'A More Perfect Union' by Obama

Following is the most famous speech of President Elect Obama which will go down into history.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU

A National Conference on Changing Fabric of Intimate Relationships - Challenges to Theories and Practices in Mental Health

A National Conference on
Changing Fabric of Intimate Relationships - Challenges to
Theories and Practices in Mental Health

The Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bangalore
is organizing a two-day National Conference on
February 13 and 14, 2009.

The last two decades have witnessed rapid transformations in globalization and the ensuing social structure. The advent of technology has strongly impacted intimate relationships – within and without marriage. With an ever-increasing competitive Indian social scenario, one can locate intimate relations on a dynamic continuum. While the end goal of ‘settling down’ still remains a priority among majority of the Indians, the process and nature of marital and familial relations is undergoing a sea-change. Besides the changing conceptualization of ‘normative’ relationships, there is an ever-widening lens to view a variety of intimate relations. The national conference would focus on the challenges thrown up for psychotherapists/counselors/social workers by this evolving dynamics of intimate relations.

Within the broad theme of the conference, (i) an attempt would be made to closely engage with understanding the shifts in the macrosystem which have impacted the family, marital, and couples relations – how changes in the larger social system have percolated to the individuals and rippled to the subsystems of intimate relationships. Changing economies, wide-exposure to Western & technological lifestyle, erratic work-life balance, etc are making in-roads in such a way that the traditional family structure is becoming malleable to adapt itself in order to keep abreast of the times. In continuation with this, (ii) the conference would attempt to capture stories of mental health professionals from the field, who had to re-negotiate their pre-conceived notions of marital/family therapy, and in the process, learnt valuable lessons while engaging with difficult clients/families. These would be stories of experiences of psychologists/ therapist/counselors/social workers who might have had success/failure in terms of outcomes of therapy, but gained insights into renewed ways of conceptualizing intimacies. (iii) The conference would also focus on and give voice to relationships that remain in the margins of social systems, like gay & lesbian intimacies, live-in and cyber relationships. In this context of the social system being in a state of flux, (iv) the conference would also like to address the challenges faced by young mental health professionals in making a radical paradigmatic shift from individual therapy to a systemic framework. In consonance with a systemic framework, a young trainee also needs to grapple with the larger issues of gender, power, and socio-politico-cultural processes. In such a scenario, it becomes important to closely look at psychotherapeutic training in the Indian context, and how it can be garnered to meet the future challenges in this field.

Against this backdrop, this conference will attempt to explore the changing fabric of intimate
relationships in order to engage with the challenges that contemporary mental health disciplines face in both the domains of theory and practice.

Conference Themes
· Family structures in transition
· Culture and Diversity Issues in Intimacy
· Challenges to Parenting
· Emerging contexts of intimacies –Work and Cyber space
· Alternative Sexualities
· Current challenges to mental health practice
· Evolving training needs in mental health
· Intimacies in therapeutic relationship
· Information technology and changing human relationships

The conference will include keynote address, various theme symposia, panel discussion, and free paper and poster presentations around the themes of the conference.Deadline for submission of abstracts (500 words) for paper/poster presentation is December 7, 2008.

E mail: cfir2009@psy.christuniversity.in
Conference Secretariat
CFIR – 2009
Department of Psychology
Christ University
Hosur Road
Bangalore 560029
Tel: +91-80-4012 9316/17/43

A day like never before....

Today I woke up to one of the most memorable days of my life - Obama is the next President of the US. I have deeply admired his concern for the less privileged, values he upholds and the way he has risen to the position he is going to hold. It is not so much of his getting elected but the way it is going to inspire millions across nations, races, communites, religions for the time to come that makes me immensely happy. I am sure he is going to be a role model for many young people. Among the youth I have known, the last person i can remember who had significant influence, across demographies in India was Abdul Kalam. Obama is the next one as I see it.

(Photo taken from http://www.barackobama.com/photos/)

International Seminar on Raja Rao -

Central Sahitya Akademi is organising an international seminar on Raja Rao. It's happening at Senate Hall, Central College Campus on 8th,9th and 10th of November, 2008. (News from the Dean's office)


Those of you can, do attend.

