The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : IT professionals visit school to study activity based learning

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Friday, Dec 05, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

IT professionals visit school to study activity based learning

K. Manikandan

Good Gesture: Satyam Computer Services employees at the St. Thomas Mount Panchayat Union Primary School in Kaarapakkam.

TAMBARAM: A group of 22 employees of Satyam Computer Services Limited on Wednesday took part in a training programme to study the Activity Based Learning methodology at the St.Thomas Mount Panchayat Union Primary School in Kaarapakkam.

Officials of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan said the software company had approached them as they wanted to learn the new methodology that has been put in place in primary schools across Tamil Nadu.

Media reports about delegations from different State governments visiting primary schools in Chennai and its suburbs had also prompted them to find out how ABL worked and its effects on students and teachers. “But more importantly, we wanted to find out for ourselves the differences between conventional methods that has been done away with and the ABL,” said J.Jenith, Project Coordinator of Education Programmes in Satyam Foundation.

Through the Foundation, employees of all departments volunteered to assist government schools to supplement the efforts of teachers by involving in academic activities and events outside classrooms. “We wanted to be aware of the components of ABL methodology so that our employees are better equipped when they go for voluntary activities in the government primary schools,” Mr. Jenith said.

Under the ‘Urban Transformation Together’ programme of Satyam Foundation, employees took part in many community activities, particularly in the field of school education. So far, they have been conducting competitions, organising spoken English sessions and moral science classes, while ensuring that all of them were lively and enjoyable to children.

The employees regularly planted saplings in many government schools along Rajiv Gandhi Salai (IT Corridor), organised ’Eco Clubs’ and conducted health camps.

SSA officials said voluntary organisations and corporates have adopted certain schools and equipped them with computers and learning material. This was encouraging as it supplemented the efforts of the government.

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