What started as an experiment for staff members of Systems Lab of Computer Science department at Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), has become a successful teaching aid for engineering students across the state.
The Micro mouse, which makes use of robotics, is being used to teach the basics of embedded systems.
Engineering students learn about embedded systems, a technology where a special purpose computer system is designed to perform dedicated functions in electronic gadgets. The technology is used in cars, automatic washing machines, iPods, traffic lights and even nuclear power plants.
“This concept is usually taught through theory and simple computer programming. At IIT-B, we also conduct distance education programme via satellite for other colleges. However, students find it tough to grasp the concept without a proper lab support,” said Kavi Arya, associate professor, IIT-B.
The micromouse is equipped with infrared sensors to gauge distance, temperature sensors and can be controlled through computer programmes. “With these teaching aids, the students get to assemble the robotic parts, programme and control objects,” said Sachitanand Malewar, research fellow, IIT-B.
Students are given projects like creating a surveillance system by using a mobile phone’s camera and micromouse and moving objects past obstacles. “Students take more interest in learning if there is a lot of action in the classroom. Once students understand the basics of embedded systems, then sky could be the limit for them,” said Arya.
The lab staff and professor Krithi Ramamritham of IIT-B have developed more than 50 teaching aids. “For the past two years, we have been developing low-cost micromouses that have been given to over 112 engineering colleges across the country. These cost only Rs2,000,” said Arya.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1156783
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Unique guide dog program set for expansion
March 19, 2008 -- When a visually impaired person starts using a guide dog they can look forward to increased independence and a new canine companion -- but not before they have undergone a month of intensive training. The University's Special Education Department, together with the nonprofit Guide Dogs for the Blind, is preparing the professionals who train both visually impaired clients and guide dogs.
Photo of student Wendy Mellberg Haecker as she hugs Carnegie, one of the guide dogs she is training
The program is the first university-based program of its kind in the world. "The International Guide Dog Federation set goals to upgrade the training of instructors by 2010, and we were the first to rise to the challenge," said Sandra Rosen, professor of special education and coordinator of the guide dog mobility program.
Rosen devised a joint curriculum with Guide Dogs for the Blind. She upgraded their existing training program to include classes on working with clients with multiple disabilities and cultural diversity. The course was also enriched with aspects of orientation and mobility, the sister discipline to guide dog mobility. Students can gain a graduate level certificate in guide dog mobility or a master's degree in Special Education with an emphasis in guide dog mobility.
The program graduated its first student in 2007, and three more will graduate this summer. Wendy Mellberg Haecker is one of them. "I knew I wanted to get an advanced degree that would enable me to work with animals in an interactive way, but I never imagined I would find a masters course in this field," Mellberg Haecker said. She has a bachelors in wildlife management and was previously a seabird researcher for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sandra Rosen, professor of special education
Mellberg Haecker spends weekdays at the Guide Dogs for the Blind headquarters in San Rafael and attends classes at SF State during evenings and weekends. "Being a trainer is physically very demanding," she said. "It's harder than it looks. The dogs each have their own personalities and you have to be outside with them whatever the weather. But it's very rewarding, especially when you see your clients 'graduating' with their new dog."
"It's been wonderful to see the program grow," Rosen said. "We now have eight students in San Francisco. It may not sound like a lot but due to the nature of this intensive training, it requires a low student-teacher ratio."
In fall 2007, the program began offering courses at the second Guide Dogs for the Blind campus in Boring, Ore., where students gain practical training from local instructors, take SF State courses through distance learning and receive mentoring support from Rosen.
Now in its third year of operation, Rosen plans to extend the program to students across the U.S. and abroad. "We are planning a distance education curriculum for guide dog mobility instructors overseas," Rosen said. "We hope to have the first modules available in September 2008. We are also working with out-of-state guide dog training schools in the U.S. to explore how we can make our existing graduate certificate available to them through distance learning."
http://www.sfsu.edu/~news/2008/spring/28.html
Photo of student Wendy Mellberg Haecker as she hugs Carnegie, one of the guide dogs she is training
The program is the first university-based program of its kind in the world. "The International Guide Dog Federation set goals to upgrade the training of instructors by 2010, and we were the first to rise to the challenge," said Sandra Rosen, professor of special education and coordinator of the guide dog mobility program.
