Life as Programme Manager at ASAP

Life as Programme Manager at ASAP

Programme Manager@ASAP is the most beautiful profile anyone can enjoy working. Flexibility, freedom, and space for creativity are the key attractions of the most sought after designation Programme Manager (PM). It's very colorful, promising and demanding job role under the skill development mission of the Government of Kerala. Being time-bound and target based responsibilities are majorly involved, aspirants are to be well suited to the requirement.

A programme manager shall expect to post under three categories
1) Head in charge of a Skill Development Center (SDC) - One center/constituency
2) PM at the District Programme Management Unit (one at one district)
3) PM at the Head Quarters in Central Secretariat ASAP in Trivandrum. Basically to handle administrative tasks related to managing skill sectors.

Job Profile

Your primary responsibility is to garner students/trainees to the ASAP Programme. With the support of ASAP coordinators, Skill Development Executives and teaching staff, a batch of students are to be enrolled in very systematic but exhaustive procedures.

You have to Travel extensively on an everyday basis, generally to monitor classes. A PM is expected to reach at any of the institutions under his jurisdiction by 8.00 A.M to monitor classes (8 to 9 or 4.30 to 5.30 )

All government declared holidays can be availed (can be compensated). Leaves as per KSR. Can avail Casual Leave, Commuted Leave, Earned Leave etc.

Office Time 9 to 5.30

Being a mission mode project and you have to work on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays for sure (Compensatory off can be taken).

The nature of employment is purely contractual. You may be asked to relinquish service upon the decision of Government or nature of the project. As of now project period is up to 2020. However, the possibility of extending the programme or diversifying the portfolio, sourcing of manpower to other agencies are also possible.

The job role is most preferable to MSW candidates. It's also ideal for MBA Graduates, but considering career progression and prospects in this same vertical, both MBA and very specifically Btechs including experienced hands have to carefully plan their career. However, it seems promising to freshers if not engaged in any potential job roles.


Selection Process


Proficiency Check: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, Grammar and Vocabulary, Typing, Reasoning and Logical Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Ability, and Problem Solving



Round 1:
Preliminary screening test –
You have to clear NASSCOM NAC test (candidates who score 60% and above in the NAC test qualify for the next round )

Round 2 - Case Study Presentation.

The candidates will be given a case study to analyze and prepare a presentation of 5 minutes duration. Preparation time of one hour will be given for this task. Candidates scoring 60% and above in this round will be shortlisted for personal interview.

Round 3: Personal Interview -

Personal Interview will be conducted by a duly constituted Selection Committee.
1)An Officer retired at the rank of Chief Secretary from IAS cadre (Chairman of the Selection Committee)
ii. A professor from any Indian Institute of Management
iii. Regional Chairman or former Regional Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
iv. The Chief Executive Officer of ASAP

The Chairman of the Selection Committee would have the casting vote in case of equal votes on any matter discussed in the committee.

(All the selected PMs have to attend a training and one month Case Study at any of the ASAP institutions and its nearby area.)

Salary and Benefits

Rs.25000 PM + Travel allowance of a minimum of Rs.2500/- + communication allowance of Rs.2000/-.

10 % Minimum increment per year and 10 % HRA for PMs in each of the minimum qualifying years with Grade to the Consolidated pay

Programme Managers would be eligible for availing the Contributory Provident Fund benefits.

The Programme Managers shall be covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS)wherein 10% of the consolidated pay shall be made by ASAP and the corresponding deduction would be made from Programme Manager for NPS.

The families (self, spouse and two dependent children up to 25 years) of all Programme Managers would be covered under the hospitalization insurance policy.

The maternity expenses would be covered

HRA shall be uniform 10% of consolidated pay drawn across all grades.

All mandatory national holidays shall be declared as Public Holidays.

The female Programme Managers would be entitled to maternity leave and a male Programme Manager would be eligible for Paternity leave of five working days.




