Swaraj University is a two-year learning space for youth, with focus on self-design learning and social entrepreneurship within the context of sustainability and social justice. Applications for registration are now open.

Our mailing address is:

Swaraj University

83, Adinath Nagar, old fatehpura

Udaipur 313004

India

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/swarajuniversity

Resurgence Magazine (Issue No.266-267) is just out from Malaysia. It contains several of the key papers presented at the June 2011 international conference on “Decolonising Our Universities.” Third World Network website is: twnet@po.jaring.my

Swashikshan is happy to announce the first all India National Conference to be held from the 28th of February to the 4th of March, in Khandala, Maharashtra, India.

We would like to give preference to current homeschoolers, as it is very difficult for homeschoolers scattered all over the country to connect with others having similar concerns.  

However, if you are not currently homeschooling but still feel the need to attend, do send in your requests to us with your reasons and we will do the best we can. Many of us will also be available at Learning Societies UnConference 2013 which is usually held in March-April, barely a month later.

Please click on the link and read carefully before registering.  Click on all the tabs at the top of the blog to find out more about the conference.

http://indiahomeschoolersconference.blogspot.in

By homeschooler we also mean unschooler, life learner, self or student led learner, whole being learner…always on the look out for a better term, we have settled on Swashiksharthi.  

Urmila

Multiversity would like to bring the following international education congress and related events organised by the Shruti Foundation, Delhi, to your urgent attention:

The WE ASC Education Culture Congress January 17-19, 2013
The Global Student Essay Competition 
The Teacher Training Workshop on Curriculum Development for Mentoring

The INAUGURAL AND PLENARIES – 17TH – 19TH JANUARY 2013 are as follows:

Introduction to WE ASC Congress 2013 by Convener

Inaugural by Dr. SAM PITRODA (Advisor to PM on Innovations and Infrastructure.       

Presidential Address: Dr KARAN SINGH (President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations

Plenaries:  Dr. SONAL MANSINGH (Padma Vibhushan – Founder for Indian Classical Dances),
Dr Pawan Agarawal (Adviser, Education – Planning Commission),
LISE GRANDE (UN HEAD, India)
ROB LYNES (Director, British Council India).
VINEETJOSHI (Chairman CBSE),
SHEKHAR KAPOOR (International Film-maker),
Dr DineshSingh (Vice Chancellor Delhi University -TBC),
Dr. BUNKER ROY (Social Activist andFounder Barefoot College),
Dr. SHOVANA NARAYAN (Kathak Maestro),
Dr. ALKA PANDE (Director, Visual Arts Gallery, IHC) and other eminent global dignitaries 
The Global Student essay competition deadline for college and school students has been extended to 30th December 2012.

Please participate and outreach to your mailing lists, e-groups, social networks, family and friends ASAP.

Warmly,

Shruti
Convener

Founder, Shruti Foundation India
www.shrutifoundation.org | www.we-asc.org | www.shrutinada.com

Correspondence Address – UK :
Stranmillis University College, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5DY
Phone: +447440438308

India Address: 
Shruti Foundation
206 Southex Plaza, 389 Masjid Moth, 
South Extension Part II, New Delhi 110049 | 
Phone: +91 11 26252532 |  +91 11 26259209 | Mobile: +919810078925
Fax: +9126251574