Rosen devised a joint curriculum with Guide Dogs for the Blind. She upgraded their existing training program to include classes on working with clients with multiple disabilities and cultural diversity. The course was also enriched with aspects of orientation and mobility, the sister discipline to guide dog mobility. Students can gain a graduate level certificate in guide dog mobility or a master's degree in Special Education with an emphasis in guide dog mobility.
The program graduated its first student in 2007, and three more will graduate this summer. Wendy Mellberg Haecker is one of them. "I knew I wanted to get an advanced degree that would enable me to work with animals in an interactive way, but I never imagined I would find a masters course in this field," Mellberg Haecker said. She has a bachelors in wildlife management and was previously a seabird researcher for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sandra Rosen, professor of special education
Mellberg Haecker spends weekdays at the Guide Dogs for the Blind headquarters in San Rafael and attends classes at SF State during evenings and weekends. "Being a trainer is physically very demanding," she said. "It's harder than it looks. The dogs each have their own personalities and you have to be outside with them whatever the weather. But it's very rewarding, especially when you see your clients 'graduating' with their new dog."
"It's been wonderful to see the program grow," Rosen said. "We now have eight students in San Francisco. It may not sound like a lot but due to the nature of this intensive training, it requires a low student-teacher ratio."
In fall 2007, the program began offering courses at the second Guide Dogs for the Blind campus in Boring, Ore., where students gain practical training from local instructors, take SF State courses through distance learning and receive mentoring support from Rosen.
Now in its third year of operation, Rosen plans to extend the program to students across the U.S. and abroad. "We are planning a distance education curriculum for guide dog mobility instructors overseas," Rosen said. "We hope to have the first modules available in September 2008. We are also working with out-of-state guide dog training schools in the U.S. to explore how we can make our existing graduate certificate available to them through distance learning."
http://www.sfsu.edu/~news/2008/spring/28.html
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Henley achieves top ten rankings for distance learning and full time MBA
Henley Management College is one of only two business schools in the world to be ranked in the top 10 for both its full time and distance learning MBA programmes by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
In the EIU’s first ranking of distance learning MBA programmes (Jan 08), Henley Management College received the top score for student rating of programme content. The new ranking takes into account three basic criteria to judge schools; programme content, quality of fellow students and distance learning elements. The EIU recognises that much of the quantitative data used to rank full time MBA programmes is of little use when it comes to distance learning. Salary data, for example, is less important because programme members do not use the distance learning MBA as a career break. Many will continue in their pre-MBA employment.
“We’re delighted that the EIU has recognised that there is no variation in the high quality of our MBA programmes, whatever their method of delivery. We’re particularly pleased with Henley’s high placement in the EIU rankings as 60% of this ranking is based on a survey of actual programme members with only 40% based on quantitative data supplied by the schools therefore providing a good reflection of perceived value from our customer base,” says Neil Gibbons, Executive Director of Open Enrolment Programmes at Henley.
The EIU rankings also recognise that as much of a distance learning programme is studied alone, a sense of connection to the school and good virtual learning materials are therefore essential. Matty Smith, Henley’s Senior Development Fellow in the School of Management Knowledge and Learning is the College’s senior advisor on the application of emerging technologies in the context of management learning. Matty works with clients and colleagues to develop technology-enabled group working techniques to enhance virtual team working.
About Henley Management College
Henley Management College is one of the top-ranked business schools in the world and, founded in 1945, is one of the longest established and the world’s third largest supplier of MBA education.
Henley was one of the first business schools to achieve triple accreditation (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB) in the UK.
Henley has produced the most DBA graduates in Europe.
The College delivers business education to managers in more than 112 countries worldwide with in excess of 5,400 people studying for a Henley MBA at any one time.
The EIU September 2007 rankings, ranked Henley’s full time MBA as No 2 in the UK, No 5 in Europe and No 10 in the world.
The EIU January 2008 rankings, ranked Henley’s distance learning MBA No 2 in the UK and No 6 in the world.
