User:Kalpanagupte

Today is 27, August 2024 

झंडा उंचा रहे हमारा!

Spring offers beauty, colour, joy, spice and variety to life. Women embody these virtues. This year, International Women's Day coincides with Holi, the spring festival of colour in India. Let us salute the spirit of womanhood and let this spring bring renewal, rejoicement, natural colours and beauty in your life.

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE USER PAGE EXPO (UPE) AWARD FOR MARCH 2011.

I am grateful to the encouragement that i got from Gita Mathur, Patricia Schlicht and Dr. R.C Sharma who were my first Gurus. What गुरु दक्षिणा can i offer them other than doing my best to try to spread what i learnt?

= My Profile =

I am employed in Indira Gandhi National Open University, (IGNOU). The headquarters is located in New Delhi, India. We are involved in the delivery of programmes. I look after the admission related activities, pre-entry guidance and counselling, and all learner related issues. Monitoring of study centres is also an important activity. It is an interesting job as we are associated with so many diverse learners having different needs and it gives immense satisfaction when some learners come back to express satisfaction when we are able to help them achieve their goals.

Prior to my joining IGNOU, experience of working with the State Resource Centre for Non-formal Education, Indian Institute of Education, Pune was very inspiring. Here I was involved in the National Literacy Mission and the SRC was involved in developing literacy primers and other reading material in Marathi and in training the field level workers. The Post-Literacy phase was operational and we implemented several innovative projects with the objective of helping the neo-literates retain the newly acquired literacy skills. There were women's camp, reading and listening centres at the village level and also a year-long programme was designed and implemented for out of school adolescent girls in the age group of 18 to 25 years in two villages near Pune.

I have also taught Political Science for almost a decade in several undergraduate colleges in Pune, Thane (near Mumbai) and rural and backward Anandwan, Warora Taluka, Chandrapur District of Maharashtra State. I could not continue my teaching career due to domestic and family responsibilities.

While bringing up my children, it was difficult to hold a full time job, but I became involved in many civic activities and we were quite effective in getting the local authorities to respond to our demands.

My involvement in the activities of Aastha Breast Cancer Support Group, Pune, has helped to widen my network of friends to encompass the whole world through the Reach to Recovery International

I have become spiritually inclined too and study the Bhagwad Geeta by attending Sunday classes organized by Vedanta Academy.

Yoga is also a part of my life and I am training at Iyengar Institute, Pune, since 2003. B.K.S.Iyengar, the founder, is world renowned and also featured in Wikipedia. Recent research highlights the fact that practising yoga significantly improves the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

Professional Background

 * Lecturer in Political Science - Abasaheb Garware College, Pune (1979-1982)
 * Lecturer in Political Science - V.P.M's Arts and Commerce College, Thane(1982-1984)
 * Lecturer in Political Science - Anand Niketan College, Anandwan, District-Chandrapur, Maharashta (1984-1985)
 * Research Associate - Centre for Development Studies and Activities (1985-1986)
 * Associate Coordinator - State Resource Centre for Non-formal Education (1992; 1994-1996)
 * Assistant Regional Director - IGNOU Regional Centre, Pune (1997-2006)
 * Deputy Director - IGNOU Regional Centre, Pune (2006-till date)

Education

 * B.A. (Entire Politics) Fergusson College, 1976
 * M.A. (Political Science) University Of Pune, 1978
 * Ph.D.(Political Science) University of Pune, 1985 Thesis entitled "A study in the Process of Political Socialization - A Sample Survey" 

Professional

 * Learner Support Services;
 * Pre entry and Post entry Guidance and Counselling;
 * Resolving Learner Grievances.

Quality Issues for Counselling in Open and Distance Learning in India

Some Reflections on Learner Support for Distance Learners: Feedback from the Field

Teacher Training through Open and Distance Learning in Maharashtra: Challenges and Achievements[]

Personal
I have been actively involved in civic issues in my town and played a leadership role in a citizen initiative. We have been instrumental in achieving a number of minor issues like better roads, clearance of garbage and involving citizens in segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste at source. Clearance of the local hill from encroachment by slumdwellers and arranging for their relocation was a major issue. The area was planted with trees. On hindsight I realise that the life that I then led was quite stressful.

The year 2002 was devastating and a major turning point. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. However it opened new avenues as I joined a local Breast Cancer Support Group which was launched the day I was discharged from hospital after mastectomy. The group is now called "Aastha" which means Concern. We extend emotional and psycho-social support to newly diagnosed patients and help them cope with their illness and their fears. Since most Breast Cancers in India are detected quite late, we also help to create awareness among the general population, particularly women using various media. A play developed by sharing our own experiences during various stages of the disease has been enacted at different places. I have also participated in a live interactive Television show for women.

I have been indeed fortunate to be able to attend three Reach to Recovery Conferences at Mumbai, Stockholm and Brisbane. Looking forward to the next Conference scheduled in November 2011 at Taiwan.

I enjoy Yoga at the world renowned Iyengar Institute and find myself becoming more spiritually inclined.

Embroidery, Music, Watching films, Making new friends and acquaintances are my other interests.

Photos
Gita, I did it! (Kalpana Gupte 13:04, 1 May 2010 (UTC))

= My Wiki Projects =

Guide for newly enrolled Distance Learners


Welcome

Open and Distance Learning system

Know your Study Centre

Self instructional Learning materials

Other multi media material and Teleconference

Attending Counselling sessions

Preparing and submission of Assignments

Return of evaluated assignments

Term end examinations

Doubts and Queries


 * This Guide for new learners of IGNOU was prepared by me in the eL4C37 workshop under the guidance of Dr. Sharma, Patricia and Gita Mathur.
 * I registered for eL4C41, a Learning4Content workshop to learn wiki skills.