Deep Focus Film Quarterly :Call for papers - Reproduced from Collective Chaos

Deep Focus Film Quarterly

Call for Papers

Deep Focus Film Quarterly welcomes articles, reviews and interviews with film directors. The write-ups can be of any hue, of any persuasion, as long as they are serious reflections on cinema. Manuscripts must be neatly typed in double line spacing. It is very important to include film stills to illustrate your article. Deep Focus hopes to engage in a continuing debate on various aspects of cinema through these write-ups.

About Deep Focus

Deep Focus Film Quarterly is every cinema connoisseur's delight- a film journal born out of a collective effort by a group of the most eminent filmmakers, film academicians and cineastes from India and abroad. The only cinema journal of its kind in India, Deep Focus, since its inception has been internationally acclaimed and noted for publishing some of the most in-depth and definitive articles, interviews and critiques on cinema, both Indian and international. Through essays on cinema it has constantly explored the aesthetics and cultural politics and its impact on contemporary cultural practices, politics and social behavior. Even as it offered, through the years, a platform for fresh, incisive and even radical criticism and debate on cinema and its evolving forms and breakthrough movements, Deep Focus has reflected and located emerging trends in society. By keeping its roots in the present and its eye on the horizon, Deep Focus has always strived and managed to stay ahead of the times and is one of those rare phenomenons in the magazine world, where the older issues acquire substance and vintage with the passing time and are prized and acknowledged as 'collector's items'.

Deep Focus Film Quarterly is for people and institutions who partake in its worldview of cinema as the most potent medium of expression in our times, who believe in the power of cinema- as an instrument of change and revolution, as a mirror of our society and times and as a entity of mystique. Deep Focus has a wide-reaching international subscription base with film schools, media, art, culture and research institutions, libraries and embassies as also among film directors, cinematographers, technicians, academicians, scholars, journalists, artists, persons actively involved in creative fields like theatre and advertising and most importantly, the lovers of film.

These are strange times for cinema and meanings and even, vocabularies are in flux. Even as millions of images are produced and stored every second, the language of cinema is increasingly generic. Information is continuous but all sense and reflection is suspended. In these manic times for the cineaste, Deep Focus endeavors to provide a panoramic view of cinema from across the world- the real and the digital, and cut through the excess, the unnecessary, the superficial, the jargon and provide its readers with a glimpse of the light at the core of so much chaos and a portrait of the world through the flicker of the magic lantern.

Contact:-

Siddharth: 91-9886213516

Online Journals on CALL - Reproduced from ELTECS-ISL Digest 02 November 2008

The followings are useful CALL-related electronic journals around the world.
1) ReCALL
http://www.eurocall-languages.org/recall/index.html
ReCALL is a new international journal published by EuroCALL that is the largest European academic association in CALL.

2) Language Learning and Technology Journal
http://llt.msu.edu/
LLTJ is an electronic journal on language learning and technology that started publication in July 1997.

3) Educational Technology & Society (ISSN 1436-4522)
http://www.ifets.info/
ETS is an electronic journal on educational technology. There are many on-line articles with tecnical suggestions.

4) The Internet TESL Journal
http://iteslj.org/
ITESLJ is an electronic journal on Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Japan. There are many on-line articles with practical suggestions.

5) Teaching English with Technology
http://www.iatefl.org.pl/call/callnl.htm
TET is an electronic journal for Teachers of English pulished by IATEFL Poland Computer Special Interest Group.

6) MOJeL (iJeLLT Journal)
http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/mojel/
Malaysian Online Journal of e-Learning (MOJeL) ISSN:1985-6024

Formerly known as iJeLLT (Internet Journal of e-Learning & Teaching, since January 2004 until December 2007), MOJeL (Malaysian Online Journal of e-Learning in Institutions of Higher Learning, since January 2008) is devoted to the dissemination of information concerning the application of e-learning in learning and teaching. It is published twice a year on the Web. MOJeL is a fully refereed electronic journal.that publishes articles, research studies, reports, software and book reviews related to online language learning and teaching.PacCALL Journal

7) Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/
JCMC is a quarterly electronic journal published by University of Southern California since 1995.

