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Pearson Launches Screening Test for Dyslexia at World Education Summit 2012

August 3, 2012

Pearson Clinical and Talent Assessment, a division of Pearson, has launched the India edition of their flagship screening test for the Indian market, the Dyslexia Screening Test – Junior, (DST-J) for school teachers, special educators and psychologists across schools in India.

The DST-J (India) is a revolutionary psychological screening test to identify children at risk for Dyslexia, which was launched at the World Education Summit 2012, New Delhi. The DST-J (India) is poised to change the way schools identify children with learning disabilities and create an inclusive learning environment for all children. The DST-J (India) was developed from leading scientific research by Pearson Clinical & Talent Assessment that is changing the way children and adults learn in India. This test is unique because it can be administered by general school teachers, unlike most other psychological tests used in the school system that can be used by special educators or psychologists only.

The DST-J (India) was launched by Dr Angela Fawcett following her talk on ‘The DST-J India – An Innovation in Teacher Empowerment’ at the World Education Summit. Dr Angela Fawcett is Vice President, British Dyslexia Association, Emeritus Professor, Swansea University, UK and author, Pearson Clinical & Talent Assessment. Dr Fawcett developed the original Dyslexia Screening Test that is globally used in educational settings.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fawcett stated, “The DST-J is globally recognised as the most successful and effective screening tool for dyslexia and other learning difficulties, which lead to failure and distress for up to 20 percent of children across the world. It empowers teachers to identify academic problems before children fail, and helps them to learn. The DST-J (India) will transform the future of children in India who are struggling to learn, thus allowing them to express their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. I am delighted to bring this test to India.”

Also present during the launch was Dr Nitin Anand who spearheaded the India standardization project for the DST-J (India). Optimistic about the role of the DST-J (India) in the school system in India, Dr Anand stated, “The DST- is a watershed in developing assessments for the Indian school system. The DST-J (India) will ensure children who have so far been disadvantaged in traditional classrooms due to their learning disabilities, will be identified at an early age for this condition. Early identification is essential to offer timely support to such children and positively alter their learning trajectory. The DST-J (India) is an outcome of an extensive scientific study carried out across eleven cities of India and represent’s Pearson’s commitment to provide high-quality assessments for education, psychology and allied fields.”

Innovation by Private University

Magazine

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Learning in Virtual World

Implementing Agency
Hindustan University

Website
www.hindustanuniv.ac.in

Hindustan University Centre of Excellence in Innovation and Visualisation (HUCEIV) has virtual simulation and experimental projects for the students and industrial personnel.There is a nodal centre for e-learning,testing and research in Structural Engineering with Computer Aided Laboratory(MNSECAL). The Virtual Labs allow the students to perform experiments that cannot be done in physical labs. Virtual ALSIM Flight Simulator can remotely simulate the aircraft flying.

Objective:
To create a virtual lab for e-learning, testingand research inStructural /Computer/Aeronautical/AutomobileEngineering

Achievements:
• Reduction in overheads
• Increased better skilled students
• Up gradation of technical knowledge of the industry personnel

Target Group:
Students from around the world; professionals, engineers and employees of various aviation, automobile, computing, electronics and instrumentation and civil industries

Challenges:
In the beginning we faced the challenge of getting our concept accepted by the management. While implementing the technology, we faced many issues related to modern hardware and software. There were connectivity related issues, which had to be tackled in effective ways by the experts.

Changing The Ed-Eco-System

Implementing Agency
Galgotias University

Website
www.galgotiasuniversity.edu.in

Galgotias University has been established with the mission “of graduting socially responsible future technologists and business leaders”. Galgotias University enables the systematic developments of thinking quotient across an academic environment. Thinking defines us and propels us towards right knowledge. We believe that for India to be a world leader
in innovation, it needs eco-systems that develop mature thinking quotient as a continuous process.

Objective:
At Galgotias University, we have diversified and upgraded the content and quality of the technical education

Achievements:
• Ranked amongst Top Engineering/ Management Institutions by leading Global Corporate and the National Media
• Galgotias Moonbuggy was selected to be displayed at US Space and Rocket Centre with a permanent recognition.

Target Group:
The students, who derive pleasure from learning for its own sake

Challenges:
The challenges that we face are related to globalisation and the knowledge economy. Many initiatives are being taken by Government of India through MHRD to raise the professional standards of teaching. Research is a highly valued activity
for academic staff and while there is still a strong bias towards the traditional scholarship of discovery. Current Higher Education policy also seeks to promote integrative and applied research practices. Implementation and adoption of the ever changing technologies in the field of higher education is also fraught with challenges.

Offering High Tech Learning

Implementing Agency
JK Lakshmipat University

Website
www.jklu.edu.in

JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU) offers students an open, green and high-tech learning environment, combining the serene settings of the Gurukuls of yesteryears with the technological advancements of the new age. JKLU has been set up
under Rajasthan Private Universities Act by “Lakshmipat Singhania Foundation for Higher Learning”.