About NAC Test: http://www.nac.nasscom.in/
Sample Test: http://nac.nasscom.in/Web/Download.aspx?FileName=NAC%20Sample%20Paper1.0.pdf


To Know more about Programme Management Pool under ASAP click Here

Case Study Topics for ASAP Programme Managers Position

Case Study Topics for ASAP Programme Managers Position

1. Prepare a Plan for conducting a Placement Drive in your area
2. Give a detailed plan for Finishing School for College students in your institution
3. You are an Internship Organizer for students. Submit a plan
4. Prepare a detailed proposal for conducting a training programme
5. Present your plan to campaign students to a skill training programme
6. Your design on a new entrepreneurial venture
7. Design a curriculam for Higher secondary students exclusively interested to join for a job
8. Training Impact Assessment Plan
9. Design a methodological proposal to Assess Training Need
10. How to design an industry relevant skill course. Your perspective
12. How to incorporate industry partners to the training programme
13. Students are lazy. How do you motivate them
14. Present a detailed plan on Placement Grooming Exercise
15. Young freshers have high expectation on Salary. How do you convince them
16. You are designated to coordinate a Skill Expo. Give a plan
17. Present a plan on Skill Competition
18. We are organizing a Skill Day celebration. What is your plan
19. People are not very interested in vocational trade. Think about a plan to make interest among students
20. Air your views on Career Assessment Programme
21. You are asked to conduct a Career Guidance Plan for 10th class students. Set out a plan
22. Your school has no fund for computer. How do you mobilize funds. Present
23. Government is entrusted you to promote skill development schemes in the State Yuvajanolsavam. How do you plan
24. You are asked to identify potential job roles in demand. How do you plan
25. Please prepare a methodology to design a curriculum for a vocational skill course
26. You are a Training Manager. Present a methodology to evaluate effectivness of training
27. How do you evaluate performance of trainer
29. Your views on a SMART Skill Centre
30. You are entrusted to assess demand for vocational trade in your area. How do you chalk it out
31. Your ideas on the components of good skill training programme

Interview Questions for ASAP Programme Manager Position

Interview Questions for ASAP Programme Manager Position

You must exhibit your social commitment, willingness to work in a tight schedule, IT Skills
Campaigning experience and passion for training during the interview.


Some model questions.

1. Why do you want to become a PM
2. What is the importance of skill training
3. Your knowledge and feedback on ASAP
4. Are you willing to work anywhere in the state
5. What did you do creatively in your life
6. How your qualification matches the designation
7. Tell your idea on various Skill Development schemes in India
8. What are TNA and TIA
9. Explain the Kirkpatrick model
10. Explain Maslow's need hierarchy theory
11. You are arranged for a training programme. A hartal is announced. How do you tackle it
12. Recent developments in skill training
13. Do you think offering additional classes for skill development is needed in our educational system
14. Tell us about your social contributions
15. Differentiate a teacher and trainer
16. How do you manage your time
17. Are you flexible in working late hours
18. Are you ready traveling exhaustively
19. Are you willing working on holidays and consistently for a month
20. How can we offer an updated curriculum for training
21. Explain about your IT Skills
22. Have you ever visited a skill development center
23. How do you know about ASAP
24. Do you know any student completed ASAP programme
25. What are your greatest professional strengths?
26. How long are you planning to work with ASAP
27. How capable are you dealing with students
28. What is your idea on the job role PM

What is in a name ? A Responsible Tourism Debate

What is in a name ? 

Yes. There is something in a NAME. 

I happened to encounter this question many times especially in connection with my PhD work; from my proposal defense to the very last day. 

Yesterday, I happened present the mentioned theme in front of a panel consists of four former vice chancellors, three historians and  one principal secretary from the Government of Kerala. The question asked by the panel chair was What responsibility are saying with the so called concept "Responsible Tourism (RT)", while mentioning on KUMARAKOM-the Global RT Lab and the RT Destination by UNWTO and boasting on. Subsequently, I felt like the entire panel is showering embarrassment up on me, being the Chair was a native of Kumarakom and bear all the burnt of Tourism especially the catastrophic environmental consequences. Even-though I felt the same even when running pillar to post as part of my research study, how could I dare to disown an ideologue I studied and explored for the last seven years. My humble, simple and profound propaganda only deteriorated the circumstances. As a bolt from blues, another eminent panelist put the last nail to my coffin asking are you trying dressing the window with jargon which exists only in concepts. The laughter followed of intellectual think tanks still grills my ears.  I had to push off anyway with utter despair. 

