared to 5.5 lakh on Friday and 5.4 lakh on Thursday, taking the dosage tally in the state centres to 3.2 crore. The average number of vaccinations in a day in the first four days of September is 5.6 lakh a day. In August it was around 2.9 lakh. Meanwhile, 22 lakh doses were given in private hospitals since May 1.

Pondy cases inch up to 900

The active Covid-19 cases crossed the 900-mark on Saturday in the Union territory of Puducherry. The territory reported 120 fresh cases even as 76 patients recovered in the past 24 hours ending at 10am on Saturday taking the active cases to 937. Of them, 765 cases are under home isolation and treatment.

Puducherry headquarters reported the maximum fresh cases with 70 followed by Mahe (25), Karaikal (17) and Yanam (8). Puducherry headquarters has the maximum active cases with 579 followed by Karaikal (201), Mahe (130) and Yanam (27). TNN

ALANDUR IS CITY’S ARAKKONAM

ALANDUR IS CITY’S ARAKKONAM

Madras By The Metro Is A Metaphor For What Chennai Is, An Intriguing Mix Of The Old And The New. We Hop On The City’s Newest Mode Of Transport And Hop Off At A Few Stations Along The Way To Wander Through Streets That Tell Us Stories Of What Went Before And How Life Goes On

Kamini.Mathai@timesgroup.com

05.09.2021

All roads may lead to Rome, but as far as the Chennai metro goes, all rails lead to Alandur. At a little over 35 metres, the elevated Arignar Anna Alandur Metro, the “interchange station” between the two metro lines in the city — the Blue Wimco Nagar-Airport line and the Green Chennai Central-St Thomas Mount — isn’t just the city’s first multi-level railway station, and its tallest, but is also the only station where passengers from the two corridors can swap routes.

You could say it’s the metro counterpart of Southern Railway’s Arakkonam junction, one of the oldest junctions in the country that links major cities. And like Arakkonam, which for most travellers is more a transit point than a destination, Alandur too gets missed in the dash of the daily commute.

Alandur was the chosen one, explains R Ramanathan, former director (projects), Chennai Metro Rail. How could it not be, when the nodal hub connects to north Madras, south Madras, GST Road, Koyambedu, and the airport. It also had enough space to spare, both horizontally and vertically.

But is there more to Alandur?

Just by looking out that metro train window, we can tell you there is. A battleground, for starters. We don’t just mean the constituency, from where M G Ramachandran made his electoral debut in 1967 (although it was called Parangimalai then), but an actual battlefield. History buffs, while on the metro, one of the spots you’re likely to pass near Alandur junction is the OTA golf course, which was once the spot where a battle unfolded in 1759. It was here that the French under Thomas Arthur, Count of Lally, lost to British troops commanded by Major-General Stringer Lawrence.

The battlefield now doubles up as a golf course as well as a tactical training field for budding army officers. It’s pretty much off-limits in terms of walking in, but hey, you can catch a glimpse on the metro, and that’s free.

Architect and artist Srishti Prabakar, who has done sketch walks in Alandur, calls the area a juxtaposition of worlds past and present. “On the one hand, you have the old world chaos of the market, the bustle of people bargaining over their fish, haggling over why their pomfret looked fleshier the previous week. On the other, you have the swanky metro, and then you notice all of it set against the backdrop of the majestic St Thomas Mount. It’s a junction of not just the metros but of the city’s culture and history.”

Every time the sketch-walk group ambles up to Alandur, says Srishti, they end up spending most of their time soaking in the marvel of the metro station. “Being so elevated it’s beautiful to see the train almost emerging out of thin air, hills, and trees in the background.”

Now, if you’re game for a wander, a little away from the metro station is the St Thomas Garrison Church, incidentally No.1 GST Road. Constructed for less than ₹50,000, the church was opened in 1830. The church with its bomb-proof roof is now a heritage monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.

This was also the spot that Lieutenant-Colonel William Lambton, British soldier and surveyor, began his Great Trigonometrical Survey of India in 1802, a study that ended near Everest.

Well, who would have thought… even the Everest tracks to Alandur!