8) The IALL Journal
http://iallt.org/iallj.html
The IALL Journal is the primary publication of the International Association for Language Learning Technology, and a subscription to the Journal is included with membership in that organization. Established in 1965, IALL is a professional organization dedicated to promoting
effective uses of media centers for language teaching, learning, and research. IALL's membership represents hundreds of institutions of varying sizes and educational levels. The majority of the Journal's readers are administrators or technical support staff of language labs, ESL labs, and other centers in which technology is applied to language teaching and learning; the readership also includes language faculty/teachers who use technology. The Journal is a fully refereed professional journal, published twice yearly: in May and in October.

9) ALT Journal
http://www.alt.ac.uk/alt_j.html
An international journal devoted to research and good practice in the use of learning technologies within tertiary education.

10) JALT CALL Journal
http://jaltcall.org/journal/
The JALT CALL Journal (ISSN 1832-4215) is an international refereed journal published from April, 2005. The Journal encompasses and builds upon the SIG newsletter, C@lling Japan, and is committed to excellence in research in all areas within the field of Computer Assisted Language Learning, while at the same time offering teaching ideas and suggestions from teachers' personal
experiences. The JALT CALL Journal is published three times a year: April, August and December.

“New Vistas in Teaching and Learning English” - Conference

SECOND NATIONAL & SIXTH ELT@I VIDARBHA CONFERENCE
ELT@I Vidarbha Chapter is organising the
Second National & Sixth ELT@I Vidarbha Conference
in collaboration with
Dharampeth Arts and Commerce College, Nagpur
on 10 - 11 JANUARY 2009

Conference Theme: “New Vistas in Teaching and Learning English”

Sub-Themes:
- Integrating Technology with Language Teaching
- Innovations in Teaching Of Literature
- Using Web Resources for Language Enhancement
- Creative Ways of Language and Literature Teaching
- Teaching English for Specific Purposes
- ELT for Differently Abled People
- Innovative Approaches to ELT In Rural Areas
- Teacher Training and Development
- Current Trends in Evaluation

Call for Proposals:
Proposals are invited for 15 minute paper presentations, 45-60 minute workshops and poster presentations related to the conference sub-themes or any other relevant area. The maximum limit for papers is 2000 words. Please submit your full papers, proposals for workshops or plan of posters by 20 December 2008 to any of the contact persons mentioned below. Paper presenters must also submit a soft copy of their papers either on a CD or as an email attachment.

Best Speaker Awards:
As every year, this year too the best presentation will be awarded the ‘Best Speaker Award’. Only those papers which are received by 20 December 2008 will be considered for the award. Papers will be evaluated on the basis of innovativeness of idea(s), academic quality, racticability, relevance to the context and overall style.

Delegate Fees:
Rs. 250 (Before 20 December 2008)
Rs. 350 (After 20 December 2008)
Rs. 200 (For PG, M. Phil. and Ph. D. students, Flat rate)

For registration and more details, contact any of the persons mentioned below:
1) Dr. Sandhya Nair
Head, Dept of English, Dharampeth Arts and Commerce, Nagpur
Mobile: 9422804091,

2) Dr. Urmila Dabir,
Programmes Coordinator, ELTAI Vidarbha Chapter &
Principal, R. K. Girls’ College, Jaripataka, Nagpur.
Tel: (Off) 0712-2630699 Mobile: 9850393939

3) Dr. Amol Padwad
Head, Dept of English, J. M. Patel College, Bhandara. 441904.
Tel: (Off) 07184-252364 (Res) 07184-254805 Mobile: 9326911033
Email: amolpadwad@rediffmail.com, amolpadwad@gmail.com

Winter School in Philosophy Announcement

Winter School in Philosophy
(December 30, 2008 – January 10, 2009)
Organized by
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
in association with
Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

---

CLASSROOM INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Understanding the nature of Reality, Knowledge and Value

---

It is often felt that teaching a course in ‘Introductory Philosophy’ is far more difficult than teaching a course on a specific philosophical area at a relatively higher level. The ‘introductory’ nature of Philosophy is not elementary in nature. Indeed, there is not ‘elementary’ philosophy with which one can begin as a way of introducing the student to Philosophy. Philosophy is, by nature, intrinsically ‘deep’ right from the beginning. The pool of philosophy is deep all over, with no shallow banks. Any enduring academic experience of teaching Philosophy surely testifies to this claim.

