In a quiet start that has the potential to revolutionize
the way kids are taught, a school run by a Muslim educational organization in
Kerala's Palakkad district has completely replaced textbooks with tablets for
Class 8-12 students from this academic year. Other schools in the state may
soon follow the example set by Muslim Educational Society International School,
Pattambi.
“We have given 552 tablets to students from classes VIII
to XII and students have been asked not to carry textbooks to school. This has
improved the teachinglearning process as everything can be visually explained,“
said school principal Asha Byju. To reduce possibility of misuse, the school
has also developed a programme by which teachers can monitor the content
students are viewing. They now plan to introduce tablets from classes IV to VII
from the next academic year.
Various school principals take pains to point out that
tablets are not another cool toy but rather a powerful and versatile tool with
multiple educational applications.“Tablets are set to change the way we teach,
as students can have easy access to extra in formation. Also this will reduce
the school bag load,“ said Sunitha Sateesh, principal, The Choice School,
Kochi. Her school will introduce tablets from next year.
Not all are convinced though. “This is nothing but
`elitisation' of education that will bring in profits for schools. Though
tablets are being introduced as part of technological change, one is not sure
of the nature of comprehension and quality, if one goes strictly by the
parameters of knowledge,“ said educationist Rajan Gurukkal.
Sanjeev Kumar, principal (in-charge), Peevees Public
School, Nilambur, said: “The most important challenge for us is to ensure that
students' writing skills are not affected.“ The government too doesn't want to
be left behind. Its IT@School Project plans to introduce free tablets for class
VIII students in 140 schools -one each from every assembly constituency .
Source | Times of India | 21 August 2014
