Digital Learning in Government Primary Schools

Computer Aided Learning in Government Primary Schools in India

Mukesh Hajela [nicthoin@yahoo.com]

Introduction
The national policy on education was launched in 1986 after 39 years of independence and it was revised in 1992. The work in education as priority sector was started in 90’s with higher allocation of resources and defined strategies to meet the Goal of ‘Education for all’. India has adopted the world declaration on education for all in 1990 in Jomtien. Since then with several positives developments together with world declaration has geared up work in education (basic), which is very much reflected by the phenomenal indications in literacy rates. There has been substantial expansion of primary schools to the tune of three times since 1951-1991 and more vigour in last decade.

How ICT in education can make the difference
The use of ICT tools and the development in the ICT, has its impact on all walks of life, may it be bank, market place, govt. organizations etc; similarly it has revolutionized education too. The combination of video, animation audio, graphics, and text resources provides enhanced learning facility with specific need of student and teacher by creating playful interesting way of learning and disseminate information and help in providing quality and universal education in government and municipal schools like in other private schools by establishing Computer Aided Learning Centres – CALCs.

What is CALCs?
Computer Aided learning is an environment where a multi media based computer lab with computer program is used to assist the students and teachers in learning and teaching, a particular subject and is a method of instructions in combination to lecture, text book etc. It is an art of teaching by using the power of ICT for explanation, it gives feel and instant fear- less evaluation of the subject taught which traditional method fails to provide, and evaluate on the basis of the memory. CALCs is like a boon for both students and teachers. However, lack of content, computer labs, poor infrastructure, disruptive power supply, scarcity of trained teachers on ICT and inadequate budget are some of the major constraints of CALCs.

A case study

Project SHARADA in MCD primary schools
Client: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The Second Largest Corporation of World
Agency: NICT INDORE (NGO). Project funded by Dainik Bhaskar Group

Introduction:
SHARADA aims to create better teaching environment and under the obligatory function of MCD- since 1997, the primary education is the prime responsibility of MCD. The MCD runs about 1820 primary schools and catering to 9 lack 30 thousand students. MCD is committed to improve the standard of primary education quality for the harmonious development of children and initiated the deployment of modern teaching technique to various MCD School, which will help in redefining the teaching in MCD primary Schools. To meet the objectives project name ‘SHARADA’ was initiated in approximate 1000 schools spreading over all the zones of MCD.

Project objectives

To establish an enabling environment for teaching and learning.
Promote learning with plays.
Making learning interesting and joyful (Breaking pressure and monotonous teaching system)
Promote creativity and thinking
Promote analytical skill
Self learning
Transformation of classroom environment from teacher-centric to student centric learning
Enrichment of curriculum and pedagogy by employment of ICT tools for teaching and learning
To enable students to acquire skills for digital world.
Effective learning and teaching environment by using ICT tool for better understanding

Coverage of the project under NICT (NGO)
NICT has taken up the implementation of project SHARADA in Mission mode and in 3 months the project was rolled out.

Best example of public – private partnership
The Project “SHARADA” was implemented on Public-Private Partnership Model through extrusive selection process of 7-8 months and 8-10 companies have responded. Two tenders MCS (Pvt. Company) & NICT (NGO) was selected after technical and commercial evaluation. The tender and the selection process were conducted by “ICICI InfoTech” as consultant to the committee of MCD.

NICT (NGO) allotted two groups on Comparative Bid, Group – “B” and Group – “D”.
Note: NICT run about 487 CALCs catering 1 lac (approx.) students under Project “SHARADA”

Challenges

To implement project ‘SHARADA’ that is establishment, operation and maintenance of computer aided learning centres in primary schools run by MCD.
Five month time frame (487 CAL-C)
Shifting of 2512 machines from vendor to 487 locations
Shipping and positioning of 487 printers at 487 locations
Room formatting with electric fittings at 487 locations
Recruitment of 500 instructor & core faculty members and their deployment
Monitoring of installations and deployment of LINUX Network setup at 487 CALCs, on 2512 machines
Preparation of investment and MIS at 487 locations
Capital inventory of 7 cr. rupees
Designing and fixing furniture and fixture at 487 CALCs

Project implementation methodology

“The success of any project depends on the implementation as it is main crust of the project”
NICT has implemented the project with innovative Bottom – Top approach with time frame check list. Each school is defined as separate project with core faculty as in-charge and was given execution time chart to follow the resource flow from project office. The mix Bottom-Top and Top-Bottom approach has made the project implemented in record time with all components.

Project Monitoring and Control System
An effective project monitoring and control system has been developed in consultation with MCD based on our IT education project experience which is as follows:

Monthly MIS
Teachers Diary
Lab Records
Maintaining record of equipment
Up & Down time check List
Equipment down Complaint System
Students & School Staff feedback

In given time frame of 5 months, with our well defined implementation plan adopting matrix and modular approach, our client have 487 CALC fully operation at and catering 1.5 lacs Students

Figures and Facts
Cost of implementation of the project in 5 years Rs. 20 crores

No. of students to be benefited over the period of 5 years: 7,50,000
Cost to MCD per year per students Rs. 53.33
Cost to MCD per month per students Rs. 4.44

The Dreams comes true
Impact

With modern teaching aids the quality of education teaching learning and understanding increased and the environment in the government municipal schools improved.
Enrolment increase.
Students are found interested and rushing to CALCs enjoying learning with creativity.
Learning is now more play and become joyful and effective
Child attendance improved
Performance in subject understanding improved
Student found proud and motivate for CALCs

Call Centre/Help Desk: For Continual support and performance
"The chanting of primary school Shahdra North now proudly" shares with her friends that her school is having computer lab with 8 computers and they learn, by using computers and she too knows to operate mouse and keyboard.

Limitations and critical factor
While deployment of ICT projects (CALCs) in primary education following critical factor and limitation are need to be taken care of are:
Primary Student enjoying Learning in a CAL-C at MCD school

Availability of infrastructure for establishment of CALCs
Electricity supply
Selection of Vendor who can take up project as MISSION
Time of implementation
More emphasis should be given on use of computer as teaching and learning aided rather than teaching about computer in primary classes.
Content software of CALCs it is important to have syllabus base context in common language rather than general subject.
Availability of teachers having knowledge of computer (B-ed + computer) or “Diploma in computer aided learning”.
CBT’s on health and hygiene education will help in improving health and hygiene which is not available.
Planning CBT learning in schools are regular rather than weekly event.

Conclusion
By deployment of ICT at govt. primary schools it will boost the enrollment, increase quality of education by standardization, make learning environment interesting and joyful help in retention of students to complete the elementary education cycle remove monotonous and memory base learning with better understandings, Such multimedia classroom will contribute as catalyst to literacy missions and substitute to over come the roadblocks in teaching and make classroom interactive and participatory.