Summer internship 2018

Times NIE Summer Training Programme

On 20 April 2018, Times NIE conducted its annual entrance exam for the Times NIE Summer Training Programme 2018-19, to select meritorious students. Anoushka Basu, student of class XI of The Indian School, was shortlisted from amongst many students from various schools across Delhi- NCR for the prestigious internship.

The interns, from classes X to XII, got an opportunity to work with the TOI national editorial team from 21 to 29 May. There were numerous activities to help understand the finer details of writing and presentation of a story. All these were aimed at providing the interns with a hands-on experience in journalism.

Through the first few days, senior members of the editorial team lectured on the profession and shed light on the life of a person working with an enormous enterprise like The Times of India.

The interns were made aware of the qualities one must inculcate for the job and the importance of maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the report. The interns were instructed on how to develop a good news sense and procure the right information from the reporter, with regard to a particular event or crime.

Mrs Pratigyan, a member of the editorial team, gave the participants pointers on how one should sequentially structure an article, condense all the facts, and provide quotes from the impacted common people and the concerned authorities. She highlighted the significance of the 5Ws and 1H- What, When, Why, Who, Where and How- in writing an introduction while reporting hard news.

Students were divided into groups and assigned topics to write articles. These articles were read aloud and discussed the next day. It was announced that the same would be published in the NIE Edition in the month of July!

The interns were familiarised with many other facets of work that fall under the umbrella of journalism. They were briefed on the nitty-gritty of reporting, interviewing, photography and editing for a news piece.

The activities included a mock newsroom in which each intern was allocated a role such as an editor, reporter, politician, doctor, etc. The NIPAH virus breakout in the state of Kerala was to be reported. This was followed by interviews, a press conference, giving ideas to make one’s own national daily, and so on.

On the last day of the programme, the students visited The Times of India printing press at Sahibabad where they were given a tour of the factory. An elaborate explanation ensued on the different machines and their respective roles in printing millions of copies of the newspaper every single day.This was followed by a discussion on whether print or hardcopy newspapers were still a viable source of information in today’s world, and how they hold an upper hand as compared to online news or the news channels on television.

Finally, each intern submitted their articles and reports to be reviewed by the editorial team. The efforts of the participants were appreciated ,and each of them received a “Letter of Recommendation” by the Editor in Chief.

The training programme was a wonderful experience. I thank my School and The Times of India for giving me this opportunity to learn a great deal through this project. By Anoushka Basu XI-B

Summer internship in IT at IIT Delhi

Information technology took a robust swing as the world stepped into the 21st century. Fields such as computer science, robotics, machinery, communications etc became salient features of the growing world. Innovations and advancement in these disciplines paved the way for a revolutionarised system of international exchanges and businesses. A group of 15 students of class 11 studying computer science got a precious opportunity to attend a week-long summer internship at the innovation incubation centre of the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Delhi. from 4-12th of June, 2018. Each day presented a new topic of discussion for the students and they got the privilege to have hands-on-experience of the some latest computer technology and softwares. On the first day, the students were warmly welcomed and introduced to the campus, their courses and curriculum. They then moved to the computer lab where they were acquainted with the basics of application development. They even designed the layout and crafted the designs for apps!The next day, the students got to work on Arduino boards. Arduino is an open-source platform used for building electronics projects. It consists of a physically programmable circuit board that runs on the computer and is used to write and upload computer code on the physical board. The students connected small LED bulbs to the Arduino and through an input of code into the computer, regulated the lighting in the bulb. The following day, the students attended a lecture on mobile communications and broadband. They were told of the phases of communication which have gone past the world’s eyes; from waiting days for letters to arrive in the post, to enjoying video chats with friends in the farthest of time zones. The introduction of the internet and the urge to better speeds has brought the world closer. 1G, 2G, 3G and now 4G- the internet has been increasing its efficiency like never before! On the 7th of June, the topic for the day was ‘introduction to routing problems’. The students discussed the evolution of WiFi it’s advantages and its drawbacks .The next day the students were lectured on image analysis and its applications. They were told of a software called MatLab which is used to edit pictures, make changes in them and highlight differences and noises in two seemingly similar pictures. The students then worked on the software in the computer lab. Resuming on Monday after the weekend off, the students learned of the mechanics and the working of autonomous or self-driven vehicles. Companies like Uber have invested in such technologies and tests are underway before they can be opened to the public. On the culminating day, the students attended a lecture on HCI- Human-Computer Interaction and Human Robot Interaction. The main motive of HCI is the fulfillment of the needs of users and adhering to their requirements. Companies use HCI to make their products more user-friendly and appealing for the public. When this three-hour workshop approached its end, the students were fondly seen off by the teachers at IIITD. They carried back participation certificates and mugs for mementos. The group was inspired as well as encouraged to apply their new learning to fruitful use and enhance their knowledge in IT through this enriching workshop.