While on the way back to my town, I was pondering over. Near to me a gentle man with great gestures wished me. He was a senior official in an MNC in to food and beverages. While progressing our conversation I inquired about a well known brand which has been disappeared from the market a few years ago. To my surprise, the product is still in the market with same content but with a different NAME and with a more market share. He strategically pointed out the ideology of theirs, mushrooming same product under different brands in order to survive business even-if the one is falling down. 

My gut feeling again popped up an answer to the questions of the eminent panelists. Many NAMES at a time to rebrand, restart, and revive. Old wine in a new bottle to create new legends. ECO TOURISM, GREEN TOURISM, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, RESPONSIBLE TOURISM, NATURE TOURISM AND SO ON. 

When government spends crores of rupees for same purpose under different names; time has exceeded to converge and integrate same concepts owned my many fathers ! 

Click below to see more on Responsible Tourism Debates

http://fillthelacuna.blogspot.com/2018/10/responsible-tourism-sustainable-tourism.html

 (The writer is a Ph.D in Management and an independent researcher)

Responsible Tourism = Sustainable Tourism (Old wine (Sustainable Tourism) in new bottle (Responsible Tourism)

If the question asked by William Shakespeare “what is in a name?” in Romeo and Juliet is repeated, you may be confused at some instances. This is the case of two terms “Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Tourism”.  Both are same, but still we try to spot difference. Though questions pose, a big mantra of survival lies in it. Tourism is all about exploration and needs novelty and innovation to spin revenue. The same is applicable to individual and corporation associated with this industry as well. Here is the truth behind the re-making of sustainable tourism.

*******************

Responsible Tourism is relatively very new and a meaningful term introduced recently to catalyze sustainable tourism destination management. It is promising to see that some States have introduced special programmes under the banner of Responsible Tourism. There is no dual opinion in the fact that the term ‘Responsible Tourism” is more meaningful and quiet familiar to the common parlor, hence became popular. However, the theoretical underpinnings of the concept and its origin are hardly discussed.

Department for Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) Africa and a team led by Spenceley consist of Relly, Keyser, Warmeant, McKenzie, and Mataboge have the credit of developing, designing, and discussing the concept responsible tourism initially. Responsible Tourism Manual for South Africa published in 2002 is likely the first credible document available in this context. At the same year Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism also released. Jost Krippendorf (1987), Harrison & Husbands, (1996), and (responsibletravel.com, 2004) were also hinted it in various contexts. The Kerala declaration on Responsible Tourism came out in 2008. Factually, the Kerala initiative was modeled after the successful women empowerment scheme of the state of Kerala ‘Kerala Sate Poverty Eradication Mission’ widely known as “Kudumbasree”. The concept of sustainable tourism coined during 1980s after the Brundtland Report[a] specifically began in the early 1990s with Edward Inskeep (1991) who defined five main criteria for sustainable tourism, which later accepted by UNWTO. To call a spade a spade, Responsible Tourism initiatives of Kerala is the single initiative in this line among a very few in some corners of the globe.

Theoretically, Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Tourism are same and are founded on the triple bottom-line principle.[1] (2), means bringing positive social environmental, and economic impacts to destination.  The similarity is seen while comparing the official criteria developed both for Responsible Tourism [3),  and Sustainable Tourism [4) . Specifically,

1. The edifice of sustainable tourism built on social, environment and economic dimensions. Similarly Responsible Tourism aims at social and economic development and is emphasizing on minimizing negative impacts.
2. Community is at the Centre of both concepts and grass root level intervention is also envisaged
3. Local ownership especially local government is at the steering role to drive the initiative
4. Theoretically, environment, society, and economy have equal importance. Practically, sustainable tourism is projected as an environmental conservation initiative and responsible tourism as a community development scheme through strategic interventions at economic front. The argument cannot be summarily rejected that responsible tourism couldn’t progress in the environmental dimension at destinations.
5. Even the concept of ‘Green’ cannot be limited at the environmental dimension as the term has wide meaning these days. Hence, ‘Green Tourism’ also has great resemblance to other concepts in this direction.  

