Webinar on Creative Aerobics
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, FMeH, organized a webinar on ‘Creative Aerobics’ as part of the International Lecture Series to celebrate the Silver Jubilee Year of the University. Prof. (Dr.) Maithili Ganjoo, Dean, Faculty of Media Studies and Humanities (FMeH) delivered the welcome address emphasizing the importance of the academic year 2021-22, the Silver Jubilee Year of Manav Rachna Educational Institutions. In her address, Prof Ganjoo stressed the need for glocalization of the teaching-learning process.
Dr. Arpan Yagnik, a TEDx speaker, author, and Associate Professor at the Pennsylvania State University, was invited to speak on the occasion. He has published numerous research articles in international journals and his co-authored book on creative aerobics is widely popular. Dr Yagnik has been recognized with many awards such as Erie’s 40 under 40, BGSU’s 10 under 10, Honour Roll Award, and BGSU President’s Award for Distinguished Service for his outstanding achievements.
Explaining the concept of Creative Aerobics, Dr. Yagnik said it is an internationally proven technique for producing creative ideas and comprises a set of mental exercises. ‘It is the aerobics of the mind and works for everyone regardless of whether one is a left-brained student, a copywriter or a businessperson, or an advertising or marketing professional. It fuels and broadens the horizon of our imagination’, he said.
Encouraging the participants to tap their creative side, he said creativity is all about looking for new connections and refining and defining ideas and Creative Aerobics could help in making that happen. In a very engrossing session, he demonstrated a set of four Creative Aerobics exercises in which the attendees of the webinar participated enthusiastically. They were encouraged to look at words and concepts in new ways. They also asked him several queries ranging from how to break brain lags to implementing the creativity tests in class.
Dr. Yagnik urged them to break free of all shackles of routine and abandon their fear and ego. “Your new life is going to cost your old one. You have to defy yourself, the norms, the restrictions, and leave the ego behind. You have to move from what it is to what isn’t to achieve liberation.”
Over 60 students, faculty members, and media educators from MRIIRS and other Universities participated in the event. The event was organized by Aditya Shukla and Mitali Mohanty under the guidance of Prof (Dr) Maithli Ganjoo. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Aman Vats, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication.
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