Marine Engineering Training in India -A Pedagogic Introspection

Indian marine engineers are renowned for employment globally due to their knowledge, skill and reliability. This praiseworthy status has been achieved mainly due to the systematic training imparted to marine engineering cadets. However, in an era of advancing technology, marine engineering training has to remain dynamic to imbibe latest technology as well as to meet the demands of the shipping industry. New subjects of studies have to be included in the curriculum in a timely manner taking into consideration the industry requirements and best practices in shipping. Technical competence of marine engineers also has to be subjected to changes depending upon the needs of the ever growing and over regulated shipping industry. Besides. certain soft skills are to be developed and improved amongst the marine engineers in order to alter or amend the personality traits leading to their career success.If timely corrective action is taken. Indian marine engineers can be in still greater demand for employment in global maritime field. In order to enhance the employability of our mmine engineers by improving their quality, a study of marine engineers in general and class IV marine engineers in particular was conducted based on three distinct surveys, viz., survey among senior marine engineers, survey among employers of marine engineers and survey of class IV marine engineers themselves.The surveys have been planned and questionnaires have been designed to focus the study of marine engineer officer class IV from the point of view of the three distinct groups of maritime personnels. As a result of this, the strength and weakness of class IV marine engineers are identified with regard to their performance on board ships, acquisition of necessary technical skills. employability and career success. The criteria of essential qualities of a marine engineer are classified as academic, technical, social, psychological. physical, mental, emergency responsive, communicative and leadership, and have been assessed for a practicing marine engineer by statistical analysis of data collected from surveys. These are assessed for class IV marine engineers from the point of view of senior marine engineers and employers separately. The Endings are delineated and graphically depicted in this thesis.Besides. six pertinent personality traits of a marine engineer viz. self esteem. learning style. decision making. motivation. team work and listening self inventory have been subjected to study and their correlation with career success have been established wherever possible. This is carried out to develop a theoretical framework to understand what leads a marine engineer to his career attainment. This enables the author to estimate the personality strengths and weaknesses of a serving marine engineer and eventually to deduce possible corrective measures or modifications in marine engineering training in India.Maritime training is largely based on International Conventions on Standard of Training. Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers 1995. its associated Code and Merchant Shipping (STCW for Seafarers) Rules 1998. Further, Maritime Education, Training and Assessment (META) Manual was subjected to a critical scrutiny and relevant Endings of thc surveys arc superimposed on the existing rule requirement and curriculum. Views of senior marine engineers and executives of various shipping companies are taken into account before arriving at the revision of syllabus of marine engineering courses. Modifications in the pattern of workshop and sea service for graduate mechanical engineering trainees are recommended. Desirable age brackets of junior engineers and chief engineers. use of Training and Assessment Record book (TAR Book) during training etc. have also been evaluated.As a result of the pedagogic introspection of the existing system of marine engineering training in India. in this thesis, a revised pattern of workshop training of six months duration for graduate mechanical engineers. revised pattern of sea service training of one year duration and modified now diagram incorporating the above have been arrived at. Effects of various personality traits on career success have been established along with certain findings for improvement of desirable personality traits of marine engineers.

