Lalit Mohan, Director, iTouch Technologies Pvt Ltd
talks about new interactive technologies that are making stride in education…

“We look forward to huge volumes in the coming year because of our capability to design and customise solutions as per the customer’s need “

Innovations in the classroom technologies for schools and higher education institution
The latest innovation in the whiteboard technologies is Optical Sensing Touch Technology. As compared to Electromagnetic (Surface based) and Infra red (perimeter based) technologies, Optical technology offers more precise touch, with higher accuracy. This technology is easy to maintain owing to lowest number of components.
Finger touch interactive whiteboards are going to be hugely popular owing to its ease of use and reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). On the other hand interactive projectors use a stylus or pen to operate. Bagless classrooms, based on tablets and Cloud for storage, is the future. Internet is flooded with affordable and free Android based educational apps for children. Teachers can also download their subject content for their class.

Utilisation of IWBs
The Indian schools are flooded with inferior quality Chinese boards. These boards are based on stylus or pen. At times these boards do not function or the stylus/pen runs out of battery, as a result the teachers are not able to use these boards efficiently.

Level of adoption
With the  ecreasing cost of interactive hardware as well as software content,  more schools are coming forward to adopt Interactive classrooms. Now, this adoption is not limited to A class cities, but small towns are also making their schools smart.
We have a big installation base in northern India in cities like Jammu, Patna, Lucknow, Delhi, Jalandhar and are rapidly expanding into West and Southern India.
We have a plan to increase our dealer base to 100 from 20 in 2013. Our clientele includes Jaypee, S Chand Harcourt, Apeejay, Don Bosco, etc.

Plans for the Indian market
There is a huge demand of interactive whiteboards as the focus of the classrooms is shifting from books to digital content and blackboards to interactive whiteboards. Being an Indian manufacturer, we look forward to huge volumes in the coming year because of our capability to design and customise solutions as per the customer’s need. We are also coming up with All in One Integrated Interactive Whiteboard, which has inbuilt PC, Speaker, UPS, and Short Throw Projector. Also, one of our products Kids Touch Table is being highly appreciated and we are coming up with bigger sized touch tables soon.

By Sonya Hooja

In a survey conducted by Ernst & Young, only 25 percent of Indian professionals are considered employable by multinationals and this difficulty of Indian employers to fill job vacancies has increased to 67 percent in 2012 (compared with 16 percent in 2011). There is a dire need for professionals with practical understanding and adequate skills to make the required contribution to the industry.
It is widely held that knowledge, skills, and resourcefulness of people are critical to sustain development, economic, and social activity in a knowledge society. Given the current high-paced growth and dynamic investment climate in India, the demand for knowledge workers with high levels of technical and soft skills will only increase. Expansion is taking place across sectors: banking and financial services (BFSI), retail, manufacturing, pharma, SMBs,  outsourcing/ offshoring companies, service. Over the past fifteen years, India has produced 1.6 million professionals and faces the uphill task of producing another 0.8 million in the next two years.
Statistics show that in spite of having the largest youth population in the world, India has a glaring shortage of qualified professionals. In any industry, it takes over three months to find the right candidate. It is ironical that in a country where a million students graduate every year, they are unable to find suitable employment.
Education has become very general and broad based which is why students may have a good overview but are not specialists. On an average, the curriculum is refreshed only once in every 5-10 years but the industry is extremely dynamic. Being caught in the increasingly interconnected and competitive environment, institutions are under pressure to provide more industry-relevant education to increase the employability quotient for the students.
Universities and educational institutions have been unable to update their curriculum in tune with the high speed changes taking place in the world of finance and technology. Hence, the students churned out are not equipped to meet the current industry requirements and often companies have to incur additional expenses (time and monetary) to train new hires. Besides this, the industries also evaluate competencies ranging soft skills, team building, overall attitude, and values.
Traditional model teacher/trainer and content/tool centric education has proven to be inadequate to meet the growing job requirements in the 21st century. Educational institutes need to focus more on practical education, based in strong, relevant case studies and market-driven curriculum. Vocational and private institutes need to bridge the gap between academia and the industry by providing knowledge and skill sets which are essential in today’s competitive working environment. They must provide industry relevant programmes that would offer successful specialised careers to India’s youth and at the same time give corporates and the broader industry a source of sustainable talent.
Hence, the overall focus of education is changing where students and colleges are gradually realising that general education does not cut it today and there is a huge need for specialised knowledge.

