On March 16, 2024, Partap College of Education, Ludhiana, in collaboration with IPDA India and its Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), hosted a highly engaging National Seminar on the theme “Unlocking the Potential of Teacher Education in the Digital Society.” This event was generously sponsored by the College Development Council (CDC) of Panjab University, Chandigarh.

The seminar commenced at 10:00 am in the college auditorium with a warm welcome from Dr. Manpreet Kaur, Principal of the college, provided a thoughtful introduction to the seminar’s theme. She emphasized the transformative role of digitalization in teacher education and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance teaching and learning processes. Dr. Kaur highlighted the need for educators to leverage AI tools and various virtual platforms to improve educational outcomes in India.

The seminar was honored by the presence of the esteemed chief guest, Dr. Balwant Singh, Director of the college, who delivered the presidential remarks. Dr. Singh praised the efforts of the organizing committee for curating an insightful seminar. He highlighted the significant benefits of digitalization in education and urged a balanced approach to the use of technology, advocating for its prudent and effective integration into teaching practices.

Keynote addresses were delivered by distinguished speakers, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and unique perspectives to the seminar. Dr. Dilpreet Singh, a Senior Scientist at CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Ludhiana, explored the revolutionary potential of AI in education. He discussed AI-powered tools and strategies that could personalize learning and reshape traditional teaching methods, offering a futuristic vision of educational transformation.

Prof. Juanjo Mena, Head of the Department of Didactics, Organisation and Research Methods at the University of Salamanca, Spain, focused on the importance of immersive learning experiences. He emphasized how bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application through technology can enhance the educational experience and better prepare teachers for real-world challenges.

Adding to these insights, Mr. Mohit Gupta, Senior Business Manager for Technology, presented on the critical role of AI in teaching. His session marked a milestone in innovative teaching practices, showcasing how AI can be effectively utilized to support educators and enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

The seminar also featured engaging presentations from scholars across various backgrounds during the technical sessions. These sessions allowed participants to showcase their research, creativity, and cognitive prowess, contributing to a diverse and rich exchange of ideas on the integration of digital technologies in teacher education.

Dr. Mandeep Bhullar echoed the earlier sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of incorporating technology-supported methods and virtual reality into teacher preparation programs. This integration, she argued, is crucial for developing a robust and adaptable education system in a rapidly digitalizing society.

The event concluded with a reflective valedictory session, where the session chairs shared their insights and learnings from the day’s discussions. Dr. Babita Arora, Associate Professor and Organizing Secretary of the seminar, extended a heartfelt vote of thanks to all participants, speakers, organizers, and sponsors. Her closing remarks underscored the seminar’s success in fostering meaningful discussions and exchanges, setting the stage for significant advancements in teacher education within the digital era.

Overall, the National Seminar on “Unlocking the Potential of Teacher Education in the Digital Society” served as a critical platform for educators, researchers, and policymakers to explore and discuss the pivotal role of digital technologies in modernizing and enhancing teacher education. The event not only highlighted the current challenges and opportunities but also paved the way for future innovations and strategies to ensure that education keeps pace with the digital revolution.

Report on the National Seminar: “Unlocking the Potential of Teacher Education in the Digital Society”

13-08-2021

At Partap College of Education, Ludhiana a multidimensional orientation cum extension lecture was organised to boost the morale of students and staff so that they can quickly go to the reconciliation mode for their recovery of loss incurred during Covid shutdown.

Principal, Dr. Manpreet Kaur welcomed the guests and all present. She motivated the students to  be regular to enhance their teaching skills and fill the learning gap. Director, Prof. Balwant Singh highlighted the inter connected parameters of Covid pandemic which have broken the normal chain of life. A damaging attitude of students and parents about non attending mode of education which is throwing out ‘educated unemployable youth with fake genuine degrees’ in the society which is a matter of great shame for all of us. Prof. Singh gave illustrations on the glory of teaching profession from his own experience to bring back the same rhythm of study, training, teaching, leaning and skill development. He also sighted the great hymns from Gurbani and for its logical insight. Students and staff recited the holy path of shri Sukhmani sahib. Religious discourse was illuminating to know the seasonal importance of this month of sawan (rainy season). Prof. Singh brought this concept of revival of nature after long span of scorching heat to again grow by forgetting the problems of draught and heat. The students and teachers pledged to work hard after this compelling shutdown for the welfare of their families, society and nation at large. ‘Guru ka langar’ was served. The students of the college also organised a beautiful cultural program which was enthusiastically instrumental in retuning and reviving the youth to the main steam. The event ended with vote of thanks extended by Ms. Balwinder Kaur, Asst. Prof of the college.

