Employability X PDF
Employability X PDF
Employability X PDF
CBSE
Study Material
Of
EMPLOYBALITY
CLASS X
2 CURRICULUM (X) 2019-20
Acknowledgements
Communication Skill
Ms Kiran Bhatt , HOD English , Modern School
Ms Urmil Guliani, Teacher of English
Mrs Hemal Handoo, Principal , Hansraj Model School, Delhi
Part A
Duration in Marks
S.No Units
Periods
Total 50
4 CURRICULUM (X) 2019-20
message
3. Exercises and
games on applying
7Cs of
effective
communication
Total 13
6 CURRICULUM (X) 2019-20
Total 7
7 CURRICULUM (X) 2019-20
Total 13
8 CURRICULUM (X) 2019-20
Total 10
9 CURRICULUM (X) 2019-20
Total 7
Communication skills
What is communication?
The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking,writing or
using some other medium and means of sending or receiving
information.
The following link further explains use of phrases in communicating better and
with much ease.
https://youtu.be/YbLUN_1YX2k
Activity 1 ( Writing skills)
The following activity may help the students to strengthen the concept further:
Description
Write phrases on both sides of the card or the paper. Show them only one side
and ask them to guess the back side.
*To further build up the concept, few worksheets will be given to check how
much they have learnt . One of the example is listed below
Identify the phrase type:
10. Go at once.
Article writing
Article writing is the process of creating a non-fiction text about current or
recent news, items of general interest or specific topics.
The following figure represents the format of Article writing
* Figure 5
The following link will help to build up the concept
https://youtu.be/q2197KT1iNE?list=RDQMaJwsUDCsYv4
Activity 5
Doing surveys can be a useful way of getting your students to interact, produce
question forms and collect and analyse real information.
This survey has been designed for younger learners and is based on the theme
of school subjects.
Preparation
One class is going to survey a different class that they don't know. It’s a good
idea to choose a group who have a higher level than your own group as this
avoids misunderstandings in the survey. Examples of few questions which can
be asked are listed below
1) What’s your favourite subject?
2) What’s your worst subject?
3) What’s the most important school subject?
After a brief discussion,students will write an article highlighting the problems
students are facing in different subjects and remedial measures on the same.
This activity gives them the chance to practise target language in context and it
also prepares them for the survey with students they may not know.
Unit -1
Demonstrative knowledge of Various methods of Communication
CS 10 Worksheet 1 : Actions Speak larger than words!
Role Plays :
A
Note to teacher.Before Class:
Allot the 4 role plays to students in advance to prepare i.e before the class period.
Ask them to exaggerate the body language.Guide and help the pairs.
In class:
Ask pairs to role play the situations .
In plenary or after each role play elicitwhat is being expressed so eloquently by the body language.
Post Each Role Play
Ask class to describe what Student B was thinking and feeling; what message was he/she sending. Ask for specific “clues” based on what
Student B did with body ,face, hands etc.
Student B You are getting bored. Tap your foot. Look around, fidget, look from side to side, avoid eye contact.
Role Play 2
Student B Lean forward, keep still ,be comfortable ,have eye contact, and nod.
Role Play 3
Student A: Make a long list of excuses as to why you didn’t do your homework.
Student B You are the teacher. Put your hands on your hips, roll your eyes, shake your head, keep muscles tense, look angry.
Role Play 4
Student A: Ask student if he knows who has physically assaulted a class mate/or damaged the class furniture during interval.
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Communication Skills - Activity
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smiling fake yawn Examine the table given below.
eye contact, wide open stare Add to the list of body language
behaviors!
forward lean moves awayfrom speaker
nodding shakes head negatively
positive facial negative facial expression
expression
2
CS 10Worksheet 2 What’s Your Emotional Intelligence: How well do you read other people?
Adapted from Greater Good Magazine Berkeley
Communication Skills - Activity
Unitthe
A Take -1Quiz
Demonstrative knowledge of Various methods of Communication
1
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4
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3. Pain
4. Disgust
5
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6
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8This face is expressing...
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1. Happiness
2. Desire
3. Politeness
4. Compassion
10
7
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8
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9 disgust
10 compassion
11amusement
12interest
13 sadness
14 shame
15happiness
16anger
17 love
12
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1 Fear
Answer: Fear
We express fear when we feel threatened.
2 Happiness
Submit Answ er
Submit Answ er
13
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3 Embarrassment
gaze is averted
head moved down to the side,
neck exposed.
4 Pride
5 surprise
14
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6 Contempt
7 Disgust
15
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8 Pain
Submit Answ er
9 Compassion
16
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10 Amusement
11 Interest
17
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12 Sadness
18
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13 Shame
14 Politeness
19
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15 Pain
Submit Answ er
[A2]
20
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16 Love
Love
When we feel love, our facial expression often resembles happiness:.
21
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CS 10 Worksheet 3
2Try and guess what percentages each would have in order of importance?
Give reasons for your answers.
a)spoken words ----------%--
b)body language ----------%--
c)voice and tone ----------%--
3 Check the answer from the answers to Figure 1a and Figure 1b given at the end
of the unit.
4
Figure 1a
[A3][A4]
Next check whether you were correct in your estimate of allotting percentages!
22
Communication Skills - Activity
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Demonstrative knowledge of Various methods of Communication
Figure 1b
a)Let us find out how to use our voice modulation ,tone and
word stress by doing the following activity.
b)In pairs take turns and speak aloud the following
sentences.
c)The word that is in bold must be spoken with emphasis.
d) After each sentence discuss what you are trying to
communicate by using that particular tone and word
stress.The first one has been done for you.
e)Attempt all the sentence sin turns and write down what
each one means.
f) Finally check your answers given at the end of the unit.
23
Communication Skills - Activity
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Demonstrative knowledge of Various methods of Communication
Placement of the
What it means
emphasis
I did not tell John you Someone else told John you were
were late. late.
I did not tell John you But maybe I told Sharon and
were late. José.
24
Communication Skills - Activity
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Placement of the
What it means
emphasis
I did not tell John you I told him you were attending
were late. another meeting.
Do you agree with the statement given in 3a and 3b.Discuss with your partner.
25
Communication Skills - Activity
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Figure 3a
Figure 3b
26
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Figure 4
a)
________________
b) [A5]
c) [A6]
27
Communication Skills - Activity
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d)
____________________________________
e)
_____________________________________
[A7]
\
_______________________________
f)
28
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CS10Worksheet 4
1 Examine the following visual. What are the Do’s and Don’ts of body language when you are appearing for an
interview?
Complete the sentences given below the visual.
Figure 5
. [A8]
29
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Body Language :Don’t do the following:
(i)You mustn’t__________________
(ii)You shouldn’t___________________
(iii)Don’t________________
(iv)Be careful about ______________________
(v)Don’t________________
(vi)______________________
2Look at Figure 6a
a) Read the cues of the Do’s and Don’ts of body Language given in Figure 6a .
b) Discuss what are the five main elements of Body Language.
c) Using the clues given in Figure6b and the Do’s and Don’ts column,fill in the blanks using appropriate
words.
d) Check your answers given at the end of the unit.
Figure 6 a
Figure 6b
30 Far
Back
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Worksheet 5
CS 10 Worksheet 5
1In Column A, fill in the 3 blanks by listing the 3 main kinds of communication.
2In column B list examples of each of the 3 kinds of communication.
3 In pairs discuss
How and when you use a particular kind of communication.
