State’s classrooms to go digital
The
State government plans to make all government school classrooms digital by
March 2017. The classrooms will be equipped with 32-inch television monitors,
which will be connected to a Miracast device or Android computer stick, and
used as interactive boards.
Last
year, the State government launched the digital initiative in a few schools,
but decided to extend it to every classroom as it would cost only between Rs.
75,000 and Rs. 1 lakh per school.
In
a government resolution, principal education secretary Nand Kumar gave a cost
breakdown of the project: TV set (Rs. 12,000), Miracast device (Rs. 1,500),
Android computer stick or tablet (Rs. 20,000). Schools could also replace the
tablet with mobiles phones, the government order said.
A
projector would cost around Rs. 15,000 and any surface could be turned into an
interactive board. Schools facing electricity problems could also turn to
solar- powered batteries, which would cost Rs. 15,000. All government schools
have been asked to set up smart classrooms by March.
The
initiative is part of the Fast Forward Maharashtra Educational programme being
implemented by the State to promote digital technology and alternative teaching
methods to help children learn concepts quickly. The decision to introduce the
programme was taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in December after he found
more than 50 per cent of primary schools were lagging behind in going digital.
All teachers have been asked to visit digital schools in their areas to pick up
necessary skills.
Tech-savvy
teachers
So
far, 25,000 schools have been upgraded as part of the digital school movement.
Schools have been asked to seek the help of 48, 611 teachers in the State, who
have declared themselves as tech savvy. Teachers have been told to get
tech-friendly in the next two months and to use mobiles, which are more developed
than the super computers that were used to launch the Chandrayaan in 1961.
Teachers have also been asked to login to the ekstep group, a group
communication facility to help teachers share ideas.
Teachers
are being taught to make use of technology in a big way in classrooms to
augment classroom teaching and help assess children. The State also seeks to
keep tabs on the progress of students using educational platforms. Technology
would also be used to reduce the number of dropouts in government schools.
Source | The Hindu | 18 January 2017
Regards
Pralhad
Jadhav
Senior
Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co
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