Online and offline training in organisation

Training is very essential for any organisation which make their employees to perform their work effectively and they become more productive. Training are designed on the basis of their job or work so that they learn how to work done in the organisation and they understand culture and structure of organisation. Employees work effectively and satisfaction to the employees.

New people, new proceedings, new clients. The reasons why organizations undertake training processes are many and very diverse.

Training is an essential activity in every organization. Training helps in imparting skills to employees that help them do their work in a more effective way. Training is one of the best ways to bridge the gap between the requirements of the job and the profile of the employee. Training can enhance the competence of the employee that can positively affect work performance. Traditionally, training has been conducted through classroom sessions where employees assemble in a hall and are trained by a trainer. The problem with this model is it restricts training to a few hours and necessitates employees to be made free during this time.

Online training:

While there are various types of training, the following six types of training are most essential for employees and would be valuable for every organization.

  1. Orientation training:

The orientation training is the initial training conducted for all new employees. It involves inducing the new employee into the organization. Key topics covered would include:

  • Organization vision, mission, and objectives
  • Organization structure and history
  • Organization culture
  • Introduction to organization activities
  • Important policies and procedures

All these topics can be effectively covered through online training modules.

2. Onboarding: Most people confuse orientation with onboarding. Orientation is a one-time activity done when the employee joins. Onboarding takes place over a longer duration. Apart from the initial introduction, it ensures the employee get adjusted into the department or function, where he/she is placed. It ensures that employees understand their job profile and fit into their work smoothly and effectively. This may require training that is conducted over multiple sessions. Online training would be suitable to ensure regular training until the onboarding is complete.

3. Product training: An organization sells its products or services to customers and every employee must be aware of this. Depending on the nature of their work, they need to know all about the products. The product type, the need for the product, its history, product features, unique proposition value the product offers are some of the things every employee should be aware of. Those who interact with customers need in-depth product knowledge so they would be able to handle any queries posed by customers. 

4. Soft skills training :

Apart from the core technical skills, employees need soft skills to be able to do their job in the best possible way. Some of these skills are:

  • Communication skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Time management
  • Stress management
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Decision-making skills
  • Work ethics
  • Conflict management

These soft skills help to build the overall personality of the employee. It gives them the confidence needed to do their job well.

5. Mandatory training: This includes training on mandatory topics that may be required by law or regulations. It can be training on prevention of sexual harassment, training on work safety basic first-aid training, fire safety training, training on office rules, etc.

6. Technical training: To do his/her work, an employee needs technical skills. These are skills in the subject area related to the employee’s jobs. These skills help the employee to do their work as per requirements. If the job is a marketing job, then the employee needs to have marketing skills and skills in handling customers. If the job is related to software development, the employee requires in-depth knowledge of the development tool. Most technical skills are gained during education. In reality, there is a large gap between what a person learns at college and what is required for a job.

Traditional approach training: Traditional approaches to training still offer a number of benefits and are commonly found in many companies today. Here is a list of training methods from the traditional category that should be considered when choosing the best training techniques for employees in your company.

Classroom-based -training programs :

Usually led by a qualified facilitator, classroom learning takes place over one or more days in a physical venue on- or off-site. Groups of employees go through a series of presentation slides and activities, like case study assessments or information on company policy issues.

The advantage of classroom-based training is that a group of employees can attain large amounts of knowledge at the same time. Unfortunately, the disadvantages are many: hired venues, travel, and catering make this training method costly. Employees also find this approach to training boring.

Interactive training:

One of the most effective training methods in the workplace, interactive training actively involves learners in their own learning experience. This training can take the form of simulations, scenarios, role plays, quizzes or games.

By practicing their new skills and applying them in realistic work scenarios, learners are not only more engaged but more likely to retain what they’ve learned, too. However, it can be time-consuming when done in person, especially when learners require regular feedback from a content expert.

why is the training important in the organisation

▪︎Employee retention and enhanced performance

▪︎Increased revenue and organisational competitiveness

why do organisation invest in training :

  • Change in workplace
  • improvement in quality
  • Introduction of new technologies and Upgradations

Hinduism

Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, dating back more than 4000 years.Hinduism is the thirs largest religion behind Christainity and Islam. Hinduism is unique and it’s not a single religion, it is the compilation of many traditions and philosophies.

Origin of Hinduism

Most scholars believe that Hinduism started between 2300BC to 1500BC in the Indus Valley near modern day pakistan. Many hindu argue that their faith is timeless and always existed unlike other religions. Hinduism has no founder but it is a combination of various beliefs.There are many beliefs in Hinduism i.e. dharma,karma,moksha. Some basic hindu concepts includes-

a. Hinduism fuses many religious ideas,that’s why, it sometimes reffered as ‘way of life’ or a ‘family of religions’.
b. Most form of Hinduism are henotheistic which mean they worship a single deity known as ‘Brahman’

c. Hindu believe in the doctrines of sansara (the continous cycle of life,death and reincarnation) and Karma [the universal law of cause and effect]

d. Most impt ward of Hinduism is ‘Atman’ or the belief in the soul.

e. Goal is to achieve Moksha which ends the cycle of rebirth to becvome part of the absoulte soul.

Hinduism Symbols

There are two symbols associated with Hinduism, one is OM and other is SWASTIKA. The word SWASTIKA mean ‘good fortune’ or ‘being happy’.OM is composed of three sanskrit letters and represent three sounds [a,u and m].

Hinduism Holy Book

The primary sacred texts, known as vedas were composed around 1500 BC. Vedas were the collection of verses and hymns which were written in sanskrit.The vedas composed of ;
Rig veda, Sama veda, Ayurveda, A thar veda, The Upnishads, the Bhagawad Gita, Ramayans and Mahabharta are also considered important texts in Hinduism.
Hinduism has no founder but compilation of of various beliefs. Hinduism contains various doctrines like Dharma, Karma, Moksha. One fundamental principle of Hinduism is ‘as you sow, as you reap’ i.e. people’s action and thoughts directly determine their current life and future life. Major goal of Hinduism is to achieve ‘Moksha’, which ends the cycle of rebirths to became part of absolute soul. Make your soul pure, do your Karma in good faith and follow path of dharma, then you will definitely achieve moksha.