Whether these different kinds of communication occur separately or whether you use more than one type of
communication simultaneously!
4 In column C list the advantages of each of the 3 types of communication.
5 In Column D list the disadvantages of each of the 3 kinds of communication..
s A B C D
.
n
types of communication examples Advantages Disadvantages
definition
1 ______________________ conversations
one on one
________
___________
__________
2 _______________ letter to
principal
_______
____________
_________
___________
3 Shaking
hands,smiling
Road signs
____________
__________
32
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ANSWERS
Figure 1b
Figure 2
33
Communication Skills - Activity
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Placement of the
What it means
emphasis
I did not tell John you Someone else told John you were
were late. late.
I did not tell John you But maybe I told Sharon and
were late. José.
34
Communication Skills - Activity
Unit -1
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Placement of the
What it means
emphasis
I did not tell John you I told him you were attending
were late. another meeting.
Worksheet 4 Figure 6
Figure 6 a
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gesture
4 _d)_________ head up and alert,h)___ leaning turn your m)____ on
forward someone,arm crossing,leg
crossing
5 e)___________ distance not too i)___ and not too close make listener uncomfortable
with your n)_____
Figure 6b
i)Far
m)Back
k)blank
n)proximity
a)eye
h) body
d)posture
l)overdo
g) arms
e) physical
j) look
b)facial
c) gesture
f)pleasant
36
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38
Barriers to Effective Communication
Objectives:
Learn about
1 Various barriers to effective communication: their types and factors
2 Different measures that need to be adopted to overcome barriers in effective
communication
3 Gain practical experience of--
Physical Barriers – Physical barriers separate people from each other and mark
territories. These barriers can often be seen in the workplace where offices
and closed doors stop communication.
Physical barriers can stop you from being comfortable communicating with a
person whom you do not come face to face with often.
As long as people still have a personal space that they can call their own,
nearness to others aids communication because it helps us get to know one
another.
Language Barriers – Not using words another can understand will certainly
stop your message from being conveyed. This not only applies to actual
languages but also expressions, format used, buzz words and other jargon.
If one is not familiar with your language, misinterpretation will occur. The
accents and dialect (use of words) of people belonging to different places differ
even if their language is same and may become barriers to communication.
For example, the abbreviation “LOL” used in chat language used to mean Lots
of Love before, which changed to Laugh Out Loud. If a person says LOL, the
second person can interpret the meaning in any way they want or from their
understanding. People use both the abbreviations according to the context and
need.
Cultural Barriers – Ethnic, religious, and social differences can often create
misunderstandings when trying to communicate. These differences can also
affect one’s perception and create confusion in getting a message.
Emotional Barriers –If one is consumed with emotion he will have difficulty in
understanding what is communicated. Hostility, anger, fear, and other
emotions make it hard to hear outside one’s own self.
The roots of our emotional mistrust of others lie in our childhood and infancy
when we were taught to be careful about what we said to others. We must
have been often warned- "Mind your P's and Q's". "Don't speak until you're
spoken to".
As a result, many people hold back from communicating their thoughts and
feelings to others. While some caution may be wise in certain relationships,
excessive fear of what others might think of us can stunt our development as
effective communicators.
Blindfold Game
In this game break off everyone into teams of two.
One member is blindfolded and navigates an obstacle course.
The other member shouts directions to the other member.
Blindfold Game works because it builds trust, listening, and instructional skills.
Trust among team-members is crucial for effective communication. It
encourages cooperation and successful teamwork. Lack of trust, though,
builds suspicion and prevents buy-in.
After playing the game discuss what went well and what did not. Identify the
barriers that came in the way of effective communication.
List what could have been done to improve communication. (E.g. - did you feel
that personal or attitudinal barriers affected communication? Think of other
barriers… gender/cultural)
Following are some practical ideas for dealing with attitudinal barriers to
communication so that all of your exchanges as a small business owner or part
of a team in an office are as productive as they can be:
Engage in face-to-face interactions whenever possible. As you've probably
learned from experience, text messages and even emails can be
misinterpreted without the nonverbal “assist” of facial expressions, tone and
inflection. When timely communication is of great importance, you may have
no choice but to send a quick text or email. In this case, be sure to follow up
later to seek questions and to ensure that your message was understood as
you had intended it to be.
Reduce or eliminate distractions around you. Noise from other people and
office machines can sink even the most pleasant interactions, dooming them to
a rough start. They interfere with the focus you need to have so that you can
counteract any attitudinal barriers. Then again, sometimes a lack of noise from
other people, such as if the environment is too quiet, can be distracting; this
could mean that people are eavesdropping on your conversation – something
you want to avoid. If “the walls have ears,” then move your conversation to
another part of the building or go outdoors.
Try to assess the needs of the receiver. This is not an easy objective. But as an
employer, look at the bright side: you're privy to some attitudinal variables:
age, culture, education, experience, gender and race. Others, such as lifestyle
and upbringing, may elude you. Use what you know to develop an empathetic
stance and, if possible, tailor your message accordingly. This is another way of
saying “know thy audience.” No doubt, you will get better with experience and
practice.
Hone your active listening skills. The University of Maine suggests a five-step
approach to this alert and engaged listening style:
a) Acknowledge the other person's ideas, thoughts or feelings. Paraphrase
the other person's words to ensure understanding.
b) Ask questions without judging. Summarize and clarify what you hear.
Offer your opinion if it's requested.
c) Organize your thoughts. You don't have to write notes, but if doing so
helps you organize what you want to say and how you want to say it,
then by all means, start writing. Many communications go haywire
because the purpose is hazy in the mind of the sender. And if it's hazy in
the mind of the sender, it might be a complete blur to the recipient.
Soften your tone and language. As the boss, you know people watch your
every move, so you also know that being courteous and professional is a must
in every interaction. To defeat any attitudinal barriers, it can help immensely to
maintain a gentle, reassuring tone and use simple, non-confrontational
language. Keeping sentences short and direct can also help to prevent any
misunderstandings.
Encourage feedback. Even this seemingly benign step can be fraught with
peril, if “the other guy” clams up and disses you behind your back. Now might
be a good time to remember the advice about how the receiver also bears
responsibility for whether a two-way exchange is a success or a failure. All you
can do is ask that he understood what you had to say and if he has any
questions you can clarify. At least, you will be doing your part as a
conscientious communicator.
4 Not listening as a status or gender issue: Studies have shown that men listen
much less than women do. Similarly those in positions listen less to those who
are lower in hierarchy. How well do we listen to our children, or our
subordinates? If a woman employee is speaking, are men colleagues as
attentive as they would be when a male colleague speaks up?
In addition there are others which we are familiar with such as-daydreaming,
private planning or detouring, fatigue and exhaustion. Typical mannerisms like
saying 'you know', 'well', or making gesticulations while talking also act as
barriers. These can be observed in both the sender and the receiver. One can
overcome these through seeking feedback on one's style of communication.
Read the following situations and discuss in your groups what steps can be
taken to overcome the barriers you notice. Enact the same in front of the class.
1 You are a manager in a bank. Lately, you have observed that the employees
are not comfortable talking to you. It seems that they do not understand
instructions given via email.
An email sent to all the employees regarding customer dealing was
misunderstood and they were offended. What will you do?
You (as manager) decide to step out of your cabin and have a quick discussion
with your colleagues to give them some important instructions instead of
depending upon emails. Clarify what you wanted to convey through the email.
