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Reviewing Greatness!

In an attempt to get some real life insight into the vast field of Business, Finance and Commerce in general, the 11th Commerce class, inspired and guided by Purvesh Sir, have started a series of book review presentations. Four groups have been formed, each working on different books: Good to Great – by Jim Collins […]

An Enlightening Early-Summer Day’s Trip to Gandhinagar

March 28, 2012/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates, Career /by AVM Teachers

Activity and experience based learning is a significant part of student-centred environment of Atmiya Vidya Mandir. Students understand, read and write through their active involvement in the process. As a part of their on-going learning session for professional and vocational courses, senior students of grade 11th from Commerce and Science streams, recently visited the Gujarat […]

Reviewing Greatness!

March 30, 2012/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates /by AVM Teachers

An Enlightening Early-Summer Day’s Trip to Gandhinagar

March 28, 2012/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates, Career /by AVM Teachers

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Reviewing Greatness!

March 30, 2012/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates /by AVM Teachers

Good to Great – by Jim Collins
We are like that only – by Rama Bijapurkar
2G Spectrum Scam – by Subramanian Swamy
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World – by Liaquat Ahamed

The first review presentation in this series was held on the 26th of March in the auditorium to the teachers and students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir. The presentations of the other 3 groups will soon follow.

The book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins is written to guide and enlighten the already good companies to the path of greatness. To give a review presentation on this book a group was formed in which each one was assigned a task i.e. Karan Jivani (Presenter), Vikkim Patel (Computer Dept.), Parth Patel (Artist and Designing) and Meet Pansuria (Research).

The book is about companies who followed certain principles and became great. These concepts in a nutshell were explained by a working model. It was designed in such a manner that it could summarise the entire book.

Every page of the book has information that seems inevitable to achieve greatness! A few of all the important concepts in the book were the Hedgehog Concept, Level 5 Leadership and The Flywheel Effect.

The hedgehog concept is the intersection of what we can be the best in the world at? (And equally important—what can we not be the best at?) What is the economic denominator that best drives our economic engine and what are our core people deeply passionate about?

Level 5 leadership is about leaders who are humble, but driven to do what’s best for the company. While the flywheel effect is the additive effects of the small initiatives.

This book is answers to a curious question ‘how to reach greatness?’ These principles can also be beneficial in an individual’s personal life. Like the hedgehog concept is useful in making a career choice. The level 5 leadership teaches us values of humility and strong will.

The presentation was followed by some intriguing questions posed by the audience – students and teachers. The team put their best effort in responding to them and ended up gaining even more insight about the book.

This was a great learning experience and it also promoted the habit of reading good non fiction books.

Quick Links:

Book review 2: We are
like that only

Book review 3: 2G
Spectrum Scam

Book review 4: Lords
of Finance: The bankers who broke the world

Written by: Karan Jivani and the Good to Great Team (11 Commerce)

An Enlightening Early-Summer Day’s Trip to Gandhinagar

March 28, 2012/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, AVM Updates, Career /by AVM Teachers

As a part of their on-going learning session for
professional and vocational courses, senior students of grade 11th
from Commerce and Science streams, recently visited the Gujarat National Law
University (GNLU), one of the leading law schools of India, which offers various
law related courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

The university is currently ranked third among the other law
schools in India, within its eight years of inception. The students were made
aware of vastness of academic challenges and in-campus university procedure
through a complete campus tour to observe all aspects of this University – infrastructure,
academics, student/staff, hostel facility and a rich and well equipped library
opened for students till late hours.

Students got an opportunity to briefly meet with the Dean and also to interact with the senior
professors of the university, who generously devoted their time guiding the students
about the various career options available in the field of Law. They were very
approachable and supportive.

Students were made aware of the fascinating and lucrative
job opportunities associated with the study of law; it seemed to be one of the
best careers one could choose.

Overall, the experience of visiting GNLU was a big eye
opener for the students and they left the campus highly inspired.

The students then had a quick lunch on the go and had
darshan at the Gandhinagar Akshardham Temple. The scorching sun made the
ice-creams even more delicious at the temple!

The journey then took them to the New Sachivalay Campus
where they got an opportunity to witness live proceedings of the state assembly.
Many MLAs had arranged for citizens of their constituencies for a visit of the
capital the same day. The topics of discussion were science, industry and
education. Turn by turn, the ministers presented the progress, plans and
projects. Honourable Chief Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated that to be an
effective speaker, one must learn to listen.

Being the future citizens of India, it was an absolutely
learning session for all the students. They all brought back a feeling of
pride, of being a part of a system so big and so powerful. They gained a
reality check that to run a developing country with a population of over 1.2
billion is not a piece of cake; And India’s doing great!

After getting a true insight about how the state was run, the
students then moved on to the next part of the educational tour – campus visit
of the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology
(DA-IICT). Gandhinagar being a peaceful place, the campus of DA-IICT was even
more peaceful and enchanting.

First of all, the students attended an induction session by
the Dean (Academic Affairs) who introduced the institution’s philosophy to the
students and made them aware of the courses offered. The students realised the “research
driven education” approach of the institute and were left impressed by its
efforts to apply ICT in the rural areas of India.

Thereafter, the students had a chance to interact with some
existing students of the institute who took them on a detailed campus tour. The
students were shown around the labs, lecture rooms, the resource centre
(library) and the sports facility. It was very heartening to witness the
institute’s hands-on approach to education – there is one whole building for
just different labs (all having some state of the art equipment)!!

With some final words of gratitude, the students (now more enlightened than 24 hours ago)
parted to be back at home away home, Atmiya Vidya Mandir.

Ohh, and our dearest Pavakbhai (still doing brilliantly in academics and sports) was the host for the dinner. The guests had their dinner at his place and then finally left the capital of one of the most development frenzy state of India!

Written by: Students
of 11th Science and Commerce