Innovative use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools and the impact it had on revolutionising educational practices and classrooms took the centrestage at the conference on ICT in Indo-US schools organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries here on Saturday.
“About 8 lakh laptops pre-loaded with educational content have been provided to 65% of State Government and aided schools in Tamil Nadu”, said Pooja Kulkarni, State Project Director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan , Government of Tamil Nadu.
Laying emphasis on how ICT had become more accessible to students across the State, Ms. Pooja further said that it had immense potential in revolutionising the education system of the State and benefitting students.
With the participation of representatives from the field of education from both the United States and Chennai, the conference compared and analysed the level of penetration of technology in schools in the United States and India. “The human factor in technology-assisted learning is important. Technology does not replace teachers, instead, their role is evolved into that of a facilitator, a designer and an architect” said Ann McMullen, retired Executive Director of Educational technology Klein ISD, Texas while opining about the attitude of cynicism that people tend to hold towards the results of technology-assisted learning.
The emerging trends in ICT, the potential it had as well the challenges faced by schools with inadequate financial support in adapting to such technology were among the topics discussed.
“This is the dawn of an era where educators can harness technology to transform education. Though large-scale investment in ICT has been happening, formation of an ICT department in schools is a step in the right direction,” said Sheela Rajendra, Deputy Dean and Director and Correspondent, Padma Seshadari Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School and Junior College
(Additional reporting by Gayathree Ganesan and Megha Varier)
Experts in the field of education from the United States and India analysed the level of penetration of technology in schools in both the countries