This game entails two persons who must sit back to back. The first person has
an object and must describe it (without explicitly saying what the object is) to
person B. Person B must then draw it based on the person A’s descriptions.
Understand misunderstanding
Objectives
We all wish to communicate our ideas and thoughts effectively. There are
some principles that must be followed for communication to be successful.
https://youtu.be/sYBw9-8eCuMCs
The 7 Cs of Communication
In your daily life and at work you write emails, facilitate meetings, participate
in conference calls, create reports, devise presentations, debate with your
colleagues… the list goes on.
We all spend almost our entire day communicating. So, it stands to reason that
communicating clearly and effectively is very important and can boost our
productivity.
https//youtu.be/sYBw9-8eCuMs://youtu.be/sYBw9-8eCuM
1. Be Clear
Begin every message by asking the question, “What is the purpose of this
communication?” This will enable you to make the objective of your
communication clear to the recipient.
Clarity is also about avoiding the use of complex words, sentences, and fuzzy
language.
It is important that you clearly communicate the intended information to the
recipient. You must be able to explain a concept several ways and answer
clarifying questions about the topic.
If you are not clear about the purpose of your communication, then your
objectives will not be met.
Writing points on note cards or a notepad can help you methodically work
through what you want to communicate. Most people will tend to drift or
forget items if they don’t have a clear framework to operate within.
Presentation slides can be helpful though very often a simple outline will be
enough.
1. Be concise
Make your message brief and to the point. Why use 10 sentences to explain
something when a single sentence will suffice? Being concise will save time for
both you and the receiver of your message.
To help make your communications more concise, avoid going over the same
point several times, and avoid the use of filler words, sentences, and over
wordy expressions. Although we are trying to be concise, it is important to
remember that we are not trying to lose completeness.
3. Be Concrete
Concrete communication is about being specific and clear rather than vague,
obscure, and general. To be more concrete use sentences that cannot be
misinterpreted. Include supporting facts and figures to underscore your
message, but don’t allow anything that detracts from the focus of your
message.
4. Be Correct
Incorrect information doesn’t help anyone and it does your credibility no good.
Ensure that: Your message is typo-free; your facts and figures are correct and
you are using the right level of language. Being correct first time will both save
you time and boost your credibility. A correct message will also have a greater
impact on the recipient than an incorrect one.
5. Be Coherent
Does your message make sense? Does it flow logically from one sentence to
the next? To ensure that your communication is coherent: Check that each
sentence flows logically from one to the next and check that you haven’t tried
to cover too many points or been distracted by side issues.
6. Be Complete
Your message must contain all the necessary information to achieve the
desired response. To ensure that your message is complete think about
questions the receiver might think of as they receive your message. Address
these questions. Ensure you have included a call to action so that your
audience knows exactly what you expect them to do next.
7. Be Courteous
Be polite. You’re more likely to get what you want from your communication if
you are courteous, as courtesy builds goodwill. Check that your message is
polite, shows respect for the feelings of the receiver, and is tactful. Make your
message brief and to the point.
Sources: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm;
https://expertprogrammanagement.com/2018/04/7-cs-communication/
Class X - Communication Skills
Clear
• message easily understood
concise
correct
courteous
considerate
Complete
coherent
Answers
Watch the following video and then do the activity in pairs. This activity will
help you to practice the 7 Cs. You will also understand the need for applying
the 7 Cs to your communication in daily life.
Prahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yGhNwDMT-gctising the 7 Cs
Do the following role plays in pairs. (The first is done for you as a sample)-
Anita: Ma’am, could you please tell me what is to be written in the emails to
be sent for the meeting?
1 As product manager you have you the job of explaining to your team how to
pack the mobile phones that are to be sent via Amazon to customers. Give
clear, concise and complete instructions. Do not forget to be courteous.
After writing the dialogue check it for 7 Cs. Have you taken care of them?
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm#search/HEEMAL+HANDOO?projector=1
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm#search/HEEMAL+HANDOO?projector=1
Introduction to word processor
A word processor is a software that helps you type and work with text on a
computer. You can create a document like, letter, memo, newsletter and save it in
word processor. The main advantage of creating a document is word processor is
that a document can always be opened and edited. You can also format it, check
and correct spellings and grammatical errors in it, insert drawings, images, and
pictures, apply page borders, and also print it.
A variety of word processors such as Microsoft Word, Open Office Writer, and
Star Office have been developed to make text input and editing on the computer
easy. An online word-processing applications such as Google Docs (part of Google
Drive), is also becoming popular.
In this chapter, you will learn about Apache Open Office Writer, a popular
Open source word processor.
Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice is a free and open-source software that has been developed by
the Apache Software Foundation. Apache OpenOffice can be downloaded for free
from:
http://www.openoffice.org/
Formatting
bar
Side bar
Vertical
ruler
Zoom control
Status bar
Title Bar The title bar is placed at the top of the Word 2013 window. It displays
the document name followed by the program name. To the right of the title bar,
you can see three buttons: Minimize, Restore Down/Maximize and Close.
The Minimize button is used to reduce the window to a small icon on the taskbar.
The Restore Down button is used to make the window smaller than full size. The
same button is used to bring it back to full size. The Close button is used to close
the window.
Menu bar The Menu bar has different options like, File, Edit, View, etc. clicking
on a menu option displays options of this menu.
Standard Toolbar It is displayed below the Menu bar and contains buttons for the
most commonly used commands, like, New, Open, Save, etc.
Formatting toolbar This toolbar has buttons for the most commonly used
formatting commands.
Scroll bars The horizontal scroll bar is present at the bottom of the document
window and is used to move the document left or right. The vertical scroll bar is
present to the right of the document window and is used to move the document up
and down.
Rulers The horizontal ruler is present at the top of the document window and is
sued to set left and right margins. The vertical ruler is present to the right of the
document window and is used to set top and bottom margins.
Status bar The Status bar is present at the bottom of the Writer window. It
displays information about the current document, such as number of pages, current
page number, etc.
Zoom control The zoom level of the document can be set by clicking, holding,
and dragging the slider.
Let’s Try it
Or
Click New button on the Standard toolbar (Fig 3) and select the desired option the
menu to create a new text document.
New Button
Or
You can also press Ctrl + N on the keyboard to create a new document.
Saving a Document
To save a document,
1. Click the File menu
2. Select Save As option . (Fig 4 )
Or
Click the Save button on the Standard bar as shown in Figure 5.
Save button
Keyboard Shortcut
Save Ctrl +S
Opening a Document
To open an already saved document in OpenOffice Writer:
Open button
Or
Press Ctrl + O.
2. The Open dialog box appears (Fig 8).
3. Select the Drive and the folder.
4. Select the file and click Open button.
Closing a Document
To close an open document, click the Close option from the File menu.
Exit Writer
To exit Writer, click the Exit option from the File menu.
Let’s Try it 1
Let’s Try it 2
Worksheet 1
EDITING A DOCUMENT
Editing means making changes into existing text.
Before editing, you may need to select the text. Selection of text can be done with
the keyboard or the mouse.
The selected text gets highlighted with blue color.
OpenOffice Writer features various tools to edit text in a document.
Sometimes, you may need to type and replace the current text. This can be done
using the Overtype mode. To overtype text, press the Insert key or click on
INSRT on the status bar to turn ON the Overtype mode, which is indicated by
OVER appearing on the status bar (Fig. 11)
OVER mode selected on the
Status bar
Fig. 11 OVER on the status bar
1. Place the cursor at the end of the line after which you want to insert a blank line.
2. Press Enter. You will notice that the next line gets shifted down and a blank line
is inserted.
