Article authored by - Mr. Samik Ghosh [/i][/b],[/i][/b]Principal, The Scindia School, Fort, Gwalior[/i][/b]
Notebooks and paperbacks will soon be things of the past as Tablets, PC’s and Video tools are fast making their way into classrooms. The time of blackboards with chalk and notice boards has changed. The last few years have witnessed major evolution of technology and its foray into various sectors. Education sector, for instance, has opened its arms recently to the ardent use of technology in schools.
Technology has all along played an important role in enhancing and developing our learning system. The internet has been a boon to students as it opens them to a plethora of learning opportunities and various options which they can explore. Advancements in technology have also made it possible to introduce newer aids of teaching methods in schools. Video aids have made it possible to teach students by showing them 3D images and models. The novel methods also make teaching interactive and motivating, which translates into better understanding by the students. These approaches can support flexibility and choice in the curriculum and extend learning beyond the school environment. Evidence links the use of technology to improvements in learning and outcomes for pupils. Schools with a well-developed vision for learning and which lead and manage their use of technology in support of this are more likely to reap benefits.
The concept has picked up really well in the West. Nowadays, many classes are modified and equipped with Modern teaching aids such as speakers, online streaming videos, Interactive Whiteboards, Visualizer, response system, CD's, projectors and educational software etc. In India, we still have a long way to go before all our schools can incorporate these modern approaches. Many private schools have included these concepts as a part of their teaching processes. The task is all the more difficult for government schools across the country. The Indian government's education programmes already have some technology component, but that is tiny compared to the overall spending. In 2013-2014, the government allocated more than 27,000 crore to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, with a provision to spend 50 lakh in every district on computer-aided learning. This will grow in the coming years.
While we cannot completely let go of the traditional teaching aids, the incorporation of newer approaches and ideas will lead to the perfect amalgamation of the old and the new, thus enabling enhanced learning experience for the students.