Accelerating Technology Learning

Intel announced the extension of its ‘World Ahead Programme’ in Uttarakhand on the May 13th this year when a Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between Chief Minister B C Khanduri and Sandeep Aurora, Director Sales & Marketing, South Asia, Intel. The ‘World Ahead Programme’ integrates and extends Intel’s efforts to drive progress in accessibility, content, connectivity and education.

In its attempt to accelerate technology learning in the classroom, Intel India also donated 200 computers to the state government on the occasion. These computers will be used  to empower students in 50 government / government-aided schools by September 2008. After exchanging the MOU, the Chief Minister said, ‘We have to bridge the technological divide to bring about all round development in the State. Presently, there are various constraints in the educational infrastructure and the government is working to bring about the necessary changes’.

On the occasion Aurora, stated that Intel’s World Ahead Program was working to improve the overall quality of education, by providing school’s access to technology, through PCs and preparing teachers on effective use of technology in education. He also added that they were ‘pleased with the increase in teachers’ participation in Uttarakhand, and that the students find learning easier and more interesting with a technology-aided curriculum’.

Intel’s initiatives in Uttrakhand have a broad objective of achieving universal compatibility for the students of government/ government-aided schools by bridging the digital divide, preparing students for the 21st century, promoting professional growth of teachers and  making technology an integral part of the school curriculum.

The new agreement between the state government and the ‘World Ahead Programme’ will strengthen already established relationships and will extend the benefit to teachers, students and communities of Uttarakhand

The ‘Technology in Education’ contest for which the awards were announced at the event, recognises and rewards teachers, students and schools who have successfully and innovatively integrated technology in education.

This year around 366 entries were received from various schools in the state, out of which 64 entries were given the awards under the categories of state, regional and district level. The winners were also given cash awards by the state government. The award winning students, teachers and schools also received citation certificates by Intel and cash incentives by the government in the felicitation event .

An evaluation of impact of the Intel  program in Uttarakhand reveals that:

  • 90% of the Principals believe the program has a positive impact on teachers, students and on overall school functioning.

     

  • 88% teachers in Uttarakhand are using technology in new ways like making projects, teaching lessons by diagrams, using the Presentation tools.

     

  • 74 % students mention that teachers are able to explain the lessons better when taught through the use of computers and this helps in easier comprehension of the lesson.

In India, over 8,66,000 teachers have been trained under the Intel Teach initiative and over 52,000 learners have been touched under the Intel Learn Program. Till date, over 21,314 teachers in Uttarakhand have been trained under the Intel Teach Programme.

This agreement between the state government and the ‘World Ahead Programme’ is expected to strengthen the already established relationships and extend the benefit to teachers, students and communities of Uttarakhand.

With over 50 schools in rural and semi-rural Uttarakhand targeted as beneficiaries for the donated computers, the aim of Intel and Uttarakhand government is to develop model schools that showcase the full benefits of effective technology integration in teaching and learning through computers and the  teacher training programme approach.

At the end of the event, the chief Minister,  Education minister, Director Intel India and the participants took a pledge and thereafter signed a signature wall, where they promised to work towards an Uttarakhand ‘where all the teachers and students are equipped with the right tools to connect them to 21st century opportunities’.

While signing the signature wall with all the participants, Minister for Education Madan Kaushik expressed happiness at the fact that ‘a large number of schools have been equipped with computers with the help of Intel and many such projects will be undertaken in the near future. ‘We see our children and schools as part of a global India and want to take the necessary steps towards this goal’.

Highlights of the awards

  • Teachers as well as students  showcased innovative Projects like  ‘Fire Line”, “Environment”, “Innovation  on Significance of Number Seven”, “Refraction and Reflection of light” and “Thales Theorem”

  • Awards were conferred over all the 13 Districts of the state including districts like, Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri, US Nagar and  Uttarkashi.

He felt that the initiatives provided by Intel would go a long way in extending the benefits of technology aided learning to the students in rural and semi rural areas of Uttarakhand

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