Knowledge Building in Landscape Architecture

The objective of this study was to develop an internet-based seminar framework applicable for landscape architecture education. This process was accompanied by various aims. The basic expectation was to keep the main characteristics of landscape architecture education also in the online format. On top of that, four further objectives were anticipated: (1) training of competences for virtual team work, (2) fostering intercultural competence, (3) creation of equal opportunities for education through internet-based open access and (4) synergy effects and learning processes across institutional boundaries. This work started with the hypothesis that these four expected advantages would compensate for additional organisational efforts caused by the online delivery of the seminars and thus lead to a sustainable integration of this new learning mode into landscape architecture curricula. This rationale was followed by a presentation of four areas of knowledge to which the seminar development was directly related (1) landscape architecture as a subject and its pedagogy, (2) general learning theories, (3) developments in the ICT sector and (4) wider societal driving forces such as global citizenship and the increase of open educational resources. The research design took the shape of a pedagogical action research cycle. This approach was constructive: The author herself is teaching international landscape architecture students so that the model could directly be applied in practice. Seven online seminars were implemented in the period from 2008 to 2013 and this experience represents the core of this study. The seminars were conducted with varying themes while its pedagogy, organisation and the technological tools remained widely identical. The research design is further based on three levels of observation: (1) the seminar design on the basis of theory and methods from the learning sciences, in particular educational constructivism, (2) the seminar evaluation and (3) the evaluation of the seminars’ long term impact. The seminar model itself basically consists of four elements: (1) the taxonomy of learning objectives, (2) ICT tools and their application and pedagogy, (3) process models and (4) the case study framework. The seminar framework was followed by the presentation of the evaluation findings. The major findings of this study can be summed up as follows: Implementing online seminars across educational and national boundaries was possible both in term of organisation and technology. In particular, a high level of cultural diversity among the seminar participants has definitively been achieved. However, there were also obvious obstacles. These were primarily competing study commitments and incompatible schedules among the students attending from different academic programmes, partly even in different time zones. Both factors had negative impact on the individual and working group performances. With respect to the technical framework it can be concluded that the majority of the participants were able to use the tools either directly without any problem or after overcoming some smaller problems. Also the seminar wiki was intensively used for completing the seminar assignments. However, too less truly collaborative text production was observed which could be improved by changing the requirements for the collaborative task. Two different process models have been applied for guiding the collaboration of the small groups and both were in general successful. However, it needs to be said that even if the students were able to follow the collaborative task and to co-construct and compare case studies, most of them were not able to synthesize the knowledge they had compiled. This means that the area of consideration often remained on the level of the case and further reflections, generalisations and critique were largely missing. This shows that the seminar model needs to find better ways for triggering knowledge building and critical reflection. It was also suggested to have a more differentiated group building strategy in future seminars. A comparison of pre- and post seminar concept maps showed that an increase of factual and conceptual knowledge on the individual level was widely recognizable. Also the evaluation of the case studies (the major seminar output) revealed that the students have undergone developments of both the factual and the conceptual knowledge domain. Also their self-assessment with respect to individual learning development showed that the highest consensus was achieved in the field of subject-specific knowledge. The participants were much more doubtful with regard to the progress of generic competences such as analysis, communication and organisation. However, 50% of the participants confirmed that they perceived individual development on all competence areas the survey had asked for. Have the additional four targets been met? Concerning the competences for working in a virtual team it can be concluded that the vast majority was able to use the internet-based tools and to work with them in a target-oriented way. However, there were obvious differences regarding the intensity and activity of participation, both because of external and personal factors. A very positive aspect is the achievement of a high cultural diversity supporting the participants’ intercultural competence. Learning from group members was obviously a success factor for the working groups. Regarding the possibilities for better accessibility of educational opportunities it became clear that a significant number of participants were not able to go abroad during their studies because of financial or personal reasons. They confirmed that the online seminar was to some extent a compensation for not having been abroad for studying. Inter-institutional learning and synergy was achieved in so far that many teachers from different countries contributed with individual lectures. However, those teachers hardly ever followed more than one session. Therefore, the learning effect remained largely within the seminar learning group. Looking back at the research design it can be said that the pedagogical action research cycle was an appropriate and valuable approach allowing for strong interaction between theory and practice. However, some more external evaluation from peers in particular regarding the participants’ products would have been valuable.

Las comisiones locales de Educación Intercultural : una respuesta comunitaria a la interculturalidad.

Monográfico con el título: 'La educación en una sociedad multicultural'. Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Conflicto y diálogo intercultural.

Se presenta memoria final de proyecto educativo que propone la aplicación de una metodología basada en el diálogo constructivo, la reflexión y la comunicación para la integración de la comunidad gitana y la superación de conflictos. Se realiza en el IES Francisco de los Cobos en Úbeda, Jaén. Los objetivos son: afrontar desde una posición teórica, práctica y dialógica, el problema del conflicto entre culturas, de la inmigración y de la creciente multiculturalidad de nuestras aulas; incentivar la comunicación intercultural; organización de jornadas de educación intercultural; creación del taller 'jugar y pensar'.

Educación intercultural : nuevos retos y propuestas en los centros de adultos.

