The Hindu 13.11.2013
Hands-on learning with tablets
Excited, the students move their hands, fingers and eyes
to convey that they are learning better. Teachers R. Shanthi and S.
Kalaiselvi translate the students’ sign language — they say that
students with speech and hearing impairment at the Corporation’s special
school in R.S. Puram are able to easily understand the chapter on
angles.
As the students continue gesticulating the
teachers say that the students have also seen how the French dressed
during the French Revolution period.
This, the
students did not get to know when they, the teachers, just crossed their
fingers to convey something about war or revolution.
The
students and teachers are talking about the tablet-based education
system the Coimbatore Corporation has introduced with help from the
American Indian Foundation and Dell under the Digital Equaliser
Programme.
The Foundation’s Coordinator V. Alexander
says that the students will use the tablets a day or two ahead of the
day teachers start teaching a chapter or topic.
This
self-paced learning will help the students have an idea of what the
teacher will be teaching. In case of doubts, the students can revisit
the lesson on the tablet or get them cleared by their classmates.
If the doubts still persist, the students can get it cleared from the teachers.
The
lessons on the tablet will have slides, videos available on the Web and
videos of teachers explaining topics using sign language. Mr. Alexander
says that the Foundation and Dell have prepared videos for chapters or
topics in Tamil, Maths, Science and Social Science.
The
differently abled students do not study English and write only four
papers in their Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination.
The Foundation has deployed resource persons at the school to upload videos, orient teachers and also students.