Institutionalization of 360-Degree Feedback

One of the most dreaded times of a financial year in an organization is the Performance Appraisal time. Traditional way of conducting performance appraisal is to hold it once, usually at the end of financial year with feedback coming in from the higher levels of management that is the team lead and the reporting manager. This method works well if one is at the lower levels of the hierarchy. But this traditional method of performance appraisal is now replaced by a more flexible method by integrating feedback throughout the year or in frequent intervals, without reserving it for the special occasion.

As an associate goes up the levels of hierarchy, his or her pay component also changes. That is, the base or the fixed component decreases and the variable pay which is linked to the performance of his or her team increases. And that is where the concept of 360-Degree Feedback kicks in. 360-Degree Feedback is the process by which surveys are used to gather and analyse feedback about the performance of a particular employee (usually at a higher-grade) from about 10 or 20 people which includes colleagues, managers, vendor, customers, suppliers, supervisor, peers and other stakeholders, who have an experience working with that employee either directly or indirectly. So to sum up, a higher grade associate is usually rated on the performance as depicted by the people he or she is interacting with.

10 Benefits Of 360 Degree Feedback - Edge Training Systems
360-Degree Feedback

The mail goal of 360-Degree Feedback is to convert the intangible qualities into the strengths and deficits, which can be used as a report, thus carving out a path with highlighted points which require definite action for improvement. 360-Degree Feedback has a lot of other advantages too, some of which are:

  1. Provides deeper insight into the mode of doing a particular job, in terms of collaboration, communication and promotion of innovation.
  2. Provides an interesting contrast in how the participants view themselves and how the others see them.
  3. Gives rich data for statistical analysis and provide ratings, based on actual data, thus eliminating subjectivity.

360-Degree feedback is highly valuable and is receiving a lot of positive responses due to its objective nature, is very much candid owing to the fact that the feedback from the peers will be anonymous and is highly compelling in nature. If one analyses the very purpose of such a feedback, benefits can be reaped from the administrative perspective as well as from the personal perspective too. From the administrative perspective, the results of the feedback is used for performance appraisal and thus for performance rating which ultimately affects the compensation. For executives at higher grade, a small increase in compensation without much analysis usually has a tumultuous effect on the bottom line of the company. And from the personal perspective, the feedback, which was provided anonymously can provide the strengths and the pain points, which can be used as reference by the associate for improvement.

360-Degree Feedback works very well for the executives at higher grades because in that way, their performance is very much linked to the performance of his or her peers and direct interacts. So in one way, it can be a great tool to improve or to remove someone if that associate is unable to perform the expected. But it has to be used with great care. Not only there is a distrust regarding the results of the 360-Degree Feedback, but also sometimes the outcomes generates more questions than answers. So this mode of feedback should be handled with utmost care and with proper control.

But in one way, 360-Degree Feedback means – “Once I knew the problem, I could fix it and I had a game plan.”

Source: https://qulture.rocks/en/blog/360-degree-feedback-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work/

105th National Park of India – Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam

By Udbhav Bhargava

Assam government has decided to upgrade Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary to national park

The park will be the 105th entrant in the list of the 104 existing national parks in the country covering an area of approximately 40000 square kilometers, accounting for 1.23% of the total Indian geographical area. This last entry was made in 2018 when the Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh was converted into a National Park.

The erstwhile wildlife sanctuary is situated in Dibrugarh & Tinsukia districts of Assam and covers an area of 111 square kilometers. It was declared a sanctuary on 13 June 2004. The “would-be national park” is a dense evergreen rainforest, which when observed by a satellite looks like a “big dark green patch” cut into two parts by the Dehing river. The name of the park is formed by the amalgamation of names of Dehing river and the Patkai Bum hills located in the east end of the park.

Referred to as the “Amazon of the East”, this forestland stretches for 575 square kilometers in Assam. The previous sanctuary was also an elephant reserve under the Project Elephant because of concentration of Asian elephant in the evergreen forest habitat. It is a rich and unique biodiversity hotspot that is home to several rare and endangered animal species; Hoolock gibbon, sluggish loris, pig-tailed macaque, capped langur, Bengal tiger.

It, also, is home to close to 300 different bird species including Slender-billed vulture, white-winged duck, Larger spotted eagle, larger and smaller adjutant, etc. Rock python, King cobra, Asian leaf turtle, monitor lizard are the most common reptiles found in this area. Thirty different butterfly species thrive in this gorgeous tropical vegetation.

Any area other than that comprised of any reserve forest or territorial waters may be notified to constitute a sanctuary if such area is of sufficient biological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, geological or zoological importance for the purpose of preserving, spreading or cultivating wildlife or their habitat. Within the sanctuary area are permitted certain restricted human activities details of which are provided in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The country has a total of 551 Wildlife Sanctuaries.

What is a National Park? An area, whether within a sanctuary or not, can be notified by the state government to be constituted as a National Park, by the same reasons as mentioned above for a wildlife sanctuary. But the distinction is made between the two by the fact that no human activity is permitted inside the national park except for the ones permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state under the conditions given in the Chapter 4 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

A political perspective can be attributed to the move as the proclamation came just months after the conditional clearance by the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) to a Coal India Limited (CIL) coal mining project in the vicinity of the sanctuary area that triggered protests movements in the state.

It’s not your weakness, it’s their strength

Are you motivated to do something? It’s what we call it but people will call it as influencing. They didn’t betray you, you trusted them. You are easy target for them. It’s you whom you should change. People are easy target for them. It’s us who should make us strong. Beleiving is good, but trusting is not better. They create a impression on your brain that you get attracted to them. It’s not your weakness, it’s their strength. Try to make yourself from such incidents.

Trusting blindly will not happen all of sudden. It’s a slower process where they crate a impact of them on you. People with clarity will definitely fake the people who actually wanted to fake us. So be careful while choosing friends. It’s easy to get influenced because it’s difficult to influence. Believing and betraying is a cycle. People who got betrayed will become the people will betray. it’s a never ending cycle. It ends when people start betraying. It only happens when people stop betraying. Have clarity over such things. There are too smart to catch. They influence you with their magical words which create a direct impact on your brain. Escape from such things.