Se presenta memoria final de proyecto educativo que pretende facilitar el aprendizaje del español como medio integrador del desarrollo personal, social y cultural de los inmigrantes de la zona. Por otro lado, se pretende sensibilizar a la población autóctona frente al racismo y la xenofobia con el propósito de evitar situaciones de riesgo social y desarraigo cultural en el colectivo de inmigrantes. Se realiza en el CEPER Albuñol en Albuñol, Granada. Los objetivos son: crear un clima de participación y aceptación entre todo nuestro alumnado; mejorar su sentimiento de autoestima; afirmar la identidad cultural y personal de cada uno de nuestros alumnos; facilitar la comunicación intercultural; facilitar la adquisición de una formación instrumental básica; crear aptitudes positivas de comprensión y de solidaridad entre diferentes grupos. Los resultados son: se ha mejorado la autoestima de nuestro alumnado a la hora de realizar tareas propias; se ha creado un clima de aceptación y participación; se ha facilitado la comunicación intercultural mediante la realización de actividades conjuntas; se ha facilitado la colaboración con otros organismos e instituciones; se ha potenciado el uso de las nuevas tecnologías en nuestro centro; se han mejorado las condiciones de participación en nuestras aulas y a su vez de forma paralela en nuestro municipio.

Primer Encuentro del Consejo Regional de la Regi??n de Murcia con Consejos Escolares de Centro : la escuela intercultural en la Regi??n de Murcia

El libro recoge las actas del primer encuentro regional de consejos escolares, reunidos para debatir sobre un tema de gran impacto en la Regi??n de Murcia: la situaci??n de la interculturalidad en los centros escolares. De las conferencias, ponencias, mesa redonda y comunicaciones se puede obtener un perfil bastante ajustado de la poblaci??n inmigrante, su procedencia, las tasas de escolarizaci??n, su distrubuci??n por municipios y centros, su situaci??n acad??mica inicial, los programas espec??ficos de atenci??n promovidos desde la administraci??n, la formaci??n del profesorado, las actuaciones espec??ficas de atenci??n a la diversidad y las propuestas de otras instituciones y organismos: ayuntamientos, ONGs, asociaciones, etc.

I Seminario Regional de Educaci??n Compensatoria e Intercultural en Primaria

La Consejer??a de Educaci??n y Cultura, El Centro de Animaci??n y Documentaci??n Intercultural (CADI) y el CPR Murcia II organizan estas Jornadas con el objetivo de dar a conocer la alta cualificaci??n del profesorado de educaci??n compensatoria e interculturalidad y las ??ltimas tendencias de la educaci??n intercultural, entre ??stas, una propuesta de organizaci??n escolar de compensatoria en EI y EP, el espa??ol como lengua extranjera en primaria, la intervenci??n compensatoria de acuerdo al modelo de programas, etc..

Formaci??n espec??fica en compensaci??n educativa e intercultural para agentes educativos

El recurso puede consultarse desde la p??gina educativa de la Comunidad Aut??noma de la Regi??n de Murcia (EDUCARM)

Educaci??n intercultural y democracia

Ponencia presentada en las terceras jornadas de Educaci??n y Democracia en Murcia. Los autores plantean la estrecha relaci??n entre educaci??n intercultural y democracia. No es posible una educaci??n en el respeto a la diferencia, en el reconocimiento pr??ctico de la igual dignidad de toda persona si no es en una organizaci??n democr??tica de la sociedad. La escuela ha de actuar en la doble direcci??n de reforzar y enriquecer la identidad cultural de cada grupo manteniendo sus signos b??sicos; y a la vez, ir creando espacios y equipamientos comunes para que esos grupos puedan inteactuar, es decir, pensar la educaci??n intercultural desde la pedagog??a del encuentro intercultural. La educaci??n intercultural pasa necesariamente por la adqusici??n de actitudes de tolerancia y respeto y se caracteriza por la promoci??n y defensa de los valores democr??ticos, valoraci??n del pluralismo ling????stico, cultivo metodol??gico del di logo y aceptaci??n de las diferencias como factor de maduraci??n.

Taller de cuentos multimedia : un proyecto intercultural : actividad extraescolar.