Henley’s Modular MBA was ranked 1st in the UK and 6th in the world (ahead of INSEAD and IMD) for Career progression in the Financial Times October 2007 rankings. Henley was also the 2nd biggest climber in the UK overall and the 6th biggest climber in the world, moving up 12 places compared with 2006.
Henley ranked 1st in the UK and 5th in Europe for new skills and learning in the 2007 Financial Times rankings of Executive Education. Henley also came 2nd in the UK and 5th in Europe for quality of participants on open programmes.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=58850
In the EIU’s first ranking of distance learning MBA programmes (Jan 08), Henley Management College received the top score for student rating of programme content. The new ranking takes into account three basic criteria to judge schools; programme content, quality of fellow students and distance learning elements. The EIU recognises that much of the quantitative data used to rank full time MBA programmes is of little use when it comes to distance learning. Salary data, for example, is less important because programme members do not use the distance learning MBA as a career break. Many will continue in their pre-MBA employment.
“We’re delighted that the EIU has recognised that there is no variation in the high quality of our MBA programmes, whatever their method of delivery. We’re particularly pleased with Henley’s high placement in the EIU rankings as 60% of this ranking is based on a survey of actual programme members with only 40% based on quantitative data supplied by the schools therefore providing a good reflection of perceived value from our customer base,” says Neil Gibbons, Executive Director of Open Enrolment Programmes at Henley.
The EIU rankings also recognise that as much of a distance learning programme is studied alone, a sense of connection to the school and good virtual learning materials are therefore essential. Matty Smith, Henley’s Senior Development Fellow in the School of Management Knowledge and Learning is the College’s senior advisor on the application of emerging technologies in the context of management learning. Matty works with clients and colleagues to develop technology-enabled group working techniques to enhance virtual team working.
About Henley Management College
Henley Management College is one of the top-ranked business schools in the world and, founded in 1945, is one of the longest established and the world’s third largest supplier of MBA education.
Henley was one of the first business schools to achieve triple accreditation (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB) in the UK.
Henley has produced the most DBA graduates in Europe.
The College delivers business education to managers in more than 112 countries worldwide with in excess of 5,400 people studying for a Henley MBA at any one time.
The EIU September 2007 rankings, ranked Henley’s full time MBA as No 2 in the UK, No 5 in Europe and No 10 in the world.
The EIU January 2008 rankings, ranked Henley’s distance learning MBA No 2 in the UK and No 6 in the world.
Henley’s Modular MBA was ranked 1st in the UK and 6th in the world (ahead of INSEAD and IMD) for Career progression in the Financial Times October 2007 rankings. Henley was also the 2nd biggest climber in the UK overall and the 6th biggest climber in the world, moving up 12 places compared with 2006.
Henley ranked 1st in the UK and 5th in Europe for new skills and learning in the 2007 Financial Times rankings of Executive Education. Henley also came 2nd in the UK and 5th in Europe for quality of participants on open programmes.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=58850
Tegrity Enables Distance Education Program for U.S. Military Personnel Deployed Overseas
Class-Capture Technology Key to Success of Program for Military Personnel
at University of Colorado at Boulder
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Tegrity, provider of the
leading Web 2.0 Class Capture System to the higher education market, today
announced its vital role in the success of a University of Colorado at
Boulder (UC) distance education program for U.S. military personnel
deployed overseas.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070430/NEM020logo )
The Center for Advanced Engineering and Technology Education (CAETE),
in conjunction with the masters-level interdisciplinary Telecommunications
program, uses Tegrity class-capture technology to make course lectures
available to military men and women serving around the world so they can
receive classroom instruction and review classroom materials as their
demanding schedules permit via the Internet.
"This is a fantastic example of the value Tegrity Campus 2.0 brings to
students, instructors, and higher education institutions," said Isaac
Segal, Tegrity CEO. "Students have increased access to the benefits of
learning, instructors reach more students, and institutions extend their
impact well beyond the campus environment."
Students in the program take a combination of technical and
non-technical courses using Tegrity in order to complete the requirements
for either a Master of Science in Telecommunications or Master of
Engineering degree from UC. Many of the military men and women enrolled in
the program are officers in the Army Signals Corps where advanced
telecommunications training is fundamental to success.
