DV Satya Kumar CKO, MyPal Online School LLC

Knowledge Seminar31st October, 2013

Academic Talent Development at MyPal

- Personalized Learning in Math and Computer Science for Gifted / Talented Students

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Learning Environment has Changed

• Internet and Communications Technologies (ICT) has affected Services based Industries such as Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Aviation etc

• It is yet to impact the most basic service in any Society – Education

• Education and how we learn will change fundamentally in 21st Century like the invention of printing press by Guttenberg in the medieval times

• Signs of change are evident from how online courses are impacting Higher Education

Learner Centric Model of MyPal

The Role of the Teacher is like a facilitator / co-learner in today’s resource rich learning environment

What is Personalized Learning?

MyPal is an acronym for My Project Active Learning. In active learning the learner has control over all the work, the learning resources, how to access them and when and where to use them. Active learning occurs in classrooms through projects and group discussions whereas in a digital world and internet space, active learning acquires a different dimension and a whole new meaning.

MyPal also stands for Personalized Adaptive Learning where online learning is personalized to the students abilities and interests and can be dynamically adapted to the skill level and performance achieved.

Why Math and Computer Science?

The field Computer Science and Programming which was once thought of as a useful tool that supports various core subjects of science, mathematics and engineering but has now emerged as core subject on its own.

Jeannette Wing, Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, said “It represents a universally applicable attitude and skill set everyone, not just computer scientists, would be eager to learn and use”.

Yet, Computer Science Education has largely remained the domain of higher education in colleges and universities and has not touched K-12 education.

Why Math and Computer Science?

A Mathematician’s Lament: How Schools cheat us out of the most fascinating and imaginative art form, by Paul Lockhart

Keith Devlin, Stanford Math Professor said “'it should be obligatory reading for anyone going into mathematics education, for every parent of a school aged child and for every school and government official with responsibilities towards mathematics education”.

MyPal proudly presents Element of Mathematics: Foundations curriculum developed by an International Team of Mathematicians under Mathematics for Gifted Secondary School Students Program of US DoE.

Why MyPal is Online?

• Gifted / Talented students come from

• different geographical regions

• different economic backgrounds

• need acceleration courses to supplement school curriculum

• Using technology for teaching as it is natural to those born into technology

• Work with Schools and Teachers for training them to meet the needs of today’s learners

• Create a country wide impact in educating the gifted / talented by overcoming geographical and economic barriers

Knowledge Partnerships with Schools It is very challenging for the boards (like CBSE, ICSE, etc.) or the schools to cater to the accelerated learning needs of gifted / talented students.

MyPal Online School plans Knowledge Partnerships with schools with Personalized Learning.

Global Professional Development for Teachers can be facilitated through online courses of University of Iowa’s College of Education.

MyPal’s partner Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS), USA, designs courses specially for gifted and talented students who have been placed in Universities like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale etc.

Global Professional Development

MyPal will facilitate Teachers/Educators in India to enroll and to obtain “Recognition of Excellence in Talent Development” which consists of 18 semester hours of course work which is online, convenient, challenging and rewarding. Maximum time allowed to complete all requirements is 5 years.

The Global Professional Development concentration is designed to provide educators around the world with the knowledge and skills essential to help high-ability students develop their talents. Teachers will receive the “Recognition of Excellence in Talent Development” Certificate from the Belin-Blank Center and will be invited to the annual Recognition Ceremony at The University of Iowa in Iowa City.

Recognition of Excellence in Talent Development

Beyond Genes and IQ

• Outstanding academic achievement requires more than intellectual ability • High levels of task commitment • A positive growth mindset

• Psychological characteristics such as task persistence, creativity, and motivation are as important to creative productivity as is intellectual or academic ability and these characteristics should be sought out and cultivated in school programs

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• Elite sport and performing arts programs are exemplary in combining identification on the basis of demonstrated ability with the honing of talents through psychological strength training and coaching

Thank You

DV Satya Kumar

dvsk@ssael.co.in or dvsk@mypalonline.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/satyakumarsolarindia

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