Into the future
Dr. K. ELANGO, Department of English, Loyola College, Chennai
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A concept of the times, this could revolutionise teaching and learning in educational institutions.
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AP
Time to bid goodbye to blackboards.
The monotony of the classroom is tempered by the presence of chalk, duster and charts. At a time when "onlineversities" and "virtual classrooms" are increasingly adopted, the plausibility of "drive-in" classrooms and "mobile" classrooms is explored and the vision of a classroom wherever a learner happens to be is permeating all levels of education.
So to fashion smart classrooms, along the lines of smart offices, smart homes, smart cars and smart cards, new technologies ought to be integrated into the classrooms.
The smart classroom is almost like a teaching auditorium, a lecture theatre or a conference room equipped with computer, information and wireless technology and anything that would facilitate teaching-learning enterprise. The smart classroom should ultimately be accommodative of any teaching style, providing accessibility to any information or expertise in any part of the globe. With learners having equal accessibility, they should be able to download and duplicate any text instantly, and organising any communicative task whether in pairs, or as a group should not be a daunting task.
Benefits of the e-class
Unlike the traditional classrooms that are structured for uni-directional flow of information the smart classrooms promote multi-directional and multi-level interactions. Here the collaborative endeavour would be the central tutorial procedure enabling equal opportunities to all, thereby doing away with the conventional power structure of the class. The age old problem of teachers adopting similar teaching styles for learners of diverse abilities is addressed by using these technological devices which allow learners to operate at their own pace and cognitive ability.
A design firm has made a prototype of a future classroom and this consists of an interactive PDA called the GooBall, a backpack and a removable flexible LCD screen for each student. The key aspect of this proposition is that the classroom is to be divided into three areas, separated by invisible noise-cancellation barriers. The teacher is to stand at the centre and supervise the three sections simultaneously. In one section, the teacher lectures on a particular topic, in the second the learners work in groups and in the third the learners work independently. This division lets learners move from one area to another based on their need and interest and all three areas function uninterruptedly.
Time for change
Yet another advantage is that the teacher at the initial phase of the class duration gives his "input" and sets the tasks in about 15 minutes and lets the learners explore the area employing the gadgetry individually or collectively. Towards the end of the session they report on their findings and offer clarifications and the teacher wraps up the class with his remarks on the tasks carried out and the learner's performance. This approach allows for exploration and experiential learning with immediate feedback from the teacher and peers.
Even if smart classes are set up initially only elite educational institutions may be able to afford it. But over the years this concept could percolate even to the remotest areas.
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