Computer Security - Minor Specialization - experiments and experiences

Taught a blend of students for the first time. Less in number, more in interest. Computer Security Minor Specialization was a wonderful teaching experiment and experience. Lot of practical, least of once sided lecturing, more discussions, expert talks...blending the practical and theory sessions... Learnt a lot... students from two different branches and two different semesters of each...




With the Akshata, Jay, Jwalin and Pushpam
 juggling between tasks with significant studies


With meet, shreyansh coding
every thing quick and easing


With  saharsh was 10/10 attendance
 jugal, anush anshul beating 1all on chatting


Jaydeep, Tadrush and Priya had a silent soul
Had a take home from them all.....


With passing days teaching is turning into wonderful learning... I wish the experiences keep us enchanted for the years to come...

Cyber Security ... the electrical way

Teaching Cyber Security was never on plans....

But I was off with it for M.Tech. INS, then for pharmacy and law and this time it was with the students of M.Tech. Electrical. The subject has opened up the barriers of being in the parent engineering branch. An ease of reach to the people who where beyond the scope of common things to talk. Once again an amazing rendezvous with the upcoming generation. The one which uses the technology but un-shielded. Rather they don't even know they can be bare targets. Various new case studies, many age old working concepts with the brand new batch. A batch that was dedicated, towards what they were listening to and what they were supposed to do. Loved being in the class...Stay blessed..

 

Cybered for the Lawyers

Teaching at Institute of Law has always been a new experience. With the class filled of technocrats at times we miss out on all possible fun. I feel rejuvenated as a teacher after taking up a course at law. Loved the class this time with all those varying creatures in the class. Priya always reminded me of a lead actor of "Happy bhag jayegi" with a chewing gum in her mouth, Mohammad always occupying the left corner of 1st bench, atleast one really hungry fellow trying to eat while I teach assuming I am not watching, the plea of attendance through mails, a few technically understanding souls, anuj's convincing hindi, many Saranshs who cannot concentrate until compelled...and that pretty girl complementing my looks...A class which I really looked forward to be in and the one who really wanted to not have the subject...will miss the class as I miss my other classes...wish to see them as lawyers flaunting all the beautiful attitude they possess.

Image Processing, Lecture Notes, Flipped Class and TPS

It gets very difficult to hide the emotions but I manage somehow, we learn this trait with the passing years. Last class of last semester always gets me emotional and this time I need to pen down to get rid of it. I know I will remember them all and miss their presence every time I visit the room. God has punished me with the ability to remember the selected place where each mind loves to sit. Those right side silent 1^st bencher girls; then back the doers some geeky, some freaky, some engrossed in their laptops and projects. The centre and the left, the loud, the pairs, the groups, the commentator, the lousy, the dreamy, the lost, the sweet, the singer, the writer, the designer, the thinker, the bookish, all I registered in memory forever. The spectacles, the bands, the colourful pins and the nail arts and all those grins. The running behind placement, the disappointments and joy, the desire and aspirations with CAT preparations, GRE and reco, and bargains for attendance. I will remember them and do remember the gone.   

I may not be a good teacher of image processing especially when I am teaching it for the 1^st time and that too inclined to some class room assignment experiments. Being the last semester and known students, I knew it was them who would be best to experiment the latest learning aids. (I regret making them victims of my experiments.) The most promoted flipped classroom. They would be out for placements and events and I wished they learn too although, being out of the class. This was possible due to flipped way of class and working on class assignments. Not telling the answers and allowing think-pair-share, I witnessed them learning the concepts on their own. They may be unaware but I know, that the experiment is successful. The previous batch did only 10 simple program statements but these people have had a far more amount of hands on. And ended up doing around 20 to 25 worth-while experiments with images. They may have copied things and used in-builts, but who writes from scratch in industry? The main part is learning, how things work. Learning that they had and that I had were worth noting. I learned what to do and what not during a flipped mode class, how it can be better received and all.  They have explored much more beyond the book and as I took that to my scrutiny where should they start exploring, with some shared stuff, they were sure to be on right track. I got to see much of their work in person, I got to discuss projects and got to know them more just because of this experiment. It was lovely experience at-least from my side. Students were 50-50 as they really did not get to compare and see how far they have come with the subject. The slow may get a chance to redo the thing as if lectured, its gone, but videos stay there and the fast becomes faster and get much ahead. A win - win for all.

A batch ended again with learning to remain .. Wish all flourish and fly....shine and be the colors of my sky.

Gratitute - VII Life Lessons from students

I have already written a lot about lessons I learn from my students. But this one needs a special mention. Had to visit IIT-Delhi and the facebook graph search told me that I have two people in the capital that I know. Saaket (whom I have taught many subjects and I know I can rely on him for any help) and Praxal (who was from another department and whom I taught a single subject and had chance of less interaction during his tenure at nirma).

I caught Praxal for help as he was studying at IIT-Delhi. I had no clue that someone who is an acquaintance can treat you much better than your relatives. Was it from arranging the stay on campus, or accompanying with great enriching talks, or walks to eatery stalls....I did not feel at any point in time that I was with a very less known person. He made our stay and interaction so comfortable, that at the time of departing we felt bad the same way we do when we leave behind our close relative.

Praxal, thank you for teaching me a new and essential dimension in life with your humbling attitude. We are surely going to be better persons and better hosts after meeting you and thus you have enhanced two lives along with all who may be affected by our behavior.

And Saaket you have always been a dear student of everyone who has taught you and you are still the same sweet person to meet. Thank you for sparing time to send the useful delhi darshan doc which I may circulate to all who may be visiting delhi. It was a pleasure meeting you.

God Bless....Stay connected...

Time spent with both of you have given one more reason to love my job.

Thanks
Pooja-Nirav

Unplugged

I never thought that I would deprive myself from facebook, wassap, emails, my phone, my laptop and my work place. These were so very necessary as the air I need to keep alive. But in the recent past my grand mother fell ill. We were told that she may leave us forever any time, any day...

It was very difficult to see a loved one die and leave forever in front of your eyes who actually wanted and deserved to live. For 15 long days we saw her in deteriorating health condition. It was then when I discovered that the things I felt so important were so worthless. And I unplugged myself and devoted all my time and feelings just for that person who had helped us grow and prosper. I discovered, she was much more important then the virtual relations that we strive for. I am fortunate enough to be with her during her last breathes which helped her detach smoothly. I took a long leave from the job which I have never done before. I really thank my senses for making a right decision and save me from a life long regret.

I got back and it's nearly two months now since my grandma left us...I cry out aloud still when I remember her. But life goes on and I am lucky to have a job that keeps me vibrant with the youth. I indulged into a new semester and subjects and got back to my plugged in life a little more than before to forget the sadness that surfaces now and then.

My studies regarding cyber security and laws unveiled so many different ways of misusing the online information. With great efforts after grandma I started having sound sleeps and now those efforts almost went in vein. I had sleepless nights thinking about the virtual world I have created around. And Finally one fine sleep deprived mid-night I cleaned up my entire web existence which was as pictures from my various life events. I am feeling so very light and private with the unplugged state of mine. Cannot completely unplug in the growing era of technology else I will be behind the ages and old :)

Learning: "Real is far more important than the virtual, Value it..And What all is virtual comes with a hidden danger, being safe is in our hands."

My favorite from - My notes to Myself

There is a part of me that wants to write, a part that wants to theorize, a part that wants to sculpt, a part that wants to teach... To force myself into a single role, to decide to be just one thing in life could kill off large parts of me.

My career will form behind me. All I can do is let this day come to me in peace. All I can do is take the step before me now, and not fear repeating an effort or making a new one.

- Hug Prather