Have a true life rather than making people suffer. Be kind and gentle atleast to yourself. Anyone no one gonna live permanent. People will betray someone untill people stop betraying. Have guts to earn something by working hard. Believe in your work and have confidence in you. Be happy with what you have rather than wasting your time on something that you never get. Go in a truthful manner and definitely right yhing will happen.

You definitely do what your friend had done because you too wanted to do what he did. It’s good it it’s good but if you do something wrong them that’s completely wrong. You will definitely get influenced by your friends unknowingly. You should have a control over your thoughts on this issue. It becomes serious if you do something that shouldn’t be done.

Unique identification number for every Indian

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (“Aadhaar Act 2016”) on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The Aadhaar Act 2016 has been amended by the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 (14 of 2019) w.e.f. 25.07.2019.

Prior to its establishment as a statutory authority, UIDAI was functioning as an attached office of the then Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) vide its Gazette Notification No.-A-43011/02/2009-Admn.I) dated 28th January, 2009. Later, on 12 September 2015, the Government revised the Allocation of Business Rules to attach the UIDAI to the Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DEIT) of the then Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

UIDAI was created with the objective to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named as “Aadhaar”, to all residents of India. The UID had to be (a) robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities, and (b) verifiable and authenticable in an easy, cost-effective way. The first UID number was issued on 29 September 2010 to a resident of Nandurbar, Maharashtra. The Authority has so far issued more than 124 crore Aadhaar numbers to the residents of India.

Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, including operation and management of all stages of Aadhaar life cycle, developing the policy, procedure and system for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals and perform authentication and the security of identity information and authentication records of individuals.

  • The idea behind the unique identification number was to assign each individual a unique 12 digit number which will help to identify the individual uniquely.
  • The objective was to attach all the biometric and demographic data of an individual with a 12-digit unique identity number called Aadhaar. The biometric and demographic data of individual will be stored in a centralized database.
  • The act related to Aadhaar was initially introduced as a money bill in the parliament of India on 3rd March 2016.
  • The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 11th March 2016 and on 26th March 2016, this bill became an Act.
  • The process of issuing the unique number and collection, maintenance and updating of biometric and demographic data related to each individual is done by the ‘Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)‘, which is a central government agency of India.
  • With the issuance of Aadhaar card, India has entered the group of countries which has national identity cards for its native residents.
  • Even though Aadhaar was initially started to eliminate leakages, with time it became a basic identity document.

Reasons for this move:-

  • This process of attaching all the legal data of an individual with a unique number is an attempt of India to develop a secure system of identification and will have a long term impact.
  • The first recommendation of any such identity number was after the 1999 Kargil war by the Kargil Review Committee to then Prime Minister of India, for the security and authenticity reasons.
  • With the centralized database of each individual, it became possible for security agencies to access information of each citizen under a certain emergency situation in the interest of the national cause.
  • By considering the population of India, it was necessary to have such a secure identification system for controlling illegal migration and anti-national activities.
  • By connecting the Aadhaar number with the banking system, the Indian government has created a proper and secure channel through which beneficiaries receive all the subsidies directly to their bank account.
  • It has eliminated the role of middleman and agents thus helping the poor and the Indian Economy. Thereby Aadhaar empowers marginalised sections and ensures dignity.
  • With the help of UID, it became possible to identify the native Indians and illegal migrants and thus helps to ensure that only the Indian citizens and the legal migrants get benefits of government schemes and also employment.
  • As all the biometric and demographic data of an individual is linked to Aadhaar, it helps to identify the families that really belongs to BPL (Below Poverty Level) and hence providing them employment under NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and also easy and prompt payment to the actual workers.
  • Another big issue which can be addressed through UID is the real number of voters. Rural to urban migration is highly prevalent in India. Thus they enrol their names in the voter list of both places and politicians take an ill advantage of such a situation. But by the implementation of UID, it will not be possible for any individual to possess more than one voter identity card.
  • Government of India could save 15000 crores till 2016 by linking bank accounts with aadhaar for the LPG cylinder subsidies. Aadhaar will eliminate fake accounts.
  • Aadhaar based biometric attendance will make a good impact in government offices where most people try to escape from their work.
  • UID will also help indirectly in controlling corruption.

Challenges:-

  • For a nation like India with such a large population, it becomes a matter of security risk to handle such a large data of individual associated with their UID.
  • As almost all the details are associated with Aadhaar, it poses a threat to ‘right to privacy’. The data is susceptible to commercial exploitation by private parties and also to surveillance by the government.
  • No effective implementation of law and punishments in case of any misuse such as the leakage of personal information of citizens.
  • Assigning UID to such a huge population with authenticity is also a big challenge as no prior documents asked for it.

Conclusion:-

UID for every Indian is a very good system for eliminating agents and commission culture from India. It will help the poor to get their benefits directly to their accounts. It will also help in eliminating the illegal migrants from India and thus controlling the anti-national activities. But the implementation and execution must be done in a proper and prompt manner. And there must some guidelines related to risks associated with the system.

Film is notable among youngsters

Film influences adolescents in various sort of ways. One reason for the prevalence of the film is that it engages various types or individuals, youthful and old, educated and ignorant. The greater part of the young people watching films are for relaxations. Some of the time, they feel pressure, with the goal that adolescents investing their energy in watching motion pictures in film. To start with, film impact youth adversely and decidedly. This is on the grounds that; young people will mirror their preferred on-screen character and entertainer to follow precisely their styles, for example, dressing styles, hairdo, character of the on-screen character or on-screen character act in the film, language, etc. Motion pictures influence young people in their disposition. Young people observe an excess of motion pictures and its impact their disposition change. They may appreciate the character, their contemplations, or idea’s. They choose to do likewise as them.

Additionally, film impact in adolescents culture? The greater part of the individuals concur for this inquiry. This is on the grounds that, young people watch film and tail others, for example, remote culture. They disregard their own way of life and the significant of the way of life. Young people will follow precisely remote culture, for example, wear ring at eyebrow, tongue, mouth, etc. They thought it’s lovely and classy however it’s extremely perilous for wellbeing.