“The concept of sustainable tourism has been discussed in Kerala since its origin. However, its implementation is termed as 'Responsible Tourism Initiative'. There is no difference between Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Tourism” says Dr. K. Ravi, academic expert of Kerala Tourism and a member of State Level Responsible Tourism Committee (Former Consultant, Common Wealth Secretariat, London). Dr. Ravi is a lead figure in the development of sustainable tourism policies of Kerala.  Interestingly, Thekkady - a leading sustainable tourism destination from 80s bagged first rank in the Responsible Tourism Scoring done by an agency Green Life India Innovations.

A study conducted among 493 local residents of three responsible tourism destinations in Kerala namely Kovalam, Kumarakom and Thekkedy invariably proved that theoretical underpinnings of both the concepts are same. While correlated the indicator of Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Tourism, it was found more than 80% similarity or 0.8< Variance Explained. The indicator were subsumed under Social, economic, cultural and environmental dimensions after a through literature survey and expert consultations (academic, practice and filed animators).

This may be the reason responsible tourism has only a very few takers and why researches in the area of responsible tourism is very limited. For the sake of interest we may call Sustainable Tourism is theory and Responsible Tourism is practice though quite unreal. In a way, it’s a debate of difference pertaining to concept, theory or practice. However, very interestingly a recent study coined a new term “responsustable tourism” - is suggested to join two existing terms and demonstrate that the current understanding of responsible tourism behavior is based on the concept of sustainable tourism. “Charter for Sustainable and Responsible Tourism” (TSG, 2012) is also established to debate further.

Let's continue the discourse so that more can get leverage. May this marketing exercise help many to build their own kingdom of legacy.

 (The writer is a Ph.D in Management and an independent researcher).

പേരെന്റ്സ് മീറ്റിംഗുകളിൽ

ഏകദേശം പതിനഞ്ചു വർഷം പിന്നിട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു. ഞാൻ പന്ത്രണ്ടു വർഷം പഠിച്ച എൻ്റെ  വിദ്യാലയത്തിൽ ഒരു അതിഥി ആയി ഞാൻ എത്തിയിരിക്കുകയാണ് . ഈ മാസത്തെ പന്ത്രണ്ടാമത്തെ പേരെന്റ്സ് മീറ്റിങ്ങിലാണ് സംസാരിക്കുന്നത് . എന്നെ ഏറെ സ്വാധീനിച്ചത് അവിടുത്തെ അധ്യാപകർ തന്നെയാണ് . ഒരു പക്ഷെ പലപ്പോഴായി നാം തന്നെ വിമർശനമുനയോടെ ചോദിക്കാറുള്ള ചോദ്യം ഇത്തവണ ഉത്തരരൂപേണ പറഞ്ഞത് സ്വാഗത പ്രസംഗം നടത്തിയ എക്കണോമിക്സ് അധ്യാപകൻ ജോസ് സാർ ആണ്. "നിങ്ങളെല്ലാം അടയ്ക്കുന്ന നികുതി പണം കൊണ്ടാണ് ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് വൻ തുക മാസ ശമ്പളമായി നൽകുന്നത്. ഒരു രക്ഷാകർത്താവ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വിദ്യാർത്ഥി എന്നതിനോടൊപ്പം ഒരു നികുതി ദായകൻ എന്ന നിലയിൽ കൂടി നിങ്ങൾ ഞങ്ങളെ വിലയിരുത്തണം. തെറ്റുകൾ തിരുത്താൻ ഞങ്ങൾ സന്നദ്ധരാണ്. ഒരു കൂട്ടായ പ്രവർത്തനം വിജയത്തിന് അനിവാര്യമാണ്. ഇനി മുതൽ രക്ഷകർത്താക്കൾ രണ്ടു പേരും കൂടി മീറ്റിംഗിന് കടന്നു വരൂ. നിങ്ങളുടെ കുട്ടികളിൽ ഞങ്ങൾ അത്ഭുതം സൃഷ്ടിക്കാം". അത് ഒരു വെല്ലു വിളിയായിരുന്നു.