Organized by

Vivekanand Vidya Niketan School, Sadhupul, Solan, H.P.

In Collaboration with

International Professional Development Association, India

&

 Partap College of Education, Ludhiana

29 April, 2017

Quarterly Meeting

Keeping in view the decision taken at the quarterly meeting of IPDA India held at Partap College of Education on 26 March, 2017, the next quarterly meeting was held amidst the woods and greens of enamouring valley of Chail in the state of Himachal Pradesh (India). The meeting was held on 28 April, 2017 followed by the national seminar on 29 April, 2017.

Background

According to educationist, John Dewey, the school is the society itself. Each classroom is a community in which the members must comply with the norms of the society. The students in a school represent a wide cross-section of the society at large, cutting across barriers of economy, class, religion, colour or creed. In the school, socialization takes place for the first time. That is, the child starts learning to live with others, share their sorrows and happiness; take the qualities of cooperation, tolerance, love, friendship and sympathy which is very necessary in a society; so the school represents a mini society. And this is how the theme of the seminar, ‘School as a Miniature Society’, was chosen after a focussed deliberation.

The Seminar

The lush-green, never ending forests, the mesmerising milieu of high mountains, the rain-washed valleys of Kandaghat and Sadhupul in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh (H.P.) provided a perfect backdrop to an impeccably satisfying experience of being amongst scholars from various places around for a national seminar on the topic ‘School as a miniature society’ organized by IPDA (India) under the able guidance of Dr. Balwant Singh, Chairperson, IPDA India and Principal, Partap College of Education, Ludhiana. Dr.Chaman Lal Banga, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, ICDEOL, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and Co Vice Chair, IPDA, India was the convenor of the seminar and Sh. Ravi Mehta, Chairman, Vivek Society, Sadhupul, Solan was the organizer. The venue of this august gathering was VivekanandVidyaNiketan School. The school is located in the Himalayas, near the Sadhupul river between Solan and Chail in the state of Himachal Pradesh in Northern India.

Inaugural Session

The day began with cheerful faces greeting the delegates – students of the school with much enthusiasm guided the visitors down the valley towards the venue of the seminar. The function formally began with the lamp-lighting by Swami Shiva Sevananda, President, Dev Bhoomi Trust, Sadhupul. While addressing the audience he made a reference to the earlier Gurukul system and how the world of education and teaching has changed now. But the matter of the fact is that school is still the breeding ground of the final products to be readied for society.

Dr.Chaman Lal Banga welcomed the esteemed guests and also introduced the theme of the seminar. He introduced the resource persons of the seminar: Dr.Manpreet Kaur, Vice-Principal, Partap College of Education, Ludhiana and Secretary, IPDA, India; Dr. Ramesh Sandhu, Associate Professor, CR College of Education, Hissar; Dr. Rakesh Sandhu, Principal, DAV College of Education for Women, Karnal, Haryana and Dr.Rampal Singh, Associate Professor, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Karnal.

Keynote Address

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Balwant Singh. In his address he made it a point to emphasize on the fact that the students being the centre of the education sector, should be carried all along to facilitate the process of teaching-learning. The inaugural session was followed by a tea-break of fifteen minutes, after which the technical session was held.

Technical Session

In all, thirty-five delegates presented their research papers on the sub-themes of the seminar:

• ‘Healthy Teacher Taught Relationship’,
• ‘Teacher as a Social Reformer’,
• ‘Role of SMCs in School Development’,
• ‘Preparing Teachers to Teach in Rural Schools’, and
• ‘Role of Village Schools in the Development of Rural Areas’.

The Chairpersons of the technical session Dr.Manpreet Kaur, Dr. Ramesh Sandhu, Dr. Rakesh Sandhu and Dr.Rampal Singh, gave their inputs about the presentations and also discussed at length how each one could contribute towards nurturing schools and school students so that the society developing in those four walls adds constructively to a nation’s progress in the true sense of the term. The seminar was indeed a step forward in the direction to get acquainted with the latest issues, challenges and perspective in the field of education and society in state as well as nation.