El libro contiene el cuento en español titulado: El laberinto de Al-zaqqâq y el CD, además de la versión española, otra en árabe con audio y un vocabulario de 300 palabras.

Los desaf??os de la educaci??n intercultural : migraciones y curr??culum

Evaluar el tratamiento que los libros de texto de Ciencias Sociales y ??tica de la Educaci??n Secundaria Obligatoria hacen del fen??meno migratorio. Tal objetivo se aborda tomando en consideraci??n los siguientes aspectos: a) Describir la informaci??n contenida; b) Analizar si la informaci??n se ajusta a un conocimiento estricto y sustancial del fen??meno; c) Someter a discusi??n los criterios de valor que se siguen en el tratamiento del tema analizado; d) Realizar un an??lisis comparativo de los diversos manuales; y e) Valorar su potencialidad para desarrollar una pedagog??a de la diversidad cultural. Las editoriales objeto de investigaci??n son: SM, Santillana, Vicens Vives, ECIR, EDITEX, Anaya, Edelvives, Bru??o y Edebe. En total se analizan 43 libros de texto (37 libros de Ciencias Sociales y 6 libros de ??tica) del Primer y Segundo Ciclo de la Educaci??n Secundaria Obligatoria utilizados en 31 centros p??blicos y concertados del concejo de Gij??n (Asturias) que imparten esta etapa educativa. El n??mero total de p??ginas analizadas son 11.530. Contacto telef??nico y personal con la direcci??n y profesorado de los centros educativos.An??lisis de contenido descriptivo e inferencial centrado en los libros de texto se??alados: localizaci??n de las 'unidades de muestreo' que presentan datos sobre el fen??meno migratorio. Utilizaci??n del procesador de texto del programa Qualpro y del programa inform??tico dise??ado para el an??lisis de materiales textuales Atlas/ti, versi??n para Windows 95/NT, 4.1. Los resultados se encuentran impl??citos en las siguientes conclusiones. 1) El libro de texto es un instrumento hegem??nico en la organizaci??n de la ense??anza y en la vida escolar. 2) Proporciona un vocabulario conceptual b??sico y com??n que permite categorizar los movimientos de poblaci??n bajo vocablos como migraci??n, emigraci??n, inmigraci??n, migraciones exteriores e interiores o saldo migratorio. 3) Existe ausencia de conceptos referidos a los problemas derivados de la interacci??n de los inmigrantes en las sociedades de acogida.4) Se proporciona una visi??n panor??mica que se detiene principalmente en las migraciones forzosas de la poblaci??n africana, el periplo migratorio de los europeos del siglo XIX y la primera mitad del siglo XX; as?? como los movimientos de poblaci??n del sur hac??a los pa??ses pr??speros del norte y centro de Europa en la d??cada de los a??os 50 y 60 del siglo XX. 5) Las migraciones del presente son mostradas a trav??s de tres aspectos fundamentales: las causas, las consecuencias y el rechazo. 6) Los textos escolares se detienen en presentar los actos discriminatorios, segregadores y violentos que sufren las poblaciones estigmatizadas, deteni??ndose en presentar y condenar los comportamientos racistas. 6) Los textos informan de manera muy limitada sobre los asuntos legales y pol??ticos implicados en el fen??meno migratorio. 7) El mundo axiol??gico que evidencian los manuales escolares est?? presidido por una dicotom??a tan simple como inmoral. La emigraci??n era un fen??meno positivo cuando emigr??bamos nosotros (espa??oles y europeos) y negativo cuando lo hacen los otros (los del 'sur'). 8) Frente a la pretensi??n de conocimiento objetivo del saber disciplinar, la selecci??n de realidad, los sesgos informativos, las reiteraciones contenidas, distorsionan notablemente el objeto de estudio.

Identitats en moviment. Igualtat i pluralitat a la Universitad Intercultural de Chiapas

Estudi sobre estudiants de la Universidad Intercultural de Chiapas per explorar les diferents identitats culturals i les seves relacions

Pedagogia, pedagogia intercultural, pedagogia de la immigració

L'article exposa i questiona diverses teories sobre la pedagogia i la pedagogia intercultural