പേരെന്റ്സ്  മീറ്റിംഗുകളിൽ ഞാൻ പൊതുവെ കാണാറുണ്ട്. ഇപ്പോഴും വിരലിൽ എണ്ണാവുന്ന  ആളുകൾ ആണ് വന്നു ചേരുക. ഒരു പക്ഷെ ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടു അറ്റവും കൂട്ടി മുട്ടിക്കാനുള്ള ബദ്ധപ്പാടിൽ സാധിക്കാതെ വരുന്നതാകാം. കുറ്റം പറയാൻ ആകില്ല. സ്‌കൂളിൽ വിട്ടാൽ ബാക്കിയെല്ലാം അദ്ധ്യാപകരുടെ ഉത്തരവാദിത്തം ആണ് എന്ന് ധരിക്കുന്നവരും ഉണ്ട്. തിരുത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്ന അധ്യാപകർ ക്രൂശിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന സംഭവങ്ങൾ പലതും നാം വായിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. "മാതാപിതാക്കളുടെ സഹകരണവും മനസ്സിലാക്കലും ആണ് ഇന്നിന്റെ ആവശ്യം . അത് മനസ്സിലാക്കി പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നവർ നല്ല വ്യകതിത്വങ്ങളെ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നു". പ്രിൻസിപ്പൽ ഗീത ടീച്ചർ പറഞ്ഞു വച്ചതു ഇതാണ്.

ഏതാനും നാളുകൾക്ക് മുൻപ് ഞാൻ ഒരു സ്‌കൂളിൽ ചെല്ലുകയുണ്ടായി . ഏകദേശം അറുപതു വയസ്സ് തോന്നിക്കുന്ന ഒരാൾ അധ്യാപകന്റെ മുൻപിൽ കരഞ്ഞു കൊണ്ട് പറയുകയാണ്. "അവന്റെ ഫോൺ തിരികെ കൊടുക്കണം. അവൻ വിഷമിക്കുന്നത് എനിക്ക് കാണാൻ വയ്യ". സ്‌കൂളിൽ ഫോൺ കൊണ്ട് വന്ന് വേണ്ടാതീനങ്ങൾ കാണിച്ചതിന് അധ്യാപകൻ ഫോൺ പിടിച്ചു വച്ചതാണ്. പോകുന്നതിനു മുൻപ് ആ പിതാവ് ഒരു കാര്യം കൂടി പറഞ്ഞു "സാറെ ഞാൻ വന്ന കാര്യം പറയണ്ട. ഫോൺ വിളിച്ചു എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞാൽ മതി. അവനു വിഷമം ആകും". ഒരിക്കൽ ഒരു വിദ്യാർത്ഥിയുടെ പിതാവിനെ കാണാൻ ഇടയായി . അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മകൻ ക്‌ളാസിൽ സമയത്തിന് വരാത്തതിനെക്കുറിച്ചു ചോദിച്ചു. "സാർ , ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് പറയാൻ പേടിയാ. അവൻ എന്തെങ്കിലും ചെയ്താൽ...ഇപ്പോൾ നമ്മൾ പലതും വായിക്കുന്നില്ലേ . സാർ ഒന്ന് ഉപദേശിക്ക് ". തിരുത്തലുകൾ ആവശ്യമാണ് . തിരുത്തേണ്ട സമയത്തു തിരുത്താൻ മടിക്കരുത്. ഒപ്പം ജോസ് സാർ പറഞ്ഞതിനോട് ചേര്ത്തു എഴുതട്ടെ "എനിക്ക് തിരുത്താൻ സാധിക്കാത്ത തെറ്റ് വേറൊരാൾ തിരുത്താൻ ഞാൻ ഒരിക്കലും പറയാറില്ല". എപ്പോഴും ഓർക്കുക നാം നമ്മുടെ കുട്ടികൾക്ക് കാണപ്പെടുന്ന ദൈവമായിരിക്കണം., മാതൃക ആയിരിക്കണം.