If a teacher has to introduce Philosophy as a specific discipline in an under-graduate class, how would he or she go about doing that? Are there basic chapters of a typical text to start with, in the way there are in other disciplines like Physics and Economics and Biology? Even if certain basic chapters are touched upon, how basic are the contents of those topics or concepts? It seems that the so-called ‘basics’ of Philosophy are far too dense in meaning to help the student make a smooth and easy entry into the subject.

It is almost pointless to begin the discourse with the etymological meaning of ‘Philosophy’, e.g. ‘Love of Wisdom’. After all, the term ‘wisdom’ itself is not too clear or free from ambiguity. Besides, wisdom is not what the teacher is going to teach in a professional academic discourse of Philosophy. The teacher would therefore do well to think of a more ‘practical’ and ‘relevant’ way of accompanying the student in the journey of Philosophy.

Perhaps the best strategy is to begin with the illustration of the central samples of philosophical discussion that have traditionally been the occupation of philosophers. Here the move would require making use of the traditional classification of Philosophy into three broad categories of discourse: Metaphysics or the Theory of Reality; Epistemology or the Theory of Knowledge; Axiology or Value Theory. The introductory discourse of Philosophy ought to take up the principal concerns of these three sectors.

The two-week long WINTER SCHOOL IN PHILOSOPHY is conceived as an interactive workshop for young philosophy teachers and doctoral students, who will be instructed by a team of experts on how to deliver effectively introductory lectures in the classroom. Attention is to be drawn specially towards the role of being a teacher of philosophy inculcating philosophical knowledge to beginners in Philosophy. But the teacher himself or herself needs to be sufficiently clear about the way one ought to unfold the conceptual story of Philosophy. That unfolding is to follow the principal issues and arguments available in the discussions of metaphysics, epistemology and axiology.

Metaphysical issues relate to the question of being, whether it is the “Being of God, the World, or the Self”. There are traditional “Arguments for the existence of God: Especially the Ontological Argument”, arguments of “Realism or Idealism about the existence of the World”, and both “Substance-essentialist and Anti-substantivist arguments regarding the existence of the Self”. Furthermore, there are subsidiary metaphysical questions concerning “Mind-Body Dualism”, “Causality, Determinism and freedom of the Will”, and about “Universals and Particulars”.

Epistemological issues that prominently figure in discussion include the “Platonic Definition of Knowledge and the Gettier Problem”, “Perceptual Knowledge”, “A Priori Knowledge”, “Internalist and Externalist theories of Epistemic Justification”, and the general “Problem of Skepticism”.

Axiological questions basically concern Ethics and Aesthetics. Some major issues include “Morality and Egoism/Altruism”, “Moral relativism/Absolutism”, Moral Theories like “Eudaimonism, Utilitarianism and Deontology”, “Virtue Ethics”, and the rise of “Applied Ethics”. Aesthetic problems related to questions about the “Ontology of Art”, “Aesthetic Detachment”, theories of “Artistic Representation/Expression/Form”, and the “Value of Art in Human Culture”.

The Winter School will consist of discussions on a chosen set of topics that relate to these three branches of Philosophy. It is presumed that a basic understanding of Philosophy as an intellectual discourse is an understanding of the principal problem of metaphysics, epistemology and value theory. This understanding is supposed to be uniform and well-integrated, so that a teacher of Philosophy is capable of rendering that understanding in a format which conduces to a systematic and coherent grasp of the subject.

Emphasis will be laid on thematic discussion and understanding of Philosophy rather than a historical understanding. Reference to history of philosophy would be subservient to thematic relevance. The Indian/Western division of Philosophy would be circumvented by an attempt to tackle a given problem from different angles.

It is most important to realize that the young mind of the student is quite likely to be puzzled by the kind of questions that arise in Philosophy. That is because of the unique peculiarity of the discourse. The teacher must therefore be able to explain why at all such peculiar problems arise, and how they inevitably arise given human rational inquisitiveness. The Winter School will take special care to alert the participants to the utmost need of grasping the rationale of philosophical questions.

