After undergoing a two-month training programme, children of Classes I to III in select government middle schools in Ramanathapuram took their third-term (final) examinations on tablet computers on Monday.
The Sarva Siksha Abiyan (SSA) had test-launched the digital learning method as part of the new pedagogy in February. The SSA had distributed 109 tablets to children in 10 government middle schools in the district to promote Activity Based Learning (ABL). Five children forming a group each in Classes I, II and III were given a tablet to learn after scanning QR codes.
When the third-term examinations began on Monday, the children, taking questions for 60 marks in each subject, answered questions for 40 marks on paper and 20 on tablets. About 350 children of Classes I to III in the ten government schools took the examination using tablets under the pilot project, SSA officials said.
Familiar with usage
As the children had been using the tablets since February, they answered the questions after scanning the QR code with ease, said Ms. D Esther Veni, head mistress, Vallalpari Municipal Middle School. “The children had no difficulty in taking the examination on the tablets as they got used to it,” she said.
In all, 80 students in her school took the examination, she said. While students of Classes I and II appeared for four papers – Tamil, English, Maths and Environmental Science — Class III students appeared for Science and Social Science in addition to Tamil, English and Maths.
In all, 26 teachers were trained to train children to use the tablets, SSA officials said. After a child completed his/her exercise, the tablet was handed over to the other child in the group, they said, adding the children enjoyed the learning with audio-visual aids. Schools selected for digital learning in the district included MSK Municipal School, Arignar Anna Municipal School and government schools at Kavarankulam, Vannivayal, Subbuthevan Valasai, RS Madai, Mudukkutharavai, Kazhuguoorani and Pudhumadam, they said.
