The barrage of new technologies can, at times, be overwhelming, if one is a wee bit technically-challenged. I recall the nostalgia associated with the 80s and 90s, every time I would be invited to witness the launch of a new piece of technological progress. Over the years, however, I began to understand the value of these advances, and their impact on our lives, subject to balance. In the field of education, a number of innovations have been introduced to enhance teaching processes and learning outcomes. One such app I was introduced to was Geneo, which left an impact with its simplicity yet uniqueness.
Bridging the gap
Labelled as the next generation teaching-learning ecosystem, this app, based on the didactic methodology called LARA – Learning, Application, Revision and Assessment, links existing NCERT text books to a range of multimedia content developed laboriously over many years; the gamut of tools include virtual/digital labs where experiments can be repeated ‘n’ number of times in order to comprehend tough concepts in Science, 3D models that enable cracking difficult themes, chapter specific videos, mind-maps that serve as rapid recall tools, and others. The diverse didactic tools in the app have been designed keeping in mind the fact that there are different kinds of learners. The app has both free and payable content to choose from, that is made available in any language, is Google Cloud Platform based and has an operating band width that ranges from 96 Kbps to 3.6 Mbps. Ease in operation (the app operates on any system: phone, Linux, PC etc.) serves as an additional USP. These features enable ease in accessibility, operations and usage.
However, the important USP is anytime, anywhere learning, facilitated by the above mentioned features, and mentor support that provides one-to-one Q and A based teacher access that helps clear doubts and drives understanding that is not possible in a one-to-many school environment.
Parents can track their child’s progress — topic-wise, anytime anywhere , which otherwise may not be possible through traditional contact points like parent-teacher meetings. Parents have access to assessments that provide a true picture of the child’s performance and needs for improvement.
R.C.M. Reddy, Managing Director and C.E.O., IL and FS Education explains: “The need to serve as a catalyst in order to ignite young minds to explore, discover and re-discover is a need we all feel. This is what served as a drive to pursue the challenge of developing Geneo. However, this journey, as any other journey in life, would not have been complete without a synergised effort between our team and partners.”
The writer is advisor, Communications and Media Outreach, IL&FS Education and Technology Services.