It is expected that the two weeks of rigorous philosophical training and interactive exercise of reflection will create enough confidence in the mind of the young teacher/scholar of Philosophy. Towards the final stage of the School, some particular sessions will be exclusively devoted to the demonstration of teaching by the participants. This exercise will be accompanied by regular written assignments on relevant issues.

It is hoped that the result of this exercise in the Winter School will eventually be a rough working paper that synoptically describes a fairly standard programme of ‘A Classroom Introduction to philosophy’. The urgency of such an outcome cannot be denied at least for one reason. Philosophy is certainly unlike other academic discourses because of its peculiar nature. The ‘justification’ of Philosophy is often demanded in view of its apparently ‘impractical’ and abstract character. A young philosopher therefore must be well-versed in the arguments that lend justification to the philosophical enterprise. And the ‘arguments for justification’ must be amenable to their grasp at the introductory level.

It is known that the patterns of courses/papers taught in different Universities are not always the same, and not all Universities have Semester-system method of teaching. But the Winter School programme is catered to a generality of pattern that would be compatible with these variations. In other words, a participant duly trained in the course of these two weeks can be reasonably expected to play a better role in inculcating philosophical ideas in any pattern in which he or she is supposed to adjust to in his or her home-institution.

On the whole, the Winter School programme is supposed to have a tutorial flavour. In this respect, it is supposed to be rather different from the usual Refresher Courses in Philosophy. The level of interaction is supposed to be much greater, and constant attention is to be maintained towards improving the analytical teaching potential of the participant.

The Winter School, to be hosted by Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, in association with Indian Institute of Advance Study, Shimla, will invite young lecturers (preferably within 40 years of age) of Colleges and Universities, including a few Ph D scholars. Prospective participants will be selected on the basis of their curriculum vitae and a three-hundred word write-up explaining their intention to participate in this programme. Out of 30 participants, 20 will be from the North-Eastern region, and the rest from the other parts of the country. The Head of the Department of the respective College/University Department/Institute Department will be asked to recommend the person who would like to apply for participation. It is expected that the participants will take due leave (duty leave or whatever) from their respective institutions for the entire period of two weeks. Incomplete attendance is strongly discouraged, as discontinuation will adversely affect the purpose of the whole programme. Every participant completing the entire course of the Winter School will be provided with a certificate of being trained in the programme.

Participants are allowed to claim II tier air-conditioned return fare by rail for their journey from the place of work to Guwahati and back, plus charges of local transportation by taxi/auto/bus etc. Free accommodation will be provided to the participants on a twin-sharing basis in the Guest House of IIT Guwahati. Local hospitality will be free all along. For detail write to:

Dr. Archana Barua/Dr.V.Prabhu,
Course Coordinator: Winter School in Philosophy,
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati,
Guwahati – 781039.
E.mail: vprabhu@iitg.ernet.in

‘Surfing internet alters functioning of brain’

Following article is from Times of India 29 Oct 2008. To veiw it on TOI Click here

‘Surfing internet alters functioning of brain’

Canberra: The internet is not just changing the way people live but altering the way our brains work with a neuroscientist arguing that this is an evolutionary change which will put the tech-savvy at the top of the new social order.

Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA in California who specializes in brain function, has found through studies that Internet searching and text messaging has made brains more adept at filtering information and making snap decisions.But while technology can accelerate learning and boost creativity it can have drawbacks as it can create internet addicts whose only friends are virtual and has sparked a dramatic rise in Attention Deficit Disorder diagnoses.

Small, however, argues that the people who will come out on top in the next generation will be those with a mixture of technological and social skills.“We’re seeing an evolutionary change. The people in the next generation who are really going to have the edge are the ones who master the technological skills and also face-to-face skills,” Small said in a telephone interview.

