In order to gauge the effect activity-based learning (ABL) has had on students in government schools in the State, including Corporation-run schools, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is conducting a detailed study.
According to school education department officials, the study, which began in three districts — Salem, Cuddalore and Chennai — last year, will be a long-term, continuous assessment that will look retrospectively at the differences ABL has brought to the classroom.
“Interviews with teachers and interaction with communities will be a part of the study as well,” a senior official says.
Adopted about eight years ago, ABL aims at going beyond rote learning and engaging the child’s creativity. It has been introduced in primary and upper primary classes in more than 37,000 government, aided and Corporation schools across the State.
“Over the years, different teachers have managed to interpret ABL in their own ways, and have introduced new learning material in their classrooms,” says Aruna Rathinam, education specialist with UNICEF in Tamil Nadu.
ABL should help in the overall social and intellectual development of the child, she says. UNICEF’s study is being simultaneously conducted in seven States to be able to gauge the variations in ABL methods.
To look into the effectiveness of the ABL method in intellectual development, education department officials say a second study by Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) will begin soon. “We hope to alter ABL cards based on the results of the study being conducted by J-PAL, which will look at learning outcomes,” the school education department official says.
Along with these two studies, the department itself is conducting tests for students in classes III, V and VIII.
Additionally, the Chennai Corporation is independently gauging learning outcomes in its classes as well.
“Currently, 20 teachers visit various Corporation schools and record various parameters of the classroom environment using an app,” a senior Corporation official says.
“They fill out various criteria, such as the level of enthusiasm, for each student in the class to gauge performance indicators,” the official added.
ABL has been introduced in more than 37,000 government, aided and Corporation schools across
the State
