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| Shobha Borkar leads a meeting. Teachers take turns sharing information. |
The sole hope of human salvation lies in
teaching.
Effective teachers need places in which
to share their expertise and improve upon their professional skills. The goal of the India Teachers’
Center (formerly called Akola Teachers' Center) is to provide consistent, high quality, continuous
and life-long professional development.
The India Teachers’ Center (ITC) is open to all teachers of Akola, India. The Center beganoperations at the Shankarlal Khandelwal College in
old Akola; it is to reopen at a new location. Facilities include air-conditioned space, large number of computers, projection
and audio-visual equipment, and a growing library of Indian and worldwide resources concerned with teaching and student. A high speed (2MB) Internet link is provided so that all teachers may
use the Internet simultaneously.
ITC provides a structure for teachers to take charge of their own professional growth by giving them
an opportunity to share and to learn from each other and around the world. The teachers become members of an e-mail-group
so that they provide and receive new streams of relevant information. Teachers learn to use the Internet in daily lesson preparation,
and come to understand effective learning and teaching techniques from master teachers among them. They are exposed to
new ideas, e.g. project-based learning, experience-based learning, life-long learning, etc. The Center is part college, and part a
colleague's club, i.e. a gathering place. There is free time after each session for teachers to interact with each other,
learn about each other's schools, teaching methods, facilities, strengths and weaknesses, or explore the world on Internet.
Currently, membership is free. Instruction is offered
in the following areas: Internet usage; - Improved techniques in teaching, that help all students to succeed;
- Encouragement of activities that promote creative reading through class discussions of library books,
and student writing through school newsletters etc.;
- Training on use of Digital Study Hall
(DSH) – a vast and growing Internet library of videos of outstanding Indian teachers, in class, demonstrating what makes
them effective;
- Computer technology
- Specific instruction - for word processing, spreadsheets
(EXCEL) and presentation software (PowerPoint). The level of training is appropriate for teaching needs.
- Workshops on effective English speaking and English
instruction;
- Workshops on sharing knowledge and information; and
- Discussion groups on teacher development.
Members are invited to take advantage
of workshops, seminars, resources and facilities. To find
out about session timings and dates, please contact the Director, Mr. Prashant Gawande, at +91-098236 67101, or Mrs. Shobha
Borkar, +91-094221 60456.
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