“They will know when the best response to an email or instant message is to talk rather than sit and continue to email.”AGENCIES

39th International Film Festival of India Announcement

39th International Film Festival of India Announcement. For details click here or visit http://www.iffi.nic.in/

Tender for Production of Films by Govt of India - Reproduced from Collective Chaos group mail

No. 15/2/2007-FDP

Notice

1.The Chief Producer, Films Division, on behalf of the President of India, invites sealed tender from producers on contract basis for production of films as follows:-

2. I. Films of 30 seconds to 2 minutes duration in Eastman Colour in 35mm format conveying social message(s) on the following subjects, for release in theatres and telecast on different channels / media. (i.)Social Justice. (ii). Health & Family Welfare (iii).Women & Child Development (iv) Panchayat Raj (v).Environment (vi)Agriculture & rural development (vii)Promotion of tourism (viii)Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (ix) Road safety (x)Civic Sense (xi)Organ donation (xii)Water shortage (save water) / Water Harvesting (xiii)HIV & AIDs (xiv)Dowry & Child Marriage (xv)Communal harmony and National Integration (xvi)Global warming (xvii)Child labour (xviii)Social Evils (xix)Anti Terrorism (xx)Social Unrest (xxi)Crime against Women etc.

3.II. DOCUMENTARY FILMS ( 26/52 Minutes duration in Digital format ) for telecast on TV channels on the following subjects:-

4. (i)Agriculture (Animal husbandry/farming/forestry/Horticulture/Misc) (ii)Archaeology & Monuments (iii)Health, Community development & Co-operation (iv)Cottage Industry (v) Crafts (vi)Art & Culture (vii) Food & Festivals (viii)Tourism (ix)Natural Resources (x)Trade & Commerce (xi)Social Welfare (xii) Rehabilitation &Employment (xiii)Geography & Travel (xiv)Education & Youth activities (xv)History/ Freedom Struggle (xvi)Famous Personalities etc. (xvii) Subjects pertaining Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern States etc.

5. The details of forms/particulars/terms & conditions are available in our website www.filmsdivision.org. or can be collected from Films Division, Mumbai. Tel.No.23510461/Fax: 2351 3655/23511008/2351 5308. The proposal complete in all respect to be submitted to Chief Producer, Films Division, Mumbai latest by 5/11/08. Applicants residing in North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Lakshdeep Islands, Daman & Diu may submit their applications by (last date + 15 days).

Chief Producer

Experiments in and outcomes of this blog

Following is the tentative and random list of experiments i have done on this blog and the known outcome.

If you think you have any information to add that might build this list please put it in the comment section.

Will be happy if you can comment on how this blog has been useful to you, that will help me.

This is being put together for an institutional presentation on experiments in this blog.

Some of the experiments tried with the blog
1. CIA 2/3 submission on the blog. One of the reasons was to save use of paper . Led to students commenting on other’s write-ups thus leading to exciting peer review and discussion. Tried it with a class strength of 98 (BCom., 2006) BBM 2005)
2. Put up supporting material and links to online resource for students on poems and novels on topics under discussion in the class
3. Scripts of films in discussion
4. Encourage students to ask questions online, as there is less time in class, plus an anonymity
5. CIA announcements, model questions papers, course plans, certificate course announcements
6. Details of courses, talks in and around Bangalore
7. National level and other seminar announcements.
8. Fellowship details
9. links to material around international events namely Man Booker Prize announcements, Nobel prize
10. Formal Student feedback to plan future classes
11. Other course announcements
12. Announcement of programme. Students have taken admission coming to know only through the blog
13. Use it as a space to publish my own academic and other write-ups
14. Publication of chat sessions
15. Links to online academic journals – refereed and non-referred
16. Links to online resources
17. Provides, documentation and archive of a lot of activities

Outcomes
1. Platform for students to carry interactions online.
2. out-of-class support though links and discussion-space/board
3. Anonymity helps students to ask questions which otherwise they would not
4. Far greater interaction over the net than class.
5. Those that do not interact in class interact online.
6. Helps me keep in touch with students.
7. Helps other teachers for institutions across India.
8. Motivation to students to start their own blogs
9. Allow peer discussion

Writing Workshop @ Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram

I conducted a two-day writing workshop for philosophy students of Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram on 27 and 28 Oct 2008. During the workshop 16 students wrote poems, short stories, features, conducted and wrote interviewnews reports and letters to the editor and also individually brought out model newspapers. I enjoyed working with the participants. Quite a passionate bunch. Grateful to Shaji, Benny, Simmy, Biston, and the participants for the experience.

