Challenges in

Use of ICT in Rural Indian schools

23 April 2005

A not for profit organization

Vision

“Significantly contribute to

achieving

quality universal education to

facilitate

a just, equitable and a humane

society.”

Operational since 2001

135 plus full-time

professionals

600 plus in field - project

based

LEARNING PLAY

ASSESSMENT FUN

EQUAL KNOWLEDGE

FOR ALL

RATIONALE OF TECHNLOGY INITIATIVES

Currently prioritized

Classes covered

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

TARGET GROUP

4673273

323

41

600

108

28517

49

1299

200

(Pondicherry)

(Andhra Pradesh)

(Orissa)

(Chattisgarh)

(Uttaranchal)

(Punjab)

(Rajasthan)

(Gujarat)

(Maharashtra)

(Karnataka)

(Andaman & Nicobar)

OUR EXPREINCE FROM

No. of Schools as on 31 March 2005

Program currently active : 5089 Program being activated : 1816No. of teachers trained : 7824 No. of Children covered : 745000

165 Million Children in 1 Million schools

The imperative need to scale

18% of world Population & 2.4% of land area

325 languagesspoken

35% less than 15 years

Literacy is 65%

35 million in the agegroup of 6-14out of school

1 out of 3 children in5th standard unable to read & write

Only 1 out of 3 completes up to 10th standard

• Standalone Multimedia Desktop

PCs

• Different Platforms

•No internet connectivity

• No trained person

•Few Schools provided with

printers

The ON-school model

ON-SCHOOL MODEL

•Situated ½ to 1 Km from school

•Centres not exclusively used for

children

•Internet facility available

•Trained person present

•Microsoft Operating System used

The OFF-school model

OFF-SCHOOL MODEL

Community State Government

Ownership &

Sustenance

Content validation,

Resource persons,

Infrastructure & Monitoring

Content, Teacher training

& Support

PARTNERSHIP

THE TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE

•Schools get Computers from multiple sources• Centrally sponsored Innovative Education fund • Used computers through donation• Elected representatives Local Area Development Fund• Locally mobilized resources

• Challenge is to make content work on• All Platform• Lowest available Configuration • In adverse power situations

CONTENT

Type of Content

Description Applications developed in

Child centric Learning Content

Curricular concepts taught in classes 1-8

Macromedia Director and Flash MX

Assessment Software

Computer Based Assessment

MSDE and Visual Basic 6.0

Monitoring Software*

Tracking usage of computers

MS Access and Visual Basic 6.0* Software being field tested

RESEARCH

Difference in performance between experimental schools and control schools found to be ‘significant’ in Andhra in classes 3,4 and 5.

{ANOVA (ANalysis Of VAriance) conducted in AP}

Karnataka

Andhra Pradesh

Computer aided learning found to have beneficial impact on children with learning disabilities, mainly on their social behavior, attention, oral communication skills and motivation.

{Study conducted by the Spastic society of Karnataka}

Monitoring & Up time Electricity/Power availability

Hardware

Configuration

SPECIFIC CHALLENGES

Costs of Hardware

OPERATING SYSTEMS

OPERATING SYSTEM

Operating system

Learning content

Assessment software

Monitoring software

Win9X, Win2K, WinXP

Above Win2K

Red Hat Linux 8.0 and above,Debian Linux, Mandrake

With Wine Tool

Being

tested

HARDWARE CONFIGURATION

MINIMUM H/W and S/W REQUIREMENT FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF LEARNING CONTENT:

Hardware: Pentium III 500Mhz/128 MB SDRAM/20GB HDD/Multi media kit

Software: Windows98SE and above Linux 8.0 and above Linux with Wine for Director based

Content

ISSUE

To make the learning content work satisfactorily with low end PCs

COSTS OF HARDWARE

Issues:

1.High Costs of computers a hurdle in

reaching larger number of schools.

2.Cost a severe restriction in ensuring

adequate Student : computer ratio.

3.Operating expenses like

electricity/maintenance a drain on

community resources.

COSTS OF HARDWARE

Solutions:

• A model with 3 terminals connected to single PC (P-4, 2.8,

Prescott, 1 MB cache, 865 G, 512 MB RAM) deployed

.

• Model provides for simultaneous and multiple

access to learning content. No performance

deterioration noticed.

• Acquisition costs, maintenance costs and

consumption of electricity has been substantially

impacted.

Solutions being sought:

• Improved hardware device/software to enable

additional connections of terminals.

• Low power consuming and low cost desktop

computers.

ELECTRICITY - ISSUES

Lack of power

Quality of power

Faster Recharge of Batteries (tubular) and

prolonged battery life

Solutions:

Lack of Power:

Deployed Solar power pack to provide 3 hour back up.

Quality of power:

Developed step up stabiliser with capability of

stepping up voltage from as low as 55 v to 215v.

Higher battery charging current

ELECTRICITY - ISSUES

Solutions being sought:

• Desktop PC which can operate in low

voltages

• Low Cost Solar panel

• To address issues of corrosion in batteries.

• To recharge the batteries in shorter

durations.

• Low cost equipment for Wind power.

• Feasibility of Fuel cell technology

Monitoring

Issues:• Tracking usage of computers by children • Real time monitoringSolutions:• Pilot version of the Software to track usage

of computers and access of content by children is under test.

Proposed:• To deploy tracking software and provide

for daily reporting of consolidated usage of computers through GSM/CDMA devices.

Solutions sought:• Low cost devices/modems enabled to

operate on both GSM/CDMA.

COMPUTER UP TIME

Solutions sought:

1.Diagnostic tools for early warning on

health of PC.

2.To Guide user on preventive maintenance

3.System triggered warnings to supplier/

supervisor

Technology for Teacher centric Content

Solutions being sought:

• Low Cost LCD Projectors/display equipment

• Low Maintenance costs.

(Pondicherry)

(Andhra Pradesh)

(Orissa)

(Chattisgarh)

(Punjab)

(Rajasthan)

(Gujarat)

(Maharashtra)

(Karnataka)

(Andaman & Nicobar)

With Appropriate Technology we can reach 1 million schools and 200 million children