Deleting Text
You can easily delete a character, a word, or a block of text in OpenOffice Writer.
Let us learn how to delete a character, a block of text or a word.
Keyboard Shortcut
Undo Ctrl + Z
Redo Ctrl + Y
Copying Text
You can easily copy text from one place to another in a document. For this
purpose, you will have to use Copy and Paste commands. The Copy command
creates a duplicate of the selected text and the Paste command pastes the copied
text at the position where the cursor is placed.
To copy text from one location and paste it at another location, the steps are:
1. Select the text to be copied.
2. Click the Copy option from the Edit menu. (Fig 12)
Or
Click the Copy button on the Standard bar. (Fig 14)
3. Position the cursor at the location where you want to paste the text.
4. Click Paste option from the Edit menu.
Or
Click the Paste button on the Standard bar. (Fig 14)
paste
Copy
Cut
Fig 14 Standard bar
Moving text
You can easily move text from one position to another using Cut and Paste
commands. The steps to move text from one location to another are:
Keyboard Shortcut
Copy Ctrl + C
Cut Ctrl + X
Paste Ctrl + V
Settings that are standard or pre-defined in a software are called default settings.
Formatting helps the user to make changes in the default settings.
Character Formatting
Character formatting can be done either by using the Format menu or by using the
Formatting toolbar.
Character Formatting Using the Format Menu
1. Select the text.
2. Click the Format menu bar and then select Character option (Fig. 15). The
Character dialog box appears. (Fig 16)
You can change the font, font size, and typeface using the Font tab in
the dialog box (Fig. 16).
Click on the Font Effects tab to change the font color, font effect, and apply
other styles such as underlining (Fig. 17).
You can change the position of the text (e.g., superscript, subscript, etc.)
using the Position tab (Fig. 18).
Fig. 18 Position tab of the Character dialog box
Keyboard Shortcuts
Bold Ctrl + B
Italic Ctrl + I
Underline Ctrl + U
You can also use the Properties side bar to format the text (Fig 21)
Font
Bold Italic Font
Size
Underline
Text
color
Superscript
Highlighting
Fig 21 Properties Side bar
Subscript
Highlighting Text
Highlighting means making the text look different to draw the reader’s attention
towards it. Highlighted text has a colored background.
The steps to highlight text are:
1. Select the text.
2. Click the drop-down arrow of the Highlighting button on the Formatting
bar.(Fig 22)
OR
You can click the drop-down arrow of Highlighting button on the Properties side
bar (Fig 23).
Highlighting
button
3. Select the desired color for highlighting from the color palette.
Let’s Try it
We can keep good health by having good eating habits. We should take a balanced diet in
accordance with planned timings.
We should ensure that our meal incorporates the five food groups: cereals and grains, pulses and
legumes, fruits and vegetables, milk and meat products, nuts and oils.
We should drink at least two liters of water every day to maintain the water balance of the body,
flush out toxins and prevent dehydration.
Oil, ghee, butter are actually healthy, but we should minimize their using healthy alternatives like,
steaming, boiling, roasting.
For best results, include regular exercise, regular check-ups, positive thinking, yoga and meditation.
Worksheet
1. Name the set of commands used make a duplicate of the selected text.
____________________
2. Write the set of commands used to move the text from one position to
another in a document.
_____________________
3. Write keyboard shortcut for the following commands:
a. Copy
b. Cut
c. Paste
d. Undo
e. Bold
4. Which command is used to make the text darker than the normal text?
____________________
5. How can you delete a character to the left of the cursor?
_______________________
Session
Specify
spacing before
and after the
paragraph
Setting Alignment
Alignment is the manner in which text is placed within the margins of a page.
The steps to change the alignment of text are:
1. Select the text.
2. Select Paragraph option from the Format menu.
3. The Paragraph dialog box appears. (Fig 26).
Fig 26 Alignment tab of Paragraph dialog box
Or
You can click a desired alignment button on the Formatting bar (Fig 27)
Center Right Justify
Left Align
Or
Click the Format menu and then click Alignment in the drop-down menu
(Fig. 28). Select the desired option from the submenu.
Fig. 28 Alignment option in the Format menu
Or
You can click the desired alignment option in the side bar (Fig 29)
Right
align
Center
align
Justify align
Left
Align
Setting Tabs
Each time you press the TAB key, the cursor moves ½ inch to the right.
The TAB selector is located to the left of the horizontal ruler.
In OpenOffice Writer, you can set four types of tab stops: Left, Right, Centered,
and Decimal.
Tab stops can be set in any one of the following ways:
By clicking TAB selector to the left of the horizontal ruler
By selecting Paragraph option of the Format menu.
Select
tab stop
type
Tab stops
TAB selector
To change the margin, say left margin, place the mouse pointer on the left margin
boundary. The pointer changes to a double-headed arrow. Drag the margin marker
to the desired location. (Fig 33)
Left
margin
Bottom
margin
The steps to set the paper size, margins, and paper orientation are:
Setting Columns
When you create a document in OpenOffice Writer, there is only one column. You
can change the number of columns by following these steps:
Using AutoSpellcheck
The steps to check spellings as you type are:
1. Click the AutoSpellcheck button on the Standard bar (Fig. 35a).
2. Right-click the misspelled word (with a red wavy underline) and then choose a
word from the suggested list
or
from the AutoCorrect submenu (Fig. 35b).
If you choose a word from the AutoCorrect submenu, the misspelled and the
replacement words are automatically added to the AutoCorrect list for the current
language.
AutoSpellcheck
button
CHANGE CASE
Sometimes you type the entire text in upper case and after typing you realize that it
should have been in lowercase. You need not type the entire text again but use the
Change Case option to change the case of text. The steps are:
t
1. Select the Change Case option from the Format menu. (Fig. 40).
3. Select the desired option in the submenu.
Sentence case The first character in a sentence is capitalized and the rest
are in lowercase.
lowercase All characters are in lowercase (small letters)
UPPERCASE All characters are in uppercase (capital letters)
Capitalize Each Word The first character of each word is capital and the rest are
in lowercase
tOGGLE cASE Changes lowercase characters to uppercase and
uppercase characters to lowercase
3. When all the occurrences of the word are replaced, a message box will
appear. Click No to discontinue and close the Find & Replace dialog box.
(Fig 46)
Fig 45 Find & Replace dialog box
Fig. 48 Numbering type tab of the Bullets and Numbering dialog box
You can also create lists using the Bulleted list button or the Numbered list
button on the Formatting bar. (Fig 49)
Numbering Bullets
Cell
Rows
Columns
Tables can be created in OpenOffice Writer in any one of the following ways:
Using Table button
Using Table menu
Table button
Fig. 50 Table Button
MODIFYING A TABLE
A table can be modified by inserting or deleting rows or columns, and by merging
or splitting cells.
Inserting Rows
The steps to insert rows in a table are:
1. Position the cursor in the cell where you want to insert a new row or a column.
2. Select Table Insert Rows.(Fig 52)
3. The Insert Rows dialog box appears (Figs. 53).
a. Specify the number of rows to be inserted.
b. Select the position – Before or After the selected row.
c. Click OK.
Inserting Columns
The steps to insert columns in a table are:
1. Position the cursor in the cell where you want to insert a new column.
2. Select Table Insert Columns (Fig 52).
3. The Insert Columns dialog box appears (Figs. 54).
a. Specify the number of columns to be inserted.
b. Select the position – Before or After the selected column.
c. Click OK.