= My Reflection =  The past few days have been interesting and a learning experience too. I seem to have come quite a long way from where I began and I am happy. Life passes one by just like a train moving from one station to the other. On the journey we are so concerned about reaching the destination that we are unable to really experience the beauty around. We also tend to opt for faster modes of transport and are in a frenzy.

Life too is like that. So much is happening every moment and we need to stop and savour each moment, whether it brings us joy or sorrow. The train will ultimately reach the destination. On our way, let us make friends with our fellow travellers and share with them. Joys increase when shared and sorrows diminish.

I am happy that Dr. Sharma introduced me here and for the good words of Gita and Patricia. I am also grateful to meet Tero and hope it is possible to share some music. His work must be very interesting and meaningful.

Well said Kalpana. I am happy to be on this tour with you.--Gita Mathur 16:52, 27 April 2010 (UTC)

My Sandbox
My sandbox

= Feedback and Notes from my Wiki Neighbours = Cynthia D'Costa taught me how to use the scroll bar. Thanks, Cynthia See my sandbox. 
 * Thanks, WE is a great experience and a philosophy of development of Open Mindset. I feel that unless a person has the mindset to contribute free content, the movement cannot progress. Your page is inspiring --Ravi limaye 00:59, 13 March 2012 (UTC)
 * [[Image:Mafalda.jpg|left|50px]]Hi Kalpana. Thank you! What you see in my page it's what I learned from all my wikifriends (also copying the codes... ;)and I continue learning from all of you. The mainly approach I have had to Indian languages is.... Bollywood... I love those Indian films and I'm a big fan of Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and beautiful Kajol (sorry about my spelling). I would like to undestand dialogues in the original language but I know it could be different variants of Hindi. There are some sounds in Hindi we don't have in Spanish specially some vowels. But what seems a challenge for me is the writing systems! :) Warm wishes --Alejacha 16:11, 10 October 2011 (UTC)

Hi Kalpana...congrats on winning the UPE Award.Great... I knew u would make it some day.Cynthia--Agnes 13:50, 2 April 2011 (UTC)


 * Dear Kalpanaji, thanks, it looks good to note that you are helping other WikiEducator users! --R C Sharma, PhD 20:34, 1 November 2010 (UTC)


 * Dear Kalpanaji, pl post some of your work in the area of awareness related to pink ribbon. --R C Sharma, PhD 18:41, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

Madam Ji, you posted it on ur own page the below message. it did not come to me.

Now tell me after practising editing skill on my sand box if i want to delete is it OK. Inform. SRR.

Dear RR, I did it in gmail and then copied and pasted it here. It was very easy. You can write in several languages in gmail. See the settings. The headings on my page have been added again for this workshop. Since I had already added the info in the previous workshop, I did not want to do it without spoiling my page. Also the info. would be repetitive. I will be adding some content on Breast Cancer Awareness. Did you see my Guide for Distance learners? See all the pages. --Kalpana Gupte 02:17, 28 July 2010 (UTC)

please give your feedback.srr.

You are able to write in TELUGU. I am not able to learn. Why don't you teach me. Madam Ji, why all your headings are repeated again in user page.raja rao.


 * Dear Kalpanaji, looks lot of activity and collaboration is going on your page. --R C Sharma, PhD 15:06, 3 August 2010 (UTC)


 * धन्यवाद, सर जी. आपही गुरु है और आपकी दुआसे हम सीख रहे हैं. --Kalpana Gupte 02:55, 22 July 2010 (UTC)   








 * प्रिय कल्पना जी, अधिगम हर बार नया होता है, उम्मीद है इस बार भी नयी नयी विधियाँ सीखने को मिलेंगी! --रमेश शर्मा 15:48, 21 July 2010 (UTC)

 Dear Kalpana, You have such a lovely user page and I'm impressed by the way you quickly learned the gallery feature. You are a strong and brave person for overcoming breast cancer and a mastectomy. I really enjoyed your page. Kind wishes, Brenda Hallowes.

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<font color="#008000">It's nice to know you, Kalpana! I'm also interested about yoga and meditation! --Teromakotero 19:31, 24 April 2010 (UTC)

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<font color="#008000">Hi, Kalpana! Nice to meet you again! You have a really interesting background and fantastic User page! --Teromakotero 18:56, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

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<font color="#008000"> <font color="#008000">..Laxmi Narayan

<font color="#008000"> <font color="#008000">--KD Shijo 07:06, 12 June 2010 (UTC) {{Hullo Kalpana, learning much from your page. Ek mekas Sahaya Karoo, avaghe dharoo supanth. --Cynthia D'Costa

<font color="#008000">{{Note| Welcome to the neighborhood it is a pleasure to meet you, your page looks great!!! --Chef James 14:27, 14 June 2010 (UTC)}}

<font color="#008000">{{Note| Hello Kalpana madam, your page is very interesting, many things are there to learn, nice to meet you on wiki, regards--Vaishali (UTC)}} {{Note|Hi Kalpana... Thanks for the wishes. You have done much progress as well. There is no limit to learning.All the best! Cynthia--Agnes 09:48, 20 June 2010 (UTC)}} <font color="#008000"> {{EL4C37Welcome}} {{EL4C40Welcome}}&lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/font&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;