ACADEMIC BODIES' LAST MEETING - Univ may exclude internal test scores in credit system

ACADEMIC BODIES' LAST MEETING - Univ may exclude internal test scores in credit system

Yogita Rao

Mumbai:





After four years of flip-flop on the weightage given to internal assessment scores, Mumbai University (MU) is toying with the idea of scrapping it and holding a term-end 100-mark exam in each of the two semesters in a year. If the proposal is accepted, students may not have internal exams from next year, at least in traditional courses.

The issue was discussed in the last academic council meeting for the current academic bodies on Monday , but no decision was taken. When the credit-based grading system was introduced in 2011, internal assessment was given a weightage of 40 marks out of 100. The weightage was reduced to 25 marks in 2014.

A principal said the use of internal assessment scores has been delaying results as the system is not in place. But others pointed out that MU has to make use of the best international practices in following the credit-based grading system. “It will be unfair to evaluate students from self-financed courses only on the basis of a written test and no project work,“ said a member.

The council also decided to follow uniform guidelines for internal assessment this year and to change the grading scale from the current 7 to 10.“Earlier PET scores were valid only for 3 years. Now, students can register for PhD any time with their scores,“ said Madhu Nair, dean of commerce.

Member Gautam Gawli's proposals to make MU infras tructure disabled-friendly and to introduce a course in dis ability studies were also ac cepted. The decision to extend Sardar Patel College of Engi neering's autonomy for the next five years was sanctioned by both the academic and man agement councils. It was also decided that skill development initiatives will be taken as part of NSS activities.

Even as the term for all the academic bodies came to an end on Monday , the state didn't release any notification an nouncing the next senate elec tions. While there is no clarity on how varsities in the state will function without the aca demic bodies, vice-chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh called for a final review meeting for both the councils on Monday .

Exams, which are sched uled to begin in October, may be hit with no board of exam ination in place. Members of the Yuva Sena boycotted the V-C's dinner held for al members on Monday after he allegedly failed to address stu dents' issues.

On Friday , education min ister Vinod Tawde had said the academic bodies will run only with nominated members til the Maharashtra Universities Act comes into force. “We wil try to pass the Act in December and universities can hold their senate elections in January .“

Source: The Times of India dated 1/9/2015

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/index.aspx?eid=31804&dt=20150901

Active Users for the month of August 2015

Active Users for the month of August 2015

All the below mentioned students are eligible for one extra card for the month of September 30, 2015:

Sr. No.	Member	No's.
1	SARVESH NARKAR	14
2	VENEEZA CARDOZO	14
3	SHRADDHA SHINDE	13
4	RISHABH TIWARI	12
5	ASHOK MORE	12
6	MIHIR PARIKH	12
7	SHAILIN SHAH	12
8	SHREYAS MENON	12
9	DIVYA PANDIT	11
10	SONI MAYUR ASHOK SANGEETA	11
11	MITALI SABLE	11
12	LECT.VIPULA RAWTE	11
13	KRUPA FADIA	10
14	NEVIL JEEVAN	10
15	TEJASWARARAO MOTAMARRI	10
16	JEVIN MENEZES	10
17	AKASH GHAGARE	10
18	PRIYA CHAUDHARI	10
19	K.B.VINDUJA	10
20	DHIKESH KARUVANKANDY	10

Active Users for the month of April 2015

All the below mentioned students are eligible for one extra card for the month of May 31st, 2015:

Sr. No.	Member	No's. of Transactions
1	POOJA PANDIT	19
2	ASHOK MORE	18
3	SAWANT SAISH UMAKANT SHRADDHA	16
4	JOANNA PERIS	14
5	K.B.VINDUJA	14
6	SAMIKSHA SALGAONKAR	14
7	DIVYA DAVE	13
8	SURBHI MUNDRA	13
9	PRIMA DCOSTA	12
10	RAMYA THOMAS	12
11	SONIA FERNANDES	12
12	VASUDEV PURANDARE	12
13	GISELLE KHOSESAON	12
14	JENIL SHAH	12
15	KEITH DIAS	12
16	VRAJESH DOSHI	12

Book Donation Drive from April 10 to 22, 2015

“GOT BOOKS YOU DON’T NEED,

DONATE TO OTHERS WHO WISH TO READ!”