Class 11 summer internship at an FMCG factory

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people. “ Our School continuously endeavours to make students academic achievers. Simultaneously personal growth and development are given equal importance with a platter of exciting opportunities. One such opportunity for the latter is summer internship programmes for class 11 students. Each year, students of class 11 receive a hands’- on experience in fields of work linked to areas of their interest. This year, three us, students of class XI-C Commerce section- Vanshita Sethi, Aman Chattlani and Anish Agarwal- spent time at the Catch Group of factories on 21 and 22 May 2018, as part of our skill development programme. We were accompanied by our class teacher, Ms.Pooja Mehndiratta.

We spent approximately 3 hours each day interacting and working with the staff of the Catch masala factory, cloth factory, ayurvedic medicines’ factory. On our visit to these fascinating plants, we experienced for ourselves the series of tasks being performed in magical momentum to make the targets. We wore masks and covered our heads with caps throughout our interaction, since, hygiene was first and foremost for all these processes. We were guided and shown around by one of the head staff members, who explained the entire manufacturing, processing, finishing, storing and packaging procedures. The heads of the different sections of the plants that we visited were extremely helpful and spontaneous. We also got a view of new technologies adopted by these factories- to manage the speeds of production, manpower productivity etc. It was indeed a great learning experience getting first-hand information on each and every process involved in the business. This visit helped transform the vacuous words in our textbooks into an exciting and enterprising world of commerce!

Summer internship in Psychology at Moolchand Medicity

An internship for students of Psychology was held from 28 May to 2 June 2018 at the Moolchand Hospital. It was attended by Devanshi Mehndiratta, Sana Mendiratta, Ayushi Gupta, Kaveri Duharia, Vanya Nautiyal, Jahnnobi Roy and Khushi Shukla of class XI.

The first day commenced with the introduction of case studies by Ms. Tanya Mittal, child specialist. She briefly defined Psychology and discussed the role of psychologists. She also analysed a few sample case histories to facilitate better understanding.

Our next session was with an occupational therapist. She had many colourful and interesting toys with her. We were instructed to observe the behaviour of 2 children with ADHD who were present in the room and to take note of the therapies she used to enable them to channelise their energy. Day One ended on a satisfying note with a doubt-clearing session.

On the second day, we attended a session conducted by our own School alumnus, Arunima, now a college intern at the same hospital. She discussed the breathing pattern chart and the daily activity schedule chart. The breathing pattern chart is given to patients with anxiety and anger control issues- the extreme play of phobias, etc. It helps psychologists keep track of the client’s behaviour and progress. We learned all about extraordinary cases and the new technology that has helped psychologists deal with fears and phobias of patients.

The third day began with the introduction of the ‘fun side’ of Psychology. Our mentor was a child psychologist at the hospital, who practices hypnosis. She told us about the ” Pig Personality Test” and the “Rorschach Inkblot Personality Test”. The latter is a psychological test in which a subject’s perception of an inkblot is recorded and then analysed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms or both.

The fourth day focussed on the dos and the don’ts and the critical points to focus upon during a client session. We were provided a blank form called the “Screening Proforma” in which psychologists write down solutions to their client’s problems. Our mentor explained the meaning and use of different terms-for instance, an anecdotal record. We comprehended the importance of the form and mastered the tactics of obtaining information out of guarded patients, chiefly by making them feel at ease. Thereafter, we were given more case histories for study. At the end of the session, our doubts were cleared.

On Day 5, we met the special educator at the hospital, who highlighted the importance of special education. He said that the conducting of tests and dealing with people with learning disabilities were tasks that require patience and will power. We were asked to witness the learning disability tests being conducted and to observe the child taking the test..

A presentation on EQ and its importance was made by one of the college interns. It showed that extensive research was being done by researchers to gather more information about EQ. We also learnt about MSE (Mental Status Examination) and the 2 spectrums of disorders – neurotic spectrum and the psychotic spectrum. The mentors explained the difference between the two and explained various methods to identify the type of disorder the client is suffering from. They described the process of collecting samples of thoughts and identifying problems through speech.

