Education in govt schools gets smart

Chandigarh: Students of classes VI to VIII in 10 government schools of the city are finally getting "smart" education. Teachers here are using tablets to teach them. Students can also use them to study after class, when they are kept in the library. Six more schools will get these tablets in the next few months. Besides tablets, schools have also installed wi-fi connections for easy access to pictures, 3D animation, diagrams and educational videos.
UT started smart learning classes in a few schools in the beginning of the session and tablets were provided recently.Authorities feel the step has been a success as both students and teachers are enjoying the new mode of teaching.
Teachers feel use of tabs will be of immense benefit to students, who will be able to keep themselves updated with lessons even they happen to miss a class. "If a student misses class or does not understand something taught in class clearly, he or she can go to the library and study from the tab," said Mohinder Kumar, a teacher from GSSS Behlana, who has been trained to use the tablet.
As for students' response, he said, "Learning has certainly become fun for students. They understand better with audio-visual aids, videos and 3D diagrams. We started using tabs after vacations and students get excited every time I take the tab to class."
The department was given Rs 10 lakh under the head of computer-aided learning in a meeting of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan's programme approval board last year. Of this, Rs 1 lakh was given to 10 schools, including Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) Behlana, Government Model High School, Sector 7, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37B, GMHS Dhanas, GMHS-45, GSSS Raipur Khurd, GMSSS-44, GMHS- 41, Government High School, Sector 54 and GMHS Manimajra.
"We have launched tablets and according to the directions of MHRD, the e-pathshala app has been downloaded by teachers who will teach through ebooks," said director, school education Rubinderjit Singh Brar. NCERT experts trained teachers of 10 schools to use the epathshala app in May.