From typing to basic programming and Web designing to animation, the newly-introduced IT textbooks for high school classes promise fun-filled learning, driving home lessons and concepts ranging from science and mathematics to geography through the application of information technology.
The textbooks have been designed to facilitate better grasping of different subjects while encouraging problem solving and logical thinking through games and activities. They appeal to the curiosity of students with the help of a bevy of open source software and trivia boxes.
For instance, lessons on computer networking are taught through the tale of a boy taking his mother to a doctor after taking an X-ray of her fractured leg. The doctor summons them and the boy is wondering about not getting the X-ray, only to see the doctor analysing it over his computer, thus driving home the concept of local area and wide area networks.
The potential of gaming is tapped through the software Scratch, which help students to design basic computer games on their own while programming language Python introduces basic programming lessons. The graphic and animation-rich Phet helps drill in various scientific concepts and software such as Inkscape and GNU Image Manipulation Program introduce students to video and audio editing and graphic designing. Sun Clock for the study of time zones, GPlates for plate tectonics, Stelarium, a desktop planetarium, Geogebra for learning mathematical concepts are some of the other software used. Students are also introduced to mobile apps and mobile operating platforms.
“Initially, a syllabus grid was prepared based on the number of periods and the content that could be transacted during the period. Each member of the core content development team was given separate chapters and their output was fine-tuned through multiple brainstorming sessions,” IT@School sources told The Hindu.
At least, three teachers from a school were given training before the academic year started.
Textbooks this month
The newly introduced IT textbooks for ninth and tenth standard classes are likely to reach all schools in the State by the end of this month.
While the new textbooks for the eighth standard already out, the ones for the other two classes have been delayed. IT@School sources attributed this to the delay in finalising the syllabus of other subjects of these classes. The IT textbooks have been designed as an effective tool for better understanding of all subjects through the application of IT and hence their content could be developed only after the syllabus for other subjects is finalised. The textbooks for eighth standard could be completed on time since the syllabus of subjects was finalised in advance. The content development of IT textbooks ran through a period from last September to February and then there was the translation burden since the books had to be brought out in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada. The printing of IT texts for classes 9 and 10 is over and they only need to be delivered at schools and this is expected by the end of this month, sources said.