Deleting Rows
1. Select the rows to be deleted.
2. Select Table Delete Rows.
Deleting Columns
1. Select the columns to be deleted.
2. Select Table Delete Columns.
Merging the Cells of the table
1. Select the cells to be merged.
2. Select Table Merge cells.
Fontwork gallery
button
4. Double-click the Fontwork design in the window. The default text, i.e.,
Fontwork, will appear in the editing mode (Fig. 61).
5. Change the text and click anywhere in the document. The changed Fontwork
text will appear in the document (Fig. 62).
Fig. 61 Editing Fontwork text
Fontwork bar
6. You can change the properties such as the style of the text and
letter height using the Fontwork bar (Fig. 62).
Wrapping Text
Text wrapping is a feature that automatically starts a new line when a word in a
sequence reaches the border of a picture, a text box, or the margin. There are
different options to wrap text around the image. The steps are:
1. Select the image.
2. Select Wrap option from the Format menu (Fig 65a).
a. Select the desired option.
Fig 65a Wrap option of Format menu.
c. A box will appear at the top and the bottom area of the page, respectively
(Fig. 71).
You can either type text or add date and time by selecting the Fields option in the
Insert menu.
4. Click in the document area to finish adding header or footer information.
Fig. 71 Inserting header
You can add page numbers in the header or footer area. The steps are.
1. Click in the header or footer area.
2. Select Insert Fields Page Number (Fig 72).
Fig 72 Selecting Date option
PRINTING A DOCUMENT
To print a document, do the following:
1. Select Print option from File menu (Fig 73).
Or
Click the Print button on the Standard bar.(Fig 74)
3. The Print dialog box appears (Fig. 75).
Lets Try it 1
English Speaking
Grooming and Etiquettes
Hobbies like, theatre, modelling, public speaking, yoga and meditation
Lets Try it 3
Worksheet
Session 1
As we all know that computer is a very useful machine. It is very important to properly
start the computer and after finishing the work, it needs to be properly shut down. If
the power of the computer is switched off, and the files you were working on were not
closed, the files and the operating system may get corrupted.
Operating System
An operating system is the basic software that controls the computer. It serves as an
interface between the user and the computer.
Some of the functions of Operating system are:
It manages all the devices of a computer and keeps track of the status of
the device, whether it is busy or not.
It also checks whether the device is functioning properly or not.
It also controls software resources of the computer.
t manages the computer memory and keeps track of which memory space
is in use by which program and which space is free.
It manages the structure of the files and directories on a computer system.
It keeps track of the amount of disk space used by a specific file.
It allows you to create, copy, move and delete files.
Single-user , single-task operating system This type of operating system allows only
one user to do a task on the computer and one thing at a time.
Multi-user A multi-user operating system enables multiple users to work on the same
computer at different times or simultaneously.
Real Time A real time operating system is used to control machinery, scientific
instruments, like robots, in complex animations and computer controlled automated
machines. A real-time operating system is a computing environment that reacts to input
within a specific period of time. It manages the resources of the computer so that any
particular operation is executed in the same amount of time every time it is executed.
Windows CE and Lynx OS are examples of real-time operating systems.
Session 2
In class 9, we discussed about Windows 7 operating system.
Windows 7 operating system
Windows 7 is an operating system developed by Microsoft and is used on personal
computers.
After loading Windows 7, the first screen that appears on the monitor is called
desktop. From the desktop, you can access different components of Windows 7.
By default, Windows 7 has a picture for the desktop background. This is called
wallpaper.
Small pictures on the desktop are called icons. These icons represent files, folders,
applications, etc. At the bottom of the desktop is a long bar called the Taskbar. To the
left of the taskbar is the Start button.
Components of Windows 7 Desktop are shown below:
icons
Computer
icon
Wallpapaer
Recycle Bin
Task bar
Start
button
Fig: Desktop
We already know that use of following icons:
Computer It displays all the storage areas of the computer . Through the Computer
icon, you can access all drives, files, and folders on the computer. When you double-
click Computer icon, a window shown below appears on the screen.
Maximize Close
Minimize
Hard disk
drives
Removable
disk drives
like CD, DVD,
Pen Drive
Active Notification
Start button Date/Time icon
Applications Area
Fig Taskbar
Start button It is located on the left of the taskbar. Clicking the Start button opens the
Start menu and provides access to programs and features, like:
Recycle Bin
Files and folders deleted by the user are stored in the Recycle Bin. From Recycle Bin,
you can retrieve files or folders deleted by mistake.
Session 3
Lets Try It
1. Start Your computer.
2. Name the operating system in your computer. ________________
3. Identify three main icons on the desktop and write their names
_________________
_________________
_________________
4. Identify and write names of three files on the desktop.
__________________
__________________
__________________
5. Identify the position of the taskbar on the desktop. Is it at the top, bottom, left or
right?
_____________________
6. Double-click the Computer icon on the desktop.
7. The Computer window opens up.
8. Click the Minimize button to reduce the window to a button on the taskbar.
9. Again click the Computer icon on the taskbar to restore the Computer window.
10. From the Computer window, identify and write the hard disk drives in your
computer.
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Worksheet
1. What is an operating system?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. Mention any three functions of operating system.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
3. Name any three operating systems for computers
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
4. Name any three mobile operating systems.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
5. What is the name given to the screen that appears after Windows operating
system is loaded?
__________________________________
6. Small images on the desktop are called _____________________
7. Name two special icons on the desktop .
______________________
______________________
8. Name the icon that provides access to all the drives, files and folders on a
computer.
_________________________________
9. Name the button to the left of the taskbar.
______________________________
10.Picture for the desktop background is called _____________.
Session 4
File System
Everything you store on your computer is stored in the form of a file. File system is a
way in which you give name to a file, store it and retrieve it. There are specific naming
conventions for naming files or folders, like characters that can be used, maximum
number of characters, etc.
Files can be separately placed into groups, called folders/directories. Each
directory/folder can contain related files and/or sub-folders. A sub-folder may contain
one or more files and sub-folders within. This allows easy accessibility of files.
Files are managed in a hierarchy. This allows you to view the files in the current
directory and then move to sub-directories.
D:\
Folder 1 Folder 2
Creating a folder
The steps to create a new folder are:
1. Double-click the Computer icon. (Fig )
Fig
2. Select the drive in which you want to create a new folder. Say, Local Disk D:.
3. Window will open up showing files and folders in Local Disc D: (Fig )
New Folder
option
Fig Files and folders in Local Disc D:
4. Click New Folder on the toolbar.
Or
Right-click anywhere in the blank area of the right column. A shortcut menu
appears. Select New Folder from the shortcut menu. (Fig )
Creating a file
To create a new file:
1. Right-click anywhere in the blank area of the right-column.
2. In the Shortcut menu, click New and select the type of the file you want to
create.
Worksheet
1. Similar types of files can be placed into groups called ___________.
2. Mention any one way in which can create a new folder.
________________________________
________________________________
3. To change the name of the folder, right-click and select __________ option from
the Shortcut menu.
4. How can you delete a folder?
Session 6
OR
1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon.
2. The Recycle Bin window appears.
3. Click Empty the Recycle Bin.
Restore Files/Folder from Recycle Bin window
To recover a file from the Recycle Bin, right-click the file, and then click Restore.