CBSE has introduced an elective course on “Knowledge Traditions and Practices of India” from the academic year 2012-2013 at the class XI level. This is to be extended to students of class XII in the next academic year. The course is an attempt to reintegrate India’s best intellectual, literary, artistic and scientific traditions in the classroom. The material for the course was developed under the general guidance of Dr Jagbir Singh and the editorship of Prof Kapil Kapoor.
The ten modules of study under this subject are:
1: Astronomy in India
2: Chemistry in India
3: Indian Literatures, Part 1
3: Indian Literatures, Part 2
4: Indian Philosophical Systems
5: Indian Traditional Knowledge on Environmental Conservation
6: Life Sciences (1) Ayurveda for Life, Health and Well-being – Part 1
6: Life Sciences (2) The Historical Evolution of Medical Tradition in Ancient India – Part 2
7: Mathematics in India
8: Metallurgy in India
9: Music in India
10: Theatre and Drama in India
The content is comprehensive, well developed and each concludes with a list of resources – both books and URLs. Anyone interested in the subject will enjoy studying the course or undertaking self study from the modules.
CBSE’s recent circular on the course can be read at: www.cbseacademic.in/web_material/Circulars/2012/68_KTPI.pdf.
The 10 modules can be downloaded from the CBSE website. To do so, go to www.cbseacademic.in/circulars.html and scroll down to Acad-68/2012 of September; the box on the right contains the links to the modules in pdf format.

Date and Time: November 6, 2012, 7 pm to 8 pm (India Time)
Location: chat window at indiahomeschoolers.ning.com <http://indiahomeschoolers.ning.com/events/event/listByLocation?location\
=chat+window+at+indiahomeschoolers.ning.com>
The live chat for homeschoolers will feature a guided Introspection via online chat.
Urmila Samson will guide the event as follows:
5 mins wait for all to gather.
5 mins guided breathing, relaxation and going to deeper space within.
As long as needed for something to emerge.
Share or privately note what emerges.
After each says they are done, spend some time discussing what to take up, how, when and where.
All interested may log in to participate

The Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI) organizes its convention of organic farmers every two years in a different State. This year’s convention is scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Earlier conventions were held in Wardha (Maharashtra) in 2006, Trichy (Tamilnadu) in 2008 and Anand (Gujarat) in 2010.

The convention will be limited to 500 persons, on a first-come, first served basis. All OFAI State Secretariats have been allowed quotas for participation. OFAI members will get priority for registering.

Most interesting aspect of the convention is the demos that are organised on organic farming techniques. These are conducted by experienced organic farmers from all over the country.

Download the brochure and registration form for ensuring you are there.

THIRD PEOPLES EDUCATION CONGRESS
(November 19-23, 2012, Gujarat Vidyapith And Lok Bharati Vidyapith, Ahmedabad)
Focal Theme
THE INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM: THE CRISIS AND THE SHIFTING PARADIGMS
ORGANISED BY DR N.P. CHAUBEY OF THE PEOPLES COUNCIL OF EDUCATION
5,  Iswar Saran Ashram Campus, Allahabad 211004, INDIA
Mobile: 09935023920 E-mail: pce1995@gmail.com
Multiversity is collaborating with this conference and will conduct some sessions.
More information on this congress is available at its website: www.pcedu.org.in/wordpress        
Local host to inform about your date and time of arrival at Ahmedabad:
Prof. J.P. Pandya
Local Secretary
Third Peoples Education Congress,
Gujarat Vidyapith
P.O. Navjivan, Ashram Road
Ahmedabad 380 014, INDIA
jp_megh@yahoo.com

Exploring the reason why children play and why the toys adults make disorient a child’s natural learning process

Date and Venue: 21, 22 & 23 December, 2012 at Pune, Maharashtra
For venue & registration email: sadhnavillageschool@gmail.com

We at Sadhana village school have been exploring to provide free environment for children to make sense of their world. We have been documenting various things children do. We, adults have termed it as play which is not considered as learning. Learning for us is when children have book in their hand and is connected with words.As we have been observing and documenting children for the past year some of these aspects are being challenged.

Children also make their toys as they play and there is a strong connection in everything they do. There is nothing random about why they do what they do.

We are inviting people who are interested in a fresh and first hand inquiry to understand how play and cognitive development and their making sense of the world is connected.

We will be uploading few videos in the Sadhana Village facebook page.We are also keen to work with schools that are keen to make their ‘teachers’ into ‘learners’. We would like to initiate common sense research among teachers to understand children first hand rather than relying on theories of Montessori, Steiner, Piaget, Vygotsky, Dewy etc. This is not to challenge any of these great peoples work but to pay homage to them by being authentic ourselves