About the Blog

The Department of Political Science, with the assistance of the Division of International Studies & Programs at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, is pleased to introduce its India Program - a unique joint partnership between A&M-Kingsville; the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University-College Station; and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study (JNIAS), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India.

The Program is being co-directed by Dr. Nirmal Goswami, Professor of Political Science, A&M-Kingsville; Dr. Kishore Gawande, Professor of Economics, the Bush School, Texas A&M-College Station; and by Dr. Aditya Mukherjee, Director, JNIAS.

The Program will include graduate and undergraduate students traveling to and staying in India from December 28th, 2010, through January 14th, 2011, attending classes at JNIAS, and visiting multiple sites through field trips in the greater New Delhi region. Areas of focus include history, politics, economics, culture, health, environmental policies, nuclear issues, etc., with reference to both greater Asia and India.

This blog will document our experience. You are welcome to post comments.

You are all invited to cyber travel with us as we learn about the uniqueness of India.





Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Global Classroom

            French writer Francois de la Rochefoucauld once eloquently noted, “the only thing constant in life is change.” Whether it be a change for the better or the worse, we see that this viewpoint has influenced societies all over the world and allowed them to progress to the stage they are currently in. While education is a major contributor to the vast advancements that are always taking place, we must remember that without progressive communication, thoughts and views cannot be entirely conveyed nor appreciated.
            Despite the American education system coming under recent scrutiny, it is vital that we keep in mind the advancements that have already taken place. Among these great improvements are the addition and inclusion of technology into the learning atmosphere. While every student has a different way of learning, one thing remains the same. As an ancient Chinese proverb says, “tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”  This is exactly what happened for some students at the Bishop Elementary School in Bishop, Texas.  A large quantity of students were allowed to partake in a unique, yet no longer unconventional, discussion with me. In this dialogue through the skype networking site, students were able to personally ask questions and interact while viewing a live image of the area. Though the talk was short, the inclusion of these children into a real-life, unique, educational experience hopefully inspired them to further their individual pursuits while keeping a perspective on reality outside the United States.
            So, although some students often face struggles with repetition when dealing with education, we can take solace in the fact that new developments are always emerging and therefore positively influencing young children’s readiness to learn.
~Mark D.


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