Plus, viciousness in the film influences young people’s brains? In light of my study, some “concur” and some of them answer is “impartial”. Viciousness in the film influences youngsters to do likewise. This is on the grounds that, normally in film, they will do criminal operations, for example, pirating, burglary, drinking, smoking, consuming medications, etc. In a film, they act yet it looks precisely genuine. So youngsters get intrigue and include in negative exercises.

‘WILL’ under Indian Law

 

Meaning:

A Will is a solemn document by which a dead man entrusts to the living to the carrying out of his wishes. Section 2(h) of Indian Succession Act, 1925 provides that Will means the legal declaration of the intention of a person with respect to his property, which he desires to take effect after his death Will has been defined in Corpus Juris Secundum as A ‘Will’ is the legal declaration of a man’s intention, which he wills to be performed after his death, or an instrument by which a person makes a disposition of his property to take effect after his death.

Essential Features of a Will

A Will can be made at any time in the life of a person. A Will can be changed a number of times and there are no legal restrictions as to the number of times it can be changed. It can be withdrawn at anytime during the lifetime of the person making the Will. A Will has to be attested by two or more witnesses, each of who should have seen the testator signing the Will.
The essential features are:

1.     Legal declaration: The documents purporting to be a Will or a testament must be legal, i.e. in conformity with the law and must be executed by a person legally competent to make it. Further the declaration of intention must be with respect to the testator’s property It is a legal document, which has a binding force upon the family.

2. Disposition of property: In a Will, the testator bequeaths or leaves his property to the person or people he chooses to leave his assets/belongings. A Hindu person by way of his Will can bequeath all his property. However, a member of an undivided family cannot bequeath his coparcenery interest in the family property

3. Takes effect after death: The Will is enforceable only after the death of the testator

Under section 18 of the Registration Act the registration of a Will is not compulsory. Also, the SC in Narain Singh v. Kamla Devi has held that mere non-registration of the Will an inference cannot be drawn against the genuines of the Will. However it is advisable to register it as it provides strong legal evidence about the validity of the Will. Once a Will is registered, it is placed in the safe custody of the Registrar and therefore cannot be tampered with, destroyed, mutilated or stolen. It is to be released only to the testator himself or, after his death, to an authorized person who produces the Death Certificate

Since a testamentary disposition always speaks from the grave of the testator, the required standard of proof is very high. The initial burden of proof is always on the person who propounds the Will.

Kinds of Wills

Ø Conditional Wills: A Will maybe made to take effect on happening of a condition. In Rajeshwar v. Sukhdeo the operation of the Will was postponed till after the death of the testator’s wife. However if it is ambiguous whether the testator intended to make a Will conditional, the language of the documents as well as the circumstances are to be taken into consideration.

 

Ø Joint Wills: Two or more persons can make a joint Will. If the joint Will is joint and is intended to take effect after the death of both, it will not be admitted to probate during the life time of either and are revocable at any time by either during the joint lives or after the death of the survivor.

 

Ø Mutual Wills: Two or more persons may agree to make mutual Wills i.e. to confer on each other reciprocal benefits. In mutual Wills the testators confer benefit on each other but if the legatees and testators are distinct, it is not a mutual Will. Mutual Wills are also known as reciprocal Wills and its revocation is possible during the lifetime of either testator. But if a testator has obtained benefit then the claim against his property will lie. Where joint Will is a single document containing the Wills of two persons, mutual Wills are separate Wills of two persons.

 

Ø Privileged Wills: Privileged Wills are a special category of Wills and other general Wills are known as unprivileged Wills. S.65 of ISA provides that a Will made by a soldier or a airman or a mariner, when he is in actual service and is engaged in actual warfare, would be a privileged Will. S.66 provides for the mode of making and rules for executing privileged Wills. Ss. 65 and 66 are special provisions applicable to privileged Wills whereas other sections relating to Wills are general provisions which will be supplementary to Sections 65 and 66 in case of privileged Wills.

 

Who Can Make A Will
S.59 of Indian Succession Act provides that every person who is of sound mind and is not a minor can make a Will.

Execution of a Will

On the death of the testator, an executor of the Will (executor is the legal representative for all purposes of a deceased person and all the property of a testator vests in him. Whereas a trustee becomes a legal owner of the trust and his office and the property are blended together) or an heir of the deceased testator can apply for probate. The court will ask the other heirs of the deceased if they have any objections to the Will. If there are no objections, the court grants probate. A probate is a copy of a Will, certified by the court. A probate is to be treated as conclusive evidence of the genuineness of a Will. It is only after this that the Will comes into effect.

Signature of The Testator

S.63(a) of ISA provides that the testator shall sign or affix his mark. If the testator is unable to write his signature then he may execute the Will by a mark and by doing so his hand maybe guided by another person. In another words a thumb impression has been held as valid.

Attestation of Will:Attesting means signing a document for the purpose of testifying the signature of the executants. Therefore an attesting witness signing before the executants has put his mark on the Will, cannot be said to be a valid attestation. It is necessary that both the witnesses must sign in the presence of the testator but it is not necessary that the testator have to sign in their presence. Further it is not necessary that both the witnesses have to sign at the same time. It is also not necessary that the attesting witnesses should know the contents of the Will.

Movies and there impact on shaping mind

Movies impact on shaping mind as well as on society. That is primarily on the grounds that individuals become lethargic and need to make associations by watching them.

In any case, individuals are so sluggish when they are watching movies. Study has demonstrated individuals who watch movies or TV at any rate four hours in seven days tend not to practice so frequently. To keep solid, individuals need to practice well. Obviously individuals sit for quite a while and don’t move at all during watching movies. Also, individuals are uninvolved while they watch films. Individuals don’t need to communicate anything, so they don’t will in general consider anything.

Besides, individuals manufacture connections to impart their insight about laborers. After individuals delighted in films and TV, they are anxious to impart their insight. On account of present day innovation, individuals can impart their insight past the distinction of nation and ages. They can have numerous chances to contact with individuals.

How can water availability be fostered?

