DynamiX notes

Ramjas School R.K. Puram hosted the Inter-school Technology Meet, comprising of several schools like Ramjas Day Boarding, Mothers International School, St. Mary's School, Red Roses Public School and others.

The meeting was basically about creating an environment for students of the schools to inter-mix, and think freely on what are the things that should be there in all schools in terms of Information Technology, such as basic Infrastructure, adopting latest developments such as Linux and open source software, and the ways in which outside expertise can be delivered to the students in the form of guest lectures and workshops.

At the end of the meeting, that was presided by Mrs. Meera Balachandran, Principal, Ramjas School R.K. Puram, all the points of the students were compiled together into a document that aspires to *speak the students' mind* and will be sent to the Principals of the participant schools.

It is hoped that more such meetings are held in the future, and that the students should get together to co-operatively develop the IT education among schools.
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This was as much as is the formal, *official* press release type thing that I could cook up. Frankly, I felt that it was a bit too formal and *controlled*, like I think too short was the time to discuss ideas and make presentations. My table was really picking up and we were having a heated discussion on the *chicken-egg question* of whether interest in internet should be created first and then internet facilities, or whether internet facilities first, and then force them (promote strongly) to use it for sometime so that they get interested. It was cut short abruptly since we were asked to wind up and present our points in front of everyone. Giving just 15 minutes is not really enough. I had thought of the event as one where everyone is mixed together into tables and allowed to talk on specific topics (so far so good, that's exactly what was done today), and then mixed together completely.. all on one table where they all present their ideas, and no *stand before all and talk abt the points* thing that was done today. It should be like everyone speaks and nobody is really the representative stuff. And heated discussions (not arguments) should be encouraged and allowed to go on with many others joining in. Only then will we achieve much more than we did today.. not that I say that today was a failure. It was a real success, and I mean it. The controlled method always shows that it works, but we have to show that the free-for-all method is more productive, since it allows for more open-ness.

posted by Shashank Shekhar @ 9:34 AM