Change -- by choice or forced on you.

Change -- by choice or forced on you.

As rightly said

Things must change for them to remain the same.

Wish to quote text from Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson
... We're Little people. We're smarter than mice. We should be able to figure this out."

"I know we're smarter," Haw said, "but we don't seem to be acting smarter at
the moment. Things are changing around here, Hem. Maybe we need to change and do things differently."
"Why should we change?" Hem asked. "We're Little people. We're special. This sort of thing should not happen to us. Or if it does, we should at least
get some benefits."
"Why should we get benefits?" Haw asked.
"Because we're entitled," Hem claimed.
"Entitled to what?" Haw wanted to know.
"We're entitled to our Cheese."
"Why?" Haw asked.
"Because, we didn't cause this problem," Hem said. "Somebody else did this and we should get something out of it."
Haw suggested, "Maybe we should simply stop analyzing the situation so
much and go find some New Cheese?"
"Oh no," Hem argued. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this."
While Hem and Haw were still trying to decide what to do. Sniff and Scurry
were already well on their way.

Hem and Haw OR Sniff and Scurry
Who would you like to be?
Are you what you would like to be?

Best wishes

Back again after about a month …

It was quite a long break. I did not wish for a such a long break; but well the time just flew before I could even realise. I have been busy with a few things. Will reveal them one by one at an appropriate time.

IPL season two closing and the Election closing too.

Quite a nice thing that both ended with it’s own surprises. Final match (and also the previous day semifinal) was screened at the club house in our complex. Since Bangalore was the team playing the saturday match was screened and then since bangalore team was involved more attendance was seen on sunday too. Plus I guess the big screen was the attraction in addition the cheering, tea and biscuits. Not too many thought that hyderabad would win. But one the 1st innings was done, it was only couple of us who had the “guess”. Hyderabad will win … And they did …

Election was a good one too. My only hope and pray was that a stable government is something that is the need of the hour. A government which will focus on bringing ecponomy back on track, focus on reforms, infrastructure and education. Hope this government does that in coming years. More so, it also looks like this government may last it’s term.

Theory of rounding off -- whose money is it!

Ever checked your bill (receipt) at various cafe, coffee outlets, food joints. Many (most) of them have a habit of rounding it off -- yes here I am referring to the Net Amount which is payable as a customer to the vendor.

• Odd amounts are an outcome of the tax(es) and the total amount from the basic products sold/bought
• Rounding off is just a feature which makes transaction simple
• Thus an amount of Rs.68.50 will get rounded off to Rs.69.00

As far as my reaction goes I fight for it come what may. And one should.

Before that do you really care as to how the totals and net payables are listed in the bill. Many don't and that is where things go unnoticed. Vendor is fine with any of such things till the point the customer does not complain. If the customer does complain the money comes back in some time.

Bottom line is that no one should loose money; customer or the vendor. So my view is make sure you take a look at the bill/receipt. See . To make it easier for both; choose to pay the bill using a card (debit or credit) or in case it is not acceptable make sure you carry enough change with you.

Cheers.

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

Poems have been one of many things (like good movies, quotes, books, some people) that inspire, motivate and keep me going ... Here is one of the poems

Just felt like reciting the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Workshop: Turning Point (Feb 2009)

Teaching is my passion. I like it because I believe as a teacher one can get the opportunity of 'creation'.

All those years of studying science, technology and application of science and technology (3 year or 4 year courses), it is important for students to be ready with all tools to face the industry and then be in the same (beastly, loving, caring, brutal, ruthless) industry to make ones living and career. I consider this to be a fairly serious task. As a student, at that age, it is not easy to understand how serious this learning business is. As the student gets into industry the situations make the student realise -- Wish I had know sooner.

Are these silver bullets which need to be known and are they finite in number. No. They are not. Being aware of most of it and then knowing the tools to face the unknown is most important.

As a part of my work for it in addition to being a faculty for many years is a workshop which I conducted for 200+ students of CITM and CIMR, Indore, India.

About the workshop: Title: Turning Point
From student to professional is really a turning point in the lives of many students. Being ready to the next phase as a professional is something that the student prepares for. Imagine a preparation of 3 to 4 years (of under graduate study) along with 17 years of prior formal education, to help one get thru the next 40+ years of active career. That's quite a bit of responsibility on the education.

This workshop was aimed at preparing students to face the entry point of the industry -- Written test, interview, group discussions -- with a great focus on how each one thru their planned and meticulous activities as a student can become more prepared to face the industry. Entry in the industry is just one smaller part. Staying there and making and being something is another.

Few points out of that workshop are:
Expectations from Students and Professionals at all times:

• Fundamentals, basics and concepts clear
• Application oriented thinking
• Technical skills (depth and breadth)
• Communication skills (written, verbal, presentation, one-one)
• Exposure to industry needs
• Ability to work in teams
• Analytical skills
• Methodical and structured approach to problem solving
• Learn, unlearn and relearn. Willingness to learn
  
• Flexibility, adaptability, high energy
• Personal discipline
• Ability to say 'I don't know' -- 'I have to learn'
• Ready to face challenges
• Self motivated and self learning
  

Ways and means to learn (as a student and beyond)

• Learn and share
• Quizzes and puzzles
• Presentation and discussions
• Relate: Concepts <> Application
• Connect: Industry needs <> Syllabus
• Labwork (beyond the journal)
• Project work (Individual)
• Project work (Team)
• Library and good books
• Mentor and Coach

Mock written test, interviews and group discussion was also conducted with a couple of students on stage. This gave a feel of what it is made up of.

'Turning Point' session was very well received and students and teachers liked it. This session was well covered in the local newspaper. The workshop was held on 13 and 14 Feb 2009.

Check the e-newspaper for 14th and 15th Feb 2009.
(http://www.bhaskar.com newspaper for Indore City Bhaskar)


Will sum it up with few quotes below

"You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's what counts. I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something."
--Richard P Feynman

"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."
--Einstein

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."
--Confucius

Such a session is something that I believe will help more students.
cheers and Good Luck

Hello World!

Welcome to my blog. Started this blog which will be a reflection of my thinking on science, technology, management, education, teaching, learning, development, research, innovation, creativity, social aspects.

This is an attempt to share my experiences, thoughts, opinions, questions and probable solutions.

World around us is filled with experiences and lessons. Just being aware can make a bug difference. So let's make that difference -- to ourselves and to all around us.