Objective:
The mission of the University is to practice a ‘mentoring ‘based education system within intellectual, moral and spiritual Culture that is rooted in Indian ethos

Achievements:
Faculty members have represented the University at international forums in different countries, like Singapore, Czechoslovakia and UAE (Dubai)

Target Group:
Indian residents, foreign nationals, persons of Indian origins, children of Indian workers in Gulf countries, and other non-resident Indians

Challenges:
A major challenge was related to the creation of state of the art infrastructure within a short period of time. All the recruitments and selections were done after involving experts from national institutes. Merit was the sole criterion. It was a challenge to get the right kind of people on-board for the project. Scalable designs and solutions were preferred over the rigid ones. The entire exercise of building the brands was also fraught with complications.

Propelling Innovative Minds

Implementing Agency
Apeejay Stya University (ASU)

Website
www.university.apeejay.edu/index.php/uniqueacademic-system

Apeejay Stya University has adopted a dedicated liberal education approach, one that is designed to foster not only subjects oriented knowledge.It also leads to development of important social values in the students. The students learn about the virtues of developing a national identity while at the same time being in tune with global developments.They earn to value their culture and tradition and also have respect for the multi-farious ways of life in the world.

Objective:
To deepen the understanding of the human condition and fostering universal values

Achievements:
• Established Apeejay Centre of Excellence and conducted Design and Innovation workshop jointly with MIT Media Labs, USA
• Strong industryacademia interface.

Target Group: Students

Challenges:
A major challenge we faced is related to aligning community and students to the liberal arts concept. The orientation of young faculty towards research and innovation is also a cause for concern. We also needed to inculcate among the faculty the liberal arts approach to the programme of teaching. The introduction of choice based credit system was also challenging. Strengthening and inculcating the culture of research right from the under graduate level was also challenging.

Bridging Distance Learning Gaps

Implementing Agency
Mahatma Gandhi University

Website
www.mgu.edu.in

Mahatma Gandhi University offers programmes for Certificate, Diplomas, Bachelors and Masters in many different fields. The University also offers Choice Based Credit Based programmes, especially in the field of IT, Management and Hotel Management. MGU has introduced ‘e-learning’ as a supplementary methodology for all its students to enhance understanding of key concepts and bridge the gap between distance and classroom based learning.

Objective:
To reach out to the larger community of students who might not be in a position to access higher education due to geographical, economical, social or personal factors

Achievements
• MGU has introduced ‘Industry Speakers and Video Lectures’ as a supplementary methodology to enhance understanding of key concepts.

Target Group:
Under Graduate, Post Graduate and Working Professionals.

Challenges:
Converting the content in the form of LMS and E-Books was a big task, but with the help of our strong IT team, we were able to accomplish the task. The challenge is to create and update our curriculum according to the needs of the industry so that our students are readily accepted for the placements. Conducting Flexible e-Learning and Online Examination with a large student base is a Challenge but with the help of our Strong IT Team we have overcome this challenge.

Clinical Programme

Implementing Agency
O P Jindal Global University [Centre for Clinical Programmes]

Website
www.jgu.edu.in

Centre for Clinical Programmes, Jindal Global School is committed to the cause of bridging the disconnect between the constitutional promise of a dignified life to every citizen and the reality of undignified human existence of majority of the
population, especially in rural India. The Jindal Global Law School clinical programmes is focussed on securing the objectives of good governance and citizen participation, in pursuance of the larger social justice mission. The clinical programmes work with communities, in collaboration with civil society organisations, to support their effective participation in local governance.

Objective:
Address the problems of governance and ethical deficit.

Achievements:
• Government of India has recognised this model as one of the best practices for law school-based initiatives
• Sub-committee on higher education- Planning Commission of India mentions this model as strong example.

Target Group:
Rural Communities, law students, law schools, NGOs, Govt. Bodies,Policy makers

Challenges:
The challenge of convincing the villagers to accept this model was overcome through dialogue and co-ordination. We also faced the challenge of preparing material for legal literacy, but we managed to find our way out through the help of
law students and other communities. There were also the financial constraints. There were issues related to lack of support from the government.

Multimedia Content For K-12

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Learning Gets Extra

Implementing Agency
Extramarks Education Pvt Ltd

Website
www.extramarks.com

Extramarks is working with 1300 plus schools and 4500 plus classes across India. The company is assisting them in integrating world-class technologies in education. Smart Learn Class (SLC) programme can make a regular classroom into a technology-enabled classroom by equipping it with the requisite hardware and learning software devised by education experts for class Kg to XII.

Objective
• To empower the students and teachers to step in with the latest technology
• Help teachers to turn into learning leaders

Achievements
The content is available in many different languages

Target Group: Students and teachers

Challenges: It was a challenge to create awareness amongst the teachers, students and parents. Our team worked with all the stakeholders, we participated in PTAs, were in various workshops, we attended society meets, conducted intensive seminars to spread awareness on digital learning. Making teachers were not quite comfortable with adapting the programme in their everyday teaching process was a challenge. Regular training programmes for teachers had to be conducted.

Digital Teaching Aids

Implementing Agency
Mexus Education Pvt Ltd

Website
www.mexuseducation.com

Iken School Eco-system is a project conceived by Mexus Education to offer schools digital teaching aids that will enhance the prospects for student engagement while also helping teachers to provide personalised attention to each and every student. Digital aids promote engagement and bring about clarity in understanding concepts through tools like mind-maps, animations, real-time movies, presentations, worksheets and case studies.

