This section showcases ex-students' experiences in the department as a whole. They express their views on the departmental activities, faculty and infrastructural facilities within the department.
2008 - 2010
Students from Batch 2008-2010 have written a testimony for the department here.
2007 - 2009
Students from Batch 2007-2009 have written a testimony for the department here.
2006 - 2008
Students from Batch 2006-2008 have written a testimony for the department here.
2005 - 2007
Students from Batch 2005-2007 have written a testimony for the department here.
2004 - 2006
Students from Batch 2004-2006 have written a testimony for the department here.
2008 - 2010
Srilakshmi Nair
Click to view testimonial video/Click to view testimonial write up
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Parul Goradia
Click to view video/Click to view write up
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Nova Scheidt
Click to view video/Click to view write up
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Veena Naik
Hello everyone! My name is Veena Naik and I am a student of Sem III of the MET-CA course at DET, SNDT Mumbai. It is very difficult to put down my experiences and feelings about DET into words. I can’t believe that i have completed a year at DET and I must say it was an eventful one. It has been such a great learning experience and there’s always more to learn at DET not only from our well-experienced faculty but also from peers.
The course is divided so well into 4 semesters and the facilities provided are excellent. We are trained in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, software skills, Research etc. Besides academic support we are also trained in public speaking and English language skills. I am indeed proud to say that I have enrolled myself into a unique course that is only offered by DET.
DET has given a direction not only to my career but also my passion for the field of education. Thanks to Dr. Jayshree Shinde and other faculty members, my peers and everybody at DET for inspiring, lending a helping hand to me.
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2007 - 2009
Devyani Bijoor
The years 2007-2009 will always remain close to my heart for more than one reason. Writing a testimonial would infact be the least I can do to recollect the memoirs of this different, yet beautiful journey that I sailed through during these two years.
My testimonial
It is dawn… a new day has come…
A beautiful journey just ended… and another one has just begun…
What remains with me is only nostalgia… J
As I ride high on the waves of my thoughts,
I feel a surge of joy and confidence…
And before I start to pen down my most heart-felt lines,
For bringing me here, I wish to thank my Providence.
When I first stepped into this new terrain of learning,
The ‘child’ in me kept looking out for adventure,
But the ‘adult’ in me was yearning,
To place my hands on more serious endeavors.
I strode into a world…
A world which took me from behaviorism to humanism.
But was it humanism…?
Nay, it was dynamism!
And as I kept dancing through this dynamism,
The power of thoughts, actions and words graced me,
And at a point took me beyond all these ‘isms’
To make me realize what I can really be…
The time that followed was one
That demands, I cherish it for the rest of my life.
Knowledge indeed, I realized, is the brilliance of a thousand suns
If we believe that learning does not really cut like a knife!
I came in as a student of Educational Technology,
But, as a life-long learner, am I leaving,
The day I stood on the threshold of my course and career,
The memories of this journey, my misty eyes started, weaving.
To my mentors, shall I forever be indebted,
Who helped me further blossom into a beautiful human being,
To share my worldly experiences, surely a second home-coming is slated,
As I strongly believe in the power of ‘giving’.
Counting on the blessings and wishes of my mentors … my guides,
As I will take the first steps into my profession … in this world,
I shall not fail to look back to express my gratitude
To assure, that… never shall I forget them even as my wings unfurl…
To assure that… the values learnt here shall be practiced forever,
To assure that all ye will eternally be in my heart… my life… my prayer!!
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Susan Mathew
Life at DET has never been uneventful. Looking back it seems to have been so quick. Right from the start, DET makes one feel like a little home where everyone knows each other so well. Despite the apprehension of stepping into a field I knew very little of, it seems, everything fell so perfectly in place here at the department. This is where everything you do revolves around a good team spirit that keeps everyone together in academic as well as non-academic pursuits. Somehow I always felt inhibitions fall through when we were together at DET. We learned all too soon, that assignments and submissions were a part of life that we were going to have to live with. This however, did not stop us from finding the time to create some very cherished memories. Dr. Kamat and Dr. Shinde have always been our support through every venture – individually or as an entire batch. In a true sense, their vision is the reason we have had the opportunity to pursue Educational Technology. That apart, the other staff members have been so helpful to all of us, especially when we struggled with the expectations we’ve had to meet. Most importantly, DET has given us all the chance to grow not only as individuals with character but professionals with sound qualities.
