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February, 2008
Oracle welcomed 59 teachers to the Oracle Academy Institute held in Bangalore, India, from January 7-12, 2008. The institute is an intensive professional development program that prepares faculty to teach the Oracle Academy's technology and business curriculum. The curriculum, which focuses on database design and programming skills, is delivered over two semesters in high schools, colleges, and vocational schools globally.
"We are delighted to host the third Academy Institute in India," said Krishna Sistla, Director, Oracle Education Initiatives, Asia Pacific. "By conducting this training event in India, we are able to help meet the growing demand for IT workers in the region.”
“Oracle has been committed to advancing education and our programs have matured to the point where they are truly first-rate,” said Krishan Dhawan, Managing Director, Oracle India “The Academy Institute provides teachers with the world-class training needed to ready young people for success in today's global economy.”
In December 2006, Oracle India, the Board of IT Education Standards (BITES), and the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka agreed to integrate the Oracle Academy curriculum into 100 polytechnic schools throughout India to reach an estimated 5,000 students, providing them with the opportunity to develop skills needed to pursue an information technology career.
During the recent six-day institute, teachers worked with Oracle Academy instructors to hone their skills and knowledge in one of two courses they will deliver to their students. Thirty-two teachers who are new to the program participated in training for the “Database Design and Programming with SQL” course. The remaining 27 teachers, who are current Oracle Academy members, prepared to teach a second course, “Database Programming with PL/SQL.”
To prepare for their in-class experience, the teachers completed 40 hours of online coursework, quizzes, and weekly discussions with an Oracle Academy mentor. At the conclusion of the training, teachers demonstrated their readiness to teach the Oracle Academy curriculum by completing a class project and passing the final exam.
“The Oracle Academy provides various ways of training that ensure teacher and student success,” said Thaseem Fathima, a teacher in the PL/SQL class. “Not only does the abundant online material make learning more flexible, the weekly online chats with mentors and teachers from all over the country also offer the opportunity to share experiences and ideas with others. Teachers exit the Academy Institute with a high level of understanding and confidence and are fully prepared to deliver the Oracle Academy curriculum in their schools. Most important, this means that teachers can start helping their students acquire critical technology skills right away."
The 59 participating teachers represent 54 schools from Karnataka state.
The Oracle Academy supports 397,000+ students in 83 countries. By partnering with schools, districts, and ministries that believe in early career preparation, the Oracle Academy helps students develop the technology and business skills required for 21st century careers. Participating institutions may integrate Oracle's cutting-edge software and curriculum into their courses and avail their faculty to first-class professional development opportunities.
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