Objective
Analyse various data sets to streamline information and determine performance of the company

Achievements
• Around 650 schools across India have adopted Iken School Eco-System
• There has been significant improvement in school’s performance

Target Group: Educational Institutions catering to the K-12 segment

Challenges: The developmental challenges that we faced include the likes of R&D costs, building of relevant platforms, and also the creation of content as per the requirements of the board and publisher. A comprehensive training programme for teachers had to be evolved so that the teachers became comfortable with our content. The objective was to make teachers confident enough to use the solution in their classrooms. The needs regarding localised content had also to be kept in mind. Talk shows had to be hosted at regional levels.

Effective Teaching Solutions

Implementing Agency
Next Education India Pvt Ltd

Website
www.nexteducation.in

TeachNext is a premium product from Next Education. While technology is at the heart of Next Education, its prime focus is to create superior content and offer the best possible learning and teaching experience. The system encompasses more than 20,000 learning modules that account for more than 1,000 hours of classroom teaching in the K-12 segment.

Objective
To implement the best teaching solutions in schools

Achievements
• Bagged the “Best Digital Multimedia Content – K-12 Segment” award at the India eLearning Summit 2011
• Designed mapped content for CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE and 23 state boards in eight different languages
• 4000+ schools have already adopted this solution

Target Group: Schools and colleges

Challenges: The most major challenges that we faced were infrastructure related. At times classrooms lack basic facilities like proper electric fittings. One needs to recruit a large team of Technical Service Engineers to handle the workload of installations and implementations. Teacher training was a challenge due to logistical issues of schools, with respect to exams, weekends etc. Therefore, a flexible teacher training programme was built to address training in small batches. We also had to develop a complete CCE framework using research that was completely in house.

e-Learning to Understand Better

Implementing Agency
Sify Software Ltd, Youno Education

Website
www.sifysoftware.com

Augmented reality systems superimpose graphics for every perspective and adjust to every movement of the user’s head and eyes. Sify e-learning has been working for last two years, with its Chinese partner ‘Youno,’ for delivering augmented reality solutions to schools in China. This ‘Contextual & Exploratory Learning’ solution helps students to understand difficult concepts of Physics, Geography, Chemistry and Biology.

Objective
The students’ knowledge retention and assimilation is much higher compared to only text book images and classroom teaching

Achievements
Effective ‘knowledge assimilation,’ which was initially identified as one of key knowledge gaps for the students, was resolved with the deployment of the AR solution

Target Group: 8th Grade School Students of China

Challenges: Affordability of tablets to all students was an issue; this was overcome by the installation of kiosks across the school, where every student can use tablets freely. Learning curve of students in terms of performing activities was initially steep, and this was resolved by adding appropriate instructions at every step in each activity. Initially there was a challenge of individual installation of the application on various kiosks separately, so we went for a web-based approach where the application was installed on the intranet server of the school.

Training Provider to Working Professionals

Magazine

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Dealing with Large Attrition Rate

Implementing Agency
B S Abdur Rahman University

Website
www.bsauniv.ac.in

There is a large amount of attrition rate in technical institutions. New members join throughout the year. The developments in technology and skills are continuously happening. New subjects are introduced and curriculum and syllabi get updated in a continuous fashion to cope up with the requirements of the industry and society. In such situations even the existing faculty members in Engineering and Technology have to be updated and trained for new subjects and skills. This necessitates the need for a separate Academy for Faculty Training to train the teachers in a continuous manner.

Objective
To train faculty members in the teaching methodologies who join afresh

Achievements
• Contribution to teaching and learning (20 programmes organised with three major interventions to teaching and learning successful)
• Contribution to community development for training self help group women

Target Group: All teachers in India

Challenges: Meeting the diversified needs of the teachers was a big challenge. So we developed a strategy of having a mixture different types of programmes, there was the high impact short duration programme, and another programme that will take some time to be implemented. A large pool of experts from around the world had to be brought in. That took lot of time. The vision plan had to be implemented step by step.

For Working Professionals

Implementing Agency
NIIT Imperia

Website
www.niitimperia.com

NIIT Imperia is an initiative of NIIT Ltd to provide quality management education and customised learning solutions to the working professionals, and to companies with scattered work force, through strategic academic alliances with the top Indian B-schools and organisations. The initiative has synchronous learning technology at its core. More programmes can be launched to cover more functional areas and thereby addressing diversified needs of the students. Customised programmes can always be updated regularly as per the industry demands.

Objective
To overcome challenges of mobility and time, and facilitating access to world-class management training

Achievements
• Trained more than 7000 working professionals
• Introduced short duration programmes on contemporary topics like Digital Marketing, DTC, GST, IFRS, XBRL

Target Group: Working Professionals

Challenges: Initially it was hard to convince the target group that the high standards that are generally associated with business schools would be maintained at our centre. Managing the inputs derived from diverse geographical locations and catering to customized requests is by itself a challenge. It is also not a simple task to bridge the gap between the exact demands of a corporate house with what is being offered by the Business School.