(The author is Co-founder & Director of Imarticus Learning)

Hitachi Limited, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with a turnover of US$ 120 billion (fiscal year ended March 31st, 2012), with approximately 3,60,000 employees worldwide, and having expertise across sectors like information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics and financial services.
A world-leader in digital learning and presentation technology, Hitachi offers advanced interactive whiteboards, cutting- edge LCD projectors and premium LCD and LED televisions. Hitachi’s innovative interactive whiteboards are marketed under the brand-name StarBoard, and are renowned for their durability, ease of use and advanced proprietary software. Hitachi is also a world leader in the LCD projector space, including ultra and ultimate–short Throw projector technology, which virtually eliminates shadows.
Hitachi launched its new Dual Touch Interactive StarBoard FX 79E1. With the addition of this new product, Hitachi offers a whole gamut of hardware and software solutions for Education.
Hitachi has been pioneers in this field. Hitachi has been the first to bring Interactive Solution to the Indian schools and launched the concept of interactive learning since 1997, the StarBoard was installed and the teachers were trained by Hitachi Experts who came from Tokyo, Singapore. Since then Hitachi has established a strong market for itself in the Indian education segment for all its products. Many major Government purchase for ICT education has been concluded by Hitachi. Hitachi Products have been always renowned for the quality and these are backed by company trained, customer oriented local support also Hitachi offers both Hardware and software (for Hardware).

Projectors
Hitachi offers projectors under various categories like Standard Throw, Short Throw, Ultra Short throw,and Interactive Projectors. We offer a wide range of Projectors, which can be used from a standard classroom to an auditorium with Brightness ranging from 2600 Lumens to 7000 Lumens. These Hitachi Projectors can be used both in a wired and non wired environment, All Hitachi Projectors accept multiple inputs making the projectors more versatile.

Interactive Boards
Hitachi Offers StarBoard FX 79E, which is commonly used for classroom size of 30-50 students. For bigger Classrooms Hitachi offers FX 89WE, a bigger board of 89 inches diagonal size, makes viewing easier. Hitachi also offers these boards with two touch that helps two people to work on the board  imultaneously.Like a competition/ problem solving / brainstorming session, etc.

Interactive Panels
Hitachi T17SXL and Hitachi T19WXL gives the same advantages of Interactive and are renowned for their durability, ease of use and advanced proprietary software. Hitachi is also a world leader in the LCD projector space, including ultra and ultimate–short Throw projector technology, which virtually eliminates shadows. Hitachi launched its new Dual Touch Interactive StarBoard FX 79E1. With the addition of this new product, Hitachi offers a whole gamut of hardware and software solutions for Education. Hitachi has been pioneers in this field. Hitachi has been the first to bring Interactive Solution to the Indian schools and launched the concept of interactive learning since 1997, the StarBoard was installed and the teachers were trained by Hitachi Experts who came from Tokyo, Singapore. Since then Hitachi has established a strong market for itself in the Indian education segment for all its products. Many major Government purchase for ICT education has been concluded by Hitachi. Hitachi Products have been always renowned for the quality and these are backed by company trained, customer oriented local support also Hitachi offers both Hardware and software (for Hardware). 

Projectors
Hitachi offers projectors under various categories like Standard Throw, Short Throw, Ultra Short throw,and Interactive Projectors. We offer a wide range of Projectors, which can be used from a standard classroom to an auditorium with Brightness ranging from 2600 Lumens to 7000 Lumens. These Hitachi Projectors can be used both in a wired and non wired environment, All Hitachi Projectors accept multiple inputs making the projectors more versatile.

Interactive Boards
Hitachi Offers StarBoard FX 79E, which is commonly used for classroom size of 30-50 students. For bigger Classrooms Hitachi offers FX 89WE, a bigger board of 89 inches diagonal size, makes viewing easier. Hitachi also offers these boards with two touch that helps two people to work on the board simultaneously. Like a competition/ problem solving / brainstorming session, etc.

Interactive Panels
Hitachi T17SXL and Hitachi T19WXL gives the same advantages of Interactive White boards, but can be used in auditoriums where the screen size is large and presenters cannot reach and write.