Better access to clean and pure water, best sanitation services creates tremendous impact in the growth of economic development. Water is linked to many economic activities and there are many complex channels through which water affects the overall economic growth. Some African countries like Kenya, Zambia installed water kiosk (booths for the sale of tap water) in order to improve the water supply and sanitation for poor rural areas, which provided some sort of income to water kiosk vendors and to public toilet caretakers. There are myriads of multinational companies like food companies, irrigation related corporations, for which water has been the main and unavoidable component. The presence of water ranges from small family farms to big companies. Thus it can be said that water plays an important role the socio economic development of a country. If the importance of water is neglected by the people and government, it can eventually collapse the world. Business ranging from small family farms to major corporations encounter multiple problems without water. So it is important to preserve water for the future generation. Here are some of the ways that can be done to conserve water and improve sanitation;

  • Recycle water

This is one of the effective and basic ways to control the usage of water. There are many plenty of technologies that are available to recycle rainwater and other water. The recycled water can be reused for many other purpose such as irrigation, gardening or in agricultural fields. This method allows us to use less amount of water for many purposes.

  • Educate the masses

There are still a lot of people who are unaware about the importance of water and the impact it has on our existence. These masses need to be educated about how to use water consciously. Awareness classes and social campaigns can be arranged in order to make people aware about the significance of water.

  • Improve sewage system

Fresh drinking water comes with a clean sewage system. Water in an area can get easily polluted without proper sanitation. This may lead to many water-borne diseases. Thus improving the sewage system can lead to a hygienic environment and also lead to get fresh drinking water.

  • Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting also called harvesting is a method of collecting rainwater from the surface on which the rain falls, filtering it and finally storing it for multiple purposes. One of the main advantages of this method is that, its costs are relatively modest.

Importance of reading

  1. Giving Satisfaction
    Reading gives great satisfaction to the readers. A popular phrase “curling up with books” creates an image of a warm and close relationship with the book. Even parents feel satisfied when they see their kids are reading books.
  2. Enhancing Concentration
    For reading one needs to be focused for a longer duration and it requires mental exercise. For understanding the text or the whole story, the reader must concentrate his mind on a particular matter.
    In this way, reading improves our concentration power and focus
  3. Imparting Knowledge
    Reading enhances the knowledge of the readers.
    By developing the reading skills, the readers can diversify their field of knowledge which provides them with the chance to participate in fruitful discussion and decision-making processes.
  4. Exercise of Brain
    Reading is regarded as an exercise of the brain.
    When we involved in reading our brain cells start to work for understanding the meaning of the text and try to relate various aspects of the matter read.
  5. Reducing Stress
    Reading is a great habit that can change human lives dramatically. It can entertain us; amuse us and enrich us with knowledge.
    It helps us reducing stress, relieving tensions and thus boosts our energy. It carries us to the realm of dream and amusement – far away from the real complex world.
  6. Enhancing Analytical Thinking
    Reading not only enriches your knowledge but also makes it sharpen to analyze and evaluate things in a better way.
  7. Improving Vocabulary
    Skillful reading increases the vocabulary of the readers by introducing them with the new and unfamiliar words and phrases regularly.
    It not only enriches our vocabulary but also teaches us a better way of expressing ourselves.
  8. Improving Writing Skills
    Reading helps gradual improvements in vocabulary that in turn enhances the reader’s writing skills.
    As it boosts the ability to think, it also improves the written expression.

WHY ONLINE MEDIA CREATES HUGE IMPACT ON TRADITIONAL MEDIA

                               

It is the common tendency of human beings to get attracted to something new. Man never gets tired of inventing new things, instead always would love to update himself. He is never satisfied with the present possessions he has, but always crave for more. This is what caused the origin of new media. But unlike other inventions, this one hooked man in such a manner that he is now completely immersed into it. The advantages provided by the new media makes people forget about the traditional media. Some of the advantages that social media provides are;

  • TWO WAY COMMUNICATION

The communication process is said to be completed only when the listener’s feedback is received by the speaker. New media makes this possible. It helps to create, maintain and sustain two way conversation with the public. Unlike, traditional media like television and radio, social media are able to know the viewpoints of the public. Even though, mediums like newspaper and television reach a mass audience, the feedback from the audience is limited.

  • IMMEDIACY

New media has the unique ability to publish information as soon as they happens. Traditional media, especially newspaper cannot inform every information instantly. Television and radio can have immediacy compared to newspaper. But it cannot be matched with online media. Today, any event happened in any part of the globe can be viewed live by everyone.

  • MULTI MEDIUM

The incorporation of multimedia elements is another advantage of online media. Unlike radio, magazines and newspapers, this new media comprises of text, images, video, audio, pictographs, charts and symbols. This wide variety of tools help in effective and essential communication.

  • WIDE REACH

Almost all the traditional media including television, newspaper, radio and magazines share information and messages only under a specific geographical area. The coverage of these media are limited within a particular area. But new media has coverage over worldwide. Once any information or message is uploaded in the online media, it is accessible to everyone in the globe irrespective of their place.

  • COST EFFECTIVE

The production cost is very expensive in the case of traditional media, especially television. Too many crew members are involved in the making of advertisements and other videos in television. It is very costly to run a newspaper either. Collection of paper, production of newspaper and distribution takes lot of effort and money. Social media/new media is very cost effective compared to these. It doesn’t require any raw materials and manual efforts. Everything is done virtually. Hence, this medium can be considered as cost effective.

  • SEARCH BASED INFORMATION

People are not interested any every information that surrounds them. Television and newspapers provide every information. It is very hard for the audience to find what he wants to read. He will be bombarded with too many information. But new media gives the option to get a specific area of interest. People can simply search about the information that he/she would like to read. The new media also provides links and hyperlinks which help the audience to know more about that particular content.

The Future of Online Learning

Online learning is on the rise. A recent poll found that 46% of recent graduates took an online credit as part of their degree, while more people than ever are turning to hybrid courses that combine distance learning with traditional classroom methods. Many students are attracted to the flexibility of online learning and combine their studies with work or personal commitments. For others, distance learning is a less expensive alternative to traditional campus-based courses. A three-year undergraduate degree can cost up to $50,000, while postgraduate courses will set a student back around $5,000. And although prices for online learning course vary quite dramatically, comparable degrees cost around 50% less.