Hands on Training

Implementing Agency
TechDefence – A unit of Advanced TechDefence Private Limited

Website
www.techdefence.com

HackTrack provides hands on training to students and IT professionals on Cyber security. It also provides a certification and an opportunity to undertake a career in the field of IT security. HackTrack programme is designed to discuss the vulnerabilities that exist in cyber forensics. It has explored various fields and provided training for dealing with issues in diverse areas of cyber space.

Objective
To provide hands on training on Ethical Hacking

Achievements
• Provided training and certification to more than 25000 professionals
• Covered more than 250 educational institutions
• Have constantly maintained the retention ratio of 95 percent among all clients

Target Group: Students, IT Professionals, Network Administrators, Law & Enforcement Professionals, Technology Evangelist

Challenges: The biggest challenge is due to the lack of awareness among the common people regarding Cyber Security. One has to consistently deal with the feeling of negativity that exists on the subject of hacking. So one has to work with people and try to change their mindsets. It is also not quite easy to get associated with prestigious universities and institutions across India. We have to make the administration aware of the career and research related opportunities those are there in this field.

Test Preparation, Evaluation and Assessment Tool Providers

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Assessment Centre

Implementing Agency
Core Education and Technologies

Website
www.coreecs.com

Assessment Centre (AC) is formative assessment programme offered by Core Education and Technologies Ltd. It is used to design, administer, and report the results from school, district, or state lavel formative assessments. AC provides premier formative assessment solution that boasts of features like customisable and scalable architecture, comprehensive item bank, assessment creation to surface deficiencies in academic performance. The heart of Assessment Centre is its online platform. Drawing from question bank of over 250,000 educators. It can easily create tests that are highly effective. Teaching gets administred online via paper/scanning protocols or clicker technologies, and the data is received through a variety of insightful reporting machanism.

Objective
To provide various modes to assess the understanding at both the student and class level in the form of hybrid administration of formative assessments

Achievements
Usage of AC resulted in a significant raise in number of teachers participating in analysis of student achievements
• 3.5 millions students are being benefited from AC

Target Group: School administrators, Teachers, Students and Parents

Challenges: Training users across all the schools was a voluminous task. CORE adapted the online tutorial methodology to provide training and support.

Web Based Assessment

Implementing Agency
LearnSmart India Pvt Ltd

Website
www.24x7guru.com

LearnSmart India Pvt Ltd has developed an application called 24x7guru.com, which is based on the fundamental believe that once a student understands the concepts, he is less likely to forget the ideas, whereas rote learning can lead to knowledge that fades out of the mind quickly. Its web-based assessment applications enable a student to take tests as per the course curriculum.

Objective
To train young minds to have strong academic foundation in the formative years itself making youth intellectually stronger and stress free

Achievements
• Extending the assessment platform to 3.2 million homes through Tata Sky
• Making teachers more accountable as performance of all teachers can be traced based

Target Group: Students from class three to ten

Challenges: The key challenge was in trying to change the thinking pattern of assessments, as far as the traditional three hour exams are concerned. This challenge was overcome through the conduction of seminars and presentations. Another issue being faced was the issue of Internet connectivity in rural and semi-urban schools. This challenge has been overcome through the installation of servers in schools. Then there is the issue of electric supply, which only the major power players can address. But we have tried to take care of this problem to a large extent through the introduction of Green Labs.

Tackling Entrance

Implementing Agency
Aptech Assessment and Testing Solutions

Website
www.aptech-worldwide.com

Aptech is the solution provider that offers solutions like design and development of Question bank and Question Paper, Online Applications capture and Processing, and Online and Offline Fee collection and Processing. The solution also includes preparation of Examination Venue in 61 cities and 68 exam centres across India for Conducting Online test, Preparing Merit List and Score card.

Objective
This test was initiated by AICTE with the intension of starting a common and single test for MBA aspiring candidates in the country

Achievements
• Managed 70000 registrations
• Managed 42000 test takers
• Glitch-free seamless execution
• Integrated project management

Target Group: Graduates, Applicants to AICTE, approved Indian MBA Institutes

Challenges: The problems we faced were mainly related to the lead time for project execution. There were also issues related to training and deployment of resources. The seamless integration of modules was a challenging task by itself. Controlling the costs of the operation was also a challenge.

Test Buddy

Implementing Agency
Lodhari Technologies Pvt Ltd

Website
www.mytestbuddy.com

Lodhari technologies have created a fun learning environment for students. Mytestbuddy’s Collaborative Learning Platform is web-based, engaging and effective methodology of studying, wherein a student provides inputs to which his peers and professors can respond. This leads to engagement in a healthy learning interactive place. Mytestbuddy helps prepare students for standardised tests, including the SAT, AIPGME, GMAT, GRE, CAT, AIEEE AND IIT- JEE. Mytestbuddy plans to provide comprehensive curriculum for preparation of these examinations and tutorials in future.

Objective
To comprehend educational needs of any student seeking admissions in post graduation course or a school child preparing for his examinations

Achievements
• Mytestbuddy.com has managed to get 13000+ registered members within a span of eight months

Target Group: Students appearing for competitive exams such as GMAT, SAT, CSAT, CAT, AIEEE, IIT JEE, AIPGME , AIIMS , GCET and AIPMT

Challenges: While introducing mytestbuddy.com in schools for AIEEE and AIPMT, the team found it difficult to convince teachers about the benefits of the solution. The teachers needed to be convinced that the website will serve as a portal where teachers can login and see how their students are progressing.