ഒരു കാര്യം മറക്കരുത്.  തിരുത്തലുകൾ നല്ലതാണു എന്നാൽ അതിനേക്കാൾ ഗുണം ചെയ്യുന്നതാണ് പ്രോത്‌സാനം. ഏതാനും ആഴ്ചകൾക്ക് മുൻപ് , ഒരു സ്‌കൂളിൽ അസാപിന്റെ (നൈപുണ്യ വികസന പദ്ധതി)വിലയിരുത്തൽ പ്രോഗ്രാം നടക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. ഒരു കുട്ടി വികാരാധീനനായി പറഞ്ഞത് ഇപ്രകാരമാണ്. "എനിക്ക് അസാപിൽ  ചേരണം എന്ന് വലിയ ആഗ്രഹം ആയിരുന്നു. എന്നാൽ 'അമ്മ സമ്മതിച്ചില്ല. നിനക്ക് രാവിലെ എല്ലാം നേരെത്തെ പോകേണ്ടി വരില്ലേ, ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടാകില്ലേ മോനെ എന്നെല്ലാം പറഞ്ഞാണ് നിര്‌സ്താഹപ്പെടുത്തിയത് . ഒരു പക്ഷെ തെറ്റായിരിക്കാം, എങ്കിലും ധിക്കാരപൂർവ്വം എന്ന വണ്ണം ഞാൻ അമ്മയെ നിർബന്ധിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു . എന്ന് എന്റെ തീരുമാനം വലിയ ശരി ആണ് എന്ന് എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായി". നമ്മുടെ കണ്ണ് തുറപ്പിക്കുന്ന വാക്കുകൾ ആണ് അവൻ പറഞ്ഞു തീർത്തത്. കുട്ടികൾ പറയുന്നത് എല്ലാം അംഗീകരിക്കണം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കണം എന്നല്ല. എന്നാൽ എന്ത് വേണം എന്ത് വേണ്ട എന്ന് നാം മനസ്സിലാക്കിയിരിക്കണം. രക്ഷാകർതൃയോഗങ്ങൾ ഇതിനു വളരെ സഹായകം ആകും.

കോമേഴ്‌സ് അദ്ധ്യാപികയായ ആഷാ ടീച്ചർ ആണ് നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞത്. "ഞാൻ എന്റെ പഴയ കാലങ്ങളിലേക്കു ഒന്ന് തിരിഞ്ഞു നോക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. ഞങ്ങളെല്ലാം വളരെ അധികം തുകയും സമയവും എടുത്താണ് അസാപ് പോലെയുള്ള പദ്ധതികൾ നൽകുന്ന ഗുണങ്ങൾ സ്വായത്തം ആക്കിയത്. ഇത് എല്ലാവരും പ്രയോജന പെടുത്തണം". ഒരു മാതാവ് പറഞ്ഞത് ഇങ്ങനെയാണ് "ഇത്രയും നല്ല ഒരു സംരഭം ആണ് അസാപ് എന്ന് ഞാൻ അറിഞ്ഞിരുന്നില്ല. ഇവൻ ഇങ്ങനെയൊന്നും അല്ല പറഞ്ഞത്. എന്റെ മോനെ എന്തായാലും ചേർക്കണം".

