Decision Sheet and Learning Diary: New Tools for Improved Learning Through the Case Method

Of the three phases of learning through the case method, instructors have focused on the in-class phase in training of both teachers and participants. The other two phases, pre-class preparation and post class-reflection, have not received much attention leading to lack of exploitation of the full learning potential from the method. This paper shares continued efforts to conceptualize and develop two tools, decision sheet and learning diary, to strengthen the two phases. These were designed and tested in three executive development programmes. The results and our reflections suggest that the tools enhance the process of learning and the learning itself.

Small Farm Goat Production in Semi-Arid Region of Uttar Pradesh

Majority of selected goat farmers were landless and marginal (69%) with an annual average income of Rs.I9200.00. However, average income of small and medium goat farmers were about Rs.25500.00.Ownership pattern of goats revealed that about 78% goats were owned by the landless and marginal farmers. Majority of the farmers had Barbari/Barbari type goats (54%) followed by non-descript (43%) and Sirohi type goats (3%). Furthermore, 69 per cent goat houses were of Kaccha type and 49 per cent of selected respondent availed private veterinary services for their goats however, 40 percent of the goat farmers used home remedies. Merely, 11 per cent of the respondents visited government veterinary hospitals Though, poor socio-economic status cannot be ignore for the goat improvement in study village, some policy support is imperative to encourage goat farmers for their overall development

Micromegas TPC studies at high magnetic fields using the charge dispersion signal

The International Linear Collider (ILC) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) transverse space-point resolution goal is 100 microns for all tracks including stiff 90 degree tracks with the full 2 meter drift. A Micro Pattern Gas Detector (MPGD) readout TPC can achieve the target resolution with existing techniques using 1 mm or narrower pads at the expense of increased detector cost and complexity. The new MPGD readout technique of charge dispersion can achieve good resolution without resorting to narrow pads. This has been demonstrated previously for 2 mm x 6 mm pads with GEMs and Micromegas in cosmic ray tests and in a KEK beam test in a 1 Tesla magnet. We have recently tested a Micromegas-TPC using the charge dispersion readout concept in a high field super-conducting magnet at DESY. The measured Micromegas gain was found to be constant within 0.5% for magnetic fields up to 5 Tesla. With the strong suppression of transverse diffusion at high magnetic fields, we measure a flat 50 micron resolution at 5 Tesla over the full 15 cm drift length of our prototype TPC.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

RF amplification property of the MgO-based magnetic tunnel junction using field-induced ferromagnetic resonance

The radio-frequency (RF) voltage amplification property of a tunnel magnetoresistance device driven by an RF external-magnetic-field-induced ferromagnetic resonance was studied. The proposed device consists of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and an electrically isolated coplanar waveguide. The input RF voltage applied to the waveguide can excite the resonant dynamics in the free layer magnetization, leading to the generation of an output RF voltage under a DC bias current. The dependences of the RF voltage gain on the static external magnetic field strength and angle were systematically investigated. The design principles for the enhancement of the gain factor are also discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Dynamics of Team Teaching and Research in a Management School: Learning and Imperatives

This paper discusses the experience of team teaching to address the issues of integration of academic inputs by bringing multi-disciplinary perspective together and thereby enhance learning experience of participants. The paper delves on the process, events and outcome of team teaching by four faculty members at IIM Ahmedabad who collaborated in teaching, writing cases, and doing research for a period of more than three years. The experience has been summarized using the following dimensions: need for team-teaching, existing mechanisms and barriers, opportunities and potential, imperatives, fall-outs and challenges experienced in the process. The cohesion, trust and mutual respect are key imperatives. The other factors contributing to the success of team-teaching are strong felt need by the members for integration in programmes, complementary skills and experiences of team members, frequent programmes with integrated components that provided continuous opportunities for learning, co-location of the instructors, and off-site programmes that provided opportunities for close get-togethers. The autonomy granted by the institution to instructors and co-coordinators to design and execute learning opportunities was also instrumental in the success. In an environment where the rule of the game is individualism, forming teams creates fears of loss of importance and recognition. The experience shows that the competency of the members and the overall effectiveness of the tasks are strengthened if the team believes in “reciprocating interdependence”. This can be possible only if members allow themselves opportunities to experiment, improvise and review