Online learning is on the rise. A recent poll found that 46% of recent graduates took an online credit as part of their degree, while more people than ever are turning to hybrid courses that combine distance learning with traditional classroom methods. Many students are attracted to the flexibility of online learning and combine their studies with work or personal commitments. For others, distance learning is a less expensive alternative to traditional campus-based courses. A three-year undergraduate degree can cost up to $50,000, while postgraduate courses will set a student back around $5,000. And although prices for online learning course vary quite dramatically, comparable degrees cost around 50% less.

Many experts believe online learning is the future of education. As technology becomes more widely available, an increasing number of students will gain access to the kind of knowledge that can vastly improve their career prospects, and maybe even the world. Online learning will enable students in developing countries to study subjects like coding, computing programming, and engineering, thus driving innovation all over the globe.

So given it’s rising popularity and revolutionary potential, here’s what you need to know about online learning.

The benefits of online learning

Online learning is about accessibility and inclusivity. It removes the physical barriers that prevent many people from fulfilling academic or career ambitions by allowing students to work from pretty much anywhere. Dr Irina Alvestad of the University of New Mexico-Los Alamost “Today, more students have multiple commitments, and they navigate to the flexibility of online courses. Students take UNM-LA classes from all over the world. I have had students in Vienna and in the Philippines, and students who are deployed with the military.”

Moreover, online learning can ensure all children receive a first-class education. Roxborough is a small town in New Zealand. At any one time, no more than 175 children are attending the local school. Because of the town’s small population, officials struggled to find teachers to fill the entire curriculum, meaning students were missing out on additional subjects that could broaden their horizons and lead to better future job prospects. So the school decided to embrace online learning. The school-board introduced a virtual learning center, which includes online lessons taught via video conferencing. Students meet up with their online tutor for an hour-long lecture, then work independently for another two hours in the learning center, which is equipped with online educational resources like study-guides, student forums, and interactive assignments.

The ‘blended learning’ approach is becoming popular in many other parts of the world. A recent report by the New Media Consortium found that hybrid courses are now the norm in schools, universities, and colleges. The report also stated that the trend is set to continue due to an ever more interconnected digital world and some major investment from big tech. A study funded by the Bill Gates foundation concluded blended learning in higher education produced higher academic achievement than exclusively face-to-face and online courses. Michael Barbour, director of doctoral studies for the Isabelle Farrington College of Education at Sacred Heart University, believes we are on He says, “There’s no question things are changing. One thing we can say is that the schools of tomorrow won’t look anything like the ones kids go to today.”

The realities of distance learning

Online learning creates plenty of opportunities, but there are some potential drawbacks which students considering it need to consider. Firstly, the huge amount of choice is a real benefit for students, but more choice also leads to a greater disparity in the quality of teaching methods, online resources, and student support.  A sure way to check any schools credibility is by their accreditation. For example, a high-quality online nursing degree by a UK provider will always be accredited by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). Any large governing body within an industry will often have links to approved courses on the website, making them an excellent starting point for any student looking for an accredited online course. Accreditation is also essential for your long-term career options. Most employers will accept an online degree, but accreditation is a sign that your course of study has prepared you for the realities of entering your new profession.

And while online learning offers the kind of flexibility many students are looking for, some can underestimate the impact of working without regular direction from tutors; others may feel isolated by spending long hours studying alone, especially if they are returning from a long break from formal education.

The majority of distance learning courses include some face-to-face time with other students and teachers, but it is still important to make an effort to connect with your fellow students via chat-rooms, forums, and even regular meet-ups. This will allow to bounce ideas off each other or just offer some much needed moral support.

The human side of virtual learning

Building a real-life network with fellow students and tutors is an essential part of any online course or degree. In fact, it’s often the difference between success and failure. Sebastian Thrun is a former professor of artificial intelligence at Stanford University and a pioneer of distance learning. His company Udacity provides online courses to help students gain skills for future industries, such as AI, coding, and nanotechnology. But despite the value of such courses, Thrun points out that only 34% of those who begin the courses see them through to the end. And that’s actually quite high when compared to other courses; many have drop-out rates as high as 95% When asked why so many people drop out of virtual learning programmes,“Solitary learning is hard. Many people run into an insurmountable technical challenge they cannot get past. Without the kind of personal attention that comes from more traditional forms of training, they become demoralised and give up.”

Thrun believes Udacity’s lower level of drop-out is directly linked to the social elements of the course. As well as more regular face-to-face contact with tutors, the Udacity courses often arrange social meet-ups and team building exercises, creating a real sense of community among the students. There’s also more human recognition, and usually from senior Udacity staff.  When a student passes an assignment, they receive congratulations and a thank-you from a ‘real-life’ human via Skype. Small things like this might not seem that important, but we generally feel a greater sense of achievement and self-worth when other people, rather than computers, validate our efforts.

The future of learning?

For many universities, providing online courses and hybrid learning will play an essential role in their long-term survival. Many students are put off by expensive course fees associated with full-time, campus-based courses. For others, studying full-time clashes with other important responsibilities, such as a current career or raising a young family. Subsequently, universities that offer online learning resources are encouraging more students to enroll in their institutions, including those who live in provincial areas or, in some cases, in a completely different country. Keeping up with consumer demand and changing technologies is essential for any large organization, and universities are no exception. In other words, online learning is not just here to stay; it is set to become an integral part of the future.

Moreover, schools and higher education institutions are already integrating online teaching methods into the classroom, including next-generation technologies like augmented reality, AI, and virtual reality. According to US tech company Nearpod, more than six million students have already experienced its VR-based lessons, which includes virtual field trips around famous historical sites like the Roman Coliseum. Meanwhile, Copenhagen-based company Labster is currently developing a series of VR products with Google that will allow science students to run virtual experiments. One project includes a VR game where a forensic science student can investigate a virtual crime scene and analyze the evidence they find.

Such developments inevitably lead to wilder forms of speculation, but it’s important to note schools and big tech are focusing on integration rather than wholesale replacement. In other words, ‘real-life’ teachers will still play a vital role in educating the next generation of students. In fact, they are absolutely essential. Guido Kovalskys is the chief executive and co-founder of Nearpod. “VR is an engaging tool, but within a 35-minute lesson plan, it might only be two or three minutes. Learning is a social experience. It is not only about learning content but learning to deal with others. Teachers play a really influential role.”