തികച്ചും സന്തോഷം നിറഞ്ഞ അനുഭവത്തോടും മനസ്സോടും കൂടെയാണ് ഞാൻ എന്റെ പൂർവ്വ വിദ്യാലയത്തിൽ നിന്ന് തിരികെ പോന്നത്. രക്ഷാകർതൃയോഗത്തിനു കടന്നു വന്ന എല്ലാം മാതാപിതാക്കളും തങ്ങളുടെ മക്കളെ അസാപിൽ ചേർക്കാൻ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു എന്ന ചാരിതാർഥ്യം. എന്റെ മുറ്റത്തെ വിദ്യാലയം ഏറ്റവും മികച്ചതും ആത്മാർതഥായുമുള്ള ഗുരുനാഥരാൽ  നിറഞ്ഞതാണെന്ന് തിരിച്ചറിവും സന്തോഷവും . എന്നാൽ എന്റെ ഗ്രാമത്തിലെ ആരെയും ഞാൻ അവിടെ കണ്ടില്ലല്ലോ എന്ന നിരാശയും.

രാവി ലാൽ, ഡാൽമിയ, മരിയ, മിനി ഇനീ അധ്യാപകരോടൊപ്പം .
(ഡോ : പോൾ വി മാത്യു, പൂർവ്വ വിദ്യാർത്ഥി, പൂത്തൃക്ക സ്‌കൂൾ )

Magic of Memory

Magic of Memory

I usually ask students to recollect lessons of their yesteryear classes. Many couldn’t. Classrooms, ventilators, walls, and living things are in their crystal memory, but the crux is in a foggy state or in vague memory. When we read it in the pretext of our indomitable brain power, its quiet amusing. Paul Reber, professor of psychology at Northwestern University says the brain’s memory storage capacity is something closer to around 2.5 petabytes (or a million gigabytes). If your brain works like a digital video recorder in a television, 2.5 petabytes would be enough to hold three million hours (more than 300 years) of TV shows. Here is the magic of learning. The fundamental understanding of, learning is for a life time and not for academic scores has to be instilled amongst our students to create a resilient environment for learning.

We often confuse memory with learning. Memory is related to but distinct from learning. Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skill and memory is the expression of what you’ve acquired; if acquisition occurs instantly, that’s making a memory (APA). Memory is a brain-wide process often referred as distributed processing, a set of encoded neural connections in the brain stored as scattered and the same has to be reconstructed to recollect.

It is equally important to understand the difference between understanding and remembering. It is wrong to perceive that we remember information if we understand what the teachers say or what we read. Beyond understanding, a prerequisite of making learning sustained is our intensity of engagements in activities that will lead to the storage and ultimate retrieval of relevant information from long-term memory.

Historically, VAK Learning Styles and the Learning Pyramid are widely accepted as the common methods of learning. The Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles model was developed by psychologists in the 1920s classified the ways people learn. The VAK learning Style uses the three main sensory receivers Vision, Auditory, and Kinesthetic to determine a person’s dominate or preferred learning style. Later in 1946, Edgar Dale of the National training Laboratories in Betel, Maine developed the Learning Pyramid or Cone of Learning eventually became the founding pillar of learning. It illustrates that active participation in the learning process results in a higher retention of learning.  We will wonder too see the very recent ground work of Lewis Howes called MOM System reiterate our focus on experiences in learning. He says “better memory comes down to three things: motivation, observation, and mechanics, MOM”. 

Experiential Learning

Activity oriented or experiential learning has decisive outcomes both in memorising and producing desired results.  It is evident that new initiatives and schemes of government in education sectors are activity centred and practical oriental. For instance, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) operationalized by Government of India in 2001. The same was rooted in founding philosophies of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), an initiative by the Government of Kerala in1993. Launched in 2012, Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP), a new initiative of the department of higher education gives thrust on activity based learning. The entire edifice of ASAP Foundation Module (Communication & IT skills Training) is built on the concept gamification. Simply, the process of adding games or game like elements to something (such as a task) so as to encourage participation (Merriam-Webster). Encouraging students to engage in discussions, involved in practical components and even offer platforms to teach others. Specifically, it includes Creative Teaching, Audio & Video Tools, “Real-World” Learning, Brainstorm, Classes Outside the Classroom, Role Play, Introduce Lessons Like a Story, Storyboard Teaching, Stimulating Classroom Environment, Welcome New Ideas, and Puzzles and Games. Trainers are also trained to handle game based modules. Aid of technology enables conducive environment for active learning and thereby creating long term memory. Our experiences with ASAP invariably proved that learning becomes easy and capable for sustainable retention when students are involved in the process and technological aids are utilized productively. It further calls for similar pedagogy for fostering new age learning methodologies.

