Latest news with #PBL
Time of India
12-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Project-based learning initiative lifts performance of tribal students
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In Mayurbhanj's Budhikhamari High School, Class VIII students huddle over a handmade chart of their village haat — stalls, prices, and timings sketched in vivid detail. In Rayagada, another group records the daily grind of local weavers in a similar fashion. These are not hobby projects. They represent a new kind of classroom, where tribal students learn not just from books but from the world outside their school gates — and early results show this hands-on approach is already boosting their academic scores. This shift comes under the ST, SC Development (SSD) department's pilot initiative on project-based learning (PBL), rolled out this academic year across 80 schools and covering over 11,000 students in Rayagada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Gajapati districts. The project aims to make education more joyful and hands-on, while also boosting academic performance. Ramachandra Tiadi, a teacher at the Government Girls High School in Rayagada's Arishakani, said, "Some students who were hesitant to speak earlier now participate and share their answers with confidence and excitement. There is demonstrable enthusiasm and improvement, especially in tasks assigned under PBL." According to official figures, 87% of teachers reported a positive shift in student engagement and learning. More than 70% of students are now actively participating in group work. Among 8,139 students assessed, 53% showed improvement in Odia and 70% in social sciences between the first and second summative assessment rounds. Notably, over 4,300 students in social sciences and 2,500 in Odia registered more than 15% increase in marks scored. In Keonjhar, 88% of Class VIII students and 57% of Class VII students showed improvement in social studies and Odia, respectively. Rayagada recorded the highest overall academic growth, with nearly 70% of students improving their scores. The pilot is supported by non-profit organisations like Mantra4Change and Education Above All Foundation, who are helping the SSD Department implement the project on the ground. A state-level task force has been formed, and over 239 teachers have already received training and classroom tools to support the new learning approach. Sushree Sangita Mohanty, programme associate at Mantra4Change, said, "We conducted a baseline assessment and aligned our modules with the NEP and curriculum. Teachers were supported with summary videos and practical tools that made classroom integration easier. For expansion, a cascading training model is in place with 200 master trainers across 11 regional zones. A state-level PBL task force is also proposed for 2025–26. "
Time of India
12-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tribal students in Odisha learning from real-life experiences
Bhubaneswar: At Budhikhamari High School in Mayurbhanj, a group of class-VIII students are reading a handmade chart of their village haat, complete with sketches, market timings, and pricing patterns. Similarly, in Rayagada district, another group of students records the daily lives of local weavers. These aren't extracurricular activities; they are part of core classroom lessons. In many of Odisha's tribal schools, students are learning from their surroundings. The ST, SC Development (SSD) department has implemented a pilot project on Project Based Learning (PBL) in 80 schools, covering 11,000 students in four districts of Rayagada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Gajapati in the 2024-25 academic year. The pilot project not only aimed at providing joyful learning but also improving academic performance. 'All these activities have improved our teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking. We shared our ideas and took interest and pride in our work,' said Smrutirekha Mohanta, a class-VIII student from Budhikhamari High School. Teachers said they noticed a change in students' interest in academics. 'Some students who were hesitant to speak earlier now participate and share their answers with confidence and excitement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Women 60+ Are Ditching Pads For A Better Alternative DRYGUARD Learn More Undo There is demonstrable enthusiasm and improvement in student performances, especially in the tasks assigned as part of Project-Based Learning,' said Ramachandra Tiadi, a teacher at Government Girls High School, Arishakani in Rayagada. According to official sources, the early outcomes are promising as 87% of teachers reported a positive shift in student engagement and learning. More than 70% of students actively participated in group work. Among 8,139 students assessed, 53% improved in Odia and 70% in Social Science between summative assessment-1 and summative assessment-2. Notably, over 4,300 students in Social Science and 2,500 in Odia registered more than 15% growth. Similarly, in Keonjhar, 88% of class 8 students and 57% of class 7 students showed improvement in social studies and Odia respectively. Rayagada recorded the highest overall academic growth, with nearly 70% of students improving their scores. 'I commend the efforts of Mantra4Change, teachers, and all stakeholders who contributed to these initiatives. I encourage teachers to fully embrace this approach and leverage the power of PBL and BaLA to create meaningful learning experiences for students across Rayagada district,' said Parul Patawari, Collector of Rayagada. The SSD department, in collaboration with non-profit organisation Mantra4Change and Education Above All Foundation, is implementing the pilot project in four districts. A state-level task force has also been designed, while over 239 teachers received training, mentoring, and practical classroom tools under the programme. 'We conducted a baseline assessment and aligned our modules with the NEP and curriculum. Teachers were supported with summary videos and practical tools that made classroom integration easier. For expansion, a cascading training model is in place with 200 master trainers across 11 regional zones. A state-level PBL Task Force is also proposed for 2025–26,' said Sushree Sangita Mohanty, Program Associate at Mantra4Change.
