Example of Kerala is noteworthy as it does not depend on outsourcing IT but in fact immerses IT in all subjects and has it enabled exams for those subjects too. To foster the content development. The subject domain teachers are experts in use of IT in their subjects.
May be a review and improvements of content is called for. But all the same it is a great leap forward.
I quote
"IT@School Project has successfully rolled out several programmes which included the development of its own Operating System - IT@School GNU/Linux- which is now being used in all the schools in the state. Apart from this, several educational softwares like Dr. Geo, Rasmol, K-Tech lab, Geogebra, Chemtool, Kalcium etc are being extensively customised by the Project in developing teacher friendly applications for facilitating complete ICT enabled education in the state. The Project has also prepared interactive multimedia CDs, Handbooks & Training modules for ICT, as well as Text books for IT in standard 8, 9 and 10. Every content developed by the Project is strictly as per the new curriculum approach based on the National Curriculum Framework 2005. The Project has also associated with Intel Skool for collaborative content development programmes http://kerala.skoool.in . The Project has also developed contents for Upper Primary classes – for 5-7 classes and the same has been given to all schools. To add with this, the Project had developed E-Text books for Std 8 to 10.
The ICT enabling process which was piloted in the state two years back has become a success; with this year’s 8th Standard IT text book being entirely based on ICT enabled education, with inputs from all subjects. An unique 8GB Resource DVD for teachers was also developed by IT@School Project, which included the latest edition of Edusoft, 50 selected articles from Malayalam Wiki, Malayalam Computing tools, IT@School Linux 3.2 Operating system, New Edition of Ubuntu OS, ICT Training module, Educational contents on Biology & Maths and PDF versions of Textbooks and Handbooks. The ICT training by making use of the Resource DVD is been imparted to over 60,000 teachers in the state. The Project also introduced a customized version of WIKI, namely www.schoolwiki.in which provides a comprehensive knowledge database of all schools in the state. The aim of SchoolWiki is to bring out collaborative data building and to generate more interest among students to learn Malayalam and to generate more contents in various subjects. Schoolwiki also features an ICT Learning Corner, which would include the various contents prepared by schools for all subjects in ICT enabled education. The various contents are packed in DVD and CD ROMs which are supplied free of cost to the schools with the idea of free distribution among the learning and teaching community. This process eventually resulted in the Free Digital Library at Schools wherein the contents included the subjectwise contents, contents which are telecasted through ViCTERS channel, exam oriented programmes etc. With all schools provided with Broadband connectivity, most of these contents were also made available online. Some of the highlights of content development process initiated by the Project are as follows
• Development of examination software for conduct of IT practical examination for more than 15 lakh students, first ever vast deployment of computer and resourceful manpower for conduct of an examination entirely in free software platform.
• Development of numerous educational software in association with CDAC, CDIT etc.
• Development of educational content for ViCTERS (Virtual classroom technology on EDUSAT for rural schools) channel through EDUSAT network.
• Roll out of own operating system- IT@School GNU/Linux Ubuntu
• Localized content development through distribution of Handycam to schools and training to teachers and students
• Development of e-text books and Content CDs for IT enabled education.
• ICT enabled content generation process is being undertaken jointly by the teaching and learning community.
• SchoolWiki ( www.schoolwiki.in) launched by IT@School Project is becoming a revelation of sorts in collaborative content development process."
On 13 Jul 2016 10:56, "Rushabh Mehta" rmehta@gmail.com wrote:
Also thinking of Change.org for getting a few more signatures
collectively.
Please do this.
IMO this will be more effective than asking people to write individual
emails.
Change.org has developed into a recognized platform for citizen voicing their opinion/concerns.
Please cite specific initiatives by the Govt. of Kerala in the K-12 domain to help the appeal further.
+1 I think we can use JT Dsouza's mail as a template for the petition.
Milind it will be great if you do the honours. We will all post this on social media. -- http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/mailman/listinfo/linuxers