NDMC Goes Edtech Providing Tablet-Based Smart Classes in Schools
In an attempt to empower teachers and enhance learning outcomes of students, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has partnered with Khan Academy India (KAI) to make optimal use of tablet-based smart labs. After a pilot with two schools in January earlier this year, NDMC has decided to set up such labs in 28 schools, covering over 150 teachers and about 11,000 students.
As the agreement was signed Naresh Kumar, chairman of NDMC said, “Technology is transforming the way children are learning. NDMC has already introduced smart classrooms which are yielding very good results. Now with the introduction of personal device based classrooms and introduction of self-paced platform of Khan Academy, we will be able to improve quality of education in NDMC/Navyug schools further.”
The initiative entails providing students of Class 6 to 12 with tablets, internet connectivity, and access to the Khan Academy platform. Khan Academy’s teacher tools and reports help teachers to track the progress of every individual student and to identify the learning gaps for each student. Teachers can set up their classrooms and assign videos, quizzes and unit tests to students on the platform. These resources could help reinforce a concept that’s been taught as well as to provide remedial help to students according to their individual learning needs.
The Khan Academy platform allows students to learn at their own pace, revisit topics they find difficult, and receive instant feedback and opportunities for correction. The platform is also gamified to encourage the students with energy points after each learning action is performed.
“With Khan Academy, it has become very easy for us to give assignments and assess each student’s progress real-time, without any manual evaluation” said Pooja Varshney, a teacher at NP Girls senior secondary school, one of the two schools where the pilot was rolled out.
In the selected NDMC schools, one hour shall be set aside each week for every class, when teachers and students will use Khan Academy in the Tab-based smart lab. Khan Academy shall facilitate sufficient training and support to teachers to enable them to confidently use the platform.
Sandeep Bapna, managing director of Khan Academy India, said, “These tablet-based smart classes will empower students and teachers alike – since our platform helps students to become proficient in their subject and teachers would be able to identify learning needs of students. We are committed to providing world class education to one and all, and we believe that with more such initiatives, we will be able to reap the benefits of technology to ensure free access to quality education for anyone, anywhere.”
Khan Academy India is a not-for-profit organization founded by Khan Academy and Tata Trusts. Its stated mission is to make the organization’s free learning resources available to learners in India.
