Project Name : Scaling up ITE (An Integrated Approach to Technology in Education ) in government schools of Assam
Supporting Partner : Tata Trust
Project Area : Baksa, Nalbari & Kamrup (Rural) district of Assam (50 nos. of government schools i.e. 10 nos. under Baksa district, 30 nos. under Nalbari & 10 nos. under Kamrup (Rural) district of Assam.)
Beneficiary : Children/teachers/community/schools (under 50 nos. of selected government schools and 14 nos. of RMSA model schools)
Outcome : Teacher training/rapport building/community based projects/ teachers’ active participation
Integration of technology in education (ITE) is an initiative of Tata Trusts, designed and coordinated by the Trust at 18 locations in India. It is a pedagogic framework for integrating technology in teaching and learning. Conceptualised by Program personnel at Tata Trusts, ITE provides children an opportunity to authenticate their learning at school using technology, while imparting crucial technological skills that are fast becoming requisites in the 21st century. The Tata Trusts’ ITE program is being implemented across nine states through 14 partners and direct project units. The geographical areas of the program is mainly resource poor, such as in tribal inhabited areas in Eastern and North Eastern States or in urban slums in Maharashtra and West Bengal. The program runs in supplementary learning centres, Madrassahs and public schools.
Rather than creating an additional layer in the classroom, technology is embedded in the teachers’ lesson plans and pedagogy. The teacher designs learning activities and students use technology to construct their own learning. Technology is used as a tool, rather than as an end itself. ITE’s multifaceted objectives include bridging the digital divide; fostering digital citizenship, creating an active interest for learning; fostering Higher Order Thinking Skills and significantly improving pedagogies and learning processes.
In Assam it is a recent concept implemented by Gramya Vikash Mancha. Here in Nalbari, Baksa, Kamrup and models schools students are engaged in making authentic projects using technology. As for example, if the children are to be taught about flood, the child will be given a camera, he/she will take photograph or take photograph from the flood prone area and make it a power point presentation and make video on flood. It is making teaching much easier and more fun. Technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and transparent and when the child or a teacher does not stop to think that he/she is using a computer or researching via the internet. The goal of teachers is to apply the use of technology in a seamless manner, so that the supports and extends curriculum objectives and engages students in meaningful learning. The main thing of integration of technology is more about using of technology rather than learning of technology.
Gramya Vikash Mancha (GVM) has also been implementing ITE for the Tata Trusts, incorporating and promoting concept of ITE in its ongoing “knowledge connectivity camp”, being organized at GVM campus with an aim to mainstream drop out school children as well as in different learning centre, established in different villages in Nalbari, Baksa and Kamrup Rural district of Assam. ITE is now scaled up in 50 government high schools and 23 non amalgamated upper primary schools in same premises of high schools in Nalbari, Baksa and Kamrup rural district, 15 model schools of RMSA in Assam, 3 RSTC and 2 KGBV in Kamrup rural district with an aim to cover 12000 students ensuring access to quality education in an enabling environment for fostering authentic learning, creativity and innovation using technology.
This programme is organized by student and teachers of each school in nearby villages, through children assembly, youth group etc. Besides, they have organize interaction programme with farmers, elderly group , mothers group etc to inform them about use of technology, share cultural activities and documented as well as prepare ITE project. The overall objective is to strengthen relationship between community and school, motivate casual and drop out children to attend school regularly, create space for community learning through ITE outreach programme.
In every community base ITE programme topics are selected based upon the necessity of that community. Students have worked on topics like Child marriage, Child labour, Substance abuse, Resources in village, Health status of community, disaster etc. On the final day of the programme students present their projects in front of the community. It helps creating awareness on the topic, enhance community learning and help connecting the community with the school.
Intra School programmes are organized in schools with parents, guardians, teachers, School management committee members, head master of nearby upper primary and high schools, local authorities such as village head, Panchayat members, village development committee members, local Majhid development council, and village youth club members etc. At the beginning of the meeting role of technology in our day to day life is discussed. How technology can ease our life and provide new opportunities that is explained with examples. ITE provides children an opportunity to authenticate their learning at school using technology, while imparting crucial technological skills that are fast becoming requisites in the 21st century.
Then students present their curricular base ITE project in groups.These groups comprise students of different levels. All members of the group are encouraged to participate in the presentation. Once they complete their presentation, they answer questions from audience. Student projects are evaluated and best projects are honored with some gifts. Then head master of the school, teachers and invited guests are asked to express their views. Objective of this programme is to motivate students and teachers for adopting ITE, encourage other school to adopt ITE, improve confidence and presentation skill of students and share objectives of ITE project with audience. During student presentation their projects are valuated and best projects are honored with some gifts. Total 26 numbers of Intra School programme was held during this time.