UC Senior Instructor Emeritus Gerald Mitchell is credited with
launching the military program when he began capturing his lectures using
CAETE's course capturing tool, Tegrity, several years ago. With Tegrity,
lectures are supplemented by the slides, drawings, and even handwritten
whiteboard notes he and other instructors use when delivering their
lectures.
"By using Tegrity, our students deployed overseas can log in from any
location, at anytime, to view their classes," said Gerald Mitchell. "By
giving these students the flexibility of anytime access, they are able to
stay current on their workload and manage the demands of balancing student
and military life."
Serving also as UC's military liaison, Mitchell is developing plans to
recruit more military personnel for UC education programs. Mitchell said
military students represent a great addition to the university. He said
quality course content and solid online learning capabilities are both
critical to attracting military students.
About Tegrity
Tegrity Campus 2.0 is the leading Web 2.0 class capture system,
impacting learning, student satisfaction and retention across the entire
institution. Requiring no hardware or software installation, Tegrity Campus
2.0 makes class time available all the time by automatically capturing,
storing and indexing every class on campus for replay by every student.
Educators know that the more students can see, hear, and experience a
class, the better they learn. With patented Tegrity "Search anything"
technology, students instantly recall key class moments for replay online,
or on iPods and mobile devices. Tegrity is based in Santa Clara, California
with regional offices throughout the United States. For more information,
visit http://www.tegrity.com.
http://www.prnewswire.com/
at University of Colorado at Boulder
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Tegrity, provider of the
leading Web 2.0 Class Capture System to the higher education market, today
announced its vital role in the success of a University of Colorado at
Boulder (UC) distance education program for U.S. military personnel
deployed overseas.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070430/NEM020logo )
The Center for Advanced Engineering and Technology Education (CAETE),
in conjunction with the masters-level interdisciplinary Telecommunications
program, uses Tegrity class-capture technology to make course lectures
available to military men and women serving around the world so they can
receive classroom instruction and review classroom materials as their
demanding schedules permit via the Internet.
"This is a fantastic example of the value Tegrity Campus 2.0 brings to
students, instructors, and higher education institutions," said Isaac
Segal, Tegrity CEO. "Students have increased access to the benefits of
learning, instructors reach more students, and institutions extend their
impact well beyond the campus environment."
Students in the program take a combination of technical and
non-technical courses using Tegrity in order to complete the requirements
for either a Master of Science in Telecommunications or Master of
Engineering degree from UC. Many of the military men and women enrolled in
the program are officers in the Army Signals Corps where advanced
telecommunications training is fundamental to success.
UC Senior Instructor Emeritus Gerald Mitchell is credited with
launching the military program when he began capturing his lectures using
CAETE's course capturing tool, Tegrity, several years ago. With Tegrity,
lectures are supplemented by the slides, drawings, and even handwritten
whiteboard notes he and other instructors use when delivering their
lectures.
"By using Tegrity, our students deployed overseas can log in from any
location, at anytime, to view their classes," said Gerald Mitchell. "By
giving these students the flexibility of anytime access, they are able to
stay current on their workload and manage the demands of balancing student
and military life."
Serving also as UC's military liaison, Mitchell is developing plans to
recruit more military personnel for UC education programs. Mitchell said
military students represent a great addition to the university. He said
quality course content and solid online learning capabilities are both
critical to attracting military students.
About Tegrity
Tegrity Campus 2.0 is the leading Web 2.0 class capture system,
impacting learning, student satisfaction and retention across the entire
institution. Requiring no hardware or software installation, Tegrity Campus
2.0 makes class time available all the time by automatically capturing,
storing and indexing every class on campus for replay by every student.
Educators know that the more students can see, hear, and experience a
class, the better they learn. With patented Tegrity "Search anything"
technology, students instantly recall key class moments for replay online,
or on iPods and mobile devices. Tegrity is based in Santa Clara, California
with regional offices throughout the United States. For more information,
visit http://www.tegrity.com.
http://www.prnewswire.com/
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