Or
Select the file and click Restore this item
Lets Try It
1. Start your computer.
2. Double-click Computer icon.
3. Double-click Local Disk D:
4. Create a new folder name in Local Disk D:
5. Rename this new folder as ‘My Text Files’.
6. Copy this folder to My Documents.
7. Open folder ‘My Text Files’ in My documents.
8. Create another folder named ‘My New Files’.
9. Move this folder ‘My New files’ on the desktop.
10. Delete the folder ‘My New Files’
11.Restore the deleted folder.
Lets Try It
1. Start your computer.
2. Start Notepad.
3. Type few sentences about your school.
4. Save the file in the folder ‘My New Files’ created in the previous assignment.
Worksheet
5. What is the difference between moving and copying a folder?
_______________________________________
______________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
6. Differentiate between file and folder.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
7. Name the set of commands to move a folder from one location to another.
___________________________
8. Name the place where deleted files are placed.
________________________
9. How can you empty the recycle Bin?
____________________________________
____________________________________
Unit - Apply Basic Skills for care and Maintenance of Computer
Session 1
Lets Try It
Discuss the need of care and maintenance of computer
Session 2
Let’s discuss how to clean some common peripheral devices of computer
Computer monitor
To clean the computer monitor, you can use a soft lint-free cloth, like cotton and
water or special cleaning liquid. You should not spray water or cleaning liquid
directly on the computer monitor as it may run through the seams. Spray water or
cleaning liquid on the cloth and gently wipe the computer monitor
Keyboard
Dirt and dust can cause damage to the keyboard. Keys of the keyboard may not
function properly if dirt enters the keys. You should always clean the keyboard
periodically by holding upside down and shaking it. You can also clean it by
blasting it with compressed air. After this, use a damp lint-free cloth to clean top of
the keys. You should never spray any liquid cleaner or water directly on the keys
of the keyboard.
Optical Mouse
You can clean the bottom of the optical mouse with a clean lint-free cloth. Lens
area can be cleaned by blowing air or cotton swab.
Digital camera
Never touch the lens of the camera. To remove the dust, you can use soft lens
brush or wipe with a soft dry cloth. For stubborn dust, you can use special fluid for
lens cleaning which should be first pot on the tissue and then wipe the lens. Never
put the fluid directly on the lens.
CDs and DVDs
Keep CD/DVD in proper case to prevent it from scratch free. If there is some dirt
on the CD or DVD, it may not work at all. Finger prints and dirt can be removed
by lightly rubbing with a clean lint-free cotton cloth. If the dirt is hard to remove,
you can use special cleaning fluid. Put the drop of fluid on a swab of cotton and
gently rub on the media.
Lets Try It
Demonstrate the procedures for cleaning the components of the computer system
and other peripheral devices
Session 3
Preparing maintenance schedule
Regular maintenance of the computer system is very important.
Some of the maintenance activities are:
Keep the components of the computer, like keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.
clean.
Replacing hardware that is not functioning properly
Keep food items away from the computer
Cables and chords should not be messed up
Removing unauthorized software from the computer
Taking regular backup of the data
Ensure backups are working properly by periodically restoring data. You
should use external hard drive for backup of data on your computer.
Running anti-virus periodically
Keeping anti-virus software up to date
Do not overcharge the batteries
Do not block the vents
Always shut down the computer properly
Regular scans should be done to check for viruses, malware, etc. An effective
antivirus software should be installed in your computer. Always keep your anti-
virus software updated so that it can detect new viruses. Full system scan should be
done to periodically, preferably weekly to scan for viruses.
A regular disk defragmentation should be done to remove all unnecessary
information that slows down the computer. Disk defragmentation done at regular
intervals helps the disc space to be used at an optimal level.
Take regular backup of the data on your computer. In case the data is lost due to
any reason, system failure, virus attack, etc. , you can easily retrieve your data
using backup files.
System should be upgraded with new technology that were not there at the time of
purchase, like, increasing RAM, to improve the performance. Also storage space
should also be increased for storage of more information.
If you are getting some disc errors, then make sure that temporary internet files
should be deleted from time to time.
Softwares should be updated regularly so that it works with maximum efficiency.
Lets Try It
1. Discuss the importance and need of care and maintenance of computer.
2. Discuss how to clean different components of the computer system.
Worksheet
1. What is the possible cause of slowing down of computer?
2. Why keyboard should be covered if not in use?
3. What general precautions should you take while cleaning the computer
components/
4. List some of the maintenance activities for the computer system.
5. Why regular disk defragmentation should be done?
Session 4
Computer virus
A computer virus is a software program that attaches itself to other programs and
alters their behavior. A virus may or may not be destructive. Some viruses erase
data or corrupt programs on the computer.
When a virus enters a computer system, it makes copies of itself and carries out the
harmful tasks that it is programmed for.
Some viruses get activated at a certain date and time. Viruses also attach to the
files stored on the computer or the storage media and harm these files.
A virus may get attached to e-mail messages and spread from one computer to
another.
A computer virus can infect only the software and not the hardware.
A computer can get infected with virus in any of the following ways:
Infected files
Infected pen drives
Infected CD-ROMs
Through infected file attachment of e-mails
A computer virus cannot do the following:
It cannot infect files on CD or DVD.
It cannot infect computer hardware like, keyboard, mouse, etc.
How do we know that our computer is infected with virus? Sometimes, computer
shows strange behavior. Some of the common signs of a virus attack are:
Computer runs very slow
There is change in the file size
Computer often stops responding
There is an increase in number of files (unusual)
Unusual error message appears on the screen
Computer restarts on its own
Lets Try It
1. Discuss the difference between human virus and computer virus.
2. Discuss various signs that indicate that computer is infected with virus.
3. Discuss various ways in which computer may get infected with virus.
Session 6
How to prevent virus infection
The following points should be kept in mind to prevent virus infection:
Install and use anti-virus software.
Keep anti-virus software updated.
Scan all the files that you download from the Internet
Do not open e-mails of an unknown person/sender
Don’t allow any untrustworthy person to use your system.
New use unknown pen drive/CD on your computer
Never click on the windows that pop-up when you are surfing the Internet.
Figure
Fig 1 Main window of Quick Heal Total Security
3. The main window has three sections:
a. Top section has the following options:
Option Description
Settings Using this option you can customize settings
like, automatic update, Internet settings, Self
Protection, Password Protection, Restore
Default Settings, etc.
Tools Helps you diagnose the system in case of
virus attacks, clean application and Internet
activities, restore the Internet Explorer
settings modified by malwares, isolate the
infected and suspicious files, prevent USB
drives against auto-run malware infection.
You can also exclude files from virus
protection.
Reports Helps you view the activity reports of
Scanner, Virus Protection, Email Protection,
Scan Scheduler, Behavior Detection, Quick
Update, Memory Scan, Phishing Protection,
Registry Restore, Boot Time Scanner, etc.
Help This option provides information on how to
use Quick Heal Antivirus and details about
the version, etc.
b. The middle section has the following options:
Files and Folders Helps you protect files and folders against
malicious threats.
With this option, you can configure Scan Settings,
Virus Protection, Block Suspicious Packed Files,
Screen Locker Protection, Scan Schedule, Exclude
Files & Folders, and Quarantine & Backup.
E-mails Helps you configure Email Protection, Trusted
Email Clients Protection, and Spam Protection.
Internet & Network Helps you configure the settings for Internet &
Network protection. With this option, you can
configure Firewall Protection, Browsing
Protection, Malware Protection, Phishing
Protection.
