The classroom e Learning programme under the Smart School initiative is conceived as a more flexible, cost-effective, and educationally powerful option compared to the shared- access PC labs.
“Accompanied by effective professional development and curriculum resources, classroom e Learning makes technology a normal part of the educational experience rather than an isolated activity conducted in a separate room. The focus shifts from technology-skills acquisition, to using technology as a tool to transform teaching and learning in the classroom”, Mr.Sadath explains.
The Intel-powered Classmate PC in the form of a Netbook has an Atom N465 processor, 1GB RAM and 160 GB HDD. The equipment is packed in a case, making it handy and easy to operate and carry around. Storage carts to keep 40 laptops and equipped with charging facilities are also being provided to the schools.
Mobile computing infrastructure is a key component of the Smart School initiative. All participating teachers and students are provided with laptops, dedicated for their exclusive use for certain periods. The laptops are rotated among various groups of students during the day, but serve as personal teaching and learning tools. Also, the students in a specific batch can carry these devices home for a specified period of time to get more access.
The Government Higher Secondary Schools selected for the deployment are Cotton Hill ( Trivandrum), South Ezhippuram (Ernakulam), Poomala (Idukki), Moyans (Palakkad) and Karuvarakundu and Tirurangadi (Malappuram).