There will always be a place for traditional, classroom-based teaching method, but even these are becoming increasingly more integrated with online learning. And while it’s almost impossible to predict what directions technology will take us in, online learning is set to become a major part of learning institutions all around the world.

Are Indian industries ready to be weaned away from China?

“Boycott China”, this is something we all have been hearing frequently since the last few weeks. This started after the dispute between China and India regarding the Himalyan border region of Ladakh. Due to this lives were lost, both Indian and Chinese soldiers died. Many Indian groups who supported Swadeshi came forward and appealed the citizens to cease the purchase of Chinese products. The idea is to effect the Chinese economy, making them realize that they can not just keep harming us while earning from us through goods and products. On 29th June the Indian government took a strong step against China by banning it’s 59 application. Some of the biggest names among them are TikTok, Shareit, Shein, UC Browser, We Chat, UC Browser etc. This didn’t end here, Indian citizens started raising their voice on boycotting Chinese products. Now people are not buying Made in China Products, there have been videos where people are seen destroying Chinese smartphones and other electronic devices.

This has led to the beginning of a war, between India and China. Large number of people are supporting this but this will also have an impact on India. Boycotting China will have impact on various sectors, be it goods, raw materials, import and export. This has to be thought practically. Do we have enough resources? Do we have enough manpower? Do we have that high technology? India imports more from China as compared to what it exports. From a small machine to a big tv, from toys to automobiles, from needle to hot water bottles, China controls majority of market as it provides the products in cheaper rate as compared to the India producers. So, why would a consumer buy the expensive product? Because of this China has control over majority of the market.

Let’s have a look at one of the sectors. Consumer durable goods, these are the goods which have a longer time span mostly 3 years, such as, Home Appliances, Consumer electronics etc. When we talk about smartphone industry the top brands in the market are Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, realme, controlling 72% of the market. Also, if we talk about Home Appliances, the product is made locally but the dependency on China for essential components varies from 25-70%. This is just one example but there are many others sectors which in one way or another are dependent on China.

Unless and until we develop an ecosystem for components it is impossible to reduce dependency on China overnight. It will take time and we will have to find an alternative which is available globally.

Thus initiating a trade war when Indian manufacturing ability is limited won’t help.

E-learning – Pros & Challenges

The global COVID-19 pandemic has triggered new ways of conducting the teaching-learning process online. For some this has been a small move but for others, this is a completely new way of education. Most nations have already initiated e-learning in their schools. Many schools in India have also adapted to the new normal of e-learning with varying degrees of success. Many progressive schools had already done a lot for the adoption of technology in their schools, which helped in quickly transitioning to a completely online delivery of teaching during the current crisis and with significant success. A recent survey conducted by us showed that more than 92% of students and parents were happy with the online delivery of lessons.

With the advent of Covid19, e-learning seems to be one of the safest and easiest ways to impart education for acquiring new skills, explore new career options, or for that matter new hobby development. E-learning is now applicable not only to learn academics but also to conduct extra-curricular activities for students, informative online sessions, online conferences, and webinars. The demand for e-learning has risen significantly and will continue doing so as society starts adapting to ‘social distancing’ post this pandemic. 

Information and communication tools (ICT), Web2.0 applications, and the impact these resources are having on education are rapidly creating new challenges for instructor and learners faced with learning online. Teaching and learning in an e-learning environment happens differently than in the traditional classroom and can present new challenges to instructors and learners participating in this online learning environment. There is a need in e-learning to identify the challenges and consider best practice solutions to ensure instructor and learner success in this new learning environment.

As with most teaching methods, e-learning also has its positives and negatives. Understanding these will help in creating strategies for more efficient delivery of the lessons and measuring its effectiveness.

Here are some, and in no way exhaustive, key pros and cons – 

Advantages:

  • Efficiency – E-learning offers a very efficient way to deliver lessons. Use of videos, sharing of resource links, serving assessment tests can all be done at the click of a button. Additionally, the lectures can be recorded and shared for reference with a wide range of audiences. It also allows for a much larger set of children to be taught. 
  • Affordability – E-learning is far more affordable as compared to physical learning. E-learning primarily eliminates 2 major cost points – real estate and transportation. The course or study material is all available online and you can access it as many times as you want.
  • Less absenteeism – There are fewer chances of students missing out on classes, as they can access easily anytime from the comfort of their home. 
  • Increased Access & Reach – E-learning can happen in any place, as long as there is a device and connectivity. A physical class requires the student to come to school but in this mode, the student can access lessons sitting anywhere in the world. 
  • Encourages shy kids – We have seen that many children who are usually withdrawn in a class environment, open up in the online classes. They are far more forthcoming with their questions and participation. This could be because of a comfortable home environment. 

Challenges:

  • Not appropriate for all – It is a well-known fact that students have a dominant learning style. Some a visual, some auditory, some kinesthetic, etc. E-learning which requires a child to sit in front of a device and understand the lesson, may not be suited to all learning styles.  
  • Focus Deficit – Some students tend to lose focus for a longer period during virtual lectures. Boredom occurs easily as there is a lack of face to face interaction. It becomes imperative for the teachers to keep their online sessions crisp and interactive enough to help students grasp everything.
  • Technology issues – While internet penetration has grown over the past 12 months in India, the current infrastructure, especially in smaller towns, can pose a problem. Any break in the data connectivity can cause a lack of continuity in the learning for the child, which can be detrimental. Additionally, if a child is technophobic, he may face difficulties in learning. 
  • Lack of social interaction – Human beings learn a lot by simply being around other human beings. Unfortunately, e-learning takes away all physical interactions that students and teachers might have on the school premises. It’s always better for students to be around other students to talk or discuss ideas, which is an essential part of learning. Peer learning certainly takes a hit. 
  • Teacher training – E-learning demands the teachers to be technology-friendly, which, unfortunately, is not the case always. Teachers need to invest more time in aligning themselves with the latest technology updates to ensure they can conduct their online classes seamlessly. 
  • Manage Screen time – health hazards of staring at a screen continuously for hours 

While all modes of learning have their benefits and drawbacks, after the current crisis, it is clear that some form of blended learning will evolve with e-learning forming a crucial part of the overall teaching-learning process.

e-Learning : Solutions

In order to understand the challenges associated with an e-learning environment it is important to define what the term e-learning means. Clark and Mayer help define e-learning as instruction delivered by any technological mode intended to promote learning (2011). Teaching and learning in an e-learning environment happens differently than in the traditional classroom and can present new challenges to instructors and learners participating in this online learning environment. Technology-assisted learning tools is quickly changing the face of education, transitioning the classroom only learning environment to an online only or blended online learning experience.