Parental Control Helps you control the Internet access, application
access, and computer access for the children and
other users.
External Drives & Devices This option allows you to configure settings
related to threats that come from CDs, pen drives,
external disks, etc.
c. The bottom section has the following options:
News This option provides you with the latest news from Quick Heal
PC Tuner Helps you improve system performance by cleaning your
system with features such as Disk Cleanup, Registry Cleanup,
Traces Cleanup, Duplicate File Finder, Secure Delete and
Registry Defragmenter.
Scan This option provides various scanning options, like, Full
System Scan, Custom Scan, Memory Scan, Mobile scan and
Boot Time Scan.
Figure
Worksheet
1. Mention few ways in which a computer gets infected with virus.
2. Can computer virus infect hardware?
3. What are the common signs of a virus attack?
4. How can you prevent your computer from virus infection?
5. What is the use of antivirus software? Name any two commonly used
anti-virus software.
Session 7
Removing Temporary Files
The steps to remove temporary files are:
1. Double-click Computer icon on the desktop.
2. The Computer Window opens.
3. Right-click Local Disk C: and select Properties option from the Shortcut
menu. (Fig)
Lets Try It
Stress Management refers to focusing human efforts for maintaining a healthy body and mind capable
of better withstanding stressful situations. Occasional stress is an unavoidable part of one’s life. Stress
refers to a “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension”. Small amounts of stress have a positive
effect and they help us stretch ourselves to new level. High levels of stress over prolonged periods need
to be managed. A Stress well managed can help one view events and situations as challenges and
contributes in the growth of individual. Unmanaged stress leads to anxiety and sorrow resulting in ill
status of mental and physical health. Stress causal agents can have following origins.
Mental
STRESS
Physical CAUSAL Social
AGENTS
FINANCIAL
Physical: As children grow up they may seek more independence, may become critically conscious of
their looks and have to cope up with hormonal changes. Issues related to general well-being and health
of an individual can lead to low self-esteem and cause stress.
Social : Discord amongst family members, peer pressure for doing things which kids will generally avoid ,
maintaining balance in relationships amongst friends, status show off may lead to stress at times.
Financial: Youngsters may have aspirational financial stress. This may of becoming findependent or
Finances aspirational stress may
Being well versed with stress coping mechanisms helps people lead and healthy and happier life.
Adequately managed stress prevents medical and physical illnesses. Stress management is vital because
it leads to following benefits.
Improves mood
Boosts immune system
Promotes longevity
Leads to burst of physical strength, which is vital for goal achievement
Complete mental and physical engagement for task accomplishment
Increases efficiency and effectiveness
Prevents psychological disorders and behavioral problems
Stress is a mental state where one size doesn’t fit all, what stresses one person may not stress others at
all. It is highly individualistic phenomenon and the solution has to be customized to individual’s mental
state. Physical signs which may suggest stress are: breathlessness, dry mouth, butterflies in stomach,
indigestion, nausea, acidity, fatigue, sweaty palms, cold hands and feet, irritation and hyperactivity etc.
At the mental level following symptoms may reflect stress irritation, impatience, loneliness, upset,
anxious, depressed, frustration, bored, guilty, insecure and forgetfulness.
Self-awareness amongst individuals for symptoms of stress will help them manage it better. They should
try understanding the cause, understanding self and taking remedial measures. Avoiding the issues or
procrastination is not the solution. Speaking out to the well-wishers like family and friends is of help in
stress management as they provide a social support system. Apart from positive thinking, managing
one’s time across any or a combination of the following activities aids in stress management.
Physical Exercise
When stress affects the brain, rest of the body also feels the impact. Physical exercise in the
form of walking, skipping or for that matter indulging in any sports has been found to relieve
stress as they stabilize mood, improve self-esteem and induce sleep.
Yoga
Yoga is a school of Hindu philosophy reduces stress, which includes a series of postures and
breathing exercises practiced to achieve control of body and mind.
Meditation
It is a practice where an individual is supposed to focus his/her mind on a particular object,
thought or activity to achieve a calm mental state reducing stress.
Enjoying
Recreational activities like watching movies, attending concerts, playing games, involving in
adventure sports, singing, dancing or even sketching can help individuals transcend to a happier
mental state and help manage stress.
Everyone who has been sent on this earth has been blessed in their own way. They together make this
earth a beautiful place. Some can sing well, others are good at sports, some are intellectuals and some
are good comedians. Everyone is special. But it is important that everyone learns the art of working
independently. This typically means that one must learn to take ownership of the task assigned and
leave no stone unturned in accomplishing the task. The individual who has the ability to work
independently need not be supervised for the task completion.
Importance of The Ability to Work Independently
Ability to work independently can be enhanced by being self-aware, self-motivated and self-regulated.
Let’s now learn what are these:
Self-Awareness
Having conscious knowledge of your own self, capabilities, feelings and one’s own character is called as
self-awareness. It helps individuals to chart their ways for working independently.
Self-Motivation
Self-motivated individuals have an inner urge to do something, achieve their goals without any external
pressure. It is a life skill and must be necessarily developed.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation guides independent individuals as it helps them consider long term consequences rather
than just transient feelings. It leads to a responsible and a value driven behavior.
Lets’ Do It
Hands On Exercises to Understand the Concept Better
4 Sessions
Session A. Doing a yoga session/ meditation and discussing students’ about their
experiences.
Session B. Asking students to prepare a write-up/essay on experiences during a
holiday trip.
Session C. Asking students to present a talk on “what I Wish to become and what I
do about it”.
Session D. Planning of an activity in groups for creating a plan for school fest/ any
event in school/ class party and demonstrating how individual members contributed
the qualities required for working independently.
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT
It is the natural surroundings of a living thing. It includes everything found in the
surroundings of living things such as air, water, plants, animals etc. Environment is essential
for continuation of life earth. It gives us everything needed to lead our life on Earth. It aids in
the growth & development of all livings things such as plants and animals. Our environment
plays a pivotal role in enabling the existence of healthy life on this planet.
Environment includes both the living things as well as non living things. The living things
broadly include plants and animals. The non-living things is constituted of three main parts –
1. Lithosphere – it refers to the outer layer of the earth. It includes rocks and soils found on
the surface of earth.
2. Hydrosphere – it refers to water bodies found on the surface of earth. E.g., seas, rivers,
oceans, streams etc.
All living things such as Plants and animals require a healthy environment for their survival.
A healthy environment enables a diverse ecosystem with abundant diversity of species of
living things. Whenever ecosystems are harmed by man, it causes the threat to the survival of
a living thing. In the long run, it can even lead to the extinction of some species.
SOURCE - https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/ecosystems-what-they-are-and-why-they-are-important/
Human activities often wreak havoc on our environment leading to pollution of land, water,
and air pollution. However, our environment is degrading every single day. This is because of
the technological innovations in the modern age. The challenges posed by the continuous
technological advancements have lead to a decrease in the quality of environment. As a
result, environmental pollution has emerged as quite a hazard.
Forests are being cut with scant regard to the habitat of the wild animals. Destruction of
forests has lead to change in the climate as well. This can have disastrous impact in the long
run. Our water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds etc. have become dirty. This is caused due
to various activities of man such as washing of clothes in water bodies, flow of household
wastes and flow of industrial sewage into them. The air we breathe is becoming polluted too
because of the harmful gases emitted out by factories and industries. Same is the case of the
land we live on. We have infested our environment with harmful substances such as plastic.