Integration with Tablets
Hitachi WT-1 interactive tablet gives the facility of writing on the board from where ever the students are seated.
Hitachi offers tools that are relevant for all areas of education, as today the level of comprehension is varying with individual member and the level of conceptualization differs. The recording of the classroom event helps for students who were absent for the class or even physically present and mentally absent also.

Hitachi StarBoard Software
Hitachi’s Starboard Software which is a powerful tool supplied along with interactive products, which enables a host of user benefits like

1.  Easy and Intuitive: Software tools are readily accessible through multiple menu options
2. Conference Feature: Collaborate and conference with colleagues around the globe
3.  Multi-touch Gestures: Use your fist to scroll, two fingers to erase or zoom in and out
4. External Applications: Create toolbar shortcuts to popular software applications
5. Google image integration: Drag and drop images instantlyinto StarBoard software
6. Customisable search engines: Add up to 4 search engines directly into the software
7. Handwriting recognition: Instantly convert freehand notes into text with the text pen
8. Simultaneous users: Up to two users can collaborate on the board at the same time
9. Customizable interface
10. Import MS Office files, make annotations

“The Interactive whitebaord of tomorrow would be an integrated product, which will play multiple roles by utilising the power of its software,”
Ramya Chatterjee, Director (Sales and Marketing), Cybernetyx

Please share new innovations in Interactive classroom technologies for education.
The next generation interactive whiteboard is evolving beyond the traditional roles of a pen-shaped click-mouse. Today it is acting as a content gateway, a document camera, an evaluation system, a student response system and even as a host PC in the classroom.
Educational institutes have always valued optimising their investments. They are now waking up to the fact that spending money at all these devices separately and then struggling to make them work in unison does not work out so well in the end. The interactive whiteboard of tomorrow would be a single product, which will play all these roles in itself utilising the power of its powerful software, with no incremental purchases to be made by the client ,thus exponentially increasing the client satisfaction.

Interactive projectors are now aining momentum in the segment. How do you see the future of Interactive Whiteboards?
Interactive projector is a wonderful concept. There were known drawbacks associated with physical IWB solutions (costs, logistics, maintenance, vulnerability, size and aspect-ratio limitations, etc), and also the portable ultrasound based devices (low performance, limited software, calibration issues, etc), and interactive projector concept came as a respite to all that.
However, current state of interactive projector solution lacks the strength of a robust, usable product. They are being served like a half-baked solution to  the innocent customers.The reason is that the companies launching these solutions in the market are mostly projector companies with little or no exposure to IWB segment.
We believe that the market will rather evolve into a third category, which will be a central system/device which can collate with any projector or display and act as a host of devices as mentioned above. Cybernetyx has developed its latest generation EyeRIS and Uniboard devices fundamentally on this principle, and thus is getting the tremendous applause from the market.

What suggestions you would like to give to educators to enable them utilise full potential of boards?
The primary reason for this is that though we are in an era of smartphones and tablets with user-friendly apps and amazing user interfaces, interactive whiteboard software still keeps looking like this dated age-old software with drop-down menus and complicated functionality. Keeping this in mind, Cybernetyx has developed its EyeRIS IntelliSpace software suite essentially with an app-like interface, with the minimum learning curve for even a new user. For schools having existing old boards, one solution could be to upgrade the software to a new-age software like IntelliSpace, which will arouse the interest again from the teachers in using these solutions.
Also, Cybernetyx gives enough emphasis and makes a lot of investments on teacher training programmes in association with the schools / partners / ESPs. Cybernetyx also has teacher certification programme where our trainers do a hands-on training, review and certify the teachers upon successful completion of the training programme. We have started this initiative being a responsible IWB brand and received excellent feedback from the schools.

How do you support the integration of tablets with the existing resources?
We believe tablets would evolve more as a learning device than a teaching device. While it is wonderful as a multimedia replacement for the notebooks and a second screen for students, it is extremely difficult to do mainstream teaching and writing on a small 7-10 inches tablet for teachers. IWB will remain indispensable for a classroom. Furthermore, the need of the hour is an IWB system, which can connect to all the student learning tablets, share data and facilitate two-way collaboration.
Cybernetyx EyeRIS Pro is one of the first solutions in the world to achieve this functionality. We are about the launch the products commercially in India soon.