The ability of the department to keep all its students (past and present) together in some sense, by organizing events, or by providing opportunities to facilitate interaction is commendable. Rarely do you find old students coming back to their places of study to contribute in their own way. At DET, this is not a rare phenomenon. In fact there has always been encouragement on the part of Dr. Kamat and Dr. Shinde, when it comes to involving past pupils.
I am glad for the time spent here, I am sure I have gained so much that I will value in the times ahead, wherever I go. To my department and the people who made my life here so cherished I am deeply grateful.
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2006 - 2008
Shalini Mathias
In the summer of 2006, I made the decision to pursue the MET_CA program at DET from SNDT Women’s University. It was a decision that changed my life forever. I had great expectations from the course and it surely lived up to it and much more. Being a life long learner means nothing short of studying from books or surfing the internet, it means learning from peers, mentors, family and making the best of what life has to offer. Being surrounded with people that want to make a difference, people who exude professionalism but yet warmth, people who lend their hand during troubled times and laugh with you, guiding instead of dictating…DET is the place to be. I challenged myself everyday and pushed myself further because I had great mentors who decided they were not going to settle for anything less. Sure, there were times when it was tough to keep up but nothing in life is easy. Hard work surely pays what I am today is because of the mentors at DET and the efforts they made to give us the very best. A tradition that was followed at DET was the prayer at the start of the day. This time of reflection allowed me to introspect, something I find very hard to do. I learned to improve myself and learn from the reflections of others. This program also encourages lateral thinking and welcomes thoughts and ideas that could change education today by integrating technology for a better outcome. Change happens if we start with ourselves – I am grateful to Dr. Kamat and Dr. Shinde for their guidance.
Currently I am a visiting scholar at the University of Regina, Canada. The University of Regina and SNDT Women’s University have had several exchanges between students and staff from both institutions since 2004 with regards to Educational Technology. I was lucky to be part of that exchange in 2008. Traveling to Canada was an experience in itself. Not only was I the ambassador for SNDT but also a learner, a guide, a support, and everything that I could be. It was amazing engaging with people from different cultures, learning from them, sharing ideas on teaching philosophies and best practices. For Regina, a city that can get to -40◦ C at times surely have a lot of warm people with big hearts. DET grounded me in my principles and theories of Instructional Design, so when the time came to transfer that knowledge into practice, the transition was easy. It’s been wonderful growing and learning and every time I look back at my time at DET I chuckle to myself thinking about all the fun that was mixed into all that learning.
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Devika Mehta
It was like a learning dreamland to me when I first entered in. The kind of teaching & learning process that goes on in this department is what I had never seen before, but had just heard about as ‘Ideal learning situations’.
It is essentially not only about how we construct our knowledge here with the help of our educators, but the bonding between each & every member at DET. It is like going to another family to learn from home everyday & then coming back to our respective families. I am highly impressed & moved by the kind of work our teachers at DET are doing in the field of education. Apart from the formal education, which in every way has prepared us for the world of IDs there is a lot I learn from Dr. Kamat Vasudha & Dr. Shinde Jayshree everyday. Their whole outlook towards life & humanity is something I salute.
My batch was of 16 girls & I am glad that we all are still together. We share a very special bond with each other. I am happy to add such friends to my kith and kin.
My most fascinating day at DET was when it was announced that I was to go to Canada for my Internship on merit. It was a wonderful experience to go to The University of Regina, Canada and work there with them. The stay there has become a special memory for me, as even today I am in touch with a few people there with whom I share a special bond.
I thank god, my parents, teachers & myself as each day passes by for bringing me in a world of learning treasure ‘DET’. I am glad that even after completing my Master’s from DET, I am still a member of the department as a Visiting Faculty and an e-tutor.
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Anjana Roy receiving a crown from Dr. Kamat for winning the Ms. DET contest in the year 2007 in the welcome & farewell party hosted by MET-CA 2006 Batch.
2005 - 2007
Amrita Gogate
I am Amrita Gogate, one of the ex-students of the Department of Educational Technology. I passed out of the department in June 2007.