Following is the copy of the schedule

Writing Workshop
DVK, Bangalore

27 – 28 October 2008

Workshop Facilitator: Anil Pinto, Christ University, Bangalore

Day 1
09.30 to 10.30 Session 1: Introduction, What do I look for? Writing as thinking, creativity, paragraph writing
10.30 to 10.45 Tea Break
10.45 to 12.45 Session 2 Writing poem, short story, feature, news report, letter to the editor
12.45 to 01.45 Lunch Break
01.45 to 02.00 Calisthenics
02.00 to 03.15 Session 3 Doing and writing interview
03.15 to 03.30 Tea Break
03.30 to 04.30 Session 4 Semiotics, and death of the author

(Homework: Preparing the blog. Redoing the write ups based on review of models. Give a write up on the gaps found and insights)

Day 2
09.30 to 10.30 Session 1 Paragraph writing, common errors, news report
10.30 to 10.45 Tea Break
10.45 to 12.45 Session 2 Features of a feature, short story, poem, interview, letter to the editor
12.45 to 01.45 Lunch Break
01.45 to 02.00 Calisthenics
02.00 to 03.15 Session 3 Reworking the write ups, preparation of a wall paper (pair work)
03.15 to 03.30 Tea Break
03.30 to 04.30 Session 4 Reworking the write ups, preparation of a wall paper (pair work),
04.00 to 04.15 Feedback
04.15 to 04.30 Conclusion

National Conference on Communication and Soft Skills from Academia and Corporate Perspectives

National Conference on Communication and Soft Skills from Academia and Corporate Perspectives

January 5-6, 2009
Organized by
Department of Mathematics and Humanities
And
Centre for Management Studies
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Warangal – 506 021. (A.P.)

Conference
In recent years, the sweeping changes of globalization and industrialization have impacted several fields including education and the echoes are heard in many spheres and countries. Consequently, the approaches to teaching in the academia and training in the industry have changed as well. The need for a new perspective of communication and the growing necessity to show more and varied set of soft skills in workplace has, therefore, become a matter of urgent concern for all educators and managers and industry executives. In this context, teachers have to cope with the change in the perception of the
learners and to take a close look at the new roles of teachers in the light of the enormous importance being given to soft skills. They need to focus on these areas.

This conference provides a platform for teachers in engineering, of various disciplines, and management colleges and, for those professionals working in industry and media. They get the opportunity to reflect on topics related to communication and soft skills from the perspective of teachers and industry executives and present papers on topics of interest to them.

Major Areas of Interest
• Oral and Written Skills
• Listening and Taking notes
• Reading Skills
• Self-management
• Change management
• Team Building
• Leadership
• Conflict Resolution
• Stress and Time Management
• Etiquette

Papers related to any other area related to the title of the conference are also invited.

Call for Papers:
Papers on original and unpublished work are invited in the above mentioned areas. Full papers should be sent only by e-mail in MS word document form (A4 size, single column, 12 point, Times New Roman, Single line spacing) with an abstract of 150 words. The abstracts & final paper of not more than 4 pages should be sent along with soft copy to the Coordinator indicating the names of the authors with address of corresponding author. The E-Mail attachment is also accepted provided the registration fee is paid by due date.

Registration and Fee Particulars
For publication of papers in the conference proceedings, at least one of the authors have to register. A registration fee of Rs.700/- in the form of a Demand Draft favoring “Director (TEQIP), NIT Warangal” payable at Warangal on any nationalized bank should reach the Coordinator on or before November
20, 2008.

Important Dates:
Abstracts along with D.D. for Registration fees: November 20, 2008 Submission of full and final text of Paper: December 02, 2008

Accommodation:
Accommodation will be provided to participants at / near NITW campus. Boarding (sic)charges are included in the registration fee. However, no TA/DA is payable to the participants.

Address for Correspondence:
Dr.D..S.Kesava Rao
Professor of English
Dept. of Maths.&Humanities
NIT, Warangal,A.P. 506021
E-mail: kesavads@gmail.com
Telephone No: (0870) 2462822 ( O )
Mobile No: 9849358621

Talk on 'An Aesthetics of Erasure' by Sadanand Menon- Sent by Ammu Joseph