Rather than giving a financial contribution or donation, SFIT Library, Borivli,  plans to forge a long-term relationship with the people around, through the mutual love for books on the eve of ‘World Book and Copyright Day’, which falls on April 23.

In 1995 UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on 23 April, as the date is also the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as that of the birth or death of several other prominent authors.

We have always attempted to develop a reading culture among the people and now we are keen to harness the same enthusiasm to the persons who are not as fortunate as we are.

The aim of this initiative is solely to connect with the people outside the Institute and share the resources with them.

For the purpose, the ‘SFIT Social Responsibility Cell’ and ‘SFIT Library’ have decided to organize a “Book Donation Drive” in the campus from April 9 to 22, 2015. We all have so many un-used books lying in our book-shelves. Some are read, re-read; others have no foreseen use.

You are requested to donate such books and other new books for this event and make it a success. Books related to engineering subjects, educational, general and novels are most welcome.

Please ensure the following points so that your donation of a book may be considered:

ü The books should be in good reading condition.

ü They should not have any obscene content.

ü Photocopies of original books are a strict no-no.

Collection Dates: 10^th April to 22^nd April, 2015

Collection Points: Boxes will be available outside the Canteen (Ground floor) and the Library (2nd floor) for your valuable donation of books.

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THE BOOK DONATION DRIVE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Active Users for the month of March 2015

All the below mentioned students are eligible for one extra card for the month of April 30, 2015:

Sr. No.	Member	No's. ofTransactions
1	KEITH DIAS	20
2	RISHABH TIWARI	20
3	POOJA PANDIT	16
4	ASHOK MORE	16
5	SAWANT SAISH UMAKANT SHRADDHA	15
6	SONIA FERNANDES	13
7	RAMYA THOMAS	13
8	VASUDEV PURANDARE	12
9	SANCHEZ SEBASTIAN	12

Active Users for the month of February 2015

All the below mentioned students are eligible for one extra card for the month of March 31, 2015.

Sr. No.	Member	No. of Transactions
1	KEITH DIAS	21
2	DIVYA DAVE	13
3	AMEY MHASKAR	12
4	VRAJESH DOSHI	12
5	SALVIUS SOOSAI	11
6	NEHA ASHOK PARMAR	10
7	VIVIAN JOHNSIMON CHETTIAR	10
8	RAVEENA D'COSTA	10
9	SAWANT SAISH	10
10	MABEL FRANCIS	10
11	SAGAR MALAVIYA	10

Students app-ly new ways to study, prepare for exams

Colleges are allowing smart phones or laptops in class for taking notes

MUMBAI: With the start of the exam season, students across colleges are busy preparing for papers with the help of apps.

Owing to a string of free apps available online that can be downloaded on most smart phones, students are ditching the copious note taking and revision methods and are adopting new age l ear ning methods.

For instance, Evernote, the multi-platform note sharing app, has become immensely popular among students as it allows them to synchronise all their notes across devices.

“In class, I take down notes on the app and later edit it. By doing this, I don’t have go through multiple notebooks to study during exams as all my notes are in one place. If someone misses a lecture, I can just forward my notes to them via the app too,” said Shivani Tyagi, a mass media student.

The trend in India reflects a worldwide movement towards these learning apps.

A 2013 survey by UK based Educational App Store (EAS), a company specialising in integration of mobile learning in schools and colleges, found that 87% of the respondents used their tablets or mobile devices for studying while 50% said that they would download apps recommended by peers and education institutions.

While such numbers might be a long way for Indian students, colleges are warming up to the idea of allowing phones or laptops in class for taking notes.

Some teachers added a cautionary note.

“Students can now type faster than they write. However, technology should remain a supplement, not a replacement i n classrooms,” said Jyoti Thakur, vice principal, Jai Hind College.

Hridesh Jain, a CA student makes use of a variety of education apps such as ‘The constitution of India’ or the law dictionary that lists out all laws and acts at the tip of your finger. Dictionary apps too are a must have in student phones these days

While most of these popular apps are created in the US, indigenous apps are not far behind.

Mangesh Karandikar, professor at Mumbai university’s mass communication department developed a series of android apps called ‘Edusanchar,’ which has notes explaining complex communication theory in simple, easy to read formats.

Launched last year, the free android app has crossed 5000 downloads already.

Source: Hindustan Times (Mumbai) dated 02/03/2015

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