Usage Insights of Education Technology in EJH, Meghalaya

Learn about the benefits of implementing Samagra Shiksha Aligned smart classrooms. This involves the adoption and usage of education technology in schools of EJH, Meghalaya.

What does ICT@Samagra Shiksha Suggest? 

The ICT and Digital Initiatives segment of Samagra Shiksha focuses on Government and Aided Schools with classes VI to XII. This initiative aligns with the new education policy. Thus, aims to bridge the digital divide by establishing strong and reliable infrastructure. 

To achieve this goal, the ministry has recommended viable options for implementing ICT and smart class technology, including:

• Tablets, Laptops, Notebooks, PCs with Integrated Teaching Learning Devices, Digital Boards equipped with Content Management Systems/solutions (CMS)/Learning Management Systems (LMS), Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and OS, along with Servers featuring a minimum of 16 GB RAM. 
• The suggested setup also includes projector/LCD/LED/Plasma Screen, Printer, Scanner, Web Camera, Modem, Broadband/DTH-TV Antenna/ROT/SIT, Router, Generator/Solar Package/Panel, UPS, Video Camera, Charging Racks, etc. 

Challenges Existing ICT and Smart Classroom setups in Schools

Despite the availability of computers and smart classrooms, the underutilization of these resources hints at concerning issues of adoption. 

Infrastructural factors such as unreliable electricity in certain regions, complex computing/smart class hardware, and lack of internet connectivity. Further, psychological factors like technological resistance and insufficient teacher-student training may contribute to this phenomenon. These challenges highlight the need for strong and reliable infrastructure that addresses both infrastructural and human factors hindering the effective integration of education technology.

Samagra Shiksha Aligned and Thoughtfully Designed Smart Classroom  Overcoming the Above-mentioned Challenges

In the East Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya, a visionary initiative named Project Ka Lawei has been initiated by DC Shri Abhilash Baranwal Ji, Deputy Commissioner, EJH Meghalaya. This initiative, aimed at enabling digital education in schools. Within a span of one year, from August 2022 to April 2023, we digitized 166 classrooms with Smart Classes.

The project addresses the challenges faced by schools in adopting technology, fostering engaging teaching-learning experiences.

To ensure the easy adoption of smart classrooms, iDream Education implemented 166 iPrep Digital Classes on  55-inch Smart TVs, LCDs, running on an Open Source Android platform. Notably, this solution is designed in alignment with the ICT@Samagra Shiksha Initiative by the Ministry of Education, ensuring a user-friendly and dependable setup. 

The solution is plug-and-play, allowing teachers to conduct lessons through multi-category digital content without connecting the devices to the internet connection. iPrep with curriculum-aligned content in the preferred medium of instruction, effectively eliminating concerns that hinder the adoption and use of educational technology.

Smart Class Usage Trends: A Paradigm Shift

The usage trends of Smart Classes under Project Ka Lawei depict the benefit of implementing easy-to-set-up, manage, and use education technology in schools. From March to August 2023, the average smart class usage in 166 classrooms stood at an encouraging average of 56 hours of use. These figures reflect on selecting the reliable education technology for classrooms as mentioned in ICT@Samagra Shiksha. The progress of Project Ka Lawei serves as a beacon, showcasing the potential of education technology to improve learning in schools of Meghalaya and beyond.

How can you drive usage of education technology in schools?

The current setup of ICT and other technology in schools involves complex interconnected hardware. This makes devices hard to manage and operate. Therefore, in cases of hardware failure, the entire system becomes unusable. To promote the use of education technology in schools, it is crucial to adopt a solution that is easy to set up, use, and manage. 

iPrep Digital Class by iDream Education is one such solution. It is a plug-and-play system that can be seamlessly implemented in any classroom without requiring extensive infrastructure.

How does iPrep Digital Class, a smart classroom solution eliminate infrastructural and human factors hindering integration of technology in education?

• Designed in alignment with ICT@Samagra Shiksha, it is compatible with all hardware and operating systems. It features a user-friendly interface that allows teachers to use it effortlessly, just like TV at home. 
• The preloaded digital content on a pendrive/OPS/central server eliminates the need for Internet connectivity. This enables teachers to teach digital lessons without dependency on internet connectivity.
• Further, the ground team of iDream Education conducts experiential teacher training. Here the focus is to guide teachers on maximizing the potential of iPrep on smart classes and its content categories. 
• Furthermore, baseline and monthly assessments are conducted to assess learning level of each student. Additionally, subject teachers of all 50 schools receive bridge courses aligned with the lesson plans. This is to help them bridge the learning gap through classroom teaching. 

Teacher training along with assessment and bridge courses, has proven to be instrumental in improving the learning of students in EJH, Meghalaya. 

The potential of integrating education technology into school facilities cannot be overstated. The choice of easy to set up, manage and use education technology, can break barriers to enable digital education in any school across India.  

If in case you would like to know more about iPrep Digital Class, a Smart Classroom Solution by iDream Education, visit our website, www.idreameducation.org, or write to us at [email protected]