Assessing Online

Implementing Agency
Excelsoft Technologies Pvt Ltd

Website
www.testing-assessments.excelindia.com

Objective
To help teachers deliver formative and diagnostics tests after each class to to improve student learning outcomes

Achievements
• Conducted 500,000 online exams for SMU
• Helped universities in reducing the time in conducting exams, remove fraud and breach of exam papers

SARAS Assessment Management System is a platform that delivers test assessments online to authors, in test centres, on standalone computers or mobile devices. It is being used in different educational segments like K-12, higher education, test preparation, e-learning for formative, diagnostics and high stake exams. It helps businesses reduce the time that it takes to hire quality candidates with the help of pre-recruitment tests. It also helps in test preparation for companies to discover weakness areas of students with the help of diagnostic tests and generate personalised learning paths. It helps teachers deliver formative and diagnostics tests after each class to improve their instruction.

Target Group: K-12 schools, Higher Education Institutions, Corporates/Enterprises, Govt bodies, Educational & Test Publishers.

Challenges: Initially the cost of the system was high, as the company was following an annual license model. With the help of cloud computing, they were able to bring down the costs to meet the demands of smaller customers.

eCampus

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

ICT for the Betterment of Education

Implementing Agency
Suresh Gyan Vihar University

Website
www.gyanvihar.org

Suresh Gyan Vihar University has wide range of programmes for admissions to engineering, management, pharmacy, bio- sciences and hotel management at UG, PG and doctorate level. The campus is fully Wi-Fi enabled and comprises of aesthetically designed buildings that are networked by optic fibre links. The institution has established excellent infrastructure, modern workshops and labs, seminar halls, auditoriums and well stocked libraries, in addition to sports and games fields.

Objective:
Objective To streamline examination and administration related activities in a university for smooth functioning without producing delays.

Achievements:
It serves better overall control and monitoring.

Target Group:
Government, NGO, Student, Parents, Faculties, Stakeholders

Challenges:
Lack of real awareness about the benefits of ICT is leading to lot of challenges. Those holding top positions are often of traditonal mindsets are unwilling to implement new technologies. Therefore the pace of implementation of new solutions
slows down. Another challenge that we faced is related to integration of ICT into private and public enterprises. This kind of integration is a new area and lot of experimentation is required before we can be sure that we are treading the right path. Managing the operational risks, and the cost escalations is also a problem.

Serving the e-Learning Need

Implementing Agency
Met’s ERP Department

Website
www.met.edu

As a part of the Management Programmes offered by MET, the division is working for the establishment of an e-enabled campus. The idea is to provide excellent education to students who enrol in the programme. The education gets conducted in a more environment friendly manner.

Objective
• Provide avenues for better education to students.

Achievements:
• Multiple Institute setup under a single umbrella organisation.
• Seamless connection of students with the academic and non academic staff.
• From admission process to curriculum, students have an efficient experience

Target Group:
Management staff and students

Challenges:
The major challenge lies in gathering the exact requirement of users from different domains on different modules. To resolve this issue the organisation had prepared a questionnaire and distributed it to collect information. Integration of online Admission Management System with the PeopleSoft Campus Management System was the next major challenge, because both systems were developed on different platforms. To resolve this issue we had to match the data format of both the systems and convert it into CSV format, so that the other system could fetch the data from centralised location on a timely basis.

Quality Education through ICT

Implementing Agency
C-DAC, ACTS

Website
www.acts.cdac.in

The e-Mentor Project allows high quality educational materials to be developed, managed, adapted,and impact-tested efficiently, in order to scale-up for wide dissemination of such solutions. The information architecture for this will be a dynamic, multi-lingual,multimedia content management database and related style sheets through which ‘camera-ready’ end-products will be available to partners and clients for physical distribution. The general public can also access the products electronically.This net-centric instructional system will permit education and training to be pervasive and precisely tailored to the needs of educator and learners considering psychological and technical factors.

Objective:
To facilitate empowerment of both learners and teachers,while producing personalised learning experiences

Target Group:
Students with different cognitive traits, intelligence, intellectual level and backgrounds

e-Campus Gets Better

Implementing Agency
Accurate Institute of Management and Technology

Website
www.accurate.in

Objective:
To enable students to keep pace with the modern technology

Achievements:
• Awarded Best Placement amongst Management Institutes in Delhi/NCR by Times Research in May 2010
• Ranked amongst Top 15 in Placements among the Private B- Schools of India by Outlook in 2010

Interactive Solution Providers

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Learning from School to Home

Implementing Aency
NIIT Limited

Website
www.niitnguru.com

Today’s children are Digital Learners and understand the native language of technology very easily. They are surrounded by the simulating world of the Internet, mobiles, apps and social networking. Today schools understand that traditional methods of imparting education can no longer engage children nor can it provide a true understanding of the concepts. The NIIT Nguru School 2 Home Solution connects the home and school, teacher, student and parent and the entire learning eco-system in a very meaningful, radical and revolutionary manner.