Dr. Jitendra Nagpal, popular child psychiatrist at the hospital, enquired about our experience during the internship. He recommended books and topics to augment our knowledge. He lay special emphasis on the new laws and the changes made to accommodate children and people with disabilities. He discussed the Persons with Disabilities Act (PWD) 1995, which is an act for equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation. He also talked about the POCSO, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012, which was established to protect children against offences like sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and pornography. He concluded by discussing he tendencies of patients and how there is a premorbid, morbid and post-morbid state. He touched upon the causes which lead people to such state.

Our internship concluded with this last set of discussions and we received our certificates. It was a great learning experience for all of us.

Devanshi Mendiratta (11-B) and Jahnnobi Roy (11-D).

Class 11 summer internship with an NGO

Our School has a rich tradition of ingraining a sense of duty and responsibility towards community and country. An option amongst the choices offered for summer internships for class 11 is working with an NGO.

Every year School sends a group of students to ‘The Hope Project’ at Nizamuddin, which is doing commendable service for the underprivileged families of the area.

This year, 7 students attended a 5-day internship which allowed them as student volunteers, to interact with the outreach programme. They got the opportunity of a first hand experience of conditions in an urban slum and the specific efforts required for uplifting the children living here; in matters of health, nutrition and opportunities for education.

The project runs community health centres, a mobile medical unit, education centres, a centre for counselling, a thrift and credit programme, baking and catering courses, vocational courses and other income generation projects for the benefit of the community.

The experience lent an engagement with the children studying with the Project. We, student volunteers, taught the pre-primary children alphabets, craft etc. Some of us assisted with the health care centre dispensing aids and medicines under guidance. We also observed patients in the OPD. A few of us attended the afternoon school sessions and helped with remedial classes for the weak students. A couple of us volunteered with the crèche for children of 3-12 months.

We had an enriching and eye-opening experience. We were overwhelmed by the response of the toddlers! We learnt how to communicate with and understand these young children. Many of the children come from deprived backgrounds and bringing a smile to their faces meant a lot to us.

Ifrah Ali (XI-D).

Summer internship in fashion studies

Every year, students of our School participate in a 5-day summer Internship programme at the Pearl Academy. This year, 4 students of class XI interned at the Rajouri campus. There were other participants from various schools across Delhi.

On the first day, the interns were asked to select a course. We chose Fashion Photography. It was followed by a talk on our chosen subject to give us relevant information. The interns from different schools were formed into teams for collaborative work.

The next three days, the various techniques of taking pictures with a DSLR or an SLR camera were shown to us. Our instructor pointed out the different parts of a camera and their functions. We learned many new features;how to adjust the lighting for taking good quality pictures in the studio, as well as, in the natural light.

We worked, both as photographers and part-time models! We enjoyed the task of strolling on the campus to take pictures on topics given by our instructor. It was quite a fun-filled and competitive activity.

On the last day, we visited a factory to see how the fashion industry works.We toured the gallery at the Indian Habitat Centre to see the exhibition by various photographers.

Ifrah Ali, class 11

Summer internship at a CA firm

A summer internship for students of commerce was conducted from 28 May to 1 June 2018 at M/s. Anil Maheshwari & Company, Rajendra Palace, by Mr. Maheshwari himself. It was attended by Gursimer Kaur, Aman, Kirti, Anish, Vishesh and Jai of class XI C.

The internship focused on reinforcing a greater interest amongst students by giving them a practical experience.

The first day commenced with a presentation -
‘ Steps to become a CA’. The interns asked several questions and completed an assignment relating to the topic after discussing it in groups.

The second day began with an assignment on Excel, based on the share market. We were asked to choose a company by analysing its shares. There was competition amongst us on whose company would make the maximum profit! Aman won this battle of the shares with aplomb!

The third day had us working on a software- based task in Tally Simplicity. Here, we were key in the transactions handed by our instructor. The work was done as journal entries, after group discussions.

The activity on the fourth day was centred around the Good and Services Tax (GST). The assignment included the 3 taxes in this system, i.e. CGST , SGST and IGST. We were familiar with sales within the state, ( involving CGST and SGST) and sales outside the state ( involving IGST). The assignment was prepared on Excel and it was really very interesting and enjoyable.

On the last day our project focused on Income Tax. As a part of the assignment we were asked to fill up a tax form provided by our instructor, reading the given information and filling the data correctly.

The internship was highly informative and enjoyable. It concluded with the awarding of participation certificates to the young interns.

Gursimer Kaur, (11-C).