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New Delhi : Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on November 23, 2020, inaugurated 46 online AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) Academy Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) to train teachers of higher education institutions associated with All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) in thrust and emerging areas in technology. The FDPs will be conducted in 22 Indian states.
Pokhriyal said it is a matter of pride for the ATAL Academy to be included in the Book of World Records. He informed that the London-based organisation has recognised the FDPs as a world record under which 1,000 online FDPs in over 100 emerging areas will benefit one lakh faculty members across premier institutions like IITs, NITs, and IIITs. This year the online FDP program will cost Rs 10 crore, he added, according to a PIB release.
The Minister mentioned that the ATAL Academy is conducting FDPs in online mode including the process of registration till certificate disbursal mechanism. In the year 2020-21, new thrust areas in the field of Engineering, Management, Life Skills, Design & Media have been incorporated. The online FDPs will be conducted according to the new National Education Policy (2020), he added.
Pokhriyal highlighted that out of 1,000, 499 FDPs have already been completed with more than 70,000 faculty members already trained. In 2019-20, 185 five-day face-to-face FDPs in nine thrust areas — Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Block-chain, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Data Sciences, Cyber Security, 3D Printing & Design, and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality — benefited around 10,000 participants.
Prof. Anil D Sahasrabuddhe, Chairman, AICTE, said that Digital learning and the increasing use of smart devices such as computers, smart phones, and tablets have enhanced student learning. CBSE teachers have been trained under the ‘Flipped Classroom’ and ‘Blended Learning’ concept.
In the flipped classroom model, students can take online lectures at home as per their convenience and the next day in class, they do assignments related to that lecture. This method not only improves learning ability, but also students’ scores. Under this, teachers record their lectures and post videos online, which can be accessed by students. Students watch these videos and study at home and when they come to class they are ready with that lecture. The next day, teachers in classrooms provide activities related to the post lecture and students participate, Sahasrabuddhe added.
“The main objective of ATAL Academy is to provide quality technical education in the country and to promote research and entrepreneurship through training in various emerging fields. IITs, IIITs, NITs CU and research labs are organising these ATAL FDPs,” said Prof M.P. Poonia, Vice Chairman, AICTE.