India would also be the epicenter of other ASEAN markets as well and currently, we have already started catering this market from our India operations”

Please share your plan for the Indian market?
Our Flagship product EyeRIS (Eye-like Rapid Imaging System) is now accepted widely as standard in the interactive whiteboard solutions space for both K-12 and higher education. Currently, more than 12000 and 1100 schools/higher secondary education institutions are powered by Cybernetyx products in India. In India we work closely with all major Education Service Providers (ESP) and education vertical focused channel partners. In India Cybernetyx has focused on providing its clients with industry-leading and costeffective ICT equipment and software solutions. We are in the process to grow our Indian operation exponentially. We have Pan-India presence in 300+ cities with 50+ billing locations through our national distributor(s) as well as channel partners and 260+ city presence for after sales service/ support / implementation infrastructure through our ASPs.
Cybernetyx is customer-centric organisation; regular product updates and new product developments based on customer feedback are our strength and focus area. We have dedicated service help desk and customer care at Noida to enable our partners / customers for technical support, troubleshooting and enablement. We are currently expanding our team in Software Development, Operations, Sales, QA/QC and Implementation. We are in the process to take additional new offices in Noida and Bangalore to support our growing business in India. Going forward, India would also be the epicenter of other ASEAN markets as well and currently, we have already started catering this market from our Indian operations. In a relatively short duration, our total deployments even outnumber the most established companies in this space and that is the biggest testimony to the strength of EyeRIS solutions. This is just a beginning. We aspire to become the market leader in the IWB space by 2015.

Mohammed Ghouse, Regional Sales Manager (South & Western Asia), Luidia

New innovations
Luidia Inc has launched a new Wireless Plug n Play eBeam Edge Wireless, which allows to place a computer up to 50 meters from an interactive space. There are no USB cords to run or hide along the wall. Just plug in the eBeam power adapter to a nearby wall socket and connect the wireless adapter to an available USB port on PC.

Teachers training
We offer direct training through online webinars for our users. We also conduct separate training for education and business users. Apart from these, there are online tutorials and videos available for them. School Management can also take steps to encourage the faculties such as conducting tests and offering rewards, etc.

Integration of tablets
Tablets are becoming an integral part of interactive classrooms. We have found a way to integrate the tablets (iPad, iPhone or Android) with a powerful tool for classroom collaboration through our portal.

Principal: Rita Kaul
Website: www.themillenniumschools.com

The Millennium School Noida

The Millennium School Noida blends the technology of the west and the values of the east. Bidding adieu to the chalk and talk system and welcoming the new trends in the teaching-learning process, it has made  earning interesting, innovative and involving too.

ICT in the school

All the Millennium schools across India have compulsory integration of technology. The effective communication process brought in by this integration has benefited teachers and students equally. The dynamic lesson plans have made the pupils responsible for their learning and at the same time it has resulted into independent progress and development of each and every student.
There is a need to equip children to face the challenges and emerge as winners in every sphere. The most effective tool is the innovative teaching pedagogy that involves the usage of technology in the classrooms and making it accessible to the students in the most effective way.
The interactive smart boards are the USP of our Millennium Learning System and these have made the teaching learning process extremely effective in clearing difficult and abstract concepts. The smart class modules are so interesting and it caters to total involvement of the learners. The students are actively involved in the classroom activities that take into consideration their learning styles as well as their overall development. Superficial learning rarely happens in a classroom where the entire process involves interaction.

Project based learning

The Class Mate Personal Computers (CPMC) that are used by the students of class III upwards enable the learners to connect to the world and their peer group globally so that they can expand their learning beyond the classroom and class boards. International projects are taken up by the students and through this, innovative and creative thoughts are shared with their peer group globally.
Project based learning paves the way for the students to be tech savvy and move along effortlessly in the evolving world of education.

Addressing different needs

We also believe that technology can play an important role in creating an effective and adaptable learning environment for teaching pupils with special educational needs and creating inclusive class rooms. In the school, inclusion of IT has stimulated much interest amongst differently-abled children and they have shown remarkable improvement in getting their concepts cleared at various mental ages and stages.
Smartclass is also used as an ICT tool to reach out to the differentlyabled learners by making learning effective and interesting. The autistic and dyslexic children who resist pen and paper generally love to work with their CMPC’s and children with attention deficit syndrome pay attention in a Smart Class.
It has been our belief that the students have a positive attitude towards learning new concepts and their learning potential increases day by day.

