Computer Education

USE OF INFORMATION  AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

IN EDUCATION IN JNVS  IN HYDERABAD REGION

          Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti introduced computer education for the children in Navodaya Vidyalayas in 1991-92.  The objectives have been revised from time to time and the present  objectives are:

1. The programme will be for all students from class VI to XII

2. Computers have been introduced  in schools to create computer culture for young school goers and to help children understand the technology in a study period of 3-4 years

3. To familiarize students with the range of computer applications for human activities and give an understanding of computer potential and information processing.

4. To encourage teachers to use the technology in a creative way

5. To provide hands-on experience to help students

6. To enable children to get training covering a minimum of 75% of all contents prescribed by DOEACC for ‘O’ level examination.

7. To use IT in services provided to the children.

PRESENT SET UP : INFRASTRUCTURE: 

1. Each Vidyalaya has got minimum 25 computers. 

2. The computers are supported with printers, UPS and Generator to ensure continuous power supply for running the machines.

3. All the 70 JNVs  have got LCD Projectors and Digital Cameras for using in  preparation of teaching slides etc.,

4. All the schools have obtained Internet connection  either through BSNL Dial-up or broadband connection or through VSAT connectivity.

5. 41 JNVs have got VSAT connectivity for uninterrupted Internet connection which includes one VSAT connectivity presented by Jawaharlal Nehru  Centre for Advanced Research.

6. Each JNV has 3 to 5 printers including Dot matrix, desk jet printer and laser printers.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT:

            NVS has made provision for appointment of a qualified Computer Professional having minimum qualification of Bachelor Degree in Computer Application.  However, most of the schools in Hyderabad Region have professionals having minimum of MCA and its equivalent as qualification. With the help of PTC etc.,  some schools have appointed two professionals for assisting the teaching learning system.

CURRICULUM:
                       
           NVS has designed tailored curriculum to support the learning competencies in computers.  Accordingly, it is being compulsorily taught for all the children from class VI to XII, wherein, children are exposed to the level of simple programming by the time they reach XII  class in Data structures and C++.  Besides, JNVs in Hyderabad Region are also referring to the curriculum and  syllabus prepared by NCERT for the purpose.

SOFTWARE :

                   Basically Window based  operating system is being followed with MS Office , LOGO and Communication  Software is being used for learning operation of Computers, Word processing,  data entry, programming in C, C++, DBMS,  worksheets and communication.

TEXTUAL MATERIAL:

                   NVS has published specific tailored  textual material for enhancing the competency of  children in operation of Computer and learning moderate level of programming.

                   In addition, JNVs in Hyderabad Region are also using 3 books  Level 1 to 3 published by NCERT as reference material, besides referring to contemporary study materials available in the market. 

FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE OF COMPUTER EDUCATION:

                   Computer education system in the JNVs has got following areas of functioning:

1. Compulsory Computer education to all the children wherein each child will be able to operate the computer and its modules for the purpose of general teaching learning practice.

2. By the time the children come to Class XII,   they will be made competent to learn reasonable level of programming up to C++.

3. Computer aided education under which children with the help of teachers will use the resources of computer to learn the general subjects with a view to enhance the learning competencies and also enrich the learning contents.

COMPUTER RESOURCES SHARING WITH THE NEIGHBOURING SCHOOLS SYSTEM:

                   Each Navodaya Vidyalaya is sharing its  resources to possible neighbourhood schools  with the view to encourage the teachers and children in the technology adaptation and also to  develop the resource sharing amongst the neighbourhood schools.  60 JNVs in Hyderabad Region altogether have been able to cover 160 schools giving a benefit of computer operation awareness in the neighbourhood educational environment.

MONITORING: 

          Each  JNV is provided with  Rs. 1.25 lakhs  towards expenditure for professional, maintenance of computers and stationeries required for the purpose.  All the issues are being handled by the Principal.

TRAINING:

          There is a global experience that when the information technology is used as a learning technology.  The role of the teacher is likely to dramatically change.  If it does not the innovation does not work.  Accordingly, NVS has introduced the trainings through the self established training centers at various parts of country like IIIT Hyderabad, Oracle Corporation (Thinki.com), Microsoft Project Shiksha etc.

1. Motivational  and administrative training for Principals who are expected to monitor the programme (All Principals have been trained).

2. Introductory training for teachers in Computer operation (All teachers have been trained)

3. Introductory training and follow-up on technology aided learning with the help of Microsoft (All teachers have been trained)

4. Specific training for Science & Maths teachers on multi media content development  with the help of International Institute of Information  Technology, Hyderabad.  96 teachers have been trained so far and rest of the Science and Maths teachers  will be covered by the end of this academic year.

5. Training to the teachers on specific content development through workshops.

6. Processing of information through computer to the non teaching staff , predominantly from the office (Completely for all schools).

SMART SCHOOLS:

           As envisaged by  the Ministry of Human Resource Development , out of 33 smart schools,  6 smart schools are functioning in Hyderabad Region which are having state of Art, infrastructure in Computer and afford intensive technology edition in the teaching learning system. The JNVs that have established smart school are 1. JNV Visakhapatnam, A.P 2. JNV Shimoga, Karnataka, 3.JNV Palakkad, Kerala,  4. JNV Puducherry, U.T, 5. JNV North & Middle Andaman, U.T, 6. JNV Minicoy,  U.T.

                   The Asst. Commissioners, In-charge of the Clusters are constantly monitoring this programme.  The smart schools are developing smarter day by day with the contemporary explosion of knowledge and demand in the market.  All smart schools are giving computer subject as elective at  the Senior  Secondary Level. 

VIDYALAYA  WEB SITES AND INFORMATION SERVICES:

                   65 Vidyalayas  have so far established Web Sites and the Regional Office will also establish its own Web Sites.    Many of the schools are providing services on Net work  amongst  the alumni students  and the sharing of learning material through the Web sites.

CREATION OF LEARNING MATERIALS :

                   Enthused  teachers have been able to prepare  considerable good standard of materials.  It is often felt that the educational software available in the market do not fully satisfy the learner requirements.  Therefore, to supplement and complement the available resources, teachers have been developing learning materials.  The multi-media content    development training being organized with the help of IIIT  is likely to make a remarkable change in this domain.
         
COMPUTER AIDED LEARNING:

The computer aided learning experimentations began from 2 schools with  the  help of INTEL Corporation  in the country including one at JNV Rangareddy, wherein the success stories of advantages of computer aided learning were launched and now many schools in their own humble way are able to  adapt the computer  adopt the computer aided learning in the following manner:

1. Power point presentation on the computer.

2. Preparation of lesson plans and lesson notes with the help of Web resources

3. Establishing communication among the peer groups  in other school systems including the schools in other countries for enhancing the learning patterns.

4. Developing animations on experiments and demonstrations

5. Developing programmes for display of various lesson presentations

6. Developing question bank for practice of the children

7. Providing online services of testing locally in the schools for the children desiring to take-up better challenges.

8. Developing the computer aided projects.

9. Developing the research oriented learning system by taking expansive projects  and develop the lessons and findings.

10. Developing the collaborative learning systems with the help of sharing amongst the children in the same school and also the children in other schools.  Some schools like JNV, Karaikal, Andaman, Ernakulam, Palghat, Bangalore(U), Guntur, E.Godavari have enormously developed   the collaborative materials and attempted to establish  on their own.

Designed & Maintained by  C S Swarup Kumar