Best Practices: What U.S. educators can learn from India

• INTRODUCTION:

  India is where business and technology firms look to find new talent. What are the best practices in educating a new generation of competitive players in the marketplace that India incorporates? The seminar was meant to address this question and provide an opportunity for U.S. elementary, middle and secondary school teachers to observe the process of curriculum development, its implementation in the classroom, and the training of teachers in general knowledge fields, including the humanities and sciences.

  The program consisted of two phases, namely, academic study and field visits. The first four days of academic program was held in New Delhi using a multi-disciplinary approach involving formal lectures, interviews, and discussions with prominent scholars on different educational aspects. In the field visit phase, participants spent time in various parts of the country to meet with government officials and their counterparts, at all educational levels. They also spent time at teacher training and other institutions that specialize in the development of curriculum. Activities were developed to allow the group to view the entire process of curriculum development - from creation to implementation.

  A special feature of the seminar included each seminar participant being paired with an Indian counterpart who aided in the creation and implementation of the curriculum projects produced as a result of the program. The seminar was designed to enrich participants' knowledge by combining academic and cultural experiences. Within the group's program, time was also allocated for participants to pursue their individual academic interests and work on their respective curriculum projects.

  Schedule in India
  Participants Brief CVs
  Curriculum projects Abstract