My journey along the DET path has been truly memorable! This department and the people have given me innumerable memories to cherish for a lifetime. I still remember my last day - last minute rush to the department to fill up the admission form!! I had presumed that I would never be able to get through the CET. But, to my fortune, things happened differently and my life truly changed from that moment! Right from the first day we, new joiners interacted as though we knew each other from before! Dr.Kamat and Dr.Shinde welcomed all of us with great warmth and affection and I'm glad to say that they radiated the same warmth throughout those 2 years.
Our batch was one of the naughtiest ones. We thoroughly enjoyed every single day and our learning was always a group effort or rather collaborative learning! Being exposed to various modes of instruction was truly enriching. We were actually experiencing what we learned. This helped us understand the subject better. Dr.Kamat always added to our knowledge bank by informing us of new e-journals, conferences, books, sharing her experiences and many such endless resources. There was so much I could learn from her! The more I interacted with our professors, the more I benefited.
Amrita Gogate receiving a gift from Dr. Vi and Dr. Brian as she was working as an intern at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
One of the golden chances that this department gave me was working as an intern for 3 months at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. My stay in Canada was absolutely fantastic! I received enough opportunities to practice what I had learnt, know their work culture, attend an international conference, make new friends and understand their culture and tradition. As per my knowledge, no other department has been so giving! Truly fantastic, I must say.
Today, as my memories roll back, I realize that this course has been a gateway for me to the magical, rewarding and the tough CORPORATE WORLD! I had never imagined myself to be a part of this world and among the corporate crowd. But, MET-CA has made it possible. My learning experiences while in DET are coming handy in my daily work. These experiences have pumped in a lot of positive energy and confidence in me.
Thank you Dr.Kamat and Dr.Shinde. Thank you for everything.
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Chitra Wadke
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore... Dream... Discover.”…Mark Twain
Such precise words to describe what I did by letting go of my rather stable and satisfying job and joined this course of MET-CA. I would not be exaggerating if I say that joining this course was a great milestone of my life. It changed my life in a true sense. Before joining I used to think whether I will be a misfit amongst all 21yr old chirpy birds. But the department proved me wrong. I never felt out of place or “old” in the department. Moreover there were two more students like me to keep company. All the four semesters were structured with a well defined syllabus but the teaching was very ‘unconventional classroom teaching’. Being a part of the most “unconventional” class was a thrill. The ‘board’ is not a ‘blackboard’; there are no ‘notes’ to be learnt; there are no ‘model’ answers; one question may have many correct answers (is it possible elsewhere?!?); discussions are allowed; no question banks; there are groups for all the activities but there is no groupism. Learning here is not bound by any boundaries. At the same time there is continuous guidance from Dr. Kamat and Dr. Shinde. DET stresses on not only educational but spiritual and moral developments also. There is lot of scope given to students for managing social events held up at various times of the year, such as participating in the Yuva Mahotsav, arranging for the welcome party for the new joinees, farewell party for the METCA’its, the DET annual day, pot luck specially organized for giving the flavour of hospitality to the visitors from the Regina University, Canada and many such occasions.
For my 3-month internship which was a part of the fourth semester, I got a great opportunity of working with Wawasan Open University, Penang, Malaysia. This opportunity of course was due to the varied and valuable contacts of Dr. Kamat that she has almost all over the world.
I am very proud to be a part of the DET family.
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2004 - 2006
Anjana Roy
I was in the department from the year 2004 - 2006.
Joining the department was a truly enlightening experience. Though I was from an academic background, I perhaps lacked professionalism in my approach. Our mentors in the department saw to it that not only did we work as a team but infused in us the spirit of professionalism.
The whole experience of being at DET was enjoyable, knowledgeable, rewarding ... and learning wrapped with strands of affection and care.
I pride myself to be a part of single group of closely knit batch mates, whatever we did while we were in the department, we generally did it together. The things I liked most about my Department was that it offers an in-depth knowledge about all the spheres of educational and instructional technology, promotes on-site learning experiences and the best thing about the department is that we are reassured that our mentors are always there behind us to encourage us in all our endeavors. I benefited a lot from all the group activities and the subsequent presentations we had done during the course. The course has opened my eyes to the fact that I need to be a lifelong learner if I want to compete with the best.
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