Objective
To erase inflexibility in the current technological offerings and insufficiency of the available resources

Achievements
• Better student engagement
• Shift from rote based system of teaching and learning
• Enables the class to go beyond textbooks

Target Group: School going Children, Teachers, School Administrators, Parents.

Challenges: We didn’t face too many challenges, since the programme was built with full understanding of the infrastructure available in the country. We had taken into account the issues related to internet bandwidth, accessibility to technology and technology adeptness of the teachers. Some teachers were really averse to using new technology. In their case we started a well designed training programme, during which these teachers were introduced to the digital solutions. Eventually a majority of the teachers were able to understand that technology can play a seminal role in classrooms.

Interactive Content

Implementing Agency
Paradigm Creatives

Website
www.paradigmcreatives.com

Fabula is an authoring tool that allows individuals, artists, story tellers and publishers to create highly interactive multimedia content. The best thing about the content is that it is operating system and device independent on smartphones and tablet computers. Fabula provides users with a simple and intuitive interface to create rich documents, stories and books that are fundamentally interactive in nature.

Objective
To make it extremely simple to deploy interactive content on all major platforms with zero coding involved

Achievements
• www.fabula.io
• Fabula App in the Android App store
• www.fabula.io/analytics
• Prototyping Tie Up with two Fortune 500 companies

Target Group: Publishers, Universities, Freelancers, Creative Individuals

Challenges: One challenge was to create an app that would function seamlessly across the Android platform. We also needed to ensure that it should display similar efficiency across all the mobile platforms. It was a real challenge to develop a scalable phased architecture.

Virtual Classroom

Implementing Agency
authorGEN Technologies Limited

Website
www.authorgen.com

WizIQ is an online learning and teaching platform that enables educators and students to meet online in real time via its Virtual Classroom. The WizIQ Virtual Classroom provides tools that enhance learning through real time interaction. In the virtual classroom, teachers can use all kinds of tools to engage with their students. There can be live audio with multiple attendees and video conferencing with six attendees. It is a breeze to share documents, PDFs, excel sheets, audio files, video files and record class as it happens.

Objective
• To make teaching and learning easier for everyone
• To give learners access to content on mainstream topics, but also on esoteric topics

Achievements
• More than two million registered users are using WizIQ across the globe
• WizIQ is being used by more than 1800 Educational Institutes

Target Group: K-12 School, College, University, Academy, Educational Organisation, Training Company, Tutoring Company, Corporations.

Onsite Satellite Learning

Implementing Agency
Hughes Communication India Ltd

Website
www.hugheseducation.com

Hughes Global Education is an interactive onsite satellite based education and training service initiated by Hughes, for corporate and working professionals/ students. It has live, interactive, real-time, two way video, voice and data classes, and spread across 155 classrooms in 75 cities. Hughes Global Education platform has redefined the next generation of education with real-time Interactive Onsite Learning (IOL). At the heart of Hughes service there lies the powerful system that allows large numbers of geographically dispersed participants to have a highly interactive, ‘one-to-one’ exchange with the faculty. The platform offers interactivity similar to a live classroom session, where a student sitting in any part of the country, at any given point in time, can interact freely with the professor and raise questions. The interaction is as spontaneous and natural as in a regular classroom. There is extensive use of two-way-video, voice and data. The pedagogy is highly interactive.

Objective
To offer products and services, primarily using satellite technology

Achievements
• More than 24000 students have undergone various courses on our platform over the last 11 years
• More than 100 different programmes have been conducted over our platform
• Currently 11 studios are operational

Target Group: Working Professionals

Tablets in education

Magazine

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Independent Learning

Implementing Agency
Classteacher Learning Systems

Website
www.classteacher.com

Classteacher offers solutions for personalised and interactive learning for students. The solutions are developed with guidance from teachers. The device a tablet running the version 4.0 of Android. It comes preloaded with the products of the company. iPerform, which is a tool for learning-on-thego, has all the topics covered in the school so that the same can be revised anytime, anywhere by the student. Teachers can use it to teach, share notes and keep a tab on the students by remotely monitoring their Classpad screen.

Objective
• To make independent learning environment
• To change the way teaching is done in schools

Achievements
• Permits students to revise concepts covered in school at their own pace.
• It provides individual and personalised learning.
• Provides better performance and relieves pressure

Target Group: K-12

Challenges: The idea of one device solving multiple problems in the school as well home-learning is a daunting task. Also when the company implemented its first project, many teachers were reluctant to support us as many were sceptical of the ease of use of the device. Configuring the Wi-Fi settings and connecting it to a wireless LAN was a difficult task for most teachers, but by imparting proper training and providing detailed user manuals, all the doubts of teachers got cleared.

Learning is Fun

Implementing Agency
HCL Learning

Website
www.hcllearning.com

MyEduTab is an educational tablet packaged with curriculum mapped digital content, educational applications, games, educational videos, and ebooks. The tablet brings fun to the learning process. Home learning becomes a self paced, enjoyable experience. It is aimed at fulfilling the self learning needs of students by providing detailed understanding of the concepts, revision, doubt clarification, self assessment, and avenues for broadening understanding of real world applications. For students aiming for higher education, MyeduTab intends to facilitate communication skills and professional skills.

