Looking through the glass

Rediscovering Old Glass Making Tradition As A Booming Career Option Today

Shreya Dwivedi, AIS VKC Lko, XII E

Have you ever wondered how much thought and careful execution goes into the designing of a simple looking glass artifact adorning your showcase? Does moulding dull blobs of molten glass into magnificent shapes and forms sound interesting to you? If yes, read on to know more about the art form of glass designing and the career opening it entails!

Understanding glass art
When we talk about glass art, we refer to a piece of art that is substantially or wholly made up of glass. For glass as a medium is highly versatile; at its transformation temperature, it can be blown into a bubble, rolled to be casted in any shape, and even be spun like a yarn thread. Interestingly, even after cooling, the glass can be polished, beveled, chipped, etched, engraved, or painted to be turned into an intricate artwork. Besides, pieces of glass art can be worked to create glass vessels, sculptures, wearables (maybe a glass slipper) or in commercial buildings and architecture.

The sparkling history
Glassblowing dates back to the 1st century BC. The Roman world that came post, created every possible type of glass art with a newfound obsession for stained glass designs, which continued well after the medieval ages as a major architectural and decorative element in Cathedrals and civic buildings. The Murano in Venetian Lagoon still holds its status as the birthplace of modern glass art, and the exquisite Tiffany stained glass with its naturalistic flowers and stained colours is in fashion even today and remains amongst the most expensive glass works ever.

Techniques involved in the process
In glass art, there are three main techniques that an artist follows - hot glass, warm glass and cold glass. The most common and oldest form is the blowing method that is achieved by heating glass in a furnace at 2000 degrees in order to create delicate vases and sculptures. In the warm category, glass is heated at 1600 degrees using a kiln and by applying slumping technique plates, tiles, and sheets of glass are made. Lastly, polishing and etching to change the texture and feel of the glass is done by cold glass method.

Qualifications required
This area of work is open to all graduates but a foundation degree in Fine Arts, Decorative Art, Design and Applied Arts with Glass, 3D design, Business or Graphic design would certainly help aspiring candidates flourish in the field. Apart from this, additional training to acquire basic knowledge and required skills would be beneficial.

Skills required
Glass artists create works of art with specially shaped glass pieces made of lead, mastic or epoxy. They create a broad range of products that are highly valued for their beauty and durability. In this field, one should be creative with colours and patterns, detail oriented, focused, and hardworking. One should always be ready to learn as this field requires technical and visual skills with an advanced material knowledge. Graphic designing  skills are also something that can help one a lot in creating samples for potential customers.

Career prospects
One can take up a professional career in a glass factory, museum, glass studio or art gallery as a freelance designer, glass artist, glass blower, ceramic designer, or even a glass engineer. The basic remuneration offered depends on your profile, experience, and qualifications. On an average, it can vary anywhere around 2-3 lakh INR per annum and above. Thus, if you think you want to be the master creator and are ready to ace the glass world, then this job is definitely for you and you must give it a try! All the best!

The NDEARing change

The Metamorphic Phase Of Digital Education In India We Are Going To Encounter

Kavya Verma & Anwita
Agarwal, AIS Saket, IX C

The government of India has introduced National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) as one of their initiatives under the Union Budget 2021-22. Presented under the aegis of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with MeitY, it aims to work as a diverse educational ecosystem for development of digital infrastructure, and will also help the central and state governments in planning, administering, and governing school education. All of this sounds amazing, but let’s take a deeper look into all that this NDEARing plan entails!

Purpose? Check!
NDEAR is an architecture blueprint plan that aims to boost the digital infrastructure in the country vis-à-vis education. It focusses on the creation of open, interoperable, and evolvable public digital infrastructure in the education sector. It will help in strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure for online education, along with supporting teaching and learning activities. It will also aid educational planning and governance of administrative activities of the Centre and the States/Union Territories.
Myth: It acts merely as a medium to provide access or links to other websites or web pages.
Fact: The government simply works as an enabler by providing a framework where technology can be built by anyone. In simple words, this works much like providing good quality bricks (framework) which any builder (teachers or parents) can use to make a building of their choice and design.
 
Features? Check!
It has a unifying and evolving design which addresses diversity, inclusion, and special needs. It also provides privacy, security, trust and choice. Some other key features include seamless interoperability, and functionality in a federated, decentralised manner.
Myth: The framework will be weak and will not help much.
Fact: Data systems would be able to interact with each other using a common framework, thereby enabling policy-making, particularly to drive learning outcomes. Technology systems are strong and will be consistent in handling of data, protection of individual data - particularly children’s data.

Technology? Check!
A thrust of technological interventions will be introduced for improving teaching-learning and evaluation processes, enhancing educational access, and streamlining educational planning. Hence, the relationship between technology and education at all levels present is bi-directional.
Myth: NDEAR is not adaptable and will become obsolete after a few years.
Fact: NDEAR is meant to be an evolving framework to keep pace with changing and emerging technologies, while staying true to its core principles. The NEP 2020 lays significant emphasis on the use of emerging technologies for making a quantum change in the quality of education, governance, and immersive content etc., which will be part of NDEAR. Thus, the NDEAR ecosystem approach will enable the wider ecosystems to participate and contribute.

Implementation? Check!
It is evident that millions of students in India suffered during the pandemic due lack of access to digital infrastructure. The government has ensured that this does not happen in the near future by opting for a ‘Digital First’ approach.
Myth: The government will not be able to implement NDEAR, as no systems are in place.
Fact: The Government of India has enabled several programmes to achieve the goals. Namely, the 10+2 structure of school curriculum is to be replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is Government of India’s flagship programme as mandated by 86th amendment of the Constitution of India making free and compulsory education to the children of 6-14 years age group, a fundamental right.

Vision? Check!
The NDEAR vision statement reads “NDEAR is a globally pioneering effort in education.” To be effective in the long term, NDEAR must have a learning and evolving core. The vision of NDEAR reflects this, both in its architecture and in its institutional framework.