The session was followed by Lunch, the menu of which also included a few of the traditional recipes to give the delegates a taste of the local flavours.

Valedictory Session  

In the Valedictory session, the organizer, Sh. Ravi Mehta, shared his dreams and visions about how he looks forward to take the concept of school education to new heights so that the students from even remote areas are able to reach the zenith of being informed in all possible ways. The session was presided over by Prof. Shashi Dhiman, Ex-VC, Himachal Pradesh Technical University, Hamirpur. Certificates were awarded to the paper presentersby Dr. Balwant Singh

The book on ‘Language Across Curriculum’ written by Dr.Chaman Lal Banga, published by Pasricha Publishers was released by Dr. Balwant Singh. The students of the school presented cultural dance items and regional Himachali songs with such aplomb and poise that they mesmerized the audience with their melodious voices and deft dance moves. Mr. Ravi Mehta proposed the vote of thanks.

“Teacher Education Through Partnership and Collaborative Learning Communities”

With the objective to promote and support continuing and career long Professional learning of Teachers and Teacher Educators, a daylong National Conference on the theme “Teacher Education Through Partnership and Collaborative Learning Communities”  was organized here today i.e. 06.02.2016 at Partap College of Education, Ludhiana. It was sponsored by College Development Council, Panjab University, Chandigarh and conducted under the patronage of International Professional Development Association (IPDA) India, amidst a galaxy of dignitaries of national and international acclaim. Mr. Narinder Pal Verma, Deputy Director, SCERT (Punjab) Mohali presided over the conference and expressed his gratitude towards Partap College of Education for being the first institute to develop collaboration with SCERT. He also assured that SCERT would soon organize some workshop or conference in this institute of excellence.

The conference opened with the welcome address by Dr. Sangeeta Sood, Coordinator, Partap National Conference. Prof.  S.K. Yadav, Academic Consultant, NCTE, New Delhi and Prof. Saroj Yadav, Dean Academic, NCERT, New Delhi delivered the Key Note Address. In his Key Note Address, Prof. S.K. Yadav emphasized upon Teachers’ Career Long Professional Learning through intellectual deliberations. He further added that the need of the hour is to integrate schools and teacher training institutions and to develop partnership among theory, practicum and internship. Prof. Saroj Yadav said that Collaborative Learning is possible only if we promote logical communication & Questioning Skill among the Learning Communities and most importantly, focus on cooperation rather that competition.

Dr. Ramesh Sandhu, Vice Chair, IPDA India and Dr. N. R. Sharma, Dean Faculty of Education, Panjab University Chandigarh acted as Chief resource persons during this conference. More than 150 delegates from different Educational institutions across the country deliberated extensively and put forth their views convincingly on the following sub themes:

• Teacher Education through Collaborative Partnership.
• Mentor Support and Challenges for Teachers’ Professional Learning.
• Approaches and Modes for Partnership in Learning and Teaching.
• Developing Learning Communities.

Parallel sessions were conducted on the said themes.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Balwant Singh, Principal Partap College of Education, said that Teacher Education is the back bone of any society. The quality of Human Resources of a country is determined by the quality of Teacher Education. If we are to survive in this competitive, market oriented and technology driven world where education is at cross roads, there is no existence without Developing learning Communities and collaborative Partnerships. Moreover we need to go beyond the narrow job culture to sound professionalism to discharge our duties as nation builders. Our ability to face the challenges of the 21^st century will depend on our capacity to learn and unlearn-as inquisitive individuals and as learning communities.

In the end, Mrs. Manpreet Kaur, Vice Principal, expressed hes heart felt gratitude to Prof. Dr. S.K. Yadav, Prof. Saroj Yadav, Dr. N.R.. Sharma, Dr. Ramesh Sandhu, Dr. Rakesh Sandhu, Dr. Ramesh Inder Kaur Bal and other dignitaries and delegates who contributed their professional energies and outlook to make this conference achieve its objectives. The curtains came down with distribution of certificates to participants and a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Sangeeta Sood, the coordinator of this Conference.

Principal

Partap College of Education, Ludhiana  

Press Note National Conference 06.02.2016