Objective
• To increase learning accessibility
• To offer personalised learning anytime, anywhere and at own pace

Achievements
• Conceptualised and launched educational ecosystem on a tab
• Helping schools adopt tablets as learning enablers and value enhancers
• Visually rich 2D-3D content which runs on tablets without the need for internet

Target Group: Students, Youngsters, Teachers, Parents

Challenges: One big challenge is mapping the exact needs of the customers. The needs of the teachers, parents and the students are different, and hence lots of innovations are required in the tablet space. Making tablets ready for education is also a difficult task, as the educational needs keep changing at a fast pace. The issue of lack of Internet connectivity is also a challenge.

Technology Solutions for Higher Education Institutes

Magazine

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Free Linux Software

Implementing Agency
SLVG Inc.

Website
www.conluence.in

Conluence is the latest Operating System built on Linux. It is an OS specially crafted for developers of any field and comes with pre installed development software like C++, Java and Python. Like every Linux based OS, Conluence is also open source and can be downloaded free of cost. Conluence is still in the beta phase and the developers are working for further development.

Objective
Conluence is a project which aims at making free software available to the people

Achievements
• Licensed software
• Popular with users
• Capable of fostering social inclusion

Target Group: Businesses, Programmers, Developers and the like

Challenges: Due to unforeseen circumstances the business had to be shut down, and the work eventually started from scratch once again. This lead to loss of time and lot of effort got wasted. We had to virtually redo everything again.

Pharmacology Software

Implementing Agency
Reed Elsevier India Pvt Ltd

Website
www.elsevier.co.in

ExPharmPro is a computer assisted learning package containing five programmes, which simulate animal experiments in Pharmacology. These programmes can be used to demonstrate drugs on different animal systems. The package is user friendly, highly interactive and full of animated sequences, which make simulation appear realistic.

Objective
To provide a credible alternative to animal experiments and ensuring cost effective homogenous learning experience

Achievements
• Worldwide 500+ registered demo users
• Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India conducted a teachers training programme using this software

Target group: Medical, pharmacy and dental undergraduate students who are doing a course in Pharmacology

Challenges: Regulatory bodies like MCI, PCI suggests the use of alternatives to animal experimentation, but these organisations are yet to make the use of such virtual solutions mandatory in the institutions. Lack of high-tech infrastructure in medical and pharmacy colleges is also a cause for concern. Some educators are not that inclined to using high technology. At times, the institutions are unwilling to pay for the new initiatives.

Learning Solution Under One Roof

Implementing Agency
Marksman Technologies Pvt Ltd

Website
www.marks.org.in

Marksman facilitates learning management system that is available on the cloud. It provides complete set of turnkey solutions, starting from custom e-Learning development services, interactive simulation and gaming based content development, to higher education, corporate bodies. government agencies and individuals. Marksman’s learning management system and Collaborative Learning Platform can be used in any institution and organisation. The system has inbuilt Web 2.0 features and is embedded with all the major components of Web 2.0.

Objective
To provide single window for all technology implementation in Higher Educational Institutions

Achievements
• Recognised globally
• Free Courses for the Placement,
• Custom Open Courseware courses repository

Target group: Higher Educational Institutions, Vocational Institutions, Corporate and Government

Challenges: The major challenge that we face is related to the fact that institutions are not ready to adopt new technology. The training of faculty is another major challenge. The faculty needs to be trained in the best ways of using the solutions for furthering learning outcomes in classrooms.

Smart ERP Makers

Implementing Agency
Apex eLearning Technologies Ltd

Website
www.ecampus.net.in

eCAMPUS was conceptualised to fulfil the acute need of educating individuals who are constrained for time. The solution provides students the chance of overcoming issues such as travel cost, work schedules, etc. eCAMPUS – Web based Distance Education ERP is a tool that has the power of Communication, Organisation, Management and Training.

Objective
To make distance learning programs faster, better and less expensive

Achievements
• More than 15 Institutions and 1, 23,000 students are using eCAMPUS Software, a 160 percent growth over the last year
• Embedded YouTube Videos to make learning more interactive
• Paperless instant communication by Email and SMS

Target Group: Higher educational institutes

Challenges: The initial challenge we faced was that the software engineers didn’t know how the Distance Learning System works. So the academicians in our team had to guide the software engineers in developing the system for comprehensive distance education. At first Distance Learning Institutions were intimidated by the usage of technology, but they have now become used to eCampus. The users of the system have to be continuously trained in using the system. The list of other challenges include issues that have to do with things like Internet, maintaining server and minimum downtime.

An Online Learning Solution

Implementing Agency
Winzest Edutech Private Ltd

Website
www.learningware.in

Learningware provides higher education segment in the country with solutions for continuing to grow while enhancing the quality of education. This cloud-based solution is designed to be highly scalable, robust and affordable, and it works with the idea of enhancing outcomes. Learningware comes with innovative content driven digital aids for the teacher in the classroom.