Let’s delve into the art of memorising learnings.

Technique of Memorizing

We often are envious about some people revitalize past memories especially dates, names, facts etc. even some genius set records in memorizing. For instance, the longest sequence of objects memorized in one minute is 50 and was achieved by Mrunali Gouri Kodhe (India) in Nagpur (2017), David Andrew Farrow is a two-time Canadian Guinness World Record Holder for Most Decks of Playing Cards Memorized in a Single Sighting. A fantasy of Eidetic or photographic memory!  Needless to say, they use certain techniques to memorize things.

It is a usual agreement that we remember things better and remember them longer when we adopt semantic encoding. In a way our memory depends on our ability to connect and precision of coding in terms of audio and visual effects. 

Repetition and Recitation are often blamed as outdated concept of memorizing; but it has umpteen followers and being practiced widely.                  

The scientific fact is that our short-term memory needs to be activated multiple times in order to increase its durability. When we repeat, a certain number of neurons are getting activated.  The more times they repeat an action, the more dendrites grow and interconnect, resulting in greater memory storage and recall efficiency. The Hermann Ebbinghaus learning curve estimates that only 21% of information we learnt is retained after one month of learning. Spaced repetition technique is often referred as a panacea to forgetting.

Organizing things is of paramount importance. The chunking technique is grouping items, finding patterns in them, and organizing the items. In cognitive psychology, chunking is a process by which individual pieces of information are bound together into a meaningful whole (Neath & Surprenant, 2003).  Further, "Mnemonics" refers to any system or device designed to aid memory–usually, patterns of letters, ideas, or associations, such as ROYGBIV to remember the colors of the rainbow.

Mind palace/ method of loci is the Sherlock of style of memorizing things. In this technique the subject memorizes the layout of some building, or the arrangement of shops on a street, or any geographical entity which is composed of a number of discrete loci. This is also known as memory journey, memory palace, or mind palace technique. The link, mind map, tree, acronyms, acrostic, rhyme-keys, key words, storytelling, image-word association, chaining, detailing, visualization, dramatizing, single lining, hand copy, walking, cheat sheet are the age old techniques to memorize things.

Above all, nutritious diet, warmth of exercise and good sleep are inevitable for sharp memory. Psychologist Nicolas Dumay argued that good sleep not only protect our brains from forgetting memories but also helps us retrieve memories better. Researchers found that taking a nap of about 45-60 minutes immediately after learning something new could boost your memory 500%. Supply of oxygen to brain and metabolism catalyse our memory. The National Institute on Ageing observed that aerobic exercise, such as running, is linked with improved memory. Exercise such as this triggers high levels of a protein called cathepsin B, which travels to the brain to trigger neuron growth and new connections in the hippocampus, an area in the brain believed to be critical for memory.

Rather than processing heap of information, micro learning facilitates memorizing and lifelong learning. Mobile learning enables convenience, mobility and virtually enabled understanding which has great probability of retention. Mushrooming of virtual reality kits, learning apps, online tutoring, 3D dimensional techniques, Live scribe smart pen, HP ink cartridges are the visible examples of this pattern of effective learning. Also, exploration into new strategies like Computational Thinking, Crossover Learning, Embodied Learning, Stealth Assessment, and Analytics of Emotions has to be mulled over. It is the need of the hour to probe deeper in this direction.

Industry 4.0 compels us to compete with technologically driven enterprising resources. Time has risen to devise new tools and techniques expediting the process of learning and capacity   of human brain to capture, effectively process data, retain and recollect with more speed and accuracy. It seems a matter of survival even a fallacy revolves around.