“Knowledge comes from learning; wisdom comes from living”
St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous) organized a two-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) concentrating on various topics which would encourage and enlighten the teaching fraternity of St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous) to start the new Academic Year directed towards the academic theme “Celebrative Learning”.
The FDP was organized on 30th and 31st of May 2018 emphasizing on topics ranging from how teaching can be made joyful to preparing of a quality research paper, with both in-house and external resource persons addressing the faculty members.

Day 1: Wednesday, 30.05.2018
Topic: General Staff Meeting
Time: 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Venue: Conference Hall

The General Staff Meeting commenced with a prayer followed by a session by the Director, Rev. Fr. Arun Prashanth D’Souza and the Principal, Dr. Albert Smith. They laid the foundation of the Academic Theme for the year 2018-2019: “Celebrative Learning”. They also welcomed the teaching fraternity of St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous) for the Academic Year 2018-2019 with a briefing on the code of conduct, academic performance, discipline and various skill based programmes to be initiated for the well being of students in the year ahead.

Session 1: Topic: How to Make the Classroom Teaching-Learning Process Joyful and Effective at St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous)
Resource Person: Fr. Clarence D’Souza SJ, Vice-Principal (Admin.) and Registrar, St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore.

Fr. Clarence D’Souza SJ emphasized on the concept by an empowering quote: “Teaching is a Unique Job”. He spoke of how the teaching profession should be more a vocation than a profession; we ought to welcome each year as a gift with new joy by bringing passion for teaching. The first positive step is by enhancing the skill of reading and writing; the second is class preparation which is the most important aspect for any teacher before he or she enters the class room. Teaching can be made joyful and effective by igniting the power of positivity and zest which are the stepping stones to success. The session encouraged the faculty members to focus more on identifying their short falls thereby causing improvement which could lead to effective classroom connection. The joy of everyday teaching is helping young minds reach out to their dreams. The session ended with a beautiful saying: “Never leave the class disappointed”.

Session 2: Topic: Relevance of Teaching Plan and Lesson Plan
Resource Person: Dr. Clement D’Souza Vice Principal and Associate Professor Dept. of Economics, St. Josephs College, Bangalore

“If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan not the goal.”
Dr. Clement D’Souza began the session on a spiritual note and followed that up by focusing on the relevance of effective teaching and lesson plans. The session emphasized conceptual clarity on how to make a structured blue print for the subjects focusing on the key area of planning with optimism, adoption of various methodologies such as content of teaching, target audiences, how to execute the teaching plan and by reviewing the understanding level of the students. The session ended by drawing on components such as material or teaching aids, review of previous knowledge, critical thinking and assessment.

Session 3: Topic: Building Student-Teacher Rapport and Class Room Management
Resource Person: Mr. Prashanth Kumar Governor, Faculty and Head of Department, Department of Economics

Mr. Prashanth Kumar spoke of his experiences at St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous). The session focused on how a teacher can build a good rapport with students that can boost their self-confidence, encourage them, motivate their actions, and reward their skills and ability. At the outset of building effecting rapport among the students, it is essential for all the faculty members to have sound class room management. Every teacher can bring life to the classroom by diligent preparation of the subject matter. He also spoke of how one can bring creativity in the class rooms. The session was well organized and ended with effective teaching plan and how one can bring creative learning within the four walls of the classroom.

Day 2:
Session 4: Topic: Preparation of Minor Research Project, Proposal for Workshop/Seminars/ Conferences
Resource Person: Dr. D. Raja Jebasingh Assistant Professor & Research Supervisor PG & Research Dept. Commerce St. Joseph’s College of Commerce

“Imagination is the highest form of research” – Albert Einstein
The session was conducted by Dr. D. Raja Jebasingh. One of the most important aspects in the field of education is the area of research. He threw light on the following issues: how the teaching fraternity at St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous) can go about minor and major research projects focusing on the areas of interest, eligibility criteria and the requirements of the various funding agencies such as UGC and ICSSR, proposal-writing relevant to the national and international policy framework, and organizing conferences and workshops with the thumb rule “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound). The session was carried out in an effective manner to reach out for improvisation in the area of research and contribute to the field of education.

Session 5: Topic: CIA, ESE, CBCS, Credits for Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular Activities
Resource Person: Mr. John Bosco Controller of Examination, St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous) Bangalore.

Mr. John Bosco began by giving an overview of the functioning of the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) and the conduct of examinations for all U.G. and P.G. programmes at St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous). Briefings were held on the marks assessments, CIA, breakup of credits granted on various grounds considering the co-curricular and extracurricular participations of each student for qualifying for the UG or PG degree. All the faculty members were requested to be vigilant and to maintain the confidentiality of the examination system.

Session 6: Topic: Preparation of Quality Research Paper
Resource Person: Dr. Bhavani Principal, Nagarjuna Degree College, Bangalore

The session was conducted by Dr. Bhavani, Principal, Nagarjuna Degree College. She gave a bird’s eye view on how to prepare a quality research paper based on ideas, one’s interest, topics of relevance in a current scenario, and how to conduct an in-depth study, and improvisation on a quality research paper. She spoke of the ground rules of research, literature study, data collection, validation of the data with an effective statistical tool, and drawing conclusions.
She stated that every research paper needs to justify the study conducted and its relevance to the field of education needs to be looked into.

Session 7: Topic: Relevance of Mentoring and Counseling at SJEC
Resource Person: Ms. Miriam Imam Counselor

This was the most interesting session taken by a well-known, well experienced resource person in the field of counseling and mentoring: Ms. Miriam Imam. The entire session was on mentoring and how each faculty member could reach out to every student, understanding who they are. There is a thin line between mentoring and counseling. Every teacher should monitor students, understand their abilities and dreams, and focus on how they could expand their horizons.

The session ended with a beautiful message to be carried by each faculty: “Reach out to the Person and the Family”

The two days of informative and relevant Faculty Development Programme 2018 was successfully organized by the Management of St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous). The objective was to lay down a pathway for the teaching fraternity to start a new journey of celebrative learning with the blessings of the Lord Almighty.

Report by: Ms. Varsha Madhavan
Faculty Dept. Of Commerce
St. Joseph’s Evening College (Autonomous) Bangalore.

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