Objective
To provide a solution that helps enhance the teaching-learning process in higher education

Achievements
• One of India’s largest repositories of interactive digital content for engineering education
• A highly scalable, robust and affordable cloud-based platform

Target Group: Higher education institutions

Challenges: The major challenge that we faced had to do with the building of a common teaching-learning platform for addressing the needs of students, faculty and administrators in a higher education institution. The second challenge was related to the building of an ecosystem where the best academics could contribute intellectually and in a standardised way. This was addressed through our structured and flexible process design where academics can conveniently and effectively add value to the courseware.

ERP Solutions for Institutes

Implementing Agency
Entab Infotech Pvt Ltd

Website
www.entab.in

The software covers the entire range of tasks that any institution is supposed to perform. From administration of students, to staff and inventory management, it takes care of everything. It also takes care of the fund flow based on fees collection, salary management and other outflows. The academic activities, assessment and printing of report cards and the promotion or the transfer of students can also be handled with the system.

Objective
To help authorities build better institutions that can cater to the educational needs of society

Achievements
• Successful implementation of campus management ERP in about 600 institutions
• CBSE secondary examination marks gathering from 12500 schools spread across the world
• Efficient generation of report cards

Target Group: Schools- k-12, higher education colleges and universities.

Challenges: The challenges that we initially faced were mostly related to the human factors. Some people are not that eager to start using new technology. The lack of infrastructure is also a major issue. Initially Internet was not that common, but things have now improved considerably. The high expectations of some clients are also difficult to fulfil, but we try our best to handle such situations.

Innovation in Pre School and Special need education

digitalLEARNING Network

August 3, 2012

Igniting Curiosity

Implementing Agency
Shri Ram New Horizons Ltd

Website
www.shriramglobalpreschool.org

Shri Ram Global Preschool accepts the uniqueness in that must be there in every child. The Preschool aims to teach the children “how to think” instead of “what to think”. The school encourages self-discovery through exploratory learning. Education is facilitated through creation of an environment that is not only child-safe but also child-stimulating. A blend of the Montessori, as well the play way method, constantly supports it with audio visual aids. Art, music, dance, alternate methods of self-expression are an integral part of our curriculum. The school aims to ignite the fire of curiosity in each child, thus initiating them on the path of life-long learning.

Objective
• To ensure that each student is endowed with the qualities and traits that are hallmark of every Shri Ram Global Student

Achievements
• Every child returns home with a smile on his face after having spent three hours learning, sharing, turntaking and achieving targets
• State of the art learning centres provide our learners with a dynamic and nurturing environment

Apps for Differently Abled

Implementing Agency
WebTeam Corporation

Website
www.webteamcorp.com

Shanesh COLORS Programme is an innovative way of delivering extended evidence-based intervention using Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). This intervention programme is designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Webteam Corporation has just started running programmes in four schools in NY/ NJ area using technology to deliver an effective and affordable autism treatment and intervention that parents/caregivers/schools/organisations can access through handheld devices like iPad.

Objective
To lend helping hand to children with ADHD, Autism

Achievements
Received recommendations from the Governor Chris Christie and the Mayor of Franklin Township Levine

Target Group: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their parents.

Challenge: To use cutting edge technology for providing assistance to children and their gurdians was a real challenge. However, in the month of April these apps have enjoyed 20,000 downloads. There have been 50,000 downloads in this year so far.

Learning for Dyslexic Students

Implementing Agency
Calorx Education and Research Foundation

Website
www.prerna.calorx.org

Calorx Prerna caters specifically to the needs of Dyslexic students and students having Learning Difficulties (LD) due to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD). It is a co-educational English medium school following the CBSE curriculum and running classes from grade 2-10. It functions on the campus of Delhi Public School, Ahmedabad. The project was started on 3rd September 2001, under the aegis of Delhi Public School, Ahmedabad, with three students and four teachers.

Objective
To provide education that will help Dyslexia students overcome their learning difficulties

Achievements
• Received grant from International Research and Exchange Bureau for resource development
• Achieved 100 percent pass results in CBSE exams

Target Group: Students between 7– 18 years of age, having Dyslexia or associated difficulties like ADHD, ADD etc., parents and teachers dealing with such students.

Challenge: To develop these children into well-balanced personalities with sound values of love, kindness, caring, and devotion was difficult for us. Also to build a centre of excellence to provide customised services for student’s learning needs was a concern.

Learning with Pride

Implementing Agency
Mother’s Pride

Website
www.mothersprideonline.com

A child’s growth is the most rapid when he/she is between 2 and 4 years of age. The programme aims to provide opportunities to children to exhibit their curiosity, creativity, self-direction and persistence in learning situations. Children get many opportunities to interact with their peers. The school has 36 branches, including three outstation branches.

Objective
To provide a child with a really stimulating environment for learning

Achievements
• We have been able to lay a sound foundation for more than 200,000 children in the past 15 years.
• Has won many prestigious awards like Cannes Gold for Love Blossoms Here brochure, India Education Awards 2012

Target Group: Children between the age of 2-4 years and their parents.

Challenges: Initially it was difficult to manage all the expectations of the parents, as for them child’s learning gets generally associated with the reading-writing skills that the child can pick up. There is shortage of fully trained teachers. At times it is difficult to convince parents about the importance of pre-school education. Development of a child friendly and safe environment is also not an easy task. However, with the chairperson, Sudha Gupta’s conviction, the school sailed through these challenges and has been awarded with many prestigious awards.

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