It is arguable that one of the major causes of the abysmal learning outcomes which is a defining characteristic of Indian education is the low self-esteem and poor social standing of the teachers’ community. Uninspiring teacher training curriculums, grudging pay packages, overcrowded classrooms and unsupportive environments apart, the country’s 5.5 million academics tend to be islands entire unto themselves, deprived of a sense of community or professional camaraderie. This is a deprivation which Shuchi Grover, the Bangalore-based founder of an ambitious online portal educatorslog.in is determined to fulfill. Although activated barely a month ago this user-friendly portal/website promoted by Hit Factory LLC — a US-based venture fund constituted by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to encourage “ambitious and innovative use of the internet” in under-served domains like education — is generating considerable enthusiasm among teachers/educators scattered across the subcontinent. It has already chalked up over 1,000 registered users and membership is set to grow exponentially. “Teachers and educators are a neglected community in India with conspicuously little space to showcase and exchange their ideas and best practices. This website is a user-friendly, interactive forum for this neglected community. The next important constituency to be addressed will be parents of school-going children,” says Grover. The chances of this unprecedented initiative succeeding are excellent because Grover brings considerable erudition and experience into the project. An alumna of the renowned Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, Case Western University (USA) topped with a Master’s in technology education from the blue-chip Harvard University, Grover began her career in the American software industry helping to nurture a profitable start-up enterprise before signing up as a research associate with Harvard Business School where she helped to author case studies for MBA students. A firm believer in the effective use of technology to build and empower online learning communities, Grover continues to assist Harvard University to conduct training programmes for teachers around the world — including sub Saharan Africa — on Harvard’s distance learning platform, although she is physically located in Bangalore. Meanwhile in the garden city she has kickstarted the educatorslog.in initiative with technology vision and support provided by a small team of IIT-Kanpur alumni. “Although it is early days yet, I am certain that educatorslog.in will mature into a stimulating forum for the vitally important teachers’ community. Similar websites have worked very well in the US and have built a strong sense of community and camaraderie among educators there. This has enabled them to share knowledge and best teaching-learning practices to considerably improve the quality of public education. There’s no reason why a similar initiative won’t succeed here in India,” says Grover. Fair winds! Dilip Thakore (Bangalore) Historic mission EducationWorld’s special correspondent Srinidhi Raghavendra arrived to a warm welcome in Bangalore on April 15 after a four-month, action-packed, four-nation motorcycle adventure that began on December 3, 2006. The objective of his motorcycle odyssey (undertaken with Kishore Patwardhan under the aegis of Borderless Bikers) was to spread the message of the vital developmental importance of Equal Quality Education for All. During their four-month tour…