The Cathedral Vidya School, Lonavala

Principal: Meera Sain
Website: www.cathedral-lonavala.org
Number of Students: 250
Number of faculty and staff: 36

 ICT in the classroom
Interactive Whiteboard: We are using smartboards in most of the classrooms. Our junior classes use the smart boards most. Students like to perform activities on these boards, as they are touch sensitive.

Interactive Projector: Projector plays a very important role, especially in language classes. Speakers and projectors are used to enhance listening skills, which are very important in the study of any foreign language. Science teachers in the senior classes use projectors and a normal screen to simulate with realistic examples.

Tajvir Singh,
IB coordinator and Head IT department highlights the importance of ICT in the school

The benefits of IT tools and their integration with teaching and learning helps in managing time well for students. The use of such tools helps students with critical thinking, and to balance their studies”

Laptop: All senior students and teachers are given individual laptops to use in the classroom. Students can use their laptops during free classes and prep time, which helps them to utilise their time to increase their productivity.

Smart Networking (Wi-Fi): Wi-Fi is the heart of school, as far as Internet usage is concerned. Students use the Internet for research, viewing simulations, checking the latest news and updates, updating their laptops, preparing presentations, and creating or modifying videos, etc,
Tools for teachers: We have Maths tools for Maths teachers, Vernier software for science teachers, blogs for all teachers. The school has web portal for all students and teachers, and ManageBac, which is an online platform to manage assessment and deadlines. The school has ICT solutions from HCL, Harcourt and Schand, Edulearn.

Objective of deploying these ICT tools
We being an IB School, our main purpose is to prepare our kids to be life-long learners and ethical digital citizens. In the present era, it is not possible to achieve these goals without using technology in all aspects of teaching and learning. Technology is an important tool for students as well as teachers to integrate into their day to day learning to improve learning outcomes, both inside and outside the class room. The ICT brings the entire world into the classroom.

Wise management
Implementations definitely raise the bar for academic standards. As teachers, we are able to organise and manage our time more wisely. This technological change comes naturally to today’s students and they understand and utilise it better than us. So, if this awareness and willingness to use technology point students in the right direction, it will improve the performance of each child, no matter whether the child is weak or intelligent.

Evaluation of effect
The evaluation of the use of ICT tools like smart boards, online content and e-learning shows thta it helps students to the great extent and saves a lot of time. Subject wise evaluation has also been done; which shows different results according to the needs of individual subjects. Feedback, and surveys have enabled us to gauge the success of ICT in education.

Enhancing teaching learning process
Collaborative learning creates an environment in which the teacher involves students of the same class or of different class in the same topics, performing activities and thinking about the activities they are performing. Thereby, the teachers reach out to students who may otherwise not be engaged. Collaborative learning encourages active student participation in the learning process, or in small-group learning, and gives a chance to passive students to work. Involving students in group work encourages and helps more passive students to learn from the group, because some students learn better through their friends.

Teachers’ training
The school organise regular training of teachers to make them familiar with new ICT tools that will help them in class and outside class. Weekly meetings are conducted by the ICT department, and feedback is taken. Most of the teachers have good experience with such tools. The Maths, Business, and Science teachers, especially, found it very helpful.

Students’ feedback
Students love to use the smart classroom. This makes class more interactive, opening a whole new dimension to the entire class at once. However, if it takes 20 minutes of a 40-minute class for a teacher to start the board, there is a colossal waste of time, showing that we should revert to the traditional classroom. The implementation of smart classrooms also makes our school a perfect blend of traditional teaching techniques with futuristic elements.

Teachers’ feedback
Change is the first word when it comes to the impact of ICT on teachers. One needs to adapt to this new change to see the benefits of ICT. Second, in the matter of classroom engagement, which is very important to meet the daily objectives of your class. We use IT in English class by having the students look up for public domain poetry and secondary sources, on the Internet, during class, for discussion. The smartboards are extremely useful for studying and analysing grammar and poetry, especially when I can annotate the same on the board.

What’s next
As Web3.0 is coming up, as far as the use of the Internet is concerned. I hope it will save students’ time in researching data and help teachers to find something organised on the Internet for their subjects. We expect that the innovation should be like the removal of school bags totally from school and the use of tablets in their place.
Cloud storage: It is going to be used soon by schools to keep data safe. It will help reduce global warming also. Every school should go for cloud storage for students. If we are planning for students space, we should use cloud storage.
Tablet: School bags should be removed and tablets should be given to students. It is time to be practical and learn. All books should be given in the form of e-books.