The possible challenges instructors and learners face in an e-learning environment must be considered in order to ensure learner success. Therefore, there are two roles in e-learning that must be considered when discussing ways to improve these challenges. The first is the instructor’s role and the second, the student’s role. Both roles include a transition away from traditional teacher-student relationships, roles, and responsibilities, to virtual space roles. However, it is the instructor’s primary roles within the learning environment, which will help overcome challenges, support, and sustain student success.

The New Digital Divide

In education, the digital divide is most commonly defined as the gap between those students who have, do not have, and know how to use the internet and the information technologies that are currently transforming education (Bernard, 2011; Hall, 2013). According to Warschauer (2003), the “digital divide is marked not only by physical access to computers and connectivity but also by access to the additional resources that allow people to use technology well” (p. 6). Due to the affordability of many information technologies today the current meaning of digital divide is changing from having access, to knowing how to use the technologies (Bernard, 2011). In this way the digital divide still acts as a challenge for education and more specifically e-learning environments. In education the digital divide has, most recently, become more about closing the gap between using the resources appropriately to obtain quality educational outcomes than not having access to the technology (Warschauer, 2003; Bernard, 2011). The quality of learning outcomes, and more importantly the successful use of the expected technology resources, all hinge on the amount of experience and comfort level each learner has with these specific resource technologies (Warschauer, 2003).

One solution to this challenge is for the instructor to implement a learning environment that encourages collaboration. Providing learners with the opportunity to collaborate, share, and create will increase the learner’s use of various technologies, enhance their e-learning experience, and support self-directed and ongoing learning (Clark & Mayer, 2011; Li & Irby, 2008). During this time the instructor must consider the learner’s technological incompetence’s and accept various ability levels; willing to allow learners choice with the expected performance objectives given it results in the appropriate learning outcomes (Bernard, 2011). The learner should ask questions, seek additional information from credible sources, reflect often, and interact with other learners in academic discourse related to the online learning objectives. Having an online community where learners can collaborate in a safe and respected learning environment will help close the gap of the new digital divide, and in doing so helps to create a culture of digital natives conducive to effective e-learning (Warschauer, 2003; Li & Irby, 2008; Clark & Mayer, 2011).

Student Motivation

Although student motivation can only truly happen intrinsically, creating the right online environment where students want to learn and feel successful is the primary the responsibility of the instructor or course designer. According to Martin, in today’s online environments there is a lack of teacher presence, face-to-face (f2f) interaction, and tech support (2009). The most well planned and explicitly laid out online instructional environment is not enough to sustain learner interest or support intrinsic motivation. On the other hand learners new to an online learning environment typically lack the level of metacognition awareness, time management skills, and self-directed learning needed to be successful (Martin, 2009).

To promote student motivation the primary role falls to the teacher to anticipate and prevent motivational challenges unique to e-learning. One way this can be done is by increasing f2f interactions through a variety of technological modes (Martin, 2009). Online learning does not have to be isolated to merely email communication and web based only classroom interactions. Learners often have anxiety about learning online and need to feel connected, reassured, and safe to contribute in their new learning environments (Terry & Leppa, 2009; Hastie, Hung, Chen, & Kinshuk (2010). E-learning environments often lack a variety of communication options creating an unwelcoming online learning atmosphere (Terry & Leppa, 2009; Martin, 2009; Hastie et al., 2010), which only the instructor can control. To help alleviate student anxiety e-mentors should provide various and alternative ways of interacting and communicate through the use of such applications like Skype, chat forums, or discussion boards.

Course Design

Insufficient time spent on course development and design can be a huge contributing factor to poorly developed online learning experiences and a major challenge for e-learning instructors. According to Leanna Archambault (2010), the amount of time needed to design and implement a well design lesson, online, is an important consideration. Archambault indicated that instructors reported an increase in the amount of time they spent creating e-learning courses because of new content, new technologies, and new ways of engaging online learners.

One way to overcome the challenge of time developing an online course is for instructors to collaborate often within their e-learning professional communities. Collaborating with other instructors should be spent sharing, developing, and creating (Terry & Leppa, 2009; Hastie et al., 2010). This collaboration and discourse helps minimize the time spent planning and designing. A way to overcome the challenge of a well-developed overall course design should be addressed with the learner in mind and should include these overall course characteristics: (a) opportunities for learners to collaborate, (b) a well-established protocol for communicating, (c) clear performance expectations, and (d) opportunities for learners to chose the mode in which assignments are created and presented (Hastie et al., 2010).  In order for instructors and learners to be successful these characteristics are essential to the overall course design and e-learning environment.

Conclusion

With so many different ways to define e-learning and the educational approaches that can be taken in these learning environments, it is the conclusion of this author that e-learning is an innovative approach to learning. It is a holistic way of teaching and learning that meets the needs of today’s digital natives.  It is an environment made up of collaboration, choice, and an array of technological resources that supports a successful online learning experience. However, in order for learners to be successful in this learning environment the challenges to e-learning must be overcome with support and a best practice solutions. Instructors and learners must embrace the shift away from traditional classroom practices to an e-learning approach to education. Despite the fact that today’s learners are digital natives, the use of technology for e-learning can be overwhelming and provide student motivation challenges however, with the proper supports from instructors, learners can be successful within these e-learning environments. Finally, and probably the most important challenge for the instructor is to focus on the overall elements of a well-developed course. Developing a purposeful and well-defined online course, which supports the instructor and learner, means devoting the appropriate time and embedding the applicable course elements into the e-learning environment.