Focus Malaysia
11-07-2025
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Living alone shouldn't mean living at risk
HAVE you ever worried about your ageing parents living alone while you're stuck at work, caught in traffic, or living hours away, and wondering if they're really okay? For many Malaysians, this isn't just a passing concern. It's a growing reality as urban migration and busier lifestyles widen the gap between eldercare needs and support systems. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), by 2030, nearly one in seven Malaysians will be aged 60 or older, marking our transition into an ageing nation. With urban migration, declining birth rates, and the rise of nuclear families, more elderly individuals now live alone. For many seniors, the greatest fear is not death but dependency. In Malaysia, the traditional model of family-based care is under strain. Many older Malaysians now live alone as their children move to other cities or countries for work. Meanwhile, institutional care remains stigmatised. Public aged care facilities are limited and often overwhelmed. Private care homes, on the other hand, can be prohibitively expensive—especially for families in the B40 income group. Most seniors don't want to be in nursing homes, but they also don't want to feel like a burden. So how do we bridge this gap? How can we ensure our seniors live not just longer, but better? As a biomedical engineering student, I've been working on a problem-based learning (PBL) project aimed at designing sensor-based solutions for eldercare homes. These technologies are not meant to replace human care, they are meant to support and extend it. These systems range from simple motion detectors and bed-exit alarms to more advanced wearables that monitor heart rate, detect falls, or even track environmental factors like room temperature and air quality. The infrared-based motion sensors are installed in key areas of a home, such as the bathroom or kitchen to detect unusual inactivity, potentially flagging emergencies such as fall or sudden illness. Pressure-based bed sensors can monitor sleep quality or alert caregivers if a senior has not returned to bed after a certain period. The wearables, which have been popular among younger users, can be adapted for seniors with simplified interfaces and emergency alert buttons, ensuring accessibility for those with limited tech savviness. These tools don't just improve safety—they also reduce the psychological burden on elderly individuals, who can maintain their autonomy without feeling constantly supervised. For families, especially those living in different cities or states, these systems offer peace of mind and real-time insights via mobile apps or web dashboards. This PBL experience has changed how I see my role as an engineer. Often, engineering problems are defined in technical terms—numbers, codes, and equipment. But in eldercare, the problem is very human. You're not just designing systems—you're designing trust. What if your grandmother had a fall and no one noticed for hours? What if a simple alert could have changed that? These aren't hypothetical questions, they're real stories happening in our communities. The elderly are not just a demographic group; they are our parents, grandparents, teachers, and neighbours. Designing for them requires empathy and an understanding that dignity, privacy, and independence are deeply personal values. As I look toward my future career, I see a growing need for engineers to design healthcare technologies that are affordable, inclusive, and scalable. We need systems that don't just work in urban hospitals but also in kampung homes and low-income PPRs. We need a national conversation about ageing—not just about costs and hospitals, but about quality of life. The government's National Policy for Older Persons (Dasar Warga Emas Negara) and the establishment of Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas (PAWE) calls for active ageing and community support. Our PBL project shows that these goals are achievable if we blend innovation with empathy. We also need public-private collaborations to accelerate the development and deployment of these tools. Subsidies for home-based eldercare technology, awareness programmes for families, and incentives for engineers and start-ups to work in this space would go a long way. But most of all, we need to start seeing our seniors not as passive recipients of care, but as people who also deserve choices and support. The question is no longer whether Malaysia needs these technologies. The real question is how quickly can we make them accessible, and how many lives can we improve in the process? To policymakers: invest in ageing-in-place technologies, not just hospitals. To fellow engineers and students: build with empathy, not just expertise. To families: don't wait for a crisis to think about how we care for our ageing loved ones. Because living alone shouldn't mean living in fear. With the right mix of engineering, policy, and compassion, we can create a future where Malaysian seniors age not just safely, but proudly—with their independence, dignity, and peace of mind. ‒ July 11, 2025 Lee Wei Xuan is a final year biomedical engineering student at Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Sonnet Hill
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Effingham residents sign petition to pause school district resolution, put referendum back on the ballot
EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — Some people in Effingham are voicing their opinions by putting pen to paper. After a referendum for a new sales tax failed in November, the Effingham School District passed a resolution this spring funding a $55 million total investment into district projects, including a new K-2nd grade building and more. 'I had my doubts about going': Dieterich veteran receives special surprise during Honor Flight But, it raises property taxes by 8-13%. An Illinois House Bill signed in September last year removed the referendum requirement in certain scenarios. 'We feel like this should really go to the voters and not just the school board deciding to raise taxes,' said resident Lisa Tegeler. Basically, it allows school boards to approve resolutions for new school buildings targeting pre-K and kindergarten spaces. But now, some concerned community members are trying to get it on the ballot and possibly remove it. 'And I just think that's wrong — that just because they can, it doesn't mean they should,' Tegeler said. A petition currently has more than 1,300 signatures so far, including from Kristin Arnold and Dennis Haarman who both signed Tuesday afternoon. 'I think that this balance should go to the people of Effingham,' Arnold said. 'I don't think that the school board should be making a decision like this one, especially when it affects our properties tax.' Four people displaced after Bismarck house fire Haarman shares a similar sentiment on the issue. 'We the people need to vote, not the school board. You know that. That's not right. It's bogus,' he said. Tegeler is a volunteer collecting signatures. 'In 2024, we wouldn't even have this conversation, because that's when it changed — with Pritzker signing something into the law, the back door referendum. So before this, they would have had to put it on the ballot for the voters to vote on,' Tegeler said. If the petition gets more than 10% of the voter roll — or 1,500 total signatures, the resolution will have to wait until the primary election in March next year. 'I don't know what will happen to us if we don't do it,' said Effingham Superintendent Andrew Johnson. 'It is appalling': Parents file lawsuit against PBL teacher, district, admin The resolution would pay for a new K-2nd grade building, a new high school parking lot, a grade school library renovation and expanded daycare in the district. 'At some point, those types of things are going to have to happen and you know, somebody's going to have to pay for it,' Johnson added. Johnson said the reason why it wasn't re-submitted as a referendum to begin with is because of how it would impact the project's timeline. 'If the petitions are successful, then we're going to be back at the drawing board and it does put everything on hold,' he said. 'Our board has put almost every expense that we're putting into the planning of what these new facilities look like and what we would be able to do on hold until we would know that we do have the opportunity to be able to execute what we've been planning.' But for Tegeler and hundreds of others, they want people to get a chance to decide. 'Come out to sign the petition, whether you're for it or against it,' Tegeler said. 'You should really go to the voters to decide whether we've jacked up the prices that much.' Johnson said the deadline for this petition is June 23rd. Organizers in support of the petition said there will be daily sign-ups by the Shelby Realty building in town. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
India.com
09-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Rs 5000000000000 market, Anil Ambani makes historic move, plan is to...
New Delhi: Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure will now expand its business in the defense sector. The company will focus on programmes to improve aircraft. The company expects to get opportunities worth Rs 5,000 crore in the next 7 to 10 years. The company aims to become the first private company in India to improve aircraft. Till now this work was done by government companies and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). The global market for upgrading military aircraft and helicopters is more than Rs 5 lakh crore annually. Anil Ambani's Reliance Group's Reliance Infrastructure is going to do a big job in the defense sector and is focusing on modernizing aircraft. The company is expected to make good profits in the next few years and is on its way to becoming the first private company in this sector. A company source said that they have completed a project with HAL in collaboration with US company Genesis. In this project, they have improved 55 Dornier-228 aircraft. Earlier the company got the contract of upgrading 37 aircraft. After doing good work, the company got an order for 18 more aircraft. According to sources, this entire project of upgrading Dornier was worth Rs 350 crore. The upgraded Dornier aircraft are deployed with the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. Military aircraft and helicopters last for about 30-40 years, therefore, it is necessary to upgrade them from time to time. Especially it is necessary to replace their avionics, mission systems and security equipment. The market for upgrading military aircraft and helicopters worldwide is more than Rs 5,00,000 crore every year and it is estimated that this market will reach Rs 7,00,000 crore in the next seven years. The number of old aircraft in India is very high. Therefore, there are many opportunities in this field here. The Indian Army is also focusing on modernizing its old aircraft. Reliance Infrastructure now wants to further increase its capacity to upgrade aircraft and helicopters. For this, the company is working closely with companies around the world. Apart from upgrading Dornier, the company is also working with France's Thales in the Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) program for Rafale fighter jets in India.