If we fail to protect and conserve our environment, then it would become difficult to continue
life on earth.Another reason for deterioration of our environment is the non-stop exploitation
of our natural resources. In our continuous struggle for more and more industrial production,
we require more raw materials such as coal and petroleum. However, rampant use of these
natural resources, mainly fossil fuels, has lead to their continuous depletion. It is important to
realize that these resources are non-renewable which means that they cannot be replaced
naturally; if used indiscriminately, they can even get exhausted.
Environmental pollution affects millions worldwide In some of the world’s worst polluted
places, babies are born with birth defects, children have lost 30 to 40 IQ points, and life
expectancy may be as low as 45 years because of cancers and other diseases. So it becomes
important to save our environment so that our natural resources stay safe from pollution and
its toxic effects.
Source - https://slideplayer.com/slide/8012563/
Interactions between human society and the environment are dynamic in nature. Man’s
relationship with environment has, over the course of earth’s history, followed a pattern of its
own. Every step in the history of man has seen a change in the nature of relationship with the
environment. Early humans, were, more or less in harmony with the environment. Being
hunter-gatherers, they took only so much from their environment as they required to fulfill
their basic needs. Their impact on environment was minimal owing to the nature of their
needs and the size of their population. However the situation changed with the increase in
population.
As the population increased, the lifestyle of the people also changed. This was accompanied
with the increase in demands of the people. It started an ever increasing dependence on
natural resources. This also saw a shift in living quarters of man; from living in small
settlements to residing in big towns and cities. This shift to city life inadvertently led to a
distancing from nature. While many people were still in-tune with nature on a subsistent
level, the need for more and more resources began to change our regard for nature. Thus
began a journey of imbalance and overuse of environment.
Although our distancing from nature began several thousand years ago with advancements in
agriculture and social order, it is the age of industry to which we owe our modern regard for
nature. The growth of cities allowed for a separation between people and nature and our
obsession with convenience and efficiency beckoned a new perspective on the
environment. With technological advancements, nature became something we were no
longer apart of and entirely subject to, but something that we could control and profit off
of. The growth of industry enabled humans to truly dominate the landscape and disrupt the
natural systems that have been in place for billions of years.
The story of human progress is also the story of increase in human greed and exploitation of
environment. The early societies were technologically backward and lead a simple lifestyle.
As such their needs were basic. They could not control the forces of nature and were in awe
of Nature. But modern societies are technologically advanced and sciectifically evolved.
Modern man has learnt to control nature. Man, no longer, holds Nature in venration; instead
man has learnt to yield Nature to his whims and desires. This has lead to a lopsided equation
between man and environment; with the balance now being tilted more towards man.
The sheer disregard of man towards environment has lead to the disruption of many
ecosystems. An ecosystem includes all of the living things (plants, animals and organisms) in
a given area, interacting with each other, and also with their non-living environments
(weather, earth, sun, soil, climate, atmosphere).
Example – A pond is an excellent example of an ecosystem. The living things in the pond
include microorganisms, plants and animals. The non-living things in the pond include
pebbles, water, sunlight etc. There is continuous interaction between the living and the non –
living things in the pond which makes life possible.
Source - http://www.desert-scape.com/pond-ecosystem.html
The stability of ecosystem refers to balance between production and consumption of each
element in the ecosystem. In other words, ecosystem stability means balance between input
and output of energy and normal functioning of different bio-geo-chemical cycles and
stable conditions of concentration of all elements. However sometimes ecosystem faces
imbalance. This is most likely to happen when an ecosystem is unable to adjust with
environmental changes. For example continuous destruction of trees in a forest ecosystem
rarely permits regeneration of forest community because exposed surface due to
deforestation is subjected to intense weathering and erosion and nutrients are washed out
by surface run-off.
1. destruction of forests
2. industrialization
3. urbanization
4. large scale use of pesticides
5. overgrazing
Resources that nature has provided such as soil, air, water, minerals, coal, sunshine
(sunlight), animals and plants, etc., are known as natural resources. These are utilized for by
human beings for the purposes of survival and welfare.
Renewable natural resources- Resources that can be renewed naturally are known as
renewable resources. E.g., water, soil, wind etc.
Non-renewable natural resources - Resources that cannot be renewed naturally are known as
non-renewable resources. E.g., coal, petrol etc.
Source - http://www.eschooltoday.com/natural-resources/types-of-natural-
resources.html
The survival of mankind is linked to the conservation of the natural environment and the
natural resources. If the natural resources are not utilized properly then there would emerge a
situation where they would start disappearing altogether from the face of earth. There is
already a growing concern that resources such as oil wells may run dry in the next couple of
decades owing to their exploitation and overuse.
Conservation is the term used to denote proper management of a natural resource to prevent
its exploitation, destruction or degradation. Conservation means sustainable use of natural resources,
like soils, plants,water, animals, and minerals and other useful resources provided by nature. The objective
of resource conservation is that resources should not be used at a rate greater than the rate of their
replacement. Natural resources are of great utility - biological, economic, and recreational. Hence, there is
a need to conserve them for the future generations.
There is a growing concern worldwide regarding natural resources. The rapid speed at which they are
being used stems the fear that they would soon become scarce and beyond the reach of a common man. As
such, there is an ever increasing emphasis on conservation of natural resources so that even our future
generations can benefit from them.
Historically, India has always respected Nature. This is evident in the form of worship of various life forms
such as trees tulsi, peepal etc and animals such as cows and snakes. Even non-living forms such as
mountains (like Kailash Parbat) and rivers ( such as Ganga, Yamuna) too have been worshipped. In recent
times, mass movements have been launched for the conservation of our natural resources. Chipko
movement is one such movement where women of Gopaleshwar village in Garhwal would hug the trees to
prevent them from being cut down. This lead to conservation of 12000 square area of water catchment
area.
GREEN ECONOMY
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines a green economy as one that
results in “improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing
environmental risks and ecological scarcities”. The challenge is to find approaches to
environmental management that give people the quality of life they seek while protecting the
environmental systems that are also the foundations of our well being. A Green Economy is
based on three parameters : sustaining and advancing economic, environmental and social
well-being.
The transition from traditional market economy to green economy is driven by the fact that
the Earth is reaching its limits of natural resources such as forests and fossil fuels. The
environmental and social costs of our current economic model are becoming more and more
apparent. If we continue to exploit it any further without showing any appreciation for our
environment, then we might soon have to face catastrophic environmental impacts which
would make human survival impossible.
Many countries are now drawing up plans and strategies to protect environment. Following
are some examples of such countries.
1. China too has been plagued by many environmental issues owing to its large population
and less policy controls for conserving environment. However in recent years the awareness
regarding environmental issues has increased and the government has started many initiatives
for environment copnsservation. For example, in 2010, China increased its total installed
wind capacity by 64% in 2010. The move was aimed at reducing dependence on traditional
non-renewable energy sources.
2. Korea started a five year programme for green growth in 2013. Under this program, 2% of
GDP was allocated for investment in several green sectors such as renewable energy, energy
efficiency, clean technology and water. The government has also launched the Global Green
Growth Institute which aims to help countries (especially developing countries) develop
green growth strategies.
References:
1. https://www.indiacelebrating.com/essay/environment-essay/
2. https://you.stonybrook.edu/environment/sample-page/
3.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323943659_Ecological_Imbalances_Causes_
and_Consequences
4. https://www.wri